King Kong vs Godzilla (1962) Review | Godzilla Island Archive

The Plot:

The movie opens with a TV program discussing a rare medicinal berry found only on Faro Island, a remote island in the Pacific. Mr. Tako, the owner of the pharmaceutical company that sponsors the show, grows frustrated with its poor ratings. When he hears that the island’s natives worship a giant monster god, he demands that his employees capture the creature to boost publicity.

Two men, Sakurai and Kinsaburo, are sent to Faro Island. The natives are initially hostile, but the duo wins them over by giving out cigarettes and showing them a radio. During a celebration, the village is attacked by Oodako, a giant octopus. The natives’ spears are useless against the creature until King Kong appears to fight Oodako. After driving the octopus back into the sea, Kong drinks large quantities of the berry juice, which acts as a sedative, and falls asleep to the rhythm of the natives’ drums. Sakurai and Kinsaburo call for a ship to bring Kong to Japan, placing him on a barge.

Meanwhile, a submarine crashes into an iceberg releasing Godzilla, who soon makes his way toward Japan. The Japanese government orders that Kong not be brought ashore, fearing two monsters at once. Mr. Tako refuses, but as Kong begins to wake, the crew detonates the explosives rigged on his barge. The plan fails, and Kong escapes, swimming toward Japan on his own.

Godzilla makes landfall, destroying a train and engaging Japan’s defenses. Soon, the two monsters meet but after a brief fight, Kong retreats. The military attempts to stop Godzilla using a series of traps, including an explosive-filled trench and a million-volt electric barrier. The explosives fail, but while the electricity repels Godzilla, it energizes Kong, who uses the power to rampage through Tokyo.

Kong kidnaps Sakurai’s sister, forcing the military to halt their attack. Remembering Kong’s reaction to the Faro Island berries, Sakurai and Kinsaburo suggest using gas made from the berries to sedate him. The plan works, and the sleeping Kong is airlifted to Mt. Fuji to face Godzilla again.

The second battle begins with Godzilla dominating, nearly burning Kong alive until lightning strikes. Recharged by the storm, Kong regains strength, shocking Godzilla with bursts of electricity. The monsters tumble into the ocean, and after an underwater battle, only Kong resurfaces and swims back toward Faro Island. Observers speculate whether Godzilla has survived, but for now, Japan is safe once more.

My Thoughts:

King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962) marks a major milestone as the first Godzilla film in color and one of Toho’s most iconic monster crossovers. It’s a fun, fast-paced entry that helped bring Godzilla to an even wider audience.

That said, I’ve always had a few gripes. First, why is Kong the title monster? Godzilla deserved top billing! Second, many fans interpret the ending as Kong’s victory, but there’s no clear proof Kong killed Godzilla, it could just as easily have been a draw. Godzilla had the upper hand for most of the battle, and with a 2–1 record across the movie's 3 fights, he’s still the stronger monster in my book.

On the positive side, I like that the film connects to Godzilla Raids Again, with Godzilla emerging from the ice where he was last seen. And while a sequel to this showdown never materialized, the idea of a rematch finally came true decades later thanks to Warner Bros. and Legendary’s MonsterVerse.

Overall, this is a must-watch classic for kaiju fans packed with energy, and that classic Toho Kaiju flick charm.