Support NeoGAF

[Blablurn]

Would be awesome if we get a Directors Cut with the Blu Ray release

 

[Ixion]

Empire has a write-up of Edwards' spolierific discussion about the movie;

Spoiler

THE DECISION TO KILL CRANSTON

“The decision was to kill Joe Brody, the character in the movie [not Bryan Cranston]. Then we were all, ‘Who’s going to play him?’ And you look around, and Bryan’s a phenomenal actor and we thought we’d be blessed if he did it. I’ll be honest with you: we tried versions in the screenplay where he survived. And in every one we did that with, there was nothing else that character could do without being silly. If he sticks with Ford, it becomes Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade, and the tone of the movie becomes fun, but not the tone we were trying to do. And if he sticks with the military guys, he’s like a fifth wheel. His job was done in the storyline there. And retrospectively, when you get to see the movie, I understand [why people are upset].

“We did try to make it work. It was “all ideas welcome”, even with Bryan. But as a story beat, he becomes redundant once he’s handed over the baton to the rest of the cast.

“I also wanted people to think, “Oh! They’re willing to do that… Wow, okay. Maybe this isn’t going to end how I think it will.” It throws people a bit. I like that in movies – when you stop thinking they’re going to everything you could predict.”

Thing is, when Steven Seagal died in Executive Decision, we had Kurt Russell. If you're going to write your best character so he dies early in the movie, you better have a Kurt Russell.

Also people highly overexaggerate on the cutting to news thing.

Spoiler

there were two fights in the movie. He cuts away from the first one, but we see the second one. I really don't see the problem.

WRONG! The first fight in Hawaii is only shown briefly on the kid's TV and the second fight (when Watanabe said "Let them fight!" and we see them square off) was cut away from as well.

 

[Spectral Glider]

Thing is, when Steven Seagal died in Executive Decision, we had Kurt Russell. If you're going to write your best character so he dies early in the movie, you better have a Kurt Russell.

Yep, and the fact that there wouldn't be much for Cranston to do doesn't mean much when there's nothing at all for Watanabe, Strathairn, Hawkins or Olsen to do either. They could have left Watanabe back in Japan and let Cranston stand around making dumb faces.

 

[Frogfucious]

I was going to get it, but all the pages were cutaways.

So not worth it? What do you mean by cutaway?

 

[Bobby Roberts]

I was going to get it, but all the pages were cutaways.

I liked the movie - but this was good.

 

[MoonsaultSlayer]

Saw it with my gf a second time. I liked it as much as the first time. A few observations:

- GF literally started crying when Binoche died. I have to agree that this moment is ridiculously emotional and it is so weird that the movie starts that way, with emotional tension without Godzilla even being involved.

- Cranston is perfect in the movie. I really can't believe the comments about overacting. On the contrary, Taylor - Johnson is too mundane, and his character is not interesting enough and that in the end drags the film down.

- While it is very interesting that Cranston's death happens so early, I believe that the writers should have found a way to keep him in the movie. I understand that it was sort of difficult as we're talking about biblical catastrophe - scale action (it wouldn't make sense for Cranston to chase Godzilla down while skyscrapers are collapsing), but it was the tragic death of Binoche that provided the movie with a dramatic basis. The journey should be one of redemption for Cranston.


Nevertheless, i really liked the movie. If it had a better screenplay I think it had the potential for a modern monster movie masterpiece, as it was it still is the surprise of the year for me, and it makes Pacific Rim feel so awful in comparison that it makes me feel shame about Del Toro.

About the bolded, I've seen/heard a few people suggest

Spoiler

Godzilla is his redemption incarnate.

Think about it.

 

[MoonsaultSlayer]

So not worth it? What do you mean by cutaway?

He's making a joke about the film cutting away from Godzilla.

The book is pretty damn awesome. There's a several paged fold out that shows a bunch of alternate takes on Godzilla's design before settling on what we got. I haven't read much, but I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Fancy Clown]

About the bolded, I've seen/heard a few people suggest

Spoiler

Godzilla is his redemption incarnate.

Think about it.

Oddly, that actually kind of makes sense. It would explain

Spoiler

the bro-ing out of Godzilla and Brody, and Godzilla just coming out of retirement just to fuck up the MUTO's. Plus, Cranston had Godzilla's angry personality in this movie...

.

I doubt that's what the writers had intended, but I kind of like it. It certainly gives the movie angle that's actually interesting in any case.

 

[The Librarian]

I think most people who saw the film can agree that the human performances dragged the film down, whether you loved the movie or hated it. We can also probably agree that any moment featuring Godzilla himself was awesome.

The question then becomes does the good outweigh the bad, or vice versa? I still haven't made up my mind on that score.

Good to great:
- Godzilla
- MUTOs
- Godzilla/MUTOs fights
- Score
- Great cheesy moments
- Cinematography
- Some really great setpieces
- Plotting
- Pacing
- Serizawa's cheesy lines
- Themes: Forces of nature/family
- Post-human perspective
- Finale
- Last shot
- Sound Design

Okay
- Most characters
- Teasing. Hawaii tease was hilarious...rest not so much.

 

[Lightning4Ever]

WRONG! The first fight in Hawaii is only shown briefly on the kid's TV and the second fight (when Watanabe said "Let them fight!" and we see them square off) was cut away from as well.

Sorry, but you're wrong.

They cut away

Spoiler

at hawaii and when they cut away that second time that's the fight that's going on when they do the Halo jump, so we in fact do see that

 

[Fancy Clown]

Good to great:
- Godzilla
-MUTOs
-Godzilla/MUTOs fights
- Cinematography
- Some really great setpieces
- Serizawa's cheesy lines (only gets a pass for "let them fight")
- Finale
-Bryan Cranston
-Sound effects


Bad
- All characters except Bryan Cranston
-Plotting
-Pacing
-"Post-human perspective"
-Score
-Lots of cheesy moments
-Cliches out the ass
-So much exposition
-Themes
-Last shot

Fixed!

 

[The Librarian]

Fixed!

You fixed my opinion? Well, okay...

 

[Jibbed]

I JUST WATCHED IT HOLY SHIT

GOJIRA

MUTOS

"LET THEM FIGHT"

PUT THE NUKE ON A TRAIN ITS COOL DW GUYS

Brilliant.

 

[Fancy Clown]

You fixed my opinion? Well, okay...

You're welcome!

Spoiler

It's a joke where I insinuated my own opinion and presented it as fact

 

[-Eddman-]

I agree with what you're saying, but in the case of RLM...they actually know what they're talking about. When they dissect movies and point out flaws, they do so because they understand the pieces involved when putting a movie together and can articulate why something did or did not work. Your average movie goer will usually equate not liking something to mean it was of poor quality. This obviously isn't the case. When Jay and Mike break things down, they still appreciate when something is done right even if they didn't enjoy the movie as a whole.

They also recommend movies more often than not, despite appearing nitpicky. They both had plenty of issues with the new Hobbit films but both recommended them afterwards. They know the difference between preference and quality.

Yeah, I also share your point, I love RLM. What I was trying to say is that there's a lot of bad impersonators on the internet and message boards who think that nitpicking every single little flaw to end up with hyperbole as conclusion ("OMG there was a plothole somewhere in the middle, this is the worst shit since Manos: the hands of fate!") is rational argumentation, like RLM.

I've been seeing this all over Gaf with average or good fantasy movies lately. The Hobbit, Dark Knight Rises, Watchmen, Avengers, Man of Steel, etc. They're all worse than fucking Episode I to them.

 

[Frogfucious]

He's making a joke about the film cutting away from Godzilla.

Ha! nice, thanks I'm heading over to pick it up now.

 

[MoonsaultSlayer]

Ha! nice, thanks I'm heading over to pick it up now.

Enjoy. It's (fittingly) big.

_________________________

I know we're all used Canston-esque performances from our actors, but you know... for a guy having just been through everything Ford went through, without sleep, I'd say he acted pretty damn realistically.

 

[CloudyTuba]

EDIT: ...although, to be fair... I never said you said it was good... ;P

And no where did I say that you said that I said that it was good!
What now?!

 

[Daingurse]

About the bolded, I've seen/heard a few people suggest

Spoiler

Godzilla is his redemption incarnate.

Think about it.

Heard this theory during the Empire podcast, and I really really like it. It makes sense.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Too much of the movie felt like a military disaster movie. The cuts away from the fights made it feel like they didn't have the budget for multiple full on fight scenes. The fight at the end once Godzilla starts using his atomic breath is cool but I wish there were more of that. Over all it's one of those movies that I enjoyed but have no real desire to watch again. The military/human scenes sort of drag and that's okay when you are waiting for a payoff, but now that I know the payoff I'm not sure I want to sit through that again. Sadly more forgetable than anything else.

 

[Rentahamster]

I also forgot to mention that nobody in this movie knows how to pronounce "Nevada".

 

[Ixion]

Sorry, but you're wrong.

They cut away

Spoiler

at hawaii and when they cut away that second time that's the fight that's going on when they do the Halo jump, so we in fact do see that

OK, so they cut away from one fight and the first 13 rounds of the second fight. THERE!

 

[Lightning4Ever]

OK, so they cut away from one fight and the first 13 rounds of the second fight. THERE!

Whatever floats your boat.

 

[Liquidsnake]

I am absolutely in agreement with the disappointed ones here.

The trailers were magnificent.

The film...?

I don't understand the decisions made here. For every glimmer of potential there was a ridiculous editorial decision to snuff it out. Why remove characters with depth to focus on a vacuum? Why have a ridiculous stuttering structure instead of just a steady build to a final set piece? Why half-humanise Godzilla but not go full King Kong? Why make dim political allusions but not link them coherently? Why devise a breathtaking and original set piece (the Halo dive) and then negate it with a script that runs out of dialogue after ten minutes? Why assemble a cast with Julienne Binoche, Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins and either kill them off in the first act or force them to play what are effectively silhouettes of human beings?

I don't get this film. It wasn't fun enough to be kitsch. It wasn't clever enough to warrant the use of Ligeti or to half-arsedly nod to Fukushima. It was just a watered-down damp squib. Hollywood strikes again.

Yeah. It should have been so much more.
The trailers made me believe that this would be movie of the year.

 

[TargetDummy81]

I am just glad the movie did well enough as it did so far with plans of a sequel already happening.

Surely Toho must be pleased with how Edward's version was faithful to the source material and perhaps this will pay off later. Toho might decide to let him have a go with creatures from the older movies that fans remember or like to see. Although with tweaks or a variation to their origin given the established explanation for the creatures in this movie universe.

I can understand why people feel teased with the Hawaii airport scene but I have been thinking on that since I saw the movie.

Spoiler

Sure we see Godzilla roar at the creature once he arrives but how much fighting could there actually have been? The male and female MUTO's main imperative was to meet each other except for the male possibly nabbing nuclear resources for her along the way. Being that they act more animalistic the male cares more about flight than fight when it comes to Godzilla.

Spoiler

Following this trail of thought then it would make sense not to see the titular monsters go at it until the end of the film. The MUTOS meet up finally and build a nest for the eggs so their species doesn't die out as far as they are concerned. This also means they finally have a reason to stick around the area and defend the nest from any potential threats which in this case is Godzilla. Animals in nature usually behave in this manner when it comes to predators.

 

[SpacePirate Ridley]

Don't know if posted yet, AVGN take on the new Godzilla movie: http://cinemassacre.com/2014/05/17/godzilla-2014-thoughts/

Just came back from the movie and this are exactly my thoughts.
When the movie is good, it's an amazing spectacle for any godzilla fan.
In summary, I had a really good time, it could have been better, but if the godzilla 2 thing is true, we are on the right track.

OH YEAH, I have a huge negative. The score. WTF were you doing Desplat? I knew he would fuck up. Have

Spoiler

triumphant Godzilla

and not using awesome remakes of the original themes... Shiting all over musical history of the character when the music you used is nothing to write home about. It's like Epic Mickey all over again, get a guy that is good doing something totally different to the material given, he fucks up tributing history and maks a mediocre score.
Just call Giacchino for all this movies for fucks sake, seems to be the only composer in Hollywood that knows how to treat original material and make it awesome.

About the bolded, I've seen/heard a few people suggest

Spoiler

Godzilla is his redemption incarnate.

Think about it.

My friends and me were joking about this nearly at the end of the movie.

 

[Lightning4Ever]

I am just glad the movie did well enough as it did so far with plans of a sequel already happening.

Surely Toho must be pleased with how Edward's version was faithful to the source material and perhaps this will pay off later. Toho might decide to let him have a go with creatures from the older movies that fans remember or like to see. Although with tweaks or a variation to their origin given the established explanation for the creatures in this movie universe.

I can understand why people feel teased with the Hawaii airport scene but I have been thinking on that since I saw the movie.

Spoiler

Sure we see Godzilla roar at the creature once he arrives but how much fighting could there actually have been? The male and female MUTO's main imperative was to meet each other except for the male possibly nabbing nuclear resources for her along the way. Being that they act more animalistic the male cares more about flight than fight when it comes to Godzilla.

Spoiler

Following this trail of thought then it would make sense not to see the titular monsters go at it until the end of the film. The MUTOS meet up finally and build a nest for the eggs so their species doesn't die out as far as they are concerned. This also means they finally have a reason to stick around the area and defend the nest from any potential threats which in this case is Godzilla. Animals in nature usually behave in this manner when it comes to predators.

Pretty much, from what we see

Spoiler

Godzilla shows up and the MUTO pretty much runs away.

 

[Shouta]

Surely Toho must be pleased with how Edward's version was faithful to the source material and perhaps this will pay off later. Toho might decide to let him have a go with creatures from the older movies that fans remember or like to see. Although with tweaks or a variation to their origin given the established explanation for the creatures in this movie universe.

The head Toho loved it apparently. It probably will be doing gangbusters in Japan because it's a film built with the same sensibilities and style that made the movies super popular in Japan originally and why most of the big godzilla fans enjoyed it.

 

[TargetDummy81]

Good to hear.

Don't get me wrong I would not have minded more of them going at it but that was my logic for the airport. Being a fan of the series and hearing this would be like Jaw/s / Alien / Gojira I was prepared going in.

I just look at this laying down the ground work for the creatures being here and the realism of this universe. Doubt we will be seeing anything too far out there such as aliens, tiny japanese twin spirits, UFO'S, or giant robotic versions of Godzilla. lol

Any potential extra creature time / fighting time will have me extra invested with this Godzilla squaring off against a Edward's version from the Toho library.

 

[jacksepticeye]

How many times have you see the movie? This seems like making up things to complain about, as if we've already exhausted the more obvious "issues." Of course he spent more time fighting than roaring.

I can't recall the exact number, but it only happens when he confronts a MUTO and when he wins. So three times? Four?

Is this how all slight criticisms are gonna be approached in this thread? condescension and "you're making things up" type remarks? I wasn't even using it as a means of belittling the movie, it was just something I was discussing. I'm one of the people who disliked it first time and actually really liked it second time but I still think it happens too much.

He does it when he shows up at the airport

Spoiler

(which feels weird after they just cut away so the roar has no satisfying payoff)

, he has a huge long extended one, he does it after killing the MUTO, at the very end. Those are the proper ones but you have at least 4-5 more times where he launches an attack and roars a bit only to be attacked by the second MUTO time and again.

 

[HalfBakedProphet]

Yeah, I also share your point, I love RLM. What I was trying to say is that there's a lot of bad impersonators on the internet and message boards who think that nitpicking every single little flaw to end up with hyperbole as conclusion ("OMG there was a plothole somewhere in the middle, this is the worst shit since Manos: the hands of fate!") is rational argumentation, like RLM.

I've been seeing this all over Gaf with average or good fantasy movies lately. The Hobbit, Dark Knight Rises, Watchmen, Avengers, Man of Steel, etc. They're all worse than fucking Episode I to them.

oh, I definitely agree. What gives RLM's opinions weight vs. hyperbolic internet posters is RLM can articulate WHY something is bad because they understand the film making process. You see posters say things like "the fight scene was boring and stupid" or "X movie was trash" without having any idea why they feel that way.

Not liking something isn't an indictment against its quality. Something can be well made without conforming to ones personal preferences. That is brushed aside when it becomes a race to be the strongest opinionated poster or to say the most outrageous thing.

 

[Chaotic-Strike]

I just found an old script before they started shooting and alot of it is the same. The major point of interests to me is that

Spoiler

Dr. Serizawa has more lines and while it is still mainly exposition. He is a little more developed, and has a monologue about the atomic bomb . Brian Cranston's character dies early just like the final film.

The Airport scene still cutaways and all the fight scenes are constantly cutting away to the human characters which shows it wasn't entirely Edward's fault.

 

[Blader]

Good to great:
- Godzilla
- MUTOs
- Godzilla/MUTOs fights
- Score
- Great cheesy moments
- Cinematography
- Some really great setpieces
- Plotting
- Pacing
- Serizawa's cheesy lines
- Themes: Forces of nature/family
- Post-human perspective
- Finale
- Last shot
- Sound Design

Okay
- Most characters
- Teasing. Hawaii tease was hilarious...rest not so much.

Godzilla: The Movie That Did No Wrong

 

[Branson]

Just wanted to pop in here and say as a guy who grew up with the old Japanese movies (the gf also saw some of them), We freaking loved the movie.

 

[Daingurse]

Godzilla: The Movie That Did No Wrong

Lol, her list pretty much matches mine. Just move teasing from okay to irritating , and that's me. It annoyed me, but it didn't ruin my overall enjoyment of the film.

 

[MarkusRJR]

Loved the movie. Strangley Godzilla felt more animal than a force of nature in the movie though tbh. I heard there were teasers towards future movies/characters

Spoiler

(specifically Mothra)

, but I didn't see any.

Also, was there seriously no end credit scene? I was totally expecting one based on how abruptly it ended.

 

[Dragun619]

Just saw this, and yea, it wasn't as amazing as I though it would be. But it is still a good solid film.

Just felt too much human scenes and not enough Godzilla scenes, but when he's on screen, it's awesome. Now, that we have Godzilla established though, I can not wait to see where they'll take the sequel.
Plenty of things they can do and I'd imagine they wouldn't need much time to setting it up, and they could go straight into exploring stuff/monsters.

 

[Error]

Damn, watched it and the last act with the big G kicking ass was worth all the teasing before it.

WB give me dat Pacific Rim/Godzilla crossover movie.

Spoiler

Pacific Rim was better than this Godzilla movie

 

[Boss Doggie]

Hah, a certain poster just goes "agreeing" with similar posts despite being already told earlier.

Anyway, watched it again because why not? Now keen with details and references. There's a Biollante shoutout too.

 

[MoG EclipsE]

Funny as hell spoof:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1rrxD6E7aA&list=FLHp-fPsLjLE97WCfA0wDDVQ&feature=mh_lolz

 

[SuperAndroid17]

Funny as hell spoof:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1rrxD6E7aA&list=FLHp-fPsLjLE97WCfA0wDDVQ&feature=mh_lolz

lmao those voices are spot on.

 

[DevelopmentArrested]

Movie was shit. Some solid action but the script was absolute garbage and the acting was bad. Cranston was good of course but Watanabe and Taylor-Johnson gave cringe inducing performances. I think the asian kid plotline might be the dumbest one I've seen in a while. This shit will end up just like Pacific Rim. Lots of circle jerk for it for about 2 months until people realize how awful the movie really is behind all the CGI.

 

[jetjevons]

Movie was shit. Some solid action but the script was absolute garbage and the acting was bad. Cranston was good of course but Watanabe and Taylor-Johnson gave cringe inducing performances. I think the asian kid plotline might be the dumbest one I've seen in a while. This shit will end up just like Pacific Rim. Lots of circle jerk for it for about 2 months until people realize how awful the movie really is behind all the CGI.

Have you seen a lot of other Godzilla movies?

 

[MoG EclipsE]

lmao those voices are spot on.

They are! Especially Jr.

 

[Error]

I hope for the sequel Toho releases the floodgates and lets WB/Legendary use the classic monsters.

Want Mothra, Rodan, Ghidorah. Jesus fuck just give me that WB/Legendary, fuck this MUTO garbage, I want the classic monsters.

 

[brianjones]

cliche reaction but the godzilla stuff was cool and human stuff was totally generic and forgettable

seeing those MUTOs made me want a MGS movie

totally got Ray vibes

 

[Discotheque]

hugh jackman was born to play solid snake.

good lord that movie would be pretty stupid though. i wish they played it straight and had kojima direct and then submit it to cannes lmao.

 

[Amalthea]

I hope for the sequel Toho releases the floodgates and lets WB/Legendary use the classic monsters.

Want Mothra, Rodan, Ghidorah. Jesus fuck just give me that WB/Legendary, fuck this MUTO garbage, I want the classic monsters.

That mindset is the reason why we basically got no totally new monsters for 40 (!!!) years. Even Orga was just trying to be a Godzilla-hybrid. Every one of them was just a rehash of some sort. Maybe save for Dagahra but it's from the Mothra films.

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

hugh jackman was born to play solid snake.

good lord that movie would be pretty stupid though. i wish they played it straight and had kojima direct and then submit it to cannes lmao.

Hahahaha

This is.......A brilliant idea.

 

[The Librarian]

Is this how all slight criticisms are gonna be approached in this thread? condescension and "you're making things up" type remarks? I wasn't even using it as a means of belittling the movie, it was just something I was discussing. I'm one of the people who disliked it first time and actually really liked it second time but I still think it happens too much.

If you think he roared too much, that's fine. Out of all the Godzilla films I've seen, I don't think I've ever encountered that problem, but that's fine. What I was taking issue with was you saying there's more roaring than fighting. Obviously that's not the case.

Godzilla: The Movie That Did No Wrong

I thought it got most things right. Is that a problem?