See it in theaters if you are going to see it, otherwise, just miss it.

Rating: 6/10 (16 May 2014)

Just got out of a pre-screening in Seattle and I'm not fact checking anything. Just going to review from memory.
Overall, the movie was okay. I'd say see it in a theater because trying to watch the action (when there is any) on any smaller screen is pointless. Yes, the main reason to see Godzilla at all is because it looks great, sounds great, and needs to be seen at a large scale to enjoy your old, big, friendly-neighborhood Godzilla.
Now for the downside. Bryan Cranston dies within the first half of the movie (via falling?). I honestly believe that they only cast him in this movie for the sake of having another big name actor. Aaron Taylor Johnson does a decent enough good at pulling the human aspect of the film by himself, but I probably just think that because the other characters are forgettable. Ken Watanabe is just there to be the first to say "Godzilla" out loud (which received a round of applause from the audience) but otherwise is just there to look confused and tell David Strathairn (arbitrary military dude) to not nuke the monsters. Elizabeth Olsen is no more than a damsel in distress. Everyone else is just there to fill in the voids and move the plot along. I did enjoy seeing Sally Hawkins, since I liked Blue Jasmine, but, as I said, just there to move the plot along.
Now for the Godzilla and company. There are two enemies, the male and female Mota (not going to try to pluralize that). The male Mota flies and is small, while the female plows through various high population areas and is large (as you can image). As I said, the monsters look great...when you see them. I understand cutting back on the action as to make you wait in anticipation of the big fight, but most of that lead up just feels like blue ballsing and disappointment when the big fight scene finally comes. I'm not saying the big fight isn't cool and all and makes sense with the plot, but exactly what you expect to happen happens. Yes, there are points when you are actually concerned about whether Godzilla is going to live or not (though the editor makes this concern hard to place when the movie keeps cutting back to screaming and scared civilians). In the end, Godzilla remember he has laser beam powers and a giant, whipping tail and uses them to defeat the Mota(s?). The final attack on the female Mota was pretty awesome. I even liked the idea that the Mota were attracted to radiation and the military to lure the creatures around using nukes (though why they decide to bring the nuke to San Francisco is still beyond me).