Godzilla

Movie Name: Godzilla
Year of Release: 2014

Director: Gareth Edwards

Stars: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, Bryan Cranston, Sally Hawkins, David Strathairn, Richard T. Jones, Victor Rasuk, Carson Bolde, CJ Adams

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5

Synopsis:

The new Hollywood version of Godzilla, follows the previous big blockbuster incarnation directed by Rolland Emmerich, which premiered in 1998. The new "Godzilla" is directed by Gareth Edwards, who gained prominence with his debut feature "Monsters", a low budget film that premiered in 2010. "Godzilla" focuses on the story of Ford Brody, a young lieutenant, who has lost his mother at a young age due to radiation contamination. His father has removed himself from his life and has obsessively followed a conspiracy theory where he claims something has occurred in that area that has created that energy outburst. As Ford is summoned to help his father, all hell breaks loose, as huge monsters/parasites who feed on nuclear energy make their appearance, wreaking destruction in their path. On the trail of these monsters are the military and the legendary Godzilla. Ford has to try to get to his young wife and son and guarantee their safety.
Gareth Edwards smartly creates a film that allows the characters to be introduced before showcasing the creatures that wreak havoc throughout the cities. Sadly though, most of the characters are tired cliches, and though the sophistication of the special effects is truly engaging, on the human side, things are quite bare in terms of character development. Aaron Taylor Johnson's portrayal of Ford is wooden and stiff, whereas the talented Elizabeth Olsen, has little to do, as do most of the supporting actors, who only get to play one sided characters throughout most of the film (Ken Watanabe's worried scientist, David Strathairn's strong willed military individual). Highlights go to Seamus McGarvey's cinematography and Alexandre Desplat's beautiful score. The film succeeds in the larger destruction set pieces, and the engaging situations that it generates, however by the time the film ends, it's a quickly forgotten affair.