[FIELDWORK] Godzilla vs Kong, Streets of Hong Kong Island

GODZILLA VS KONG, DIR. Adam Wingard (2021)           

Streets of Hong Kong Island

Godzilla vs Kong is a 2021 science fiction Kaiju film directed by Adam Wingard. The film discusses a rivalry between two ancient species of Kaijus, Godzilla and King Kong. As Kong, along with a team of scientists, undertake a journey to discover the Hollow Earth, which is speculated to be the ancestral home of Kong, Godzilla tracks Kong down numerous times throughout the course of the film, leading to a series of brutal confrontations. One of these settings that Godzilla confronts with Kong is located in the city of Hong Kong, where Godzilla and Kong fight in the dense environment of the urban landscape at night.

Space 

The fight takes place in Hong Kong Island within the boundaries of Wan Chai and Admiralty. At the beginning of the confrontation , Kong is positioned near the ferris wheel of the Victoria harbour, whereas Godzilla is positioned near the Bank of China tower. In the film, the setting of the city is depicted through the use of aerial wide angled shots, which creates this illusion of space where the gaps between the buildings seem as they are blended together and stacked upon seamlessly. On the other hand, when the setting is experienced through the eyes of real people, the environment feels more open with fewer elements of cluttering. This is due to the distance between the building structures from being much farther away apart in reality compared to how it is portrayed in the film. 

Another example where the illusion of space is used is shown when the Kong is attempting to flee from Godzilla’s atomic breath attack. Here, the sky cropped away from the view of the audience. Without the sky to distinguish the ends of the building heights, this also creates an illusion of space where the viewer’s field of vision is restrained into seeing a series of never-ending building facades, making it seem as if Kong is trapped and forced to run along the dense urban environment. 

Fig 2. Kong running across the streets. Scenes from Godzilla vs Kong 2021, directed by Adam Wingard. 

Through these comparisons, it can be speculated that Wingard purposely uses a various camera techniques such as using an extreme wide angle shot and cutting away the horizon line to not only establish the setting, but also to show the sheer size of the two monsters and how they are comparable to one of the tallest skyscrapers in Hong Kong. The wide shot also captures the movements of both subjects easily and allows the audience to feel the intensity and tension of the battle about to take place. In fig 2, the elimination of the sky gives a feeling of hopelessness and entrapment to Kong, as if he has nowhere else to run. This also helps achieve Wingard’s intention of allowing the viewer to feel immersed into the battle and experience Kong’s desperation to survive as he struggles to escape from Godzilla’s wrath. 

Lighting 

Apart from how space is represented in the film, the street scapes and lighting from the film also differs from reality. Throughout the film, the layouts of the skyscrapers are illuminated with rows of harshly lit neon lights across the building facades. Compared to reality, the buildings are rarely illuminated with rows of neon lights, with the colours being less saturated and intense. Thus, the cityscape of Hong Kong appears much more vibrant and brighter as a result. 

Fig 3. Victoria Harbour lighting comparison. Scenes from Godzilla vs Kong 2021, directed by Adam Wingard. 

Another instance is shown when Kong is attempting to evade Godzilla’s attacks and runs along Hennessey Road. The scene is a high-angle shot, providing a fairly accurate depiction of how the street would be experienced in real life. However, there are some notable differences, such as the inclusion of neon lights of shop names being imposed on tenement buildings and the overuse of neon lights decorated along some buildings.

Fig 4. Hennessy Road. Scenes from Godzilla vs Kong 2021, directed by Adam Wingard. 

While Wingard’s decision to manipulate the urban landscape of Hong Kong to illustrate the futuristic setting that the film takes place, the extensive use of neon lights can also provide ample lighting in order to allow the viewers to see the whole fight taken place in a night setting. The dark shadows of the night sky in addition to the reflections of the bright neon lights create a chiaroscuro effect on the two subjects, providing a dramatic atmosphere to the film, enhancing the grittiness and intensity of the battle.

– Lok Yin Marcus Leung 3035854606