Godzilla x Kong is basically a Dragon Ball movie
Dragon Ball’s Goku and the giant radioactive lizard Godzilla have one thing in common: their irrepressible fighting spirit. Both of them have been around for decades, starring in sprawling franchises full of shifting adaptations and overhauls. But in every new incarnation, they’re willing to throw down at the slightest provocation. That means their resumes are filled with takedowns of countless superpowered foes who got a little too big for their britches. The latest Godzilla film, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, takes the comparison one step further, with a plot that feels like a kaiju-sized version of a Dragon Ball story.
The meatiest bit of connective tissue here is in the title: Godzilla and King Kong team up to take down a greater villain, even though neither of them necessarily wants to. This is far from the first time Godzilla has assembled a tag team with a former rival: Mothra, Rodan, and Anguirus are all giant critters that Godzilla initially attempted to beat to death, then later joined forces with.
On the same note, characters like Yamcha, Piccolo, and most famously Vegeta all entered the Dragon Ball mythos seeking Goku’s head, and got trounced in a way that made them decide Goku is actually pretty cool. In the Dragon Ball franchise, if someone gives you enough concussions, you start to respect them.
Did Vegeta ever fully see eye to eye with Goku? No, he’s far too murdery for that. But when it comes time for Godzilla and Kong to take down the Skar King, an ape that makes Kong look cuddly, and Shimo, an ice-breathing reptilian, they know things will be easier if they pal around. And when guys like Frieza, Cell, or Broly threaten Earth, Goku and Vegeta understand what’s at stake. If the world ends, they won’t be able to pound each other to a pulp anymore. Oh, and some people they love might die, maybe. There’s that as well.
Speaking of Skar King, Kong facing a monster that’s basically him, except meaner, is pure Dragon Ball. At the beginning of the Drag
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