Where's Godzilla?

Rating: 7/10 (16 May 2014)

Since America's original attempt to make a movie adaption of Godzilla, we have all been eager for Hollywood to try again, only actually make it good. I'm not saying this movie is terrible, but I am saying it needed some work. Here's something I loved about the movie: The opening montage. The montage was perfect. It got us into the feel of the movie and made us understand what to expect. After that, we have exposition in 1999 that shows our protagonist (Not Godzilla) lose his parents in a nuclear eruption. Then, we get to the present day where we get exposition on the same material, only in the background instead of the foreground. Eliminate the 1999 exposition might have actually made the story somewhat better and better for the producer because watching from present day on, the story still makes sense, and the producer doesn't have to spent all this cash on extra locations and actors. My biggest concern is the lack of Godzilla in a movie title "Godzilla." 25 minutes into the film, we are introduced to Muto, a giant bat that can stop sound with its sonar. My initial thought at this time was "Where's Godzilla?" We don't see Godzilla until 20 more minutes later only for a brief 2 minutes. Then, we don't see him again until he fights Muto for the climax with 30 minutes left of screen-time. Though the epic battle between Godzilla and Muto was cool, it was not enough satisfaction. Most of the movie focus on Brody, a soldier, conveniently always not being attacked by Muto, when everyone next to him is being attacked by Muto. The movie focuses too much on side- characters we don't care about and not enough on Godzilla. It focuses on Muto so much that the movie might as well be called "Muto vs. Godzilla." So, should you see it? I may be slamming this movie, but Godzilla is an icon as big as Mickey Mouse. Just because this adaption did not have enough to offer to me, does not mean it will not satisfy you.