By BRYCE HILL

Danville High School

The one hundred foot ape has been rebooted — again. This time Kong is fighting other deadly creatures and staying on his own turf of Skull Island. “Kong: Skull Island” was mediocre — a lot of violence and action scenes that are entertaining to watch, but the plot isn’t anything new.

A group of scientists (along with a military escort) go to an uncharted island so that a secret organization called Monarch can be given more funding by proving extraterrestrial beings exist. When arriving on the island, their helicopters crash and become separated after encountering Kong. The two separated groups must make it back to the extraction point on the far side of the island in three days to be flown off the island. They are challenged by other creatures on the island as they try to make their way to the extraction point. As the movie progresses, Kong’s origins and his importance on the island are revealed.

The movie’s main characters are James Conrad (played by Tom Hiddleston), Preston Packard (played by Samuel L. Jackson), Mason Weaver (played by Brie Larson), Hank Marlow (played by John C. Reilly), and Bill Randa (played by John Goodman). Jackson and Larson both have experience playing similar roles in other movies. Jackson is a military general. Larson is an anti-war photographer. I didn’t like John Goodman’s character, Bill Randa, who has the least amount of screen time and was a crucial reason for the group going to the island.

The most entertaining parts of the movie are the action scenes, Kong and the military fighting other deadly creatures on the island that they encounter. The creatures vary throughout the movie so that the main characters are not fighting the same thing twice.

I recommend watching Kong: Skull Island, but not as a must watch movie. I give Kong 3 out of 5 anchors.