WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Godzilla vs. Kong, now in theaters and streaming on HBO Max.
A major factor of Legendary's MonsterVerse has always been the human element. It makes sense that some members of humanity would act as totems for these beasts to connect with, adding a heartbeat to their motives and actions. But come Godzilla vs. Kong, director Adam Wingard takes things to a whole new level with the introduction of Jia, who has a very special role to play as the two behemoths do battle.
Early on, Jia's spotted inside Monarch's outpost on Skull Island where they've trapped Kong. Using special tech, chief scientist, Dr. Ilene Andrews (Rebecca Hall) is overseeing the illusionary world they've got Kong in. Ilene isn't just important because she's a scientist, though, she's also Jia's adoptive mother, later revealing to geologist and cartographer, Dr. Nathan Lind (Alexander Skarsgård), that the girl's parents died during a storm and Kong saved her.
Played by deaf actor, Kaylee Hottle, the youngster is ultimately the only person Kong will listen to using sign language, and it seems as if she can sense what he's thinking and how he's feeling, even if they're kept apart. Since the tragedy, they've formed a bond, which Ilene's harnessing by using her daughter as a translator to understand the ape.
In time, Apex Cybernetics convinces Nathan to guide them to the center of the planet, Hollow Earth, so they can attain a power source that will save mankind. It's Nathan's dream, one that cost him his brother, and he eventually convinces Ilene, who now has to get Kong to lead the way because this is where his ancestors lived.
Kong's scared, though, and pretty much unwilling to cooperate. Not even Jia, with her stone Kong doll can goad him, which is why the team drugs and transports him to the gateway in Antarctica. But on the ship, Ilene and Co. are stunned to see Kong actually signing back. He didn't want to reveal his talent because he didn't want to be exploited, but all he wants now is to go back to Skull Island. Unfortunately, Godzilla shows up to begin their conflict and prove to everyone there's only one alpha around.
Kong ends up listening to Jia after he survives the first brawl with Godzilla and takes them to the Hollow Earth. But as expected, Apex turns out to be evil, wanting to use the energy signature to recreate a power source for their own Mechagodzilla. When Godzilla attacks their headquarters in Hong Kong, Kong heads to the surface with his ax for revenge, leaving Jia worried if he'll be doing mankind's dirty work.
Luckily, Jia has her faith restored when Nathan saves her and Ilene from creatures in Kong's temple, and after seeing Mechagodzilla beating down the giant lizard, she wants to save everyone. She then signs to Kong that the lizard is a friend and that he needs to help him. After recharging following this second beatdown, Kong decides to listen to her, grabbing his ax to offer aid to the King of the Monsters.
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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