The Gist
A reboot of the Godzilla franchise, Japan’s infamous monster resurfaces as a new species of seemingly dormant malevolent creatures hatch and threaten to destroy our existence.
The Review
Desperate to prove itself as more than just a remake, the new Godzilla has roared its way into cinemas with a fresh new outlook on the famous Japanese monster and is already the second-highest grossing late-night opener of 2014. Alive with adrenaline, action and stunning CGI work, this homage to the monster movie is an honorary one.
A helicopter flies high above the Philippines; scientists Ishiro Serizawa (Watanabe) and Vivienne Graham (Hawkins) investigate a prehistoric skeleton and the remains of two egg-shaped pods deep inside a quarry. One of them, they discover, has hatched and shortly afterwards, the Janjira nuclear plant in Japan suffers a fatal breach, one that takes the life of worker Joe Brody’s (Cranston) wife Sandra (Binoche). With the accident disguised as an earthquake to the rest of the world, Joe spends 15 years trying to uncover the truth, which his son Ford (Taylor-Johnson) believes is an obsessive form of grief. Though after the other pod hatches where it’s being kept in a secret facility in Japan, the world discovers that something more frightening is on the loose… and much bigger than they anticipated.
The rest, as they say, is almost history, but if you’re expecting a remake or a similar film to the 1998 Godzilla, then you’ll be extremely disappointed. For this film is not just a remake, it is an entirely new interpretation of the Godzilla monster and how he would fair in contemporary society. Taking inspiration from the Japanese original, and rightly so, for opinion’s sake, director Gareth Edwards definitely made the right choice in staying true to Godzilla’s roots when making this movie. We are thrown into the destruction and terror in the wake of an unknown entity, yet are introduced to a few surprises that take a refreshing twist on the well-known monster that puts it past its 1998 predecessor.
Thrown into the chaos and destruction of skyscrapers and city dwellings as is standard in a good monster movie, the film also prides itself on following the emotional journey of young Ford Brody, separated from his wife and son during the panic. As an explosive ordinance disposal technician in the US navy, Ford becomes our tool to see the centre of the action as he joins the military’s operation to destroy the new threat to the world. The film is also stunningly beautiful as it is action-packed, the whole atmosphere of Godzilla is almost breath-taking through its well-designed special effects and everything from the clouds of ash to the near-extinct remains of San Francisco are wonderful to look at. While criticism may come from viewers at the lack of seeing Godzilla himself, personally, the suspense of waiting to see him, almost Cloverfield style, is fully on-the-edge-of-your-seat exciting. The film takes its time, as it should, to show the new design of the monster we are so eager to see and the minute the camera settles upon him, the whole cinema seemed to hold its breath.
The Verdict
A stunning visionary thrill ride and electrifying to the core, Godzilla has surpassed all expectations to create a beautifully crafted tribute to the legendary monster. While perhaps could have done with a little bit more action in fight scenes, its criticisms are otherwise few and far between with credible acting, harrowing realism and an imaginative story adding to its praises. Not looking to liken itself to its original American counterpart, this Godzilla will have you on the edge of your seat and drawn into its beauty and powerful cinematic display.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIu85WQTPRc
Director: Gareth Edwards
Starring: Ken Watanabe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, Sally Hawkins, David Strathairn, Bryan Cranston.
Running Time: 123 minutes
UK Release Date: 15th May 2014
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