Hello there fellow ReelGoodTimers; yeah I just gave you a name. Sorry it's been a while since my last review but shit (in the form of college finals) happens. However, I've been relinquished from the chains of education (for the summer at least) and bring forth a new review for your reading pleasure. You are so very welcome. Let's review Godzilla!!!
Dear Sony, this is how you make a trailer!!! Okay now that I've got that out of my system.....let's talk about the king of monsters. First of all, ever since the first teaser came out, I've been dying to watch this. It looked so freaking awesome on so many levels and with the shit movies that have been coming out this year, I needed some redemption and I'm glad to say I got it. Were there some issues? Yes of course because we're human beings and we like to judge but hate being judged. So in the spirit of hypocrisy I'm going to tell you what I loved about the movie and just that one thing that I would have liked to have been different.
1) Godzilla was a mother fucking bad-ass
I know there's been some controversy over Godzilla getting fat but in his defense, you gotta be buff when you're in the WWE ring of monsters. I really liked the way he looked. He was HUGE!!! The director took pains to tease how big he really is and it helped with the anticipation of the big reveal. You'll be all:
I know there's been some controversy over Godzilla getting fat but in his defense, you gotta be buff when you're in the WWE ring of monsters. I really liked the way he looked. He was HUGE!!! The director took pains to tease how big he really is and it helped with the anticipation of the big reveal. You'll be all:
His roar is stupendously amazing. I don't know if you'll feel the same way but it had a sense of strength that is meant to scare you and give you hope at the same time. Whenever you hear him roar, you know shit's gonna hit the fan and Godzilla is going to throw down with moves WWE wrestlers only dreamed of fake acting with their opponents.
Also when Godzilla throws down, you'll be cheering from your seat and you forget that he is this big monster that's destroying the city ala Man of Steel. I won't spoil it for you but Godzilla's final fight, the fight that ends all fights, had me and audiences going:
It's almost worth it to spend your matinee ticket price just to watch that scene. It was EPIC!!! On a side note; I think I laughed harder than I should have when Ken Watanabe mentioned Godzilla's name for the first time. I'm aware the Japanese accent came into play but I felt like I was in a Judo class and he was my sensei when he said it.
2) The director Gareth Edwards is one awesome and talented individual
I touched on him a little in the Godzilla portion of this review and how he brilliantly teased the audience till Godzilla's big reveal. I loved the way he worked to camera to create an eerie feel to the movie. Even when the sun was out and shining, you still felt this impending doom that was about to hit. His wide-shots were breathtakingly beautiful and the whole movie just looked amazing. I'm impressed mainly because this is his first big studio film but hey, if you've got it, you've got it, and Gareth Edwards has it in spades. I hope I see more from him in the near future.
I touched on him a little in the Godzilla portion of this review and how he brilliantly teased the audience till Godzilla's big reveal. I loved the way he worked to camera to create an eerie feel to the movie. Even when the sun was out and shining, you still felt this impending doom that was about to hit. His wide-shots were breathtakingly beautiful and the whole movie just looked amazing. I'm impressed mainly because this is his first big studio film but hey, if you've got it, you've got it, and Gareth Edwards has it in spades. I hope I see more from him in the near future.
3) Heisenberg, Kick-Ass, Lord Katsumoto, and Scarlet Witch....oh my
So I'm going to be professional, then I'm going to let my hormones take over and get shallow. Just a prior warning before you think I'm a cat in heat. Bryan Cranston was pretty awesome as he always is and I'm pretty sure always will be. I still can't believe Malcolm's dad turned into a crystal meth manufacturer, and now:
So I'm going to be professional, then I'm going to let my hormones take over and get shallow. Just a prior warning before you think I'm a cat in heat. Bryan Cranston was pretty awesome as he always is and I'm pretty sure always will be. I still can't believe Malcolm's dad turned into a crystal meth manufacturer, and now:
I love actors who react in such a natural way, with just enough drama that it doesn't feel like it's over the top, like Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games (Dear IMDB, I'm not twelve, just a good observer of good performances). Bryan Cranston delivered and not just a USPS delivery, we're talking express packaging right here. I do feel obligated to warn you that he's not in it as much as you'd like him to be and the trailers tried to lure you in with hopes that Heisenberg will be the main character. Next we have Ken Watanabe, he does a good job with his role though at times it's hard to understand what he's saying. Actually referring to him as a sensei seems quite apt as his character seems to be more aware and in control of the whole monster situation. There's a scene where he says "Let them fight", and it just gives you a foreshadowing of the awesomeness that is to come. Elizabeth Olsen is a talented actress and reacts very well to situations thrown her way. She does not play and plot changing, life defining role in the film but she makes her time on screen worth while. She's also great at acting scared.
Now that we've covered the deep end of the pool, let's swim along to the shallow side and admire the beauty of one Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Damn you Sam Taylor-Wood for stealing my future with this beautiful man. I mean just look at him:
Sigh.....oh you did a great job with your part and I get that military folks don't emote much (well that's the stereotype anyway, though the Frozen marines have demolished it) but just a little bit more emotion sweetie. I know you have it in you and I know you're a good actor, and I get that it's a character choice, but just a tiny winy little ity bitty bit more would have been perfect. You're still pretty though and I did enjoy you for the most part. Now let's take one last look at you before we carry on.
4) This might be weird to say, but the movie had a Kick-Ass (no pun intended) intro
It's true though. I appreciate a great intro to a movie. Zero Dark Thirty had a great one, I did enjoy Superbad's intro as well, how could you not include Footloose; but this was pretty special. You have to see it for yourself to know what I mean. The score was fantastic and the graphics fit perfectly with the tone and theme of the movie. It set the right tone for the adventure we were about to embark on.
It's true though. I appreciate a great intro to a movie. Zero Dark Thirty had a great one, I did enjoy Superbad's intro as well, how could you not include Footloose; but this was pretty special. You have to see it for yourself to know what I mean. The score was fantastic and the graphics fit perfectly with the tone and theme of the movie. It set the right tone for the adventure we were about to embark on.
***********************************SPOILERS*************************************
You have been warned folks. I'm going to talk about point number 5 and that's the one thing that bothered me a little about the movie. It's not going to be super spoilery per say but I've warned you just in case. Okay we're about to delve into it now, you may leave or if you stay, it's on you.
5) The one thing I would have changed...............
Here's my problem with the MUTOs (the creatures that Godzilla ultimately goes up against in the movie), they set it out so that Godzilla and the MUTOs are ancient creatures from an earlier time. See, Godzilla was really well done and looked prehistoric in his own right, but the MUTOs looked extra terrestrial to me. They should have looked more animalistic and reptilian more than slimy and alien-like. They did have a close resemblance to spiders but it should have been more prehistoric spiders rather than E.T on steroids. Maybe it's just me who see's it that way but I thought I'd share my opinion since I'm under this weird influence that people might actually give a fuck about what I have to say.
All in all, this movie was AMAZING. It left me wanting more, it had me cheering as if it was a sporting event, and it made me want to buy a Godzilla plush toy. With that let's rate the beast.
Godzilla is Back Bitches!!!!! (aka 4.5/5 stars)
Thank you for taking the time to read this. For frequent readers, I'm sorry for the dry spell and I'll try my very best to stay on top of things....that took a dirty turn....oh well. Hope you had a Reel Good Time!!!
-Vidya
-Vidya