A Non-Spoiler Review

Rating: 6/10 (2 June 2014)

Godzilla (2014) directed by Gareth Edwards (Monsters) seemed like a very suitable choice in directing the Hollywood reboot. I watched Monsters and I thought it was kind of clever by establishing the creatures as background characters, that made them more mysterious in nature, but I don't think it works the same in a movie like this, because Godzilla has been an established character for nearly 60 years. Gareth Edwards had gone on to mention in several interviews that much of the direction of the movie had been influenced by Steven Spielberg's Jaws (1975), building up Godzilla before his actual appearance and only showing glimpses of the creature before the final showdown. I felt the way it was handled only ended up hindering the overall experience. A lot of the screen time focused more on the human's like Monsters, but unlike Monsters, the characters were just not as interesting to follow. I felt as if the movie intentionally had starved us into being more appreciative of when Godzilla had appeared, to give us the impression that it was more exciting than it should be. Jaws had done the same, but there was an intensity behind it, not knowing where it was or when it would strike next. It's not a must-see, but it's something to watch if you have nothing better to do, just don't go expecting something deep like the trailers and a few people on this board seem to suggest. It is what it is.