Movie Review: Godzilla (2014)
Written by Anthony Sargon
The “Godzilla” hype machine has been relentless. The trailers have been incredible, and every new bit of footage released is better than the last. But I’ve been fooled before. Does the movie actually live up to the gargantuan amount of hype surrounding it? Absolutely. “Godzilla” is an insanely entertaining summer spectacle that manages to pay tribute to the character’s historic cinematic run while also establishing a much darker and serious tone. The film is certainly flawed, but that’s easy to overlook given how awe-inspiring and immersive the overall experience can be.
After a mysterious earthquake claims the lives of thousands, a now widowed Joe Brody (Bryan Cranston) becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened. He doesn’t buy the “natural disaster” cover-up, and will stop at nothing to get to the truth, even if it means alienating his marine corps son, Ford (Aaron Taylor-Johson). I really don’t want to get into the plot so here’s all you need to know: Godzilla’s there, but he’s not the only monster around. That should say it all.
I’ll get the negative stuff out of the way first; for one, there wasn’t enough Bryan Cranston. He gives an incredibly rich and powerful performance as Joe, especially when compared to the slightly wooden Aaron Taylor Johnson. I just found it hard to really care for any human characters other than Cranston’s. I didn’t give a hoot about Ford’s wife Elle, although Elizabeth Olsen does what she can with a thinly written role.
While this isn’t a complaint about the movie itself, I must say that the marketing may be a bit misleading. I for one could clearly tell that Godzilla wouldn’t be the only monster in the flick, but if you’re not expecting Godzilla to fight another creature, you may be in for a surprise. The big guy isn’t just there to wreak havoc, and that again goes along great with some of the character’s more heroic turns in past films. I did feel that the world was a bit too quick to get used to the idea of giant monsters roaming around, especially Godzilla, but I guess it makes sense within the context of the film.
But enough complaining; I thought this movie was an absolute blast, and while director Gareth Edwards holds off on revealing Godzilla for a generous chunk of time, the payoff couldn’t be more worthwhile. Audiences have gotten so jaded by visual effects that it can be extremely difficult to impress us. “Godzilla” is awe-inspiring at times, and incredibly immersive. The way it’s shot genuinely makes you feel like you’re right in the middle of the action, and it’s jaw dropping. The 3D was actually put to great use, and again serves as an immersive tool rather than a gimmick, surrounding you with destruction, smoke, and flying debris. And I have two words for you: halo insertion.
The sound design and soundtrack are also brilliant, and do wonders for the film’s more serious and grim tone. This version harkens back to the great 1954 original, which introduced us to the infamous beast; a giant, walking embodiment of Japan’s heartbreaking experience following the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Ken Watanabe’s character, affectionately named Dr. Serizawa, continuously discourages the military’s use of nuclear weapons, and serves as a reminder of why Godzilla has remained such a popular character for decades; relevance.
But “Godzilla” also embraces some of the older films’ charm, and isn’t always as serious and grim as you might expect. Yes, it’s a much darker take on the character than Roland Emmerich’s 1998 version, but to say that it’s not a bit silly at times would be stupid. As hard as the marketing will try to convince you that this is a completely gritty and humorless affair, it’s a Godzilla movie for crying out loud, and some silliness is more than welcome. I wanted to stand up and cheer a number of times, and that’s what summer movies are all about.
The Verdict:
There’s so much more I can say about “Godzilla,” but I certainly don’t think I need to. Grab a drink, some pop corn, and get ready to have a blast. If you’re feeling adventurous, I highly recommend watching it IMAX 3D; it truly is a sight to behold.
Numerical Score: 8.5/10
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