This summer is set to be one,
action-packed bastard. Fact.
X-men: Days of Future Past; I'm in. Edge of Tomorrow; probably. Transformers 4... *Adam makes awkward unsure squeak which sounds like he's curling out a wet one.
When a mate of mine suggested we hop on the disaster movie bandwagon early doors with one of the biggest nominations for this year's "most CGI used to give a film some narrative" award, I nodded so we did it. That movie's name was Godzilla.
It quickly dawned on me when I began sharing my evenings plans with anyone who would listen that a lot of people have a real soft spot for "King of the Monsters" in one form or another. Friends and colleagues of mine had read comics, played video-games, watched the back catalogue of movies including the Matthew Broderick one which forced him to see out his career on Broadway. I had nothing. No expectations. No context or knowledge of Godzilla and it's history. Nada. Was this to my advantage though?
I saw the "extreme" version at the cinema which is coined as making the overall experience more immersive, but between you and I, the only fascinating thing about it was how any one could charge such an enormous ticket price for something without it being considered a crime. £15 in some places can get you a 30min back rub, happy ending and the change left over for a slush puppie.
For those who can't tell what the movies about from the poster, the life and times of a giant monster being. The story begins with a Japanese power planet experiencing tremors which only Bryan Cranston's character, Dr. Joe Brody, believes to be less quake, more unexplained snoring. He's right, but no one listens to him which ends in loss and an 18yr "meltdown". Get it? Because of the plant and...oh, f*ck off.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson (of Kick Ass and toyboy fame) plays his son, Ford, who upon returning from his surprisingly convenient service in the military's bomb disposal unit must travel to Japan to bail out his Dad. Ergo, this leads to a chance encounter with Ken Watanabe's character, Dr. Ishiro Serizawa, who has been using the plant's energy to breed a pair of horny giant moth-like organisms which go on to cause more trouble than the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man.
Cue Godzilla to fix things right on cue. Who's introduction surprised me because it turns out this isn't an origins story. As the credits begin, we've already established that this isn't the first time the big galoot has caused the Pacific problems. Godzilla has been absorbing energy from the earth's core all this time laying dormant waiting at the bottom of the ocean to fight the big moth things upon their awakening and I won't spoil anymore, but what ensues is 2hrs of huge explosions, amazing monster battles synonymous with the comics and movies of old which is really the best bit of the film. The human story involving Ford trying to save his wife and son stranded in monster-torn San Francisco felt like the moments in between rounds during a boxing match.
Godzilla looks epic with a fierceness in his eyes and a compendium of cracking wrestling moves he's obviously learnt from Monday Night Raw. Clotheslines, Suplexes, Sleeper Holds; the lizard's got game. And the blue flamey breath thing is unbelievable! What I wasn't expecting was the sensitive side of the monster particularly the longing gaze you'll be privy to between he and Taylor-Johnson mid-rumble. Arr, he has feelings! *sigh
So, was having no expectations a good thing? Well, fans first expressed their dissatisfaction when the monster's big reveal arrived early in the most recent trailer which diffused the suspense. I have to agree. But, from the reaction of people around me when the theatre lights went up, it didn't really matter. What people were expecting was a big lizard terrorising a city involving characters looking awe-struck by something so destructive that it would put an Adam Sandler performance to shame.
Godzilla is a fun, disaster movie which is certainly worth watching on the big screen. But for me, it just felt like a better version of Jurassic Park 2 which Jeff Goldblum originally claimed was less cool than his tinted glasses/ biker jacket combo. Alright, he didn't say that, but the fact I'm comparing Godzilla to a film of the same ilk from '97, speaks volumes.
Godzilla (2014) receives 3/5 Macho Man Randy Savages because aside from its impressive scale and big action scenes in the film, it was ultimately a hot mess.
