Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) – Review
It’s been a long time between reviews, having kids really sucks up your movie watching and writing time, but now I’m feeling the need to get back into it, and what has dragged me back to the ol’ Microsoft Word is Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), sequel to Godzilla (2014) and third film in Legendary and WB MonsterVerse franchise.
I love a good monster movie and I was sorely disappointed in 2014 when I didn’t get one. I felt ripped off when most of those moments were shown from a point of view of someone near the action or through a tv, instead of clear framing and shots of the heavy attacks. I go to a monster movie to see big, cool creatures fighting and attacking each other and/or people. Well, it seems I wasn’t the only one with this problem and now I have a Godzilla movie I can love (besides from the original 1954 film).
The world is now aware of these giant monsters, now known as Titans, that use to dominate the Earth. Monarch, the secret scientific organisation, has tracked down seventeen of these Titans, who are mostly in hibernation, and have set up scientific outposts around each one. An environmental extremist, Colonel Alan Jonah (Charles Dance) uses a device made by Dr Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga), a paleobiologist working for Monarch, to awaken the gods and let nature restore order and wipe out the damage humans have done to the Earth. Godzilla needs to keep these Titans in line but Ghidorah has other plans.
Critics are panning the film, with a 39% critical review on Rotten Tomatoes, complaining the movie’s characters are two-dimensional, predictable, lack of character growth, with terrible dialogue and too much dumb, CGI monster fights. Well, I agree with the dialogue comment. There are some very cheesy and predictable lines but other than that, this is exactly what I want in a monster film. The 2014 Godzilla tried to make a more human focused monster movie, but its downfall was after Bryan Cranston’s character was killed off there was no characters that could carry the film, nor ones the audience cared about. Thankfully, Godzilla: King of Monsters does not have that problem, meaning the human character development is not a dominate focus. We get human characters that are there to drive the storyline, are fun and don’t over complicate the plot. Millie Bobby Brown plays Madison, the daughter of Dr Emma Russell, who shows the same awesome girl-power strength we know her for in Stranger Things. She’s the character you barrack for and follow through the journey. Vera Farmiga’s character drives the plot along nicely and I can never complain about her being in a movie. The other lead character is Dr Mark Russell, ex-husband to Emma Russell and Madison’s father, played by Kyle Chandler. I’m fairly certain he does nothing of interest and the movie would go along as normal if he wasn’t there. Sally Hawkins and Ken Watanabe reprise their roles to deliver the exposition to the audience. I love it when Charles Dance turns up in these types of films. The Shakespearean actor, known recently as Tywin Lannister, seems way to classy to be in creature features such as Dracula Untold, the Underworld films and now this Godzilla movie but it is fantastic, and he brings a certain gravitas to the villainous character. Eleven and Tywin are the people worth noting in the film.
That enough of the unimportant human characters. This is Godzilla’s movie. Godzilla gets to face off with some of his classic foes, Rodon, Mothra and King Ghidorah. It’s pretty awesome. The CGI and fight scenes are fun and what’s better is you can see it. Wide shots, close ups, you see it all; unlike 2014. I have a bit to say about these fights, but it would go into spoiler territory. All I will say is I think King Ghidorah should have won. I have a problem with the way Godzilla beat Ghidorah. And that isn’t a spoiler, of course Godzilla will win. It’s his movie! This is what you come to a monster movie for; the dumb, action shots of giant CGI monsters being destructive to each other and the cities around them. Love it!
As they have in all Godzilla films, the environmental agenda is present. Previously, it has been a high concern of the effects of atomic power, and the fallout the radioactivity on our planet. This film extends that to humans being a disease upon the Earth, slowly destroying it to a point of no return. I like the themes. I agree with their statement and I don’t think it goes unnoticed.
I didn’t intend this review to be a comparative between the 2014 and 2019 Godzilla films, but I am just so excited that I now have a Godzilla film to love. Also, stick around till the end of the credits. There is a post credit scene which, I think, is worth staying around for. The next instalment of the MonsterVerse is Godzilla vs. Kong, due in cinemas March 2020 and I cannot wait. Godzilla: King of Monsters earns ★★★★ from me.
