I really enjoyed the movie. I was worried for a sec that we weren't going to get enough Godzilla, but that changed by the finale.
Also, I don't mind the human story, I just wish it was done a little bit better. It's almost like it had no time to breathe in between all the dramatic takes each time.
And the bait and switch protagonist wasn't cool yo. =( Wanted it to be more Cranston focused.
It also reminded me of movies from the 80's, where there was a slow buildup in destruction/monster movies instead of kasploosing in action after the first 5 minutes.
I didn't mind most of the dumb moments (to be honest I didn't really noticed, I was too in awe most of the time) but I disagree with the mentality of "well it's a monster movie, so it ought to be dumb, it just needs to be fun!". I think that the same mentality was prevalent in fantasy and superhero movies ("what do you expect, its a movie about a costumed hero).
We talk about a world where giant monsters attack a town, news everywhere is "END OF DAYS - MONSTERS APPEAR - WE'RE ALL FUCKED" and everyone shrugs it off, see e.g. the Vegas scene.
I thought the same though when the Muto flies into town and people sit in their office, doing their everyday job. That was pretty hilarious. Hey, maybe the evacuation slowly expands and it's just the parts closest to the sea that get evacuated first, I don't know. Maybe these people are just *that* dedicated to their job. I found it pretty amusing.
Ha ha, my friend said the same thing about the people being at work. It probably went something like this, "Honey, think I'll head down to the office today." "Be careful Dear, the news said there'd be 95% chance of Mutos today." "Okay, I'll bring an umbrella!"
Ha ha, my friend said the same thing about the people being at work. It probably went something like this, "Honey, think I'll head down to the office today." "Be careful Dear, the news said there'd be 95% chance of Mutos today." "Okay, I'll bring an umbrella!"
I don't even know it's the Godzilla name--in fact, I doubt it is. I had a LOT of friends who had heard of a new Godzilla movie but weren't looking forward to it at all, until I showed them the trailer. Hype ensued.
The only complaint I have is that they do not offer 2D IMAX experience. The 3D is really unnecessary and I don't even remember seeing any 3D effect during the entire movie.
Slept on it last night and had some time to think my thoughts.
First, what I didn't like:
As many have already mentioned, the characters are written in extremely broad strokes. Even Cranston, who is given the most "complex" motivations, is very simple. They could have EASILY reduced the cast by 2-3 characters (let's nix the wife and kid, if not Ford, and combine Watanabe and Hawkins into one character) and the story would have been improved and more focused. The wife and kid literally existed to just give a different POV for SOME events and to provide Ford with motivation.
Speaking of, what was Ford's motivation? To get back to his wife and kid? So lame. Cranston's character was at least trying to make sense of a tragedy and find the truth, but I guess he wouldn't have been able to be involved in so many cool setpieces.
A good many events happen because the script wills it and not because it makes sense:
Intruders on top secret abandoned city are caught and then brought to even MORE top secret part of the city.
Military first tries to transport nukes via TRAIN and only after that plan is utterly DESTROYED by the monsters that can SENSE and FIND nuclear sources, do they think to airlift the nuke.
A hundred people are working on a top-secret monster project on an island that can be infiltrated by fishermen and no one has known about it for the last 15 years? Even though the cocoon is ABOVE GROUND, with no roof/cover over top of it?
The actual reason for Godzilla showing up was borderline absurd. He is the alpha/apex predator, so naturally he will show up? That was contrived.
Why the fuck was the bridge closed off, btw? They made no attempt to try to explain that.
The pacing, for me, was very off during the first third. I'm not talking about the slow burn--I'm completely cool with that. I think it was something about the editing felt a little too rushed, maybe? We jumped frequently from scene to scene to scene, not having much time to breathe. This may seem silly, but just adding second or two from the
plant disaster to the "15 years later" shot cut would have helped.
It felt "rushed" even though not much was happening, I guess?
As much as I liked the "perspective"/POV-ness of the scenes and movie overall, sometimes it was very contrived.
The special forces in Honolulu have like 2-3 choppers with spotlights assisting them in their search, yet the infantry is first to see the MUTO?
The GIANT MUTO mama has clearly torn its way out of a MOUNTAINSIDE, yet we only discover this after the infantry discovers it?
However, in spit of all this...I really enjoyed it! What I liked:
The pacing of the last 2/3 of the film were almost PERFECT--the last third definitely was. I am completely happy with the amount of Godzilla we got. We got a lot more MUTO, but I think it was wise to not blow their wad on Godzilla early on. We got PLENTY of him in the last third.
The production overall was great, but the cinematography, effects, and sound design really stood out. The monster sounds were an appropriate mix of organic and mechanical--literally, like nothing else we've ever heard on Earth. Hearing their rumblings as they rose up over us was outstanding.
The monsters themselves: spectacular. I mean, perfect, really. The looked and behaved liked animals--I literally have no idea how other gaffers thought Godzilla's movements seemed unnatural or like a guy in a suit. He basically fought like a standing bear with a tail. I thought the movements, sound, and design were great, and I like that they were treated by animals led by instinct and not "evil".
The MUTO had a relationship (they nuzzled!) and cared for their offspring; Godzilla regarded us with all the curiosity we might afford weird looking insects.
I said it earlier, but the military ships following Godzilla as he swam around was just us being his remora fish. He doesn't really care. Rockets hitting him in the SF bay were just annoyances.
I have heard comparisons to Spielberg and other greats, and I can see that, though Gareth Edwards isn't QUITE there yet. Still, he clearly understands spectacle, even if it's done at expense of logic. There were some GREAT shots, some I would consider iconic:
The lone pilot parachute falling in silence in the city, followed shortly after by his jet SMASHING into a building.
Godzilla's tail whipping gracefully through the smoke as he turns and roars.
Godzilla and Ford making eye contact in a strangely touching moment. He felt like a big dog.
MUTO papa dive-bombing and making a warship look like a toy in a bathtub.
Power coming back on to reveal the MUTO at the airport.
Hiding from MUTO on the bridge/track.
The very Jurassic Park-inspired bridge scene.
Godzilla's tail charging up for the blast. This got cheers from the audience.
MUTO threatening a street full of people, only for Godzilla to rise up from the other end of the street.
Of course, the paradrop.
It's pretty obvious that the monsters serve as allegory for nature/natural disasters.
The government not being able to do anything despite knowing about the monsters was telling. Honestly, I wish they DID get to use the nuke on them and then show that it has no effect. It would have furthered the theme of "we are nothing compared to nature". We literally have NO response against these guys.
Someone complained that people in the casino didn't notice anything on the news. It may seem a bit silly, but it just seemed to me that this was humanity's self-absorption in a scene. How many people in Vegas would give more than a glance at the news, even if there was a disaster?
Humanity is insignificant. They are literally the backdrop of this movie and I can see why some people would find fault in that since we spend a lot of time with the humans, but it worked for me.
I loved that the only two moments where humanity is really ACKNOWLEDGED are the deeply personal scenes where MUTO's babies are killed and Godzilla collapses in exhaustion under the skyscraper.
The only complaint I have is that they do not offer 2D IMAX experience. The 3D is really unnecessary and I don't even remember seeing any 3D effect during the entire movie.
However, in spit of all this...I really enjoyed it! What I liked:
I have heard comparisons to Spielberg and other greats, and I can see that, though Gareth Edwards isn't QUITE there yet. Still, he clearly understands spectacle, even if it's done at expense of logic. There were some GREAT shots, some I would consider iconic:
The lone pilot parachute falling in silence in the city, followed shortly after by his jet SMASHING into a building.
Godzilla's tail whipping gracefully through the smoke as he turns and roars.
Godzilla and Ford making eye contact in a strangely touching moment. He felt like a big dog.
MUTO papa dive-bombing and making a warship look like a toy in a bathtub.
Power coming back on to reveal the MUTO at the airport.
Hiding from MUTO on the bridge/track.
The very Jurassic Park-inspired bridge scene.
Godzilla's tail charging up for the blast. This got cheers from the audience.
MUTO threatening a street full of people, only for Godzilla to rise up from the other end of the street.
Of course, the paradrop.
Given that there are complaints about not enough Godzilla, I figure it's only a matter of time before someone makes an infographic/chart comparing monster screentimes.
Since Godzilla is supposed to be the predator, why didn't he eat the MUTOs?
During some parts of the final fight, I was smiling like a child. It was stunning. I had to hit the strip club after seeing Gojira, because I had all this sexual tension built-up from the movie.
Slept on it last night and had some time to think my thoughts.
A hundred people are working on a top-secret monster project on an island that can be infiltrated by fishermen and no one has known about it for the last 15 years? Even though the cocoon is ABOVE GROUND, with no roof/cover over top of it?
The actual reason for Godzilla showing up was borderline absurd. He is the alpha/apex predator, so naturally he will show up? That was contrived.
You wrote SOOOOOO MUCH here but I will address those spoilers...
The cocoon was not underground but if you recall, it was actually in a giant ditch where the plant originally was. It made a cocoon under the reactor and they eventually dug it out. They even have ground floor view from the son Ford how he couldn't see what was going down in the hole...and then MUTO sticking his claw out, reach from below...totally not really "above ground." And they had wire prison and didn't build a roof cause they didn't know what it was. They would have no idea what was in it because they didn't even know it was talking, Cranston did.
Godzilla being alpha predator is an excellent storyline and feels like out of the idea or some of the movie series. It adds light-heartedness to the serious movie.
Positives:
-Build up to Godzilla was well done and gave chills
-What fight scenes there are were good, especially the end.
-As usual great performance by Bryan Cranston
-CGI was great for the most part
-Godzilla was a badass
The negatives:
-Not enough attention to details (too many WTF how did you not notice that moments)
-Human story lacking/bad dialog.
-Humans making stupid desicions
-Could have replaced a good ~20mins or so of human crap with monsters
-Military decisions that made no sense
why would they transport nukes on a train when they could have sent a bomber plane in the middle of the ocean to lure them out there and sacrifice the plane. But I guess that would defeat the purpose of setting up the fight between Godzilla and the MUTO's in the city
something that's a bit different from most toho godzilla flicks after the original. You actually see many civilian/bystander/soldiers casualties, but they don't really bother too much about that, in an almost horror flick comedic way.
I guess thats what the pg-13 rating can get you.
I'm still calling bs that they hadn't really had a contingency plan
especially with them knowing there are huge radiation eating animals for many years. Carrying a nuke cross country over old rickety railroads isn't a 'plan'. Why not use prototype rail gun tech, or invent 'masers' or w/e the lightning tech that is used in most toho films from the military? Why didn't they just use the many nuclear powered supercarriers we have around the world as bait?
when the Us government finds a egg, which has a twin egg/monster that feeds off nuclear energy, why in fucks name would they store it in a nuclear waste dump?
Secondly: why would they decide to not write down in which safe they put this one of a kind and exceptionally dangerous egg, prompting marine SF to run through checking every safe? When they put it in for the first time, did the commander just shout "ehhhh, just bung it in any old safe, it'll be fine, dont write down which one"
Saw the first facebook review with someone saying they were disappointed with the amount of Godzilla. I'll probably end up seeing it Tuesday or Wednesday, try and avoid the weekend rush.
when the Us government finds a egg, which has a twin egg/monster that feeds off nuclear energy, why in fucks name would they store it in a nuclear waste dump?
Secondly: why would they decide to not write down in which safe they put this one of a kind and exceptionally dangerous egg, prompting marine SF to run through checking every safe? When they put it in for the first time, did the commander just shout "ehhhh, just bung it in any old safe, it'll be fine, dont write down which one"
when the Us government finds a egg, which has a twin egg/monster that feeds off nuclear energy, why in fucks name would they store it in a nuclear waste dump?
Secondly: why would they decide to not write down in which safe they put this one of a kind and exceptionally dangerous egg, prompting marine SF to run through checking every safe? When they put it in for the first time, did the commander just shout "ehhhh, just bung it in any old safe, it'll be fine, dont write down which one"
when the Us government finds a egg, which has a twin egg/monster that feeds off nuclear energy, why in fucks name would they store it in a nuclear waste dump?
Secondly: why would they decide to not write down in which safe they put this one of a kind and exceptionally dangerous egg, prompting marine SF to run through checking every safe? When they put it in for the first time, did the commander just shout "ehhhh, just bung it in any old safe, it'll be fine, dont write down which one"
sometimes liberties need to be taken to add agency.
And yeah for a second i thought i went into the wrong theater. the AMC imax had only 2d trailers, and the whole opening credits sequence was not in 3d.
You wrote SOOOOOO MUCH here but I will address those spoilers...
The cocoon was not underground but if you recall, it was actually in a giant ditch where the plant originally was. It made a cocoon under the reactor and they eventually dug it out. They even have ground floor view from the son Ford how he couldn't see what was going down in the hole...and then MUTO sticking his claw out, reach from below...totally not really "above ground." And they had wire prison and didn't build a roof cause they didn't know what it was. They would have no idea what was in it because they didn't even know it was talking, Cranston did.
Godzilla being alpha predator is an excellent storyline and feels like out of the idea or some of the movie series. It adds light-heartedness to the serious movie.
Someone spoiler-tagged "the part where those dudes are lying on the bridge". I just don't get it.
So I was trying to think what was the moral / theme of this movie. "Nature is unstoppably powerful and it doesn't care about what humans are doing" is a pretty dumb message in a climate-change world.
Saw it this afternoon in Bangkok, thought it was excellent. It was a little odd for the first half hour or so, but then it kicked in and I was in love. So much cool stuff. I love how it is filmed for the most part from human's eyes.
The more I think about this movie the more I'm in complete adoration of it. I think I want to see it a second time. It was too good. Such a beautiful movie.
The composition of CGI and IRL was up there with the best of the best of the best I felt.
Some people are really sensitive about spoilers, I figured better to be safe than sorry
So I was trying to think what was the moral / theme of this movie. "Nature is unstoppably powerful and it doesn't care about what humans are doing" is a pretty dumb message in a climate-change world.
Someone spoiler-tagged "the part where those dudes are lying on the bridge". I just don't get it.
So I was trying to think what was the moral / theme of this movie. "Nature is unstoppably powerful and it doesn't care about what humans are doing" is a pretty dumb message in a climate-change world.
Who, me? I think tagging anything that isn't revealed in the trailers is a good idea.
You're mixing up man's effect on the climate with the power of nature. Lack of control over nature=/=our effect on nature. If anything, our actions are just making nature even more volatile.
when the Us government finds a egg, which has a twin egg/monster that feeds off nuclear energy, why in fucks name would they store it in a nuclear waste dump?
Secondly: why would they decide to not write down in which safe they put this one of a kind and exceptionally dangerous egg, prompting marine SF to run through checking every safe? When they put it in for the first time, did the commander just shout "ehhhh, just bung it in any old safe, it'll be fine, dont write down which one"
What a disappointment. Has everything in place to he great. Respect the tone they went with but when you go that route I have to care about the characters. I was rolling my eyes in every scene involving the leads. It just did nothing for me for half of the film.
I was impressed with how many wordless sequences this movie had. They used dialogue to fill in a few patches here and there but overall this was a very poetic and calm experience. I appreciated that so much. Rather than piling on context it just plays the whole thing completely straight. We know how its gonna play out. Its as predictable as a Hurricane. And then things play out in what is essentially real time! It was so much more immersive than a Pacifim Rim-type movie where you have to learn all this bullshit just to understand what is happening.
It was also a little subversive. In retrospect what happens to both
spoiler Ford's parents
is a little trite, but inside the movie as it was happening, both shocked and affected me. It was a little Game of Thronesy in that aspect which added to how dire the situation felt.
There were a few great moments of humor too. When Ford's child says "Mom, look at the tv!" And its the most aggro-shit you've ever seen on screen. That was just great especially since we had just been there and got pulled away before we got to see anything good. I also liked the little story with the young boy on the train. He just ran away afterwards and Ford didn't even get a thank you for risking his life.
Somehow I didn't know they were going to destroy San Francisco and being a Bay Area person I really enjoyed seeing places I recognize as home. To be honest all the locations were great. It was a grand globe trotting adventure.
There were a few micro-tropes in this movie. I counted at least three or four times someone opened a door to a room only to reveal a grand view of destruction. Then there was the Jurassic Park references. And Ken Wanatabe's character literally only spoke in proverbs. He didn't have a single line of normal dialogue. Really strange.
Best of all was the sound. It was very restrained, which was good because my theater had the big subwoofer out. There were a few bass kicks that were so deep I could feel that really uncomfortable almost panic inducing tickling sensation inside your organs. But parts of the movie felt as if they were silent. It was amazing. And the piano notes as he comes face to face with Godzilla while backed up against a car. This movie was superpro all around.
I can't stop thinking about how fucking awesome this movie is.
something that's a bit different from most toho godzilla flicks after the original. You actually see many civilian/bystander/soldiers casualties, but they don't really bother too much about that, in an almost horror flick comedic way.
I guess thats what the pg-13 rating can get you.
I'm still calling bs that they hadn't really had a contingency plan
especially with them knowing there are huge radiation eating animals for many years. Carrying a nuke cross country over old rickety railroads isn't a 'plan'. Why not use prototype rail gun tech, or invent 'masers' or w/e the lightning tech that is used in most toho films from the military? Why didn't they just use the many nuclear powered supercarriers we have around the world as bait?
The world now knows the existence of kaijuu, especially the king of the monsters. It will be like Ultraman where you have people fighting kaijuu with maser tanks but fail until Ultraman Godzilla arrives to deal a Specium Ray Atomic Breath finisher!
It's pretty obvious that the monsters serve as allegory for nature/natural disasters.
Humanity is insignificant. They are literally the backdrop of this movie and I can see why some people would find fault in that since we spend a lot of time with the humans, but it worked for me.
I loved that the only two moments where humanity is really ACKNOWLEDGED are the deeply personal scenes where MUTO's babies are killed and Godzilla collapses in exhaustion under the skyscraper.
Yeah generally Godzilla movies are all about that, at least most of the showa stuff. It's essentially a human-focused story about the mistakes of human and human's position in the earth.
I can't remember: what was the reason for Godzilla first appearing in 1954, and then disappearing?
I'm sure there was a restricted airspace warning on a "nuclear fallout" location. They don't want anything near there.
The Godzilla 1954 original was kind of a mix between superstitious mythical sea monster and nuclear bombs creating the monster with all the radiation He left radiation where ever he left even in his foot prints. '54 was crazy in your face about nuclear war and how it shouldn't continue.
