Review: Godzilla: King of the Monsters

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Let them fight.

It's been five years since Godzilla has last been seen and the Monarch corporation is on the verge of being taken over by the U.S Military. When Dr. Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga) decides to go full Thanos on earth, her ex husband Mark (Kyle Chandler) must work together with other Monarch scientists, like the returning Dr. Ishiro Serizawa (Ken Wantanabe) to gain control of the newly released titans, especially the powerful Ghidorah.

I really liked 2014's Godzilla and at first I was disappointed Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson weren't returning with the others, but turns out they saved themselves from probably having to do something stupid. There is no shortage of stupid in Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Most of the humans exist to make terrible decisions. 

You have to decide for yourself what you're wanting from this film before seeing it. If you want to see monsters fight each other, you won't be disappointed. If you want a coherent story to go along with it, you will.. Me? I was here for the monsters so I wasn't too bothered by the human's decisions, but I still left wanting more fights. Ken Wantanabe is the only returning character that gets something to do, and he has the best arc of the film. Unfortunately for most of it we're following Kyle Chandler who is just not an actor I'm interested in. I found myself wishing we could spend more time with Bradley Whitford, O'Shea Jackson Jr. and and Aisha Hinds instead.

There were a lot of things that still bothered me about this film, but the fight scenes were awesome. Sure, they used darkness and rain to cover up their CGI, and that got annoying, but the effects along with the music complimented each other well. I just wish there was more of that, and less of the film trying to explain, then contradict itself.

Recommended: Yes

Grade: C+

Memorable Quote: "If I had you two for parents, I'd run away from home too."  - Chief Warrant Officer Barnes (O'Shea Jackson Jr.)

Comments

  1. s.June 4, 2019 at 6:59 AM

    I will check it out because it sounds so dumb, especially Farmiga's character, and as we all know I just have to watch all stupid trash out there

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJune 4, 2019 at 7:49 AM

      lol sometimes trash is comforting. Hopfully David Straitharn got a good pay check for having one line.

      Delete
  2. Often Off TopicJune 4, 2019 at 8:44 AM

    I'm going to see this for the monsters! It's a shame we can't have awesome monster fights and a decent story, but if it's entertaining that's all I'm asking for.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Roderick AllmansonJune 4, 2019 at 10:11 AM

    I've read the "rain covers up CGI" comment in a lot of criticism and don't understand it. As if Pacific Rim: Uprising looked better in big bright daylight? I think it was a wise move

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJune 5, 2019 at 6:37 AM

      I don't think it's a bad move per say, it's just a typical one. It's biggest downfall is it makes all the battle scenes look too similar.

      Delete
  4. BirgitJune 4, 2019 at 12:45 PM

    Oh how I really want to see the original versions which were so stupid but I loved them. Mothra was always a good monster with those 2 stupid, tiny, singing girls who rode with Mothra. Where is Rodan? I loved that Turtle that shot out sparks where the legs would be and then turn like a flying saucer and fly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJune 5, 2019 at 6:36 AM

      Rodan is in this! I need to check out these older ones, apparently.

      Delete
  5. thevoid99June 4, 2019 at 2:42 PM

    I'll just stick to the Japanese Godzilla movies. They keep it simple.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Alex WithrowJune 6, 2019 at 3:38 PM

    In total agreement with you here. Sure, a lot of this was downright dumb, but the fight scenes were a ton of fun. I mean, it's a silly summer blockbuster monster movie, you know? It seems like we both met it on those terms, and just had a little fun with it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamJune 7, 2019 at 9:33 AM

      Exactly. I'd probably watch it again on TV or something. I wouldn't go out of my way to see it, but it would make for a fine second watch.

      Delete
  7. Teddy CrescendoNovember 20, 2019 at 2:37 PM

    Brittani, the 2014 Godzilla was a laughable embarrassing joke of a movie, this version is a hundred times better!.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamNovember 21, 2019 at 7:30 AM

      On the monster side, yes, but on the human side? No way.

      Delete

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