In 1954, a large alpha predator is lured to Bikini Atoll to be killed with a nuclear weapon; with the whole incident being covered up as a nuclear test. In 1999, after a mining collapse in the Philippines; a nuclear power plant suddenly crumbles to the ground in Japan. 15 Years later, at the site of the former nuclear power plant, a giant monster awakens!
Released in 2014, and directed by Gareth Edwards; Godzilla is the 30th film in the Godzilla series, and the second to be produced by an American Studio. The film is considered to be a reboot of the film series, and bears no connection to any film in the Japanese series, or the previous American attempt. It is also the first film in the MonsterVerse. The film stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, David Strathairn, and Bryan Cranston. Originally, star of several Japanese Godzilla films, including the original 1954 film Akira Takarada, was meant to appear in a cameo role, however his scene was sadly cut from the final release.
In the 1990’s, TriStar Pictures got an amazing opportunity, the opportunity to make a big budget American Godzilla film. In reality however, they squandered this opportunity, instead deciding to make a generic American monster movie; and for marketing purposes gave it a famous name. OK, maybe that’s a bit unfair, by all accounts, it sounded like they tried to make a new Godzilla film, but put their own spin on it, with their own design. The end results however speak for themselves, as the film was a pretty generic monster movie, with a creature that whilst being called Godzilla; has since been retroactively renamed Zilla.
In the mid 2000’s; Yoshimitsu Banno; who had directed the 1971 film Godzilla vs. Hedorah, decided to produce a short IMAX Godzilla film titled Godzilla 3D To The Max, for a release later that decade. The production though would later run into production and financial problems, so the producers met with Legendary Pictures, and through some talks with Toho; led to 3D To The Max being dropped, in favour of an all new American Godzilla film. This one, and thankfully, this time, they did it right!
Moving onwards and upwards from 1998, was brutally simple. Instead of blowing up an Iguana to a large scale, just make your Godzilla, actually look like Godzilla! And they succeeded; the monster in this film is Godzilla, from the body shape, size, scales, spines, and even his atomic breath, everything is correct, with allowances for creative changes to make this design standout on it’s own. But whilst the design of the creature is Godzilla, I can’t help but see the similarities in this film’s story, with the story in a completely different monster movie.
The introduction, and build-up of the two lead monster’s in this film, are eerily similar, to the plot of Gamera: Guardian of the Universe. Both films feature a giant winged creature that runs amok, causing terror and destruction; only for a much larger creature to suddenly show up and try to kill it. Now this could be entirely coincidence of course, but the similarities are there. Not complaining about it, just think it’s cool to reference one awesome monster movie, alongside another!
This film’s overall production however does show some rather interesting creative choices, which on the surface could come across as bad or annoying, but are actually a lot more delicately entrancing. To begin with the opening sequence is a nice cool way of getting the film going, and create suspense by allowing a first glimpse at the titular monster. Plus, it also connects quite well with one of the few great things about the 1998 film; that awesome opening with the nuclear explosion, and that fantastic soundtrack.
The film’s direction of marketing, initially and heavily focussed on the fact that Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston is in the film, and so most of the trailers featured him. However (Spoiler alert, although it has been nine years since the film’s release) his character does get killed within the first forty minutes. It does seem a little odd to market a film based on one character, who does not survive the full film length. I could argue however, that this much inclusion does allow his death to be that more of a shock, the same of which can be said for Juliette Binoche too who also dies very early into the film. It’s an interesting injection of drama, which can also help raise the severity of the situation. At the same time though, it is deeply unfair in a very cruel way, and also annoying that Aaron Taylor-Johnson doesn’t blast Monarch for letting this happen to his character’s father in the first place!
One of the things many people have commented on about this film, is the surprising lack of it’s lead Monster. People have said that surely there should be plenty Godzilla for a film called Godzilla. This film though takes it’s time, to set up his arrival in the correct way. Firstly it introduces the villainous Muto’s, therefore calling upon the world to send in the only solution in an alpha predator to restore balance. This in turn also allows for a proper Independence Day style arrival, by suggesting Godzilla, revealing a bit of him at a time, and eventually his glorious reveal, with anticipation stoked to the fill line!
The lack of Godzilla is still relevant though, and in the lead up to the final fight, you begin to wonder whether he is entirely necessary to the film. But once the fight begins, those feelings begin to melt away. Plus the time provided to the other major monsters allows for some sweet character development, in creating not a generic other monster to fight, but a genuinely tough challenge for the King of the Monsters. Seriously, the MUTO‘s are a fantastic new addition to the series, one which would be cool to see more of in the future.
Godzilla’s appearances whilst few in number however, could be considered rather generous, compared to one of the film’s major bugbears: Lighting! The film has several scenes taking place at night time; and they are very poorly lit, and unless you’re sitting in a nicely lit cinema; you are going to struggle to see absolutely anything, such as the final fight; which looks enjoyably brutal!
The film’s soundtrack (composed by Alexandre Desplat) is also pretty interesting, as whilst it is a very enjoyable soundtrack, it feels like it’s been written for an entirely different monster. It sort of sounds more like it would be more at home in a King Kong film rather than a Godzilla film. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still pretty good, and again fit for purpose, but yeah, it does seem rather out of place!
Godzilla 2014 is a terrific film. It shy’s away from it’s more debatable predecessor, and returns to the roots that made the character of Godzilla so enticing and delightful to millions of fans worldwide in the first place. The film’s producers, took the idea of the monster, but then worked hard to imagine a world, where these creatures exist, and put that on screen to make the audience believe the story. Yes, there are some questionable notes in its direction, but on the whole it succeeds, in bringing the character back to the big screen, and introduced to a whole new worldwide audience. Altogether, it’s not just a good Godzilla film…but one of the best!
(I had a whole set of terrific trailers to choose from, but I still prefer the Asia trailer).
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