Movie Review: Godzilla (2014)

Could nuclear radiation create something we've never seen before? In May 2014, we found out the answer was yes, and what was created was monstrous.

Directing this 123 minute action/adventure/sci-fi Gareth Edwards.

Dodging disaster is: Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Ford Brody, Ken Watanabe as Dr. Ishiro Serizawa, Elizabeth Olsen as Elle Brody, Bryan Cranston as Joe Brody, David Strathairn as Admiral William Stenz, Richard T. Jones as Captain Russell Hampton, Carson Bolde as Sam Brody and Sally Hawkins as Vivienne Graham.

Scientists Ishiro and Vivienne found not only a colossal skeleton but two egg shaped pods in a quarry in the Philippines. One of the eggs has hatched and whatever was in it had found it's way to the sea. Could whatever was in the egg be connected to the disaster that happened at a nuclear plant in Tokyo Japan, or was it just an accident? Joe Brody knew what happened at the plant wasn't a normal accident, all he had to do was find proof.

In 1954 we witnessed a creation born from nuclear radiation, and we called it... Godzilla. Now in 2014, that same creature has risen from the depth of the sea once again, and even with all the destruction it's caused, it was still awesome to see Godzilla. Yes, yes Godzilla is here! I've been waiting far too long to see another Godzilla flick, the last good one I saw was Godzilla 2000 (1999). So I was definitely ready to see the King of Monsters do some defending of the crown.

Ok, so Max Borenstein who wrote the screenplay and Dave Callahm who did the story, put together something that will entertain everyone. Something that you didn't have to be a fan of or know the history to know what was going on. You can just sit back and enjoy the ride of a great film. Director Edwards had an idea on what he wanted for the playthrough, he wanted this film to have not only the look but also the feel of the oldschool Godzilla. Edwards also wanted this film to be a stand alone and tell a story from start to finish. Well, Edwards pulled all that off with flying colors.
                                                                

For me watching this flick, I felt like I was a kid again watching Godzilla back in the day. Even after all updated special effects that Godzilla and the rest of the film got, that looked great by the way, it still carried that zilla charm that you felt while watching the movies back then. Everything looked great and flowed smoothly from scene to scene. Now you don't have the cheesy guy in a suit this go round (which I kind of miss I have to tell ya), but you still have huge monsters and lots of destruction going on. Downside, it's a little bit more serious than Godzilla fans are used to, least I was anyways. Unless you count Godzilla (1998), which was also a more serious film, BUT! We don't acknowledge "that" movie... ev-er.

The cast did a good job, and come to find out there's an Olsen out in the world that I like. Really, I can't say I was amazed by anyone's performance or that anyone will be winning any Oscar awards for this flick.

Overall I liked it. It looked and sounded great, yeah the cast was ok but Godzilla was awesome looking. It was a little lite on the zilla for my taste but still worth catching and the fight scenes were something worth catching on the big screen. Side note, since it's box office numbers hit around 93 million (domestic) on the opening weekend, yeah, a sequel is already getting put into the works. (happy dance!) 

It's rated PG - 13 for violence.

4 stars


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