Directed by: Gareth Edwards
Casts: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe
Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Release Date: 15 May 2014
Godzilla is Hollywood's second attempt to bring the behemoth to the big screen after the 1998 disastrous adaptation of the famed Japanese franchise. As humanity stand helpless in the wake of monstrous forces of nature, their only hope of salvation may lie on the largest and most powerful of them all.
Praises: With over two dozens of Godzilla films in Japan and one horrid remake in '98, it's rather fair to ask: why do another one? What kind of story will it tell that could possibly be any different than before? Of course, when it comes to studio execs, it's all about profits. As bad as it is, Roland Emerich's version garnered well over $300 million, so why not right? Even if it means trampling all over a much beloved cultural icon and making it into a form of mindless, cheap entertainment.
Thankfully, we have Gareth Edwards in the director's chair, a genius who previously helmed the brilliant Monsters in 2010. He goes on to show that with the right directing, the right script and the right cast, he can turn even the cheesiest film to a masterpiece. And he did just that.
The story begins with a black and white montage of nuclear testing in the '40s and '50s, which actually turns out to be a highly classified operation to destroy Godzilla. Speeding forward to 1999, a massive radioactive fossil was discovered in the Philippines by scientists Dr. Ichiro and Viviene, played by Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins respectively. Around the same time, a mysterious earthquake destroys a nuclear power plant in Janjira, Japan and claimed many lives, including the wife of engineer Joe Brody (Bryan Cranston). That effectively turn Janjira into a "ghost town" overnight, with all its citizens evacuated under the premise of "radioactive hazard".
Unconvinced that the earthquake was a natural occurrence, Joe spent the next 15 years seeking the truth, inadvertently straining his relationship with his son Ford (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) who intends to move on with life. Of course, when it comes to government conspiracies no one believed him, including Ford who ended up joining the military and having a family of his own. Reluctantly he travels to Japan to bail Joe out of prison when he went beyond limit in his investigation, only to discover that all the wacko theories conjured by his estranged father may not be total bull after all.
So now you ask: what's so good about all this? And where's Godzilla? My answer is it's good because Gareth Edwards took his time to build up enough anticipation, drama and tension leading to the beast's grand appearance, making its entry more appetizing than ever. This also means the giant lizard won't be roaring until a good later portion of the film, which is fine by me. By doing so, there's ample time to immerse in the characters' individual conflicts, to absorb their emotional pain well enough to care for them.
Why give this darker, grimmer retelling of a 30-storey reptile a shot? Is it worth your money? In all modesty, yes. Reason for that is because Edwards defy viewers' expectations. Many walked into the cinema with a mental prediction on how the plot will play out - it's a monster film after all. Having indulged in Hollywood treats for years, it comes as no surprise we tend to know when the "big revelation" will come by. For some, they expect to see 2 hours worth of monster mega brawl simply because it's fun. Edwards clearly understands and he makes sure the trailers feed the eager audiences exactly these, only to subvert their expectations once the film starts rolling.
Confused viewers will then start whispering to one another: It's 30 minutes in. I still don't see Godzilla. Edwards is a genius at roping in the excitement to see the "king" rising with all its glory and magnificence, so much that the very sight of Godzilla's massive hind spikes surfacing itself is cheer-worthy. The whole build-up is a wonderful experience for me; contrary to popular claims I don't share the same sentiment that Godzilla had too little screen-time. He got just what he needed, nothing more and definitely nothing less.
We often see an array of rookie or B-list actors in monster films but evidently Edwards has no intention to let poor casting ruined his work of art. Bryan Cranston is an outstanding choice, his performance and screen-presence add gravitas to his character's tragic tale. Aaron Taylor-Johnson did marginally well, though a little more emotion on that handsome face wouldn't hurt. I really like Elizabeth Olsen in this, who played Ford's spouse Elle. It's good to see her stepped into a more matured role that of a wife and mother, a change from her previous common ones.
If you grew up in the 80's or 90's, chances are you're an avid fan of gargantuous kaiju and mecha face-off, and the reason why 2013's Pacific Rim was a pleasant fan service. Godzilla sets out to reinvigorate that passion by giving us one hell of a kaiju battle royale fans of the franchise have been dying to see. The climatic clash is a spectacle to behold, the amount of awesome-juice oozing out surpasses that of even Pacific Rim's. I won't give out spoilers but I assure you classic Godzilla devotees will applaud in glee when they see what it can do with its mouth apart from chomping, of course.
Complains: Nothing much to pick on, really, except that everyone's got a story of their own, except the "boss" of the show. Overturning expectations is great, but it has to be done with conscious subtlety in mind. I love how Edwards hold back in unleashing the big guy, but when Godzilla finally stomped the earth the awestruck can only last so long before I begin to ponder: what's his deal? What's his story, his reason for crashing the party? His awakening raises many questions, mostly unanswered.
Also, Ken Watanabe's talents could be put to much better use in the narrative. He happens to be "the scientist on board", there to give unappreciated side commentaries that got ignored for most part of the film. An actor of such calibre should never be played a decorative, with his charisma a proper character arc would have given the overall story greater depth. Aaron Taylor-Johnson answered his call okay, but his character, being the lead and all, didn't quite have a lasting impression on me.
Rating: 7.5/10
Hit or Miss: A vastly improved reboot with fantastic CGI and plot treatment, Godzilla is a welcome addition to the franchise, setting a whole new benchmark for future monster films to come. Hit.
If you grew up in the 80's or 90's, chances are you're an avid fan of gargantuous kaiju and mecha face-off, and the reason why 2013's Pacific Rim was a pleasant fan service. Godzilla sets out to reinvigorate that passion by giving us one hell of a kaiju battle royale fans of the franchise have been dying to see. The climatic clash is a spectacle to behold, the amount of awesome-juice oozing out surpasses that of even Pacific Rim's. I won't give out spoilers but I assure you classic Godzilla devotees will applaud in glee when they see what it can do with its mouth apart from chomping, of course.
Complains: Nothing much to pick on, really, except that everyone's got a story of their own, except the "boss" of the show. Overturning expectations is great, but it has to be done with conscious subtlety in mind. I love how Edwards hold back in unleashing the big guy, but when Godzilla finally stomped the earth the awestruck can only last so long before I begin to ponder: what's his deal? What's his story, his reason for crashing the party? His awakening raises many questions, mostly unanswered.
Also, Ken Watanabe's talents could be put to much better use in the narrative. He happens to be "the scientist on board", there to give unappreciated side commentaries that got ignored for most part of the film. An actor of such calibre should never be played a decorative, with his charisma a proper character arc would have given the overall story greater depth. Aaron Taylor-Johnson answered his call okay, but his character, being the lead and all, didn't quite have a lasting impression on me.
Sushi for you, sir?
Hit or Miss: A vastly improved reboot with fantastic CGI and plot treatment, Godzilla is a welcome addition to the franchise, setting a whole new benchmark for future monster films to come. Hit.
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