Godzilla

Review By:  John Delia

Stomp, Stomp, Roar! Stomp, Stomp, Roar! What more do you need from an action film that features one of the top icons in the monster world, Godzilla?  It’s not the story that you go to see with this movie, it’s the massive destruction, electrifying battles and the incredible CGI that makes it all look real. You don’t have to be a fan of this giant lizard, but those that are will certainly get there fill during this two hour massive annihilation fest. Does the movie live up to its predecessors? Yup!

Telling you the story will not hurt a thing. In fact, it may help if you really care about there being one.  Bring on the carnage, the battleships, megaton bombs and destruction of Tokyo, Hawaii and San Francisco and let it rip.  Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. For those interested in the plot, read on. 

Here’s what the marketing guys say: “From visionary ‘new’ director Garth Edwards…” (New? Hmmm. What great visions could he possibly have? As a director, Edwards gave us episodes of the television disaster series “Perfect Disasters” that include 2006 “Super Tornado” and “Solar Storm.” Oh, and he made the TV doc “Heroes and Villains” with his segment being Attila the Hun…Being fair ,he also directed the movie Monsters, an insipid road trip film about two unlikely companions escaping from Mexico to the US while fleeing alien invaders.)  The marketing statement continues: “…comes a powerful story of human courage and reconciliation” (a young boy harbors pain in the death of his mother after an accident at an electrical plant levels the building in Japan where she works as a scientist.  The boy grows up to be Ford Brody [Aaron Taylor-Johnson], a bomb disarming expert and gets revenge for the cause of the accident.)  Finally, let’s continue as here is what you go to see: “…in the face of titanic forces of nature, when the ‘awe-inspiring’ Godzilla rises to restore balance as humanity stands defenseless.”

Although I poke fun at the statement from the production notes provided to the press, the movie really does entertain its target audience (that being teens to adult males looking for an adrenaline fix from the thrills).  One of Director Garth Edwards’ attributes; however, centers on his ability as a master of visual effects. Frankly, that’s what makes this film stand out. The explosive film becomes so realistic, especially on the huge IMAX screen, that you can feel the frenzy coming from the screen.  Using seamless computer graphics, the buildings topple as the gargantuan Godzilla flicks his tail or mauls the huge facades.  Vehicles, bridges and ships are like toys compared to its 350 feet height, approximately the size of the Statue of Liberty. His adversaries (no, not the humans) are two beastly looking creatures called Mutos and they are a vicious couple that just want to have babies. Never mess with a pregnant female, especially if it is a Muto.

Principal characters in the film are Dr. Serizawa (Ken Watanabe) and Dr. Graham (Sally Hawkins) who are scientists that uncover the location of the lair of a monster Godzilla in the Philippines. Joe Brody (Bryan Cranston) and Sandra Brody (Juliette Binoche) are nuclear engineers working at a Japanese power plant in Tokyo in 1999. They have a young son named Ford. Flash forward to 2014 and we find Ford in the Navy as a bomb expert and his wife Elle Brody (Elizabeth Olsen) is a nurse living in San Francisco.  Each of the characters will do their best to try and save the people of Tokyo, Hawaii and San Francisco from destruction by the radioactive creatures.

The show stealers here are the computer graphics, special effects, cinematography, costumes and sets by the following crew members: Director of photography Seamus McGarvey, production designer Owen Paterson, film editor Bob Ducsay, supervising art director Grant Van Der Slagt, set decoration by Elizabeth Wilcox, costume designer Sharen Davis and visual effects supervisor Jim Rygiel.  Make sure you see the film at a theater with good sound as it makes Godzilla a winning experience, credit supervising sound editor Ethan Van der Ryn.  The 3D is really not necessary in the smaller formats, but the combined visual and audio experience of IMAX 3D is truly a must for extreme action junkies.

Godzilla has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for intense sequences of destruction, mayhem and creature violence. You don’t go see the film for the acting, but it’s passable in this film. Be cautious when deciding to allow immature children see the film as it does have some scenes that are scary and very disturbing. 

FINAL ANALYSIS: For action seekers it’s the next best thing to Captain America 2 and Spider Man 2. If you see it in IMAX the film gets a (B), on standard widescreen theaters a (C).