Kong: Skull Island (2017)

Kong: Skull Island dresses up like a Vietnam war movie, with helicopters in formation, classic rock on the radio and a sunset the color of orange soda. Then a giant ape swats those helicopters out of the sky, and it rules. The problem is everyone who survives. Tom Hiddleston is billed as an expert tracker and mostly poses in a fitted shirt. Brie Larson plays a photographer whose big character trait is taking photos. Samuel L. Jackson turns into Captain Ahab with a grudge against a gorilla, which is fun until you notice it’s the only arc in the movie. John C. Reilly steals the whole thing as a pilot stranded on the island for decades who talks like he missed every headline since. Kong himself is huge, sad-eyed and great. It made $568.7 million worldwide on a reported $185M. A 6.2 because the monster fights are a blast and the humans are background noise with lines. $54.49 says you hear a helicopter this week and glance up expecting a very large hand.

What works: Kong himself is huge, sad-eyed and great, and the helicopter attack is a stunning set piece. John C. Reilly is the most fun human on the island.

What doesn’t: The human characters are paper thin, and Hiddleston and Larson spend most of the movie just looking at things.

Who it’s for: People who want to watch a giant ape wrestle giant lizards and don’t need the people to matter much.