STACK July 2017 Issue 153

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028 JULY 2017
Kong: Skull Island is the first
film featuring the legendary ape
to be set entirely on his home
turf, upon which John Goodman,
Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson
and Samuel L. Jackson foolishly
trespass. They don’t even have
a chance to touch down before
Kong makes a spectacular
entrance, swatting helicopters
from the sky and leaving them
stranded and separated in a
jungle hell teeming with giant
spiders and slithering Skullcrawlers. Capturing the
adventurous spirit of yesteryear monster movies like
Valley of Gwangi and Mysterious Island, with a liberal
dose of VietnamWar gung-ho and Jurassic World,
Kong: Skull Island raises the bar for visual effects and
is far better paced and more entertaining than Peter
Jackson’s 2005 Kong remake. As with most reboots
these days, it also lays the foundations for a shared
universe – make that a ‘Monsterverse’ – and the
obligatory post-credits scene teases a future face-off
between Kong and a certain Japanese monster icon.
Did somebody mention Mothra? SH (See page 20)
The return of the King.
KONG: SKULL ISLAND
If you only know British fantasy
author Neil Gaiman from the
family-friendly Stardust and
Coraline, you should brace
yourself for American Gods.
This ambitious, audacious and
adults-only adaptation of his 2001
best-seller is a dark and delirious
journey into a mystical America,
where war is brewing between
the old gods of mythology (who
arrived with the first settlers and
have since been forgotten) and
the new deities of technology, media and big business.
Stoic ex-con Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) is thrust
into this preternatural conflict by mysterious grifter Mr.
Wednesday (Ian McShane), who is rallying his forces for
a cataclysmic confrontation. It’s a fantastic concept and
showrunners Bryan Fuller (Hannibal) and Michael Green
(Smallville) bring Gaiman’s novel to lurid life, with potent
imagery, a pervading sense of dread, biting cultural
commentary and impeccable casting. McShane and
Whittle are both standouts, and Pablo Schreiber’s hulking
leprechaun Mad Sweeney steals every scene he’s in.
Fans of the novel are going to love this largely faithful
adaptation, while newcomers will be well and truly
hooked from the bloody beginning – and frequently feel
as bewildered as Shadow. SH (See page 22)
Prepare to believe.
AMERICAN GODS: SEASON 1
DVD & BD
Tom Hiddleston:
The Intrepid Traveler
Deleted Scenes
BD ONLY
Director’s Commentary
Creating A King:
- Realising an Icon
- Summoning a God
- A Terrifying Paradise
Monarch Files 2.0
Through the Lens:
Brie Larson’s Photography
Photo Stills Galleries
Concept Art Galleries
JB HI-FI EXCLUSIVE
Limited Edition Blu-ray
Steelbook
Godzilla
EXTRAS
FURTHER VIEWING
Release Date: 19/07/17
Format:
Preacher: Season 1
EXTRAS
FURTHER VIEWING
Release Date: 19/07/17
TOP
HITS
TOP
HITS
DVD & BD
San Diego Comic Con
Panel Footage
Crocodile Bar 360
American Gods Origins
Old Gods
New Gods
Book vs. Show
What is American Gods?
Interviews:
- Ian McShane
- Ian McShane & Ricky Whittle
- Ricky Whittle & Emily Browning
- Bruce Langley
Format:
visit DVD&BD REVIEWS
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The whole Laura backstory isn’t in
the book – it was created for the
show to further develop the lead
female character. Emily Browning
was directly presented with
the script for the Laura-focused
episode when offered the role.
DID YOU KNOW...