I saw it in Imax 3D today. I thought it was ok overall. The monsters were a backdrop to the human characters instead of the other way around. It was a lot less "fun" than I had anticipated. Great camera work though. Lots of really beautiful and eerie shots from start to finish. I went with 3 other men and they all really liked it.
To be fair, Godzilla 2014 kind of cheats when it comes to scale in this regard. The water beneath the golden gate bridge is 300 feet deep. He'd be barely sticking out of the water if he was actually standing up like the movie suggests. It's more like he's standing near the surface of the water.
There's a few things that I didn't get, that I believe are probably unrealistic, unless I'm missing something...
I really wish Joe Brody's wife wasn't shown to be outrunning the radiation (that shouldn't be possible) and didn't make it to the door to see Brody before she ultimately died -- she was nowhere near the door when Brody originally closed it.
It wasn't like there were gamma rays shooting through the hallway. It was the water vapor that was radioactive. So yes, she could have outrun the radiation because it was only in the water vapor in concentrated amounts.
Also, the bomb on the boat -- could that boat even support the bomb's weight? Also, when it exploded, it seemed like a fairly small explosion compared to the "megaton" bomb it was supposed to be. I think Ford Brody probably shouldn't have survived the explosion/nuclear fallout from it.
Well if five people can lift it, I am am sure that a large boat like that could support it. Also, I don't actually know mow much a minutemen warhead actually weighs, so they may have messed that up. As for the second part, I don't know. It looked pretty far out, I would be more worried about the concussive blast than the radiation especially since there wouldn't be much fallout as the water would have been vaporized and there was no particulates (dirt) to throw up into the atmosphere to cause significant fallout.
I was a bit skeptical going into the movie, but I surprisingly ended up loving it. Hell, I'll probably watch it again. Significantly better than Pacific Rim (which I still thought was decent).
Well if five people can lift it, I am am sure that a large boat like that could support it. Also, I don't actually know mow much a minutemen warhead actually weighs, so they may have messed that up. As for the second part, I don't know. It looked pretty far out, I would be more worried about the concussive blast than the radiation especially since there wouldn't be much fallout as the water would have been vaporized and there was no particulates (dirt) to throw up into the atmosphere to cause significant fallout.
Just got home from work. Not sure if it was mentioned here yet, but here is a brief snippet from box office mojo...
Godzilla ruled the box office on Friday with a stunning $38.5 million. Meanwhile, Neighbors and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 fell hard, while Million Dollar Arm failed to find the strike zone.
Playing at over 3,950 theaters, Godzilla's $38.5 million opening day is the biggest of the year ahead of comic book sequels Captain America: The Winter Soldier ($36.9 million) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 ($35.2 million). It's also way above World War Z ($25.2 million), which was viewed as the most direct comparable title.
Just got back from seeing this. Went into the film utterly blind, and was pleasantly surprised. Cliches out the ass, but damn if I didn't get a rush. Cranston manages to tug at the heart just enough to give the story that needed push.
Also,
I had no idea there would be more monsters than the big guy himself. Monster versus monster(s) was awesome as fuck, with some deliciously badass hero shots of Godzilla, and, crucially, the battle doesn't outstay its welcome.
For summer blockbuster fare, you could do worse.
Edit: I'd put it far above Pacific Rim, too, mainly due to the better use of characters.
There's a few things that I didn't get, that I believe are probably unrealistic, unless I'm missing something...
I really wish Joe Brody's wife wasn't shown to be outrunning the radiation (that shouldn't be possible) and didn't make it to the door to see Brody before she ultimately died -- she was nowhere near the door when Brody originally closed it. Also, the bomb on the boat -- could that boat even support the bomb's weight? Also, when it exploded, it seemed like a fairly small explosion compared to the "megaton" bomb it was supposed to be. I think Ford Brody probably shouldn't have survived the explosion/nuclear fallout from it.
Again, unless I'm missing some things, it just doesn't seem like that stuff was that realistic (and I know that I'm talking about realism in a monster movie, but this stuff was a little too unrealistic to be believable for me). It's also not like that stuff couldn't have been reworked to make it more consistent either.
Just got home from work. Not sure if it was mentioned here yet, but here is a brief snippet from box office mojo...
Godzilla ruled the box office on Friday with a stunning $38.5 million. Meanwhile, Neighbors and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 fell hard, while Million Dollar Arm failed to find the strike zone.
Playing at over 3,950 theaters, Godzilla's $38.5 million opening day is the biggest of the year ahead of comic book sequels Captain America: The Winter Soldier ($36.9 million) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 ($35.2 million). It's also way above World War Z ($25.2 million), which was viewed as the most direct comparable title.
The water vapor is radioactive because the water is used to cool the rods, the plant got damaged by the MUTO and the pipes containing the water started to break and the radioactive water vapor flooded the sections, the actual direct radiation from the core wouldn't have spread that quickly because it isn't expose to open air to spread out.
Second time through. The movie gives a lot of good information in small ways you'd miss the first time. My clarified thoughts.
Godzilla and the MUTOs
The MUTOs are parasitic. They were found in a body comparable to that of Godzilla, so it's likely Godzilla knows them to be a threat. So when he hears their mating calls, he goes after them.
The EMP attack of the MUTOs has a 200 mile radius. That's HUGE. Explains why they didn't use aircraft to escort the bomb (I think the train was steam). Speaking of aircraft, it's explained in the movie that whatever allows the MUTOs to generate that kind of EMP burst, makes them impervious to radar tracking, which means they have to rely on sight. Hence the falling jets -- eyes in the sky.
Speaking of the nuke, one man said that twenty miles out in the ocean, there'd be minimal damage to the city.
Pacing
The first part of the movie, with Joe, is slower than the rest of the movie, but it all moves at a brisk pace no scene is unnecessary. I don't really see the problems with the pacing. Unlike most movies, everything is building towards the final event. If that doesn't work for you, well I guess you won't like the movie.
Characters
They're bland, sure, but as I posted the first I saw the movie, they don't detract much from the film because of the plot and the Edwards' direction saves it. There's always some new twist, some new event that moves the story forward and keeps things interesting. Additionally, they're as much perspectives for the audience as they are actual people. They are meant to show, whether small (Ellie, Ford) or large (Serizawa, Stenz) efforts, humanity can't do anything. Speaking of that...
Theme
I was slightly wrong before. There's really one central theme throughout the entire film, and that's humanity being subservient to nature. Trying to defeat Godzilla is like trying to stop a hurricane. The only thing you can do is plan to get out of the way and hope for the best.
The movie is fairly logical for a blockbuster. Holds up, logically, on a second time through. The only iffy parts in that area:
how much happens and how long the bomb was timed for (an hour and a half), unless I missed something.
She is the wreath of nature, the punishment we deserve. But in same time saves us and immediatly pulls of when she defeats the MUTOs. The point they tried to make was a little bit spotty.
im surprised this movie is doing so well its projected to beat both spiderman and winter soldier. i actually thought godzilla was less relevant than comic book movies considering. i really cant explain why its doing so well.
i did watch this in imax3d the audience went pretty crazy and even at the end people were discussing the movie in the theater as i was walking out.
I enjoyed this movie but I wasn't blown away by it. I was having a hard time thinking of why I found it slow / boring at times and I don't think it was the human storylines. I was fine with those and found the pacing well done. The issue for me I determined was the Muto's. They were just super generic and had way too much screen time compared to Godzilla. The payoff at the end was pretty great however and the special fx and the cinematography were fantastic.
im surprised this movie is doing so well its projected to beat both spiderman and winter soldier. i actually thought godzilla was less relevant than comic book movies considering. i really cant explain why its doing so well.
i did watch this in imax3d the audience went pretty crazy and even at the end people were discussing the movie in the theater as i was walking out.
She is the wreath of nature, the punishment we deserve. But in same time saves us and immediatly pulls of when she defeats the MUTOs. The point they tried to make was a little bit spotty.
Godzilla is usually used with male pronouns in the West.
The really, only point the movie makes about Godzilla, I saw, is that he's a force of nature that can't be stopped. His nuclear origins are more thin here, compared to the '54 version. Not much of a punishment per se for the use of nuclear bombs like I thought before, but really just a force of nature.
She is the wreath of nature, the punishment we deserve. But in same time saves us and immediatly pulls of when she defeats the MUTOs. The point they tried to make was a little bit spotty.
That was basically the same way it was in the '54 film, which this movie was based on.
There are some funny moments in the film.
Joe's "I don't get many visitors" line. Ford's kid watching the battle on the TV between Godzilla and the MUTO near Hawaii.
Godzilla is usually used with male pronouns in the West.
The really, only point the movie makes about Godzilla, I saw, is that he's a force of nature that can't be stopped. His nuclear origins are more thin here, compared to the '54 version. Not much of a punishment per se for the use of nuclear bombs like I thought before, but really just a force of nature.
I'm especially referring to Edwards statements: "Godzilla is definitely a representation of the wrath of nature. The theme is man versus nature and Godzilla is certainly the nature side of it. You can't win that fight. Nature's always going to win and that's what the subtext of our movie is about. He's the punishment we deserve." http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/new...a-atomic-breath-the-design-darabont-and-more/
I'm especially referring to Edwards statements: "Godzilla is definitely a representation of the wrath of nature. The theme is man versus nature and Godzilla is certainly the nature side of it. You can't win that fight. Nature's always going to win and that's what the subtext of our movie is about. He's the punishment we deserve." http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/new...a-atomic-breath-the-design-darabont-and-more/
Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE it if Godzilla was a girl. But he's not, and has never been referred to as such (in the States, at least not sure how it is in Japan).
The lone, probably exception would be Godzilla 1998 where Godzilla got pregnant and they still called him a "he"...
I know male is the default option of everything in the west, but seriously why are you bothering? There is no hint that she is male. And the spoilertagged part isn't about the gender, it is about the point I made in my earlier post:
On Godzillas "character":
She is the wreath of nature, the punishment we deserve. But in same time saves us and immediatly pulls of when she defeats the MUTOs. The point they tried to make was a little bit spotty.
Why are people even engaging Oersted on this? He's clearly either trying to get a rise out of people or just acting dumb. Neither scenario demands further attention.
Why are you bothering? You're the one coming up with the female thing out of nowhere (and blaming it on "the west"), where there is no basis for it. It's either "it" or "he", according to every source ever.
And on your other point about wreaths, while that statement may have been in an interview, the movie itself is very clear about the conflict.
Godzilla is there to "balance" things (take out the Mutos), not punish us for anything. He's a protector of sorts.
Wikipedia said:
When inquired if Godzilla was "good or bad", producer Shogo Tomiyama likened it to a Shinto "God of Destruction" which lacks moral agency and cannot be held to human standards of good and evil. "He totally destroys everything and then there is a rebirth. Something new and fresh can begin." The gender of the Godzilla character has been a subject of confusion for English-speaking audiences.[45] In the original Japanese films, Godzilla and all the other monsters are referred to with gender-neutral pronouns such as "it", while in the English dubbed versions, Godzilla is explicitly described as a male, such as in the title of Godzilla, King of the Monsters"
I know male is the default option of everything in the west, but seriously why are you bothering? There is no hint that she is male. And the spoilertagged part isn't about the gender, it is about the point I made in my earlier post:
On Godzillas "character":
She is the wreath of nature, the punishment we deserve. But in same time saves us and immediatly pulls of when she defeats the MUTOs. The point they tried to make was a little bit spotty.
Just saw this today. I went in with low expectations and left very satisfied.
Overall really good movie and I enjoyed almost every minute of it. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who's a fan of Godzilla or even someone who's looking for a good flick. With that said
the ending felt kinda rushed to me. Like how everyone's reunited and then Godzilla gets up and leaves and it just ends like that. I don't know, just didn't sit right with me. I also felt they could've made the fight between Godzilla and MUTO a bit longer.
That's just my opinion though, and it didn't take away too much from my full experience.
