Rating: 3/5 Big Monsters, Small Story

Paul W.S. Anderson returns with Monster Hunter 2: New World, a sequel that doubles down on the CGI creatures and halves the already thin plot. If you came for monsters fighting humans, you’ll leave happy. If you came for literally anything else, good luck.

The film picks up where the first left off. Artemis (Milla Jovovich) and her team have adapted to life in the monster world, hunting creatures and building a new home. But when a mysterious portal opens, depositing a squad of modern military soldiers into their world, chaos ensues. The soldiers, led by a trigger-happy general, see the monsters as a threat to be eliminated. Artemis must unite the two groups to face an even bigger threat: a new, ancient monster that makes the Diablos look like a puppy.

The creature design is the star. The monsters look fantastic, with detailed textures and believable movement. The action is relentless, with non-stop hunting sequences that will satisfy fans of the games. But the human drama is nonexistent, the dialogue is laughable, and the plot is just an excuse to move from one fight to the next.

The Verdict: A mindless, entertaining creature feature. Turn off your brain and watch the pretty monsters fight.

Final Thought: In a world of monsters, the humans are the real beasts