I fully expected this to be a brainless blockbuster, with loads of action, implausible cgi monsters, and hammy performances. It's all of that, and much, much more...
Set in the immediate aftermath of the Vietnam War, and the war, and USian culture of that era, are thematic drivers of the design, cinematography, soundtrack, and even the plot. Apocalypse Now, and the early Godzilla/Gojira (etc) series are extensively quoted.
Strangely, this is not overdone, but adds an entirely unexpected gravitas to the otherwise typical, idiotic blockbuster enterprise (well, the denouement
is overdone, but at least doesn't overshadow the rest).
The cgi monsters are convincingly rendered and biologically impocerous. The original King Kong movie scenario is barely touched upon, if not inverted. All in all, it pummels the later Jurassic Park sequels into the swamp.
EDITED: 14 Aug 2018 14:37 by DSMITHHFX