Gargantuan Gods: A "Godzilla" 2014 Review
I can barely remember the earlier
Godzilla movies since I didn’t really get the motivation to revisit them after
seeing them as a kid. Now with all the development in digital technology and
movie production that we have had over the years (I initially thought 3D movies
would be a fad, but they seemed to have stuck around), the prospect of having another
Godzilla film seemed very tempting. Although, there is always a hovering fear
that a Hollywood remake would ruin this Japanese classic.
Lieutenant Ford Brody
(Aaron-Taylor Johnson) and his father (Bryan Cranston) have been caught
trespassing a quarantined area when they were trying to get back to their old
home, to investigate the radiation leak that happened in a Nuclear Plant in
Japan that led to his mother’s death. They were taken in custody in a secret
facility where scientists are studying a large chrysalis that creates tremors
as it pulsates with energy. Somewhere near the area, something huge seemed to respond to the chrysalis and they all soon
realize that this is an ancient alpha-predator which posed a great danger to
cities, and the whole of humanity.
Godzilla 2014 Trailer
The film had a sense of urgency
right from the start, we are introduced right away to gargantuan monsters (yes,
plural!), and it is quickly established that they are going to be an immediate
threat. Exposition was laid strategically all over the film instead of
spoon-feeding the audience, which is good since most moviegoers would pretty
much already have an idea of who Godzilla is anyways.
He's someone you wouldn't want to see on a Monday morning. |
In case you're wondering, Godzilla's monster-enemies in the movie are called MUTO s, which means "Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism" |
In spite of the fast-paced start
of the film, it was still careful to gradually build the tension up. For
instance, we don’t actually get to see the whole of the colossal reptile until
somewhere midway through the movie. I have to admit though that at some point
it became a bit dragging, especially when the film shifts focus from the
monsters, to the families of the lead characters. It’s a bit frustrating but I guess
it helped in giving us both the large and small scale point of view of the
disaster and in doing so, the movie succeeds in making the audience feel so small,
and Godzilla much more titanic.
I’m sure more than a few people
would agree with me when I say that the trailers gave us the impression that
this Godzilla movie would have a dark feel – the scoring was chilling, the
teasers were melancholic and gloomy, and Aaron-Taylor Johnson wasn’t in a spandex
pretending to be a superhero. I was half-expecting that Gareth Edwards would
take a few notes from Christopher Nolan with what he did with the Dark Knight,
but this Godzilla movie turned out to be just like the others before it – about
a monster wrecking a city like Lego pieces and the government making futile
attempts with their puny missiles. Nothing more, nothing less.
"Not again. Why do I always get screwed up in these movies???" |
Speaking of Aaron-Taylor
Johnsons, is it just me or is his performance really reminiscent of Kristen
Stewart’s? I mean, his role would have required a variety of emotions from him (face
to face with Godzilla? Not knowing where your family is?), but all that we see
from him is this blank facial expression that makes him look like he’s
constipated all the time. Don’t get me wrong though, I think he’s adorable in
Kick-Ass and he’s remarkable in Savages, which is why it’s weird that he became
Bella Swan in Godzilla.
"A monster you say? Hold this, let me get my green spandex" |
If it’s any consolation I think I
can still say that this Hollywood remake of Godzilla wasn’t a disaster. It
still stuck to the good old Godzilla that we know who likes trampling buildings,
and in spite of a few dragging moments, the movie still finds a way to keep you
from getting bored. Maybe I just
expected so much more that’s why I only feel neutral about it right now.
By the way, there seemed to be
unconfirmed talks about a Pacific Rim and Godzilla crossover. What do you
think?
Godzilla 2014 Cast
Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Lieutenant Ford Brody
Ken Watanabe as Dr. Ishiro Serizawa
Elizabeth Olsen as Elle Brody
Juliette Binoche as Sandra "Sandy" Brody
Sally Hawkins as Dr. Vivienne Graham
Bryan Cranston as Joe Brody
Directed By: Gareth Edwards
Credits to the images and videos used in this post go to "Godzilla" and/or to their respective owners. I do not own these materials. No copyright infringement intended.
Geoffrey Ledesma
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