Running Time: 123 min
Director: Gareth Edwards
Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Cranston, Elizabeth Olsen, Ken Wanatabe
Review: Finally, I got to see the King of Monsters return to the big screen for yet another time! After the first American atempt in 1998 was considered an abomination by Godzilla Fans, this movie really brings back the key elements of the old Japanese classics.
As everyone probably hoped, the cinematography is phenomenal. Beautifully constructed shots with some great camera angles and mixed with top-notch special effects. Especially a real epic parachuting sequence.
Bryan Cranston gives us damn-fine acting as usual, and Aaron Taylor Johnson is a very sympathetic main character, who's luckily not as overly heroic as others in this genre. His chemistry with Elizabeth Olsen is pretty good too, and it will be interesting to see how they switch from couple to siblings in the upcoming "Avengers: Age of Ultron". Oh, and Ken Wanatabe has the best japanese accent to explain everything about: "Gojira" (as he's oiginally spelled).
Concerning the story, the trailers for this film really didn't give away much, and eventhough one would argue that there is not much to know about a monster movie, the film will most likely not quite be what you expected. Wether that is a good or a bad thing depends on the kind of movie goer you are.
Firstly, about half an hour in, the movie introduces a big part of the main plot, which might leave those not-so-well-versed in the Godzilla lore scratching their heads. Secondly, the film puts a big focus on the perspective of the humans, who will not only have to cope with a monster invasion but also with its side effects like plane crashes, earthquakes and tsunamis. This means that our beloved monstreous destructor doesn't get a full body action shot till the climax of the movie. However, this doesn't result in boredom as it brilliantly teases a leg, tail or an eye of the iconic character and it gives you chills as you really get the impression that this is a humongous creature.
All in all, Godzilla is a great modern monster film that feels oldschool while still staying fresh. Note that, obviously, it is not highly intellectual cinema, but it is an awesome piece of entertainment and a worthy installment of the Godzilla franchise, that by the way should be seen on the best screen you can get.
I myself chose 500m2 IMAX 3D.... worth every penny.
For Fans of:
Pacific Rim (2013)
Godzilla (1954)
Gidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)
Predator (1987)
And check out my friend's review over at B.A.'s Screentest for a second opinion!
