King Kong has been around since 1933, and since then there have been many interpretations of the iconic monster, including the one seen in Kong: Skull Island. This film directly connects to the MonsterVerse, with the titular Titans going head to head in the latest installment of the franchise, Godzilla vs. Kong. Viewers anticipating the clash between the Titans can look back at Skull Island specifically to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of this version of the character.
Since his debut in the MonsterVerse, Kong has proven time and again that his arms are his greatest weapons. After Monarch and their military escorts bomb Skull Island, Kong jumps into action, primarily using his arms to take out any helicopters in his way. Whether it's swatting the helicopters out of the air, breaking them in two or using them as blunt force objects, Kong's arms and grip give him an unbeatable edge against humans. Even against other monsters, like the Skull Crawlers, his primary weapons are his arms and hands, as he can hold back his foes, deliver devastating hits and toss them around. The range of his arms also allow him to shield his face and body from gunfire and other attacks, but that comes with a cost.
There is no denying that Kong's skin is tougher than most, as he's able to walk off being shot multiple times and survive being seriously burned; however, these attacks do hurt the Titan enough that he screams in pain and even passes out briefly. Furthermore, Kong knows he can be injured, as he instinctively tries to shield is face from the barrage of bullets during the helicopter fight. Sharp objects can also cut through his skin, as his arms and hands have several deep cuts after the first fight. Plus, he has several other scars on his body, likely from fighting the Skull Crawlers, so other monsters can do major damage to him. If one of them lands a good hit, he could end up like his parents, who couldn't survive the Big One -- the largest Skull Crawler.
Throughout Skull Island, Kong exhibits high intelligence. As the film progresses, he is able to determine which humans pose a threat to the island and which ones do not, choosing his battles so he doesn't harm himself or anyone innocent over a fight that could've been avoided. However, when Kong chooses to fight, he is bringing with him more than just his brute strength, which certainly packs a punch on its own. Thanks to his intelligence and dexterity, Kong can make any object within arms reach into a weapon, whether that be a helicopter or a tree.
While he has impressive strength and intelligence, Kong has not exhibited a "super" ability, like King Ghidorah's regeneration, gravity beams and bio-electrical nature. His size, stamina, strength and intelligence are far from average; however, this can be said for most Titans. This is why Kong has to be able to make a weapon out of whatever is in his vicinity because it gives him that extra edge, but this also limits him. If there isn't something he can use around him, then he needs to rely on his natural abilities. While these are impressive against humans and smaller scale monsters, a Titan of equal or greater size could prove to be more difficult.
On top of being a strong fighter, Kong exceeds in speed, stamina and dexterity. Along with being able to jump to ridiculous heights, leaping over helicopters mid-flight, Kong is an excellent climber, scaling tall cliff sides despite injuries. Furthermore, he can break out into a sprint, which is even more impressive given his size.
Kong's humanity can be a strength and weakness depending on the situation. Kong is inherently a protector, with his family defending the other living things on Skull Island from the Skull Crawlers. Even after his family died off, Kong continued to defend the island. He also saved Brie Larson's Mason Weaver when the Big One attacked, doing what he could to fight off the monster while keeping her out of harm's way.
With Kong having some sort of a connection to a young child in Godzilla vs. Kong, he has someone to fight for, on top of being a Titan who's supposed to deal with other monstrous threats. This drive can give him the edge he needs; however, it could also be his downfall if protecting the child and others distracts him from the fight. Only time will tell if Kong's inner humanity will help or hurt him, but these other strengths and weaknesses will also likely play a role in Godzilla vs. Kong's outcome.
Directed by Adam Wingard and written by Eric Pearson and Max Borenstein, Godzilla vs. Kong stars Alexander Skarsgard, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall and Brian Tyree Henry. The film arrives in theaters and on HBO Max on March 31.
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