Darker than previous 1998 version - but in more ways than one

Rating: 6/10 (16 May 2014)

The plus point is that this film had more dramatic development than the previous 1998 version.
But then again other re-re-booted movies have also adopted this approach - Man Of Steel, Amazing Spiderman, Incredible Hulk. The problem they all have is that it is just a pre-amble to the inevitable over the top action sequences.
And in the case of Godzilla, action sequences that are done in darkness so you can barely see what is happening. It might have been the 3D glasses making it darker than it would be in 2D, but the detail just wasn't there. Godzilla and the MUTOs were apparently going hammer and tongs at each other, but I couldn't sense the extent to which they were injuring each other (until the final atomic breath climax).
We've all grown up with the original impact of the jaw dropping moment we saw dinosaurs come to life in Jurassic Park. This movie added nothing more in terms of impact of the last 21 years of development since Jurassic Park (Godzilla even sounded like T-Rex).
The human peril element is handled in 2 ways (i) intimate focus (on the train or in the rubble) where those who do perish are mere unknowns, so long as our heroes survive or (ii) detached focus (buildings being knocked down as the monsters fight) where you assume all occupants are dead (or conveniently trapped safely under the previously mentioned rubble). And as for our heroes - there was no acting. No development of character. They just provided the human forefront to the monsters back drop.
What I also found confusing was that Godzilla was hailed a hero for destroying the MUTOs and applauded as he walked back indiscriminately through the rubble and dead bodies that he had helped create.
The end was the usual cliché - family reunion that you could predict a mile off. Did the director really think "people will want to know that the family are re-united, so I'll draw it out". Oh come on, I found my empty popcorn box more appealing at that point.
Can this please please please be the last of these movies? Please please do not feel the need to develop a sequel.