Uh, folks, we're experiencing some moderate Godzilla-related turbulence...

Rating: 8/10 (14 May 2014)

After the pretty-much-universally-panned Matthew Broderick movie, which featured basically just a giant iguana running amok, a proper version was sorely needed. Trailers for this new film looked promising, especially the halo jump sequence (which is still one of the best bits of the movie). With expectations so high, there was bound to be slight disappointment. However, the good news is that this movie succeeds where the last one failed miserably. First, and most importantly, this Godzilla actually LOOKS like Godzilla. All the most important parts of what make him iconic are present here, including his roar/scream, 'atomic breath' and arse-kicking of other monsters. After a somewhat eerie opening, shot old-style (with, thankfully, not an iguana in sight), we jump ahead, focusing on Bryan Cranston's Joe Brody, his wife and their son. This section of the film is rather slow/plodding, though obviously it sets things up. We then jump ahead again 15 years and his son, Ford, is now Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who is married to Elle, played by Elizabeth Olsen. Is it weird that they'll be playing brother and sister in Avengers 2? Maybe, but here they are a loving husband and wife and have a kid of their own. I know Bryan Cranston has his many fans, and he makes the most of his role, but the film doesn't actually get going until after his exit and we are introduced to a creature that looks somewhat like the monster from Cloverfield, called a M.U.T.O. (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism). Things quickly pick up and the action begins, as we get not just one, but TWO of these spindly-legged nasties. When the big guy eventually turns up to show these punk-arse Mutos who is the King of the Monsters, it's a glorious moment.
Taylor-Johnson's Ford is a likable enough lead. He does some reuniting- a-kid-with-his parents here, a little toasting of the Muto's spawn there, but he's just a guy who happens to get into the thick of it and does the best he can given the circumstances. Elizabeth Olsen is also good as Elle. She doesn't get to do a whole lot, but she's infinitely better/more likable than any of the female characters in the last movie. She and Taylor-Johnson make a good pair, who you won't come to hate, thankfully. Even the kids in this movie aren't too loathsome (which is quite surprising, given what these types of movies are usually like). The movie is pretty devoid of humour, but there is one amusing moment involving Elle telling her kid to turn off the television when, unbeknown to her, an epic fight is going down on the TV between Godzilla and a Muto. It's probably for the best that this film has a more 'serious' tone and that there's not many 'jokes', especially given the alternative (ie. the last film). Our other main protagonist is Dr. Ichiro Serizawa, played by Ken Watanabe. He does plenty of staring off into the distance and such, but one important thing he does bring to the film is the fact that he knows what we all already know: Godzilla is an *asset* when it comes to fighting other monsters. Serizawa, unlike everyone else, realises it's probably a good idea to sic the big guy onto the Mutos rather than focusing on trying to take him out along with them. And he's right too, of course.
When it comes to the smackdown, Godzilla shows who's boss. Yes, there's a couple of moments where we think he's done for (and you certainly feel for the big guy), but in the end he proves why he is indeed the King of all monsters (his blue flaming kiss o' death is a particularly nice move). There might not be quite as much fighting between the monsters as some may hope, but what we do see is pretty awesome. You do get quite a few good looks at Godzilla, but he's not over-shown. Best of all? Everyone acknowledges at the end that he is indeed the saviour of the city, he doesn't die and he's allowed to return to his life under the sea. The score is quite appropriate for this monster movie, although it might have benefited from having the 'ROAR!' (Cloverfield Overture) which Michael Giacchino wrote as an homage to Japanese monster scores for the film Cloverfield. The music during that movie's end credits was epic. This film's? Slightly less so, though not at all 'bad'. Director, Gareth Edwards, who gave us that little gem of a movie called Monsters, proves he's in his element when dealing with said creatures. He's definitely the guy best suited to staying faithful to the legend that is Godzilla and bringing him to the screen in all his glory. Hail to the King of Monsters! Now all we have to worry about is Mothra...but hopefully he's tied up with Gamera and Rodan at the present time.