Just wanted to say, I saw KONG: SKULL ISLAND last week mainly because I like Samuel L Jackson and old timey monster movies.
Didn't know anything about it going in, except that it was a "King Kong" movie.
What struck me was the first half hour or so of story and character setup. Everything had a great feel, fast pace, lots of dynamic cuts, a very fresh feel.
The director has a great eye, and played on the 70s settings extremely well. Close up cuts of records on a turn table and old technologies, like the girl reporter fumbling with an old corded desktop telephone (probably looked and felt archaic to today's smart-phone youth).
Fresh and fun with great character introductions. I was riveted by John Goodman's meetings with military intelligence, the suiting up with the marines, and then the stampede through the storm to the mysterious island.
All very great stuff. The best 30 minute start of a movie I've seen in a long time.