HOLLYWOOD—Yes, we have another remake of the monster creature from the 1930s and 1940s. “Godzilla” is back! While many were not fans of the 1998 remake starring Matthew Broderick, I actually was a fan of the flick.
This new installment taps into a darker element. The creature in the Godzilla films has always been noted as being a big, threatening opponent, but not completely frightening. The 2014 interpretation of “Godzilla” goes to a place that previous flicks in the franchise haven’t tackled.
For starters, the script written by Max Borenstein focuses the narrative on extracting the characters in the picture including Lieutenant Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), his wife, Elle Brody (Elisabeth Olsen), his father, Joe Brody (Bryan Cranston) and his mother, Sandra Brody (Juliette Binoche). It’s a tale of a family that is ripped apart because of a catastrophic event, and how they do all in their power to remain as a united front.
There are a lot of smart people in this picture, particularly scientists who attempt to explain and create reasoning behind what is transpiring in the nation. Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this flick is its ability to leave a sense of secrecy behind the revelation of the monster itself. The audience is given quite a few teases, but no full revelation until quite some time into the movie. It’s a smart tactic; it gives a bit of suspense to the audience, something to look forward to.
On a visual front, “Godzilla” may win the token for the most amazing effects I’ve seen in 2014 at this point. The devastation to New York City and San Francisco alone is harrowing. Director Gareth Edwards finds a way to make the spectator feel immersed in the chaos that is overtaking the nation without it being so superficial it’s difficult to fathom.
The movie is being totted to audiences as a 3D spectacle, but it’s important to note the film was not shot in 3D, it was shot in 2D. This is a common gimmick employed by many studios to garner some extra cash at the box-office. My biggest concern with the film is that the pacing moves a bit faster than one would have expected once the monster is fully introduced to audiences, and it becomes more of a battle between creatures versus mankind vs. Godzilla.
The film tots one thing at the audience, but we later discover there is more to the story than we realize, it’s a fight amongst creatures versus the human race doing battle against one atrocious beast. I find the latter to be more intriguing as it places the title character in a role that is frightening for the audience. In this case, Godzilla is not one to be feared, but who the audience roots for; it’s similar to the early flicks in the franchise. That’s the thing with a remake; if you plan to reinvent something do it on a scale that makes it stand out from everything else. Overall, “Godzilla” is a fun ride, a step up from the 1998 debacle that so many have deemed in adequate.
By LaDale Anderson
