I like it... But don't love it.

Rating: 7/10 (16 May 2014)

I ended up in existential crisis after viewing this movie. To begin, I love Godzilla. I've been a fan since I was three and for seventeen years now I have amassed a collection of Godzilla VHS' and DVD's (well, as many as I can with the availability of them in the UK). I loved the Big-G, even films like 'Godzilla's Revenge'! I've spent a long time of my life devoted to this franchise, so I went into this movie expecting to love it. Yet I didn't... Why? Why don't I love this film? After a few stiff whiskys and talking to my mates who I saw it with at the cinema, I feel I can produce a fair review.
The Good:
Bryan Cranston: What a guy! I liked him in this movie, he portrays a tortured man well, unbalanced yet reserved when necessary. I felt for his Joe Brody character, he truly was the embodiment of Us vs Them, the man against the government, the good old conspiracy nut.
The MUTO's: A cross between, Gigan; Battra and the Cloverfield monster, these things where really frightening! From their strange; half metallic, whispering, creaking roars to their spindly arms attached to massive hulking mass these things where freaky! They fit well into the Godzilla universe and are a perfect edition to the team.
Godzilla: Well, the films about him! My jaw dropped every time he appeared or he was teased, the 8 year old me wailing in joy. The time he's on screen your eyes are drawn to him and him only. His features and traits are like that of a bear and human, his face rippling and nostrils flaring like the T-Rex from Jurassic Park, his eyes looking like a humans. It's quite an unsettling image but you feel emotions towards the big guy and I felt Gareth Edwards handled him well...
To an extent...
The Not so Good to Meh:
Bryan Cranston: Star Powers a blessing and a curse. The first half hour/forty minutes are great because Cranston is driving this thing. He's our main focus and Ford is along for the ride. Seeing as Aaron Taylor-Johnson isn't that charismatic in his film, when Cranston bites it we're left with this bland pallet of necessary emoting when is needed to drive the plot along.
Ken Wantanabe: Was the whole point of his role to stand around looking thoughtful and confused in dark places and sprout philosophical nonsense and be the forced metaphor against nuclear power because, you know, he's Japanese? I wanted to like this character, but when haphazardly he forces his fathers watch out in the Col. face that's stopped at the exact point the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, we all cringed! It's so, forced and made to drill home a message. It didn't need that.
The rest of the cast for that matter: Everyones so bland and by the numbers. I can't really mention much about their performances because they where just standard.
The Monsters Handling: Big airport reveal! Cuts to black after Godzilla roars... Fight shown on TV in snippets Godzilla destroys GGB... literally disappears from the scene and turns up in the city for another short smack down. The films called Godzilla... The MUTO's do more than Godzilla in all senses. Godzilla is just there to sort stuff out for us then go back again.
The trailers spoilt all the buildups: I love the trailers for this movie, but if you told me a few months ago that these were some major points of buildup for scenes that didn't last that long or important scenes, I would have probably... still gone seen the movie because it's Godzilla! But still, being a blind fan boy can't help me not notice that so many shots of Godzilla that where used are part of the main actions sequences. I had seen these scene's so many times I knew what was coming and was excited, but then disappointed by the outcome.
And now for my biggest pet hate....
DUES EX MACHINA! My goodness Ford Brody's a lucky so-and-so isn't he? They said that the HALO jump would be a no return mission, just so happens that a helicopter picks him up before the nuke drops. The army happen to be moving towards San Fran and just happen to let Ford into their ranks because... Oooh-rah Marines? I don't really know the ins and outs of the military, but there's no mention of conscription and then Ford just kinda ends up where the action happens.
Now a lot of die-hard Godzilla fans are probably preparing their typing fingers to pull me apart; say I don't get it or say I'm not a true fan because I didn't like this movie. They'll probably blast me saying 'Oh, but Jurassic Park had 15 minutes total of dinosaur action!', 'What about Jaws?!", 'Too many monsters fighting all the time would be boring!' As many people have pointed out on the boards, 'less is more' works because we see the creature DO something in full view or very well suggested shots. I wanted to see more Godzilla. The shot where they fight in the city in the rain, it started, then finished! Dragged out over the whole night inter cut with ATJ being boring and moody soldier. It felt like missing reel stuff or it had be cut shorter.
Overall, this wasn't the 1954 or even 1984 style remake/reboot I wanted.I enjoyed it, it gave me some thrills and enough action. But with everything flitting around at break neck speed and the action coming in sporadic splashes across the movie, it felt very muddled.
7 - 10