10 Most Polarising Movies Of 2017
9. Kong: Skull Island
Kong: Skull Island felt like it was kicked out of Legendary Pictures' gates as quickly as possible to pit the giant ape against Godzilla in 2020's big MonsterVerse crossover project, but the studio's haste didn't really show.
Many fans revelled in the spectacle Skull Island delivered, comparing the 1970s-set creature feature to Vietnam War epics such as Apocalypse Now and Platoon. The naysayers also picked up on the comparison, but were quick to dismiss it as surface deep, accusing the movie of attempting to masquerade as something with substance.
In a sense, both parties have a point. Kong's latest outing is a monster movie and nothing more, but the Apocalypse Now-inspired visuals add character to its aesthetic.
Talented actors Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L Jackson and John Goodman were let down by the screenplay, which gave their characters all the depth of cardboard cutouts, but nobody can deny how cool it is seeing an oversized ape hitting a giant lizard in the face with a speedboat.
Those who went into the theatre hoping to see scenes like that weren't disappointed, while those who were tricked into expecting it would be combined with Apocalypse Now-esque depth and social commentary were made a monkey of.