This, Mr. Emmerich, is how you make a quality Godzilla movie!

Rating: 10/10 (16 May 2014)

Just got back from seeing the new long-awaited Godzilla from Legendary Pictures. After reading a few negative reviews from IMDb critics, I didn't want to set my hopes too high.
True, it did take a while into the movie before The Big G showed up, but it didn't detract from the experience. There was enough of a build-up to keep things moving, including the appearance of the MUTO wreaking havoc at the nuclear facility. At that point, the movie kicks into high gear and doesn't let up.
The pros: The movie clocks in at 2 hrs/3 min.; an ideal time for this type of action flick. The design of Godzilla is near perfect, close enough to Toho's version, yet unique in it's own way. (The same could be said about his roar). The MUTOs were very well designed- even if they did have heads resembling staple removers- I was very impressed. The fight scenes were very well done, portraying Godzilla grappling more as King Kong would. He only employs his trademark atomic breath 2 or 3 times in the whole movie, which was just enough. The GCI effects were top notch. Even the acting was well done (especially Brian Cranston). Aaron Taylor Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, and Ken Watanabe were somewhat commendable-no complaints here. The scenes with the rail cars-the passenger train in Honolulu, as well as the one carrying the nuke-were a sight to behold.
The (very minor) cons: Bryan Cranston, who gives the best performance in the movie, is too quickly killed off. The battle scenes could have been dragged out a little more. Also, I would have made Godzilla's feet a little bigger.
Other than that, Garth Edward's Godzilla blows Cloverfield, Pacific Rim, and even Peter Jackson's King Kong out of the water, which is still saying a lot. As for Emmerich's Godzilla '98, the less said, the better.