Godzilla (1998)

In 1968; a Nuclear Test is conducted in French Polynesia near an Iguana nest. 30 years later, a Japanese cannery vessel is suddenly attacked by an unknown creature. Only one crew member survives, and the only word he speaks is “Gojira”. Then in Panama several giant footprints are discovered. And then three fishing trawlers are pulled underwater by an unknown force, just 200 miles off the coast of America. What type creature on Earth is capable of all this?!

Released in 1998, and directed by Roland Emmerich; Godzilla is the first American produced Godzilla film, and the 23rd film in the Godzilla film series. The film stars Matthew Broderick, Maria Pitillo, Jean Reno, and Hank Azaria, with Kevin Dunn, Vicki Lewis, Arabella Field, Doug Savant, Harry Shearer, Michael Lerner, Malcolm Danare, and Lorry Goldman in supporting roles. Godzilla 1998 first went into development between in 1992, with Speed director Jan de Bont hired to direct in 1994. Jan de Bont would later drop out of the production due to budget disputes, and Emmerich was hired instead, hot off the heels of the success of Independence Day. The film was dedicated to the memory of Godzilla creator Tomoyuki Tanaka, who passed away the previous year.

My oppinion of this film is very well documented. But I am choosing not to rant about it’s obvious and well documented issues. Issues like how this film has no right to call itself a Godzilla film, because it isn’t. Or how the creature (now known simply as Zilla) looks nothing like Godzilla. Or how the film’s producers wasted an amazing opportunity, that we would all have to wait 16 years to be rectified. No, I am not going to discuss any of these points; because there are other things I would like to say about this film instead.

Before writing this post, I sat down to watch Godzilla 1998 for the first time in over a decade. It’s not like I am trying to avoid this film (especially given I can name at least six other Godzilla films that are worse than it); it’s more that I’d rather watch the Japanese films more than this tragic mistake. Sitting down to watch it again, I discovered something I have never spotted about this film before. It’s very fast!

I am not saying it’s a short/quick film, after all it’s just 40 minutes short of The Two Towers runtime. What I really mean, is that it doesn’t waste time, going from one thing to another. You get the epic opening, then it jumps to the fishing vessel, then jumps to Chernobyl, then to the fishing vessel’s cook in hospital, then Panama, then New York, and so on, and so on. It just doesn’t hang around; which could be the real key behind the film’s achillie’s heel.

Unlike Independence Day, where there’s build-up, but with plenty of introductions, and explanations; Godzilla 1998, just focusses on build-up. The build-up is really well done, but then as you get past the first act, it chooses not to slow down or catch it’s breath, but rather keep the pace up. Which means all scenes are just flash in a pan moments, that are very easy to miss. There could be a lot more explanation, behind what’s going on, especially given that Monster Movies dwell within the realms of science fiction, and there needs to be a level of understanding, even in a film containing lots of high octane action. But instead, it just jumps from one thing to the next as quickly as possible.

Personally I think this film took completely the wrong direction, and No I don’t just mean with their representation as to what Zilla looks and acts like. Godzilla 1998 does have several issues, and it’s story is pretty much aimed straight for the increasingly loathesome egg scene, which just slows down the film the wrong way. But whilst it has it’s issues, there’s one point of the narrative that never disappoints.

Roland Emmerich clearly knows how best to convey the Military in his films. Every scene featuring military action against Zilla, is just awesome. They combine high octane adrenaline fuelled action, with awe-inspiring visual effects. The chase scene with the three helicopters (why only three? I’m pretty sure I saw more than three before this scene) is pretty gripping. The lead-up to the attack at Central Park is slow, but really cool. And both scenes with the jet fighters at the end, and the battle between Zilla and the submarines, are just epic (if also emotionally tragic).

All these scenes with the military (and even others that barely contain any action), are where this film really thrives. Even the early build-up to the first attack on New York is terrific. The stuff in between, just slows it down, a little too much, acting as a distraction from it’s more glorious moments. If the film had chosen a more military focussed aproach/direction, rather than a flimsy relationship, or trying to tell as many jokes as possible within 2 and a half hours, then it could well have been a more memorable film in a good way, than an all conquering dissapointing one!

Another element that also does disappoint, is the soundtrack. The soundtrack for this film has to be one of the best of the 1990’s. Composed by David Arnold, the soundtrack features some basic tunes covering chase scenes, but also helps convey an element of mystery in the investigational side of the story, nice sweeping music to help provide an essence to the grander moments of wonder; as well as high adrenaline fulled pieces when wanting to combine both. It even contains a piece designed to make you feel sad, when something as tragic as adult Zilla discovering the corpses of his children. It’s a well thought out soundtrack, designed to really get you into the film, and feel the right emotional level depending on the scene it’s used in.

From the viewpoint of a 9 year old me; I loved this film when it came out. I have always been a huge Godzilla fan, and having a big budget film like this was a dream come true. But over time, and as I grew-up understanding more, I could see the pitfalls that would come to define this film. It’s not a Godzilla film, nor does it deserve to carry it’s famous name. For many years, I have said that if this film had a different name, then it may have a better reputation.

But, I am not going to be all doom and gloom about it, as though whilst it’s existence is covered in controversy, it does have it’s merits. The soundtrack is fantastic, the opening scene with a nuclaer bomb is simply awesome, and allows a great start for an amazing build-up. And then of course there’s all the militray based scenes, which is where this film shines brightest of all. Whilst it could be the most complicated film in the series to date, that doesn’t make it downright terrible (as there are at least six other films that are worse than it)!