Extraordinary Action Sequences, Mediocre Plot and Acting

Rating: 3/10 (1 June 2014)

If you are a fan of Godzilla, chances are that you'll love the reboot. I left the theater loving it myself, but it didn't take long for me to realize that there are several somewhat crippling flaws to the movie. However, the reason they don't much make a difference is simple; very few of them have to do with Godzilla himself.
To put it briefly, the primary problem with Godzilla (The movie, not the monster) can be summed up in three words. Aaron Taylor Johnson. I'm not trying to be too hard on the guy, because I do like him, but he is the pinnacle of mediocrity in this movie. His character could win the Oscar for Most Generic Protagonist. The plot rests so heavily on him as a character, and while Johnson is a good actor, his character is given so little personality and Johnson does so little with the personality he HAS been given. He just can't hold up the weight of the leading character.
That role should have been given to Bryan Cranston or Ken Watanabe, as both have better parts in the movie and both are better actors than Johnson (No offense Kick-Ass). It's bizarre just how little screen time the two are given despite the fact that they both have interesting, flawed personalities. The issue of the terrible lead is only exacerbated by the movie's attempt to hold off unleashing Godzilla until the final moments. Yes, this decision, one made for the purpose of inducing suspense, is one that I can admire, but it is executed somewhat poorly. We see Godzilla first after about 1/3rd of the movie, and so holding him off at that point is strange given that we've already see him in his true form.
However, keeping Godzilla from chewing up the scenery (Figuratively and literally) does work out well in the final moments. The last twenty minutes of Godzilla (Again, the movie) are spectacular. We get to see Godzilla battle with two other giant monsters in an extraordinary and grand fashion. It's simply stellar, and everyone in the theater drew aback in awe of the size and scope of the finale. However, because the the first 3/4ths of the movie focus more on the characters and the aforementioned two other creatures, neither of whom are as cool or interesting as 'Zilla himself, the film suffers.
But as I said, Godzilla fans will love this installment, because it brings to the table a reboot of the King of the Monsters with style and panache greater than any other film in the franchise. Plus, the series was never known for incredible acting: it's known for having giant lizards kicking each other around a whole bunch. And for those of us who LOVE to see giant lizards kicking each other around, Godzilla 2014 ultimately delivers there. But as for the plot and characters, two aspects of the film that were given much time and attention but not a whole lot of talent, they suck.
But let's face it, you already know if you want to see a Godzilla movie before you even see it.