Godzilla (2014)

To be clear, I wanted Walter White to save us from Godzilla.  To be fair, I am less than a casual fan of Godzilla so perhaps I'm not qualified enough to review this new re-imagining.  Then again, I am a lover of film.

The trailer for Godzilla was brilliantly executed and thus I found myself anxious for opening weekend.  However, the PG-13 rating started the doubts.  The insipid Fiat commercials really got to me.  Sure, go ahead and show the entire monster in a 60 second commercial, dumb-ass mad men!

So as I found myself anticipating the viewing of this movie, it was difficult to discard all the hate that had welled up.  Godzilla is fine popcorn flick; but sadly it fails to be memorable primarily because of the casting.  It's hard to see this otherwise stellar cast including Juliette Binchette, Bryan Cranston, and Ken Watanabe relegated to bit-parts.  And sadly, the shoulders of our leading man, played by newcomer Aaron Taylor-Johnson, aren't quite square enough to carry this film.

But let's be honest... this movie isn't 'The Beast who Ate San Francisco'.  It's Godzilla and the beast does not disappoint--or at least the parts that you can see.  Herein lies my biggest issue... the move is dark--in an overcast, let's not worry about the details kinda way.  Unlike 2008's Cloverfield, Godzilla in all his glory is disappointing.  This viewer expected to see the Power Rangers coming to the rescue.  Director Gareth Edwards depends too much on shadows to give the film it's atmosphere when a more controlled camera would do.

As I see it, 2014's Godzilla is a mediocre summer film.  Sadly, it won't reboot the monster-movie genre.  If you're desperate to justify wanting to see the film, it does pose some interesting environmental and moral questions.  But I would encourage you to elevate your summer movie experience by seeing The Winter Soldier or X-Men: Days of Future Past.