The mother of all monster movies gets a well-made modern remake

Rating: 8/10 (29 August 2014)

The Japanese monster movie classic of all time "Godzilla" was impeccably famous for its man vs. nature theme and its exploitation of our fears of what this massive planet and its billion year old legacy may be hiding within its deepest, darkest confines. Now its about time that ground-breaking film was made with the latest in modern technology and cinematic brilliance, especially 15 years after that disappointing 1998 Mathew Broderick retelling. This is a much more technical and thought engaging action masterpiece filled with decent performances and visually stunning complexity that captures the senses and satisfies our fascination with calamity and destruction.
The story begins in year, 1999 as engineer, Joe Brady (perfectly played by "Breaking Bad" lead, Bryon Cranston) discovers an abnormal electro-magnetic pulse pattern that destroys the Japanese nuclear facility, Janjira, resulting in the death of his wife and his descent into obsession with the real reason behind the tragedy. 15 years later, son and now a military soldier, Ford (Aaron-Taylor Johnson) doubts his father's sanity as he tries to prove that something secretive is behind the nuclear fallout. The sh*t hits the fan so to speak when giant parasitic creatures that have been feeding off of the radiation and contained by the Janjira corporation eventually escape and wreck havoc on the city. Not only does the government and company know about the creatures, but they also have evidence that prehistoric monster "god" exists within the depths of the ocean. Scientist, Kenn Wantabee (who looks like he's in shock throughout the entire film) believes that "Godzilla" is the only driving force that can restore balance and save the world from man's mistakes, and now Ford must help defend the world while his child and wife Elizabeth Olsen (younger sister of the Olsen twins) battle for their very lives in a city that is under siege by humongous monsters.
This is an action film that works on so many levels. The performances, storytelling and overall visual effects are all juggled well by inspired director, Gareth Edwards. Many audience complaints include: the killing off of central character, Joe Brady early on in the film, a weak performance from Aaron-Taylor Johnson, and not enough screen-time for "Godzilla", but its inconsistencies are compensated with dark but stylish cinematography . The death of Cranston's character is essential to the plot, and the monster-mayhem shines through as Godzilla's wrath is felt throughout including the infamous death-ray breath scenes and a subsequent ending that is satisfying and full-filling. Its fun and entertaining on a large scale, and successful enough for studios to begin work on future sequels. Hopefully they live up to this lively masterpiece.