Godzilla – King of Monster Movies

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My reluctant grievance with the new Godzilla film is ostensibly one of the films great strengths in that it rarely exploits the titular character. The extraordinary slow burn build to the (not a spoiler if you’ve seen the trailer) final monstrous battle amongst crumbling cityscapes showcases not only a brilliant tactical decision but incredible restraint from filmmaker Gareth Edwards. I could easily imagine taking the reins of a Godzilla film and not maintaining the willpower to uphold artistic integrity and have him destroy everything… every-thing.

I recall standing in the press area at the San Diego Comic-Con in 2012 when the lights dimmed immediately following the thunderous panel for Pacific Rim. The screen faded into a red Legendary logo with narration from the opening of Johnny Cash’s ‘Man Comes Around,’ the camera panned over buildings in ruin and kaiju remains as snickers from the still crowd whispered “no, this can’t be… is it?” Culminating in a slow reveal, we were awarded a brief glimpse of the King of Monsters as its familiar roar was drowned out by the applause and cheers of seven-thousand fans in the infamous Hall H.

Unannounced to us was a special presentation of test footage which, if I’m not mistaken, wound up in the final film. That intense, destruction-laden teaser trailer only hinted at the effect the entire film would have on me, following in the footsteps of classic movie monster horror such as Jaws and Alien. In the era where Michael Bayism is commonplace in film, I have become accustomed to the in-your-face, implausible and confusing camera chaos and ‘splosions filling every frame.

Gone, I had thought, were the days of considerately setting the scene in a frame to present a story, but Edwards effectively tells his tale with finesse and a welcome dramatic human element to enhance what is essentially a large scale ‘creature versus creature’ picture. Gripe as you may that the characters we focus on are where they need to be when the story requires them to be there, but after you see the film, ask yourself whether their interactions with the monsters truly affect the outcome or if they are simply a clever vehicle to symbiotically involve the audience in the storytelling.

Overall the acting is outstanding even if the story feels familiar. The action is reserved and perceptible in that it is delivered with thoughtful command and the 3D offers encompassing depth rather than hinging on the cheap fourth-wall equivalence of a jumpscare. As the dust settled from the final battle, I found myself sympathizing with an ancient bear-faced, atomic-fire-breathing legendary lizard with total satisfaction.

THIS is how you lovingly pay homage to a cherished film series that began as a man in a rubber suit – Not with fart jokes, Taco Bell and Mathew Broderick.

What did you think of Godzilla?

Image: Legendary/Warner Bros