Godzilla first came to life in 1954 and has been featured in almost 30 films since. Oh and how could we forget Roland Emmerich’s Godzilla in 1998, right?! Obviously, it’s taken many a year, but finally, ‘Zilla gets the respect he deserves on the big screen. This is because of director Gareth Edwards‘ (Monsters) vision and devotion to the origins of the story and his appreciation for the most famous monster of them all. He places Godzilla back on the throne with people looking at him not only in fear, but in awe, wonder and amazement. Thanks to Edwards, Godzilla does the same thing to its audience.
While the film is built for the monsters to raise some hell, there is a human element to it as well. Unfortunately, it’s just not as exciting. The first people we meet are Dr. Serizawa (Ken Watanabe) and his partner, Dr. Graham (Sally Hawkins). They have located a pod deep in a Filipino mine where a MUTO (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism) has escaped. Then we jump to Japan where we are introduced to an engineer named Joe Brody (Bryan Cranston) and his scientist wife Sandra (Juliette Binoche). They work in a nuclear plant and are completely unaware of it becoming a feeding ground for the MUTO. The place crumbles and leaves Joe without a wife and their only child without a mother. The incident is blamed on an earthquake, but Joe knows it’s a cover-up and spends years looking for answers.
Fifteen years pass and Joe and Sandra’s son, Ford (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), is all grown up and works for the Navy as an explosives expert. He’s returned to his wife (Elizabeth Olsen) and their son but is almost immediately pulled away to return to Japan to get his father. Joe is now seen as loopy and just plain out of his mind, even by his own son. But he has heard something that will make everyone a believer. There’s not just one MUTO but two and to make matters worse, it’s mating season. However, everything changes at the Honolulu Airport. It’s here when things start to get chaotic and the only outcome is absolute mayhem. This is where we get our first look at the King of Monsters: Godzilla!
I’m sure Edwards wanted that human connection to have more of an impact on-screen, but there’s not one character that you can truly invest in. I think Ford is supposed to be that guy, yet there is an emotional attachment that’s missing. Now the acting isn’t bad by any means. It’s a terrific cast with Watanabe perhaps being the most significant supporting character only because he represents the only voice of truth to what Godzilla is and why he is here.
Don’t let the lack of emotion from the humans change your mind about seeing Godzilla. When it comes to the monsters, it doesn’t get any bigger or better. It’s visually breathtaking and, if possible, see it in IMAX because the scale and size is a perfect fit. The ground will literally shake. Edwards knows who we all came to see, which is why I respect his decision on going with a nice, suspenseful build-up that eventually leads to the revealing of the big green lizard. Why some may hate the wait, it’s undoubtedly worth it. The inspiration of Steven Spielberg and Jaws is definitely there.
Godzilla is a behemoth of a film for so many reasons, and most of them are good: the size of the monsters, the terror of the people, the explosions and the battles. It’s a sight to see. Edwards has a real gift at making all of the havoc and destruction look so damn beautiful. His tone and pace only helps the film and keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way up to when you feel his stomps and hear his roar.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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