I was not expecting much from the 2014 remake of Godzilla based on the original Japanese films about a giant reptile threatening the existence of humanity. The 1998 remake starring a talent-deficient Matthew Broderick left a bitter taste in my mouth as it was written for the brain dead. I was hesitant about this new take on the story, but thankfully I was proven wrong. Thanks to awe-inspiring 3D visual effects, an ingenious script and clever direction, this Godzilla will in later years be seen as a truly modern classic. Here are 5 reasons why you should absolutely see this film now:
1. “Breaking Bad” actor brings A-Game – It’s no secret that what these remakes of popular science fiction films require is an amazing actor to ground the film with a solid performance. Immensely popular actor, Brian Cranston from “Breaking Bad”, does this for the 2014 remake of Godzilla. Cranston gives a heart-breaking performance as a scientist destroyed by the death of his wife after a nuclear plant disaster. I won’t say what caused the disaster to avoid any spoilers but Cranston is very good in these scenes. He gives Godzilla the sort of emotional performance that balances the fantastic supernatural events that come later in the film. It’s a remarkable performance and Cranston deserves more credit for giving this film exactly what it needed.
He is aided well by Aaron Taylor-Johnson who plays his son and a Lieutenant who comes face to face with the creature. Taylor-Johnson also provides a stalwart performance and is quite effective as the film’s main hero along with Elizabeth Olsen who provides emotional heft as his wife. If you do a double take thinking she looks like a younger version of the Olsen twins, it’s for good reason since she is their younger sister and a fine actor who avoids over-the-top emotions.
2. Extraordinary direction – What I particularly liked about this film is that it surprises you at every turn. Godzilla is not your usual ‘monster trashes city’ film and this is mostly due to the brilliant direction of Gareth Edwards, best known for his critically acclaimed film Monsters. There are moments when there is no music or distinctive sound, just jaw-dropping visuals in slow motion which gives the scene an operatic grandeur that few science fiction films can achieve. The stylized on-screen violence is remarkable and more impressive than anything seen on film in recent memory. Gareth deserves more recognition for a truly visually stunning film, brilliant new take on the creature’s story-line and overall fantastic production.
3. Godzilla is handsome! The film that is; the new incarnation of the creature is in fact more foreboding than any previous versions and is far superior to the lacklustre 1998 remake. Everything in this film looks and sounds amazing especially the 3D visual effects which have some stand out moments during the ferocious battles with the creature. It’s hard to describe how incredible the visuals are without spoilers since one of the key visual effects moments involves a surprise story-line that should not be revealed until you see the film. Close ups of the creature reveal a wet, scaly texture created by some truly astonishing effects that are made even more vivid by the 3D visuals. I particularly liked the stunning vistas of Japan and the effects employed to create the San Francisco Bridge as well as the amazing skyline shots of the city. As the city is levelled during the climactic battle scenes the 3D visual effects go into overdrive with some truly jaw-dropping moments of awe.
Film music composer Alexandre Desplat also deserves credit for a truly terrifying orchestral score that avoids the overused Hans Zimmer inspired soundtrack and instead utilizes brassy bombast that harkens back to the days of John William’s Jaws and Bernard Hermann’s most foreboding music for Alfred Hitchcock films. I particularly liked the solo French horn that accompanied Godzilla’s reptilian-like movements. You can actually close your eyes, listen to the music, and see the terrifying actions of the creature.
4. Absolutely brilliant script! Indeed I walked into Godzilla not expecting much and got quite a lot. This is mostly due to a well written script that unleashes a barrage of surprises. I must emphasize again that this is not your usual ‘monster vs humans’ story-line. There are many jaw-dropping story twists that occur particularly in the first hour that fans of science fiction and action/horror will enjoy. There are also sprinkles of light comedy including a hilarious line by veteran actor Ken Watanabe that is nostalgic of the original films. I will not lead into any spoilers but with much enthusiasm I recommend this film particularly for its cleverly written script. The stunning climatic battle alone is worth the 3D ticket price!
5. Stays true to the original! Even if you have never seen the original Japanese film by the Toho film company, Godzilla is an indelible pop culture phenomenon that every film fan is familiar with and this film pays homage to the original. While much is done to make Godzilla look strikingly realistic, you can see where the filmmakers attempted to make the 
creature look like the Japanese original especially in the face and with the creature’s gestures. Fans of the franchise will relish this; although it’s a far cry from ‘the man in the rubber suit’, you hear the distinct Godzilla battle cry and many of the ‘skyscraper destruction’ scenes are reminiscent of the original. However, without a doubt this is the best incarnation of the popular monster and is easily recommended for any movie fan seeking giant-sized enjoyment at the movies.
Ratings: ****½ out of 5
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