Godzilla: Good, But Sadly Disappointing (Spoilers, Duh)

Well you see, that's another problem people have opinions. In my opinion the acting in this film was solid and the human story was really good, and the only thing I really have to say I agree on with anyone in the "not enough Godzilla" debate is there should've been a fight after the buildup of his first appearance but other than that he actually gets more screentime than a lot of Godzilla films.

And just saying, but if you title your topic "Godzilla: Good, But Sadly Disappointing" you're expecting people to try and correct your or find out why you were disappointed to correct that error. And, in my opinion, you expected different going into this film; I pretty much suffered in the same way my first time seeing the film. 

@SOMETHINGREAL

Least favorite part (1):  Godzilla shows up at the airport...no one sees him, hears him, or feels the thunder of his footsteps.  How did he get there with no warning?  Where were all the planes and helicopters and military personal along his route to the airport.  The entire Hawaii scene, including the tsunami, was poorly written, staged and filmed.

(2) There is no explanation of Godzilla, other than he exists.  When he shows up there is no "What the F--K is that?" moment.  Everyone treats Godzilla as if he is their next door neighbor.  There seems to be no fear of him at all.  I don't know about you, but if a 350 foot beast shows up in front of me I'm going to poop my pants, run like hell and then pray.

Favorite scenes.  Godzilla killing the MUTO with an atomic blast down his throat.

(2) The panic in the eyes of Cranston when he goes to save his wife.  The scene should have played out a little longer, but it still was the most emotionally effective scene in the movie

@CARL MAJORS:

I'm not sure what you mean "horse carcass".  Did I miss something?

nah, I was poking fun at you AND all the people who've made you have to say why you didn't like the film that much so many times...

RATEDREX: you bring up another good point that I did think of during the movie, but had forgotten. . . Thankfully, the govt and military didn't do the "hide the truth" thing for too long, but...

ok, G and MUTO show up at Honolulu AP, and start fighting on CNN...so...what the hell was everyone doing between then and when they got to San Fran? Are you kidding?  It took 3.5 days for the carrier to get from Hawaii to San Fran...Godzilla AND the MUTO show up and NOW you're evacuating?  That struck me as...well, head shaking.

@ InstinctiveGigan

What Godzilla movies have you seen where Godzilla has less screen time than this movie?  Cause I must have missed those.  Sure, Godzilla usually does come in later, which I don't mind, but once he gets there, you feel that he is the main focus of the movie.  Or a very big part of the film.  He is never relegated to being 2nd, or even 3rd fiddle.  He never has his big moments/fights treated like they aren't important.  That is what this movie gets wrong.  It really seems this script was floating around for awhile, but with only the MUTOs, til they decided to turn it into a Godzilla film.  Not saying that that's what happened, it just seems that way.

And again, this whole expectation lines is ridiculous.  One shouldn't have to lower their expectations to the point where they will except anything, just so they can enjoy whatever Hollywood craps out.  That's not specifically for this film, as I do think it still has quite a few positives.  But, when I'm going to a Godzilla movie, I should expect and get Godzilla.  Not 20 mins of him as basically a background character.  There's nothing wrong with expecting that, at the very least.  Anything less, and it might as well be a completely different movie.

oh yeah--forgot too--USS Saratoga was retired from active service TWENTY YEARS AGO...can't believe I forgot to mention that...and a rather infamous ship in the Navy world to boot--have no idea why they chose that one...

@something real:

Thanks for the compliment.  I'm a passionate movie buff.  I did movie reviews in college, I worked in the movie industry for 20 years (right out of college) and I have been a Godzilla fan for over 50 of my 57 years.  I still have Godzilla shit in my basement.  I love the big fella.  I want to see him do well in the industry.  I was motified in 1998.  I was excited about Godzilla 2014, only to be disappointed, yet again.  One day someone is going to make a kick-ass Godzilla movie.  Maybe the next one will be the one worth waitng for (at least for me).

SR: Wow, I'm incredibly impressed you would know that.  Yeah, I wondered too if "Sorry Sara" was intentional, for that very reason...NOT a popular ship here in TU for sure...

Strange coincidence...it was announced 2 weeks ago the ship will be scrapped...

@Carl Majors:

Hollywood doesn't care about too many plot details, take it from me, they are in it FOR THE MONEY.  If you want to see some artistic stuff, with thought-provoking substance, then pop in a tape of one of the classics from the 70s, you ain't gonna get that  from Hollywood anymore.  They are only interested in superheroes, vampires, hobbits, metal things that clang against each other, fire-breathing dragons, James Bond type special agents and raunchy comedies.  If you show up with the All-American screenplay most studios will tell you to go see one of those f-king Indie producers.

@Ratdrex

"There is no explanation of Godzilla, other than he exists."

Which is exactly the origin of the original film. The nuclear age simply wakes him up. I'm getting the impression that you mostly didn't like the movie because it wasn't the one you wanted, not because it was a poor movie. (And it wasn't.)

Granted there are various issues with it that are hardly forgivable and you're in your rights to be disappointed with it. However, the lambasting is coming off less with a critical eye, as you seem to pride and claim yourself to have, and closer to the younger tirades that turn a blind eye to aspects which made it a successful film.

A solo Godzilla / man-vs-nature film does not automatically a good film make. Nor does the modern day, overrated zealous of "realism". Such an idea could have been a better movie. It could also have been far weaker.

THISMEINTEL-  Which moive did Godzilla have less or equal screen time to this film?  Final Wars.  Now ask yourself this.  Where is Godzilla most of the time in this new moive?

If you said the ocean, you are correct.  If you said anywhere other than that, go swim 10 lenghts of the Pacific Ocean until you figure why you were wrong.

Now then, the Mutos are going to have more screen time than Godzilla is because they are the main antagonists.  Antagonsists always have more screen time than protagonsits.  They are the threat, Godzilla is only reacting to their appearance.

If anything, read the Novelization of the film.  It will give you answers to almost all qustions that you have.  I did that with both Battleship, and Pacific Rim.  Read Godzilla: Awakening, go see the film another dozen times.  Don't spout off that you don't like something unless you can defend it with viabel facts.  Thank you and good night.

@GMAN2887:

You are wrong, as you so often are.  You criticize me for not having a "critical eye", would you do the same to all of the professional critics who agree with me that it was a poorly made movie.

I didn't go into the theatre with any "want" for the movie.  I already knew the plot.  I had already seen all the trailers, all the TV ads and I had peeked at some of the reviews.  So I sort of knew what to expect.  The movie wasn't done well (TO ME).  If you liked it, I'm happy for you.  But don't come here trying to analyze why I didn't like it.  

Godzilla vs man may have not been a better film, but a more realistic film would have better...FOR ME (didn't Gareth Edwards claim that was his intent).  Let me have my opinion, and I will let you have yours.  And stop being such a know-it-all.  Its very stressful for the rest of us :)

@ SapphireOverlord

Really, Final Wars?  You're telling me that Godzilla has less screen time and importance to the movie in Final Wars?  Where he goes around beating the crap out of just about every monster in the Godzilla series?  Get out of here with that.

And no, I will not read Awakening.  Nor should anyone have to get certain choices made in the movie.  So, you can also get out of here with that elitist attitude.

THISMEINSEIL- Godzilla has a total screentime of 18 minutes in Final Wars.  Final Wars first half focuses on the humans and their response to the threat of a monster lead alien invasion.

Also with your response, it is clear to me (and everyone by the way) that you are one of the aftermentioned "Hard-Core G-Fans" we've been hearing about.    History will show again and again the follies of your lack of intelligence, hot-headedness, and your refusal to accept new ideas and other peoples opinions.  You sir are the elitist, not me.

@Ratedrex

The difference, however, is that professional critics who didn't like the movie were professional. Meanwhile, you're analyzing others with a claim that they only enjoy the movie because you suspect they give into the hype. Would you say the same of the professional critics that agree the movie was well made? I find it fascinating one direction is okay, but not the other.

Apologies you've grown tired of ignoring facts. I'll pass them through InstinctiveGigan instead and I apologize I don't spend time trying to convince others why my word should be held in high esteem by consistantly bringing up my past occupation. Grains of salt added of course.

@GMAN2887

What did I ever do to you??  I invite anyone to go back and read my posts.  Only one time did I comment on a person's take on Godzilla and that was because the author of the post ASKED us to comment.  I thought he was reaching, in his theories, for reasons to like the movie more.  ALL the other times I have express that whether you like, love, disliked or hated the movie, that was your choice and none of us should analyze other people's critiques.  Click on my name and go back and check out my posts.

And Yes I sometimes introduce myself as a long time Godzilla fan and a long time Hollywood marketing guy.  So when I predict that Godzilla will make $90 million in its first weekend (off by $3), or when I predict that  the Rottentomatoes score of 93 or Sunday will probably go down to about 76 by Friday (off by 4).  Or that the studios feared rebooting Godzilla because of the past financial history of Godzilla movies, the reader knows that I am speaking from a professional experience.  BTW, you just gave professional critics more weight because they are professionals.

I don't care if people disagree with me.  Its no big deal.  I don't take it personal.  I love debating.  I only take it personal when YOU make it personal by trying to sabotage my opinion with your own self-righteousness. 

Hey lets move on. 

@Ratedrex

Oh, apologies. Nothing personal, simply observations. Enjoy the conversation.

GMAN2887:

I'm glad that we finally agree on something.

Now that we are civil, I will admit that you appear to know your stuff when it comes to movies.  So I want your opinion:  Did you think that Gareth Edwards did a good job directing?  I can point out about 25 OBVIOUS things that he dropped the ball on. The biggest flaw was that there was not enough awe at the sight of Godzilla and the MUTOs.  There was no "OMG, what the f--ked is that" moment.  There was not enough  chaos and mayhem.  Everything looked choreographed. 

I'm going to see it on again on Tuesday.  Maybe I will have a better experience.

For the most part I'm keeping my opinion of the film close to the chest for another time. Vaguely, I'll say that, stylistically, Edwards did a wonderful job shooting something wide and atmospheric. His biggest failing was the sophomore slump of lingering on scenes or shots for too long. Its a tightening issue attributed to most indie directors.

I just read your review on the movie, I would also like to add that I am also a huge Godzilla fan and have seen some of the old Toho movies. I just recelty saw Godzilla not once but tiwce, the second time was for more of an analytical purpose. I just want to say that after reading your review on the movie I no longer feel crazy. You are absolutley correct about the screen time for Godzilla, it was just pathetic. I get what that the director was trying to introduce some characters that we would actually be concerned about. The fact is though that when you make a film about Godzilla, the only character of the movie the majority care about is Godzilla. He is the star of the damn movie and yet he is barley there. Also the fight scenes of the Toho movies were amazing, I loved the fact that it was just a 20 - 30 min. plus brawl between Godzilla and another monster. It is sad that so many people are definding this movie so strongly, if we voice our crticisms about the movie perhaps they will reach the director and encourage him to consider changing the amount of screen time Godzilla has in the next 2 films.

BLACK MUMBASA - Welcome to the site! We're always pleased to see new faces. Please, make yourself at home and start sharing your thoughts! As for your opinion on Edwards' film: what was your favorite and least favoritie aspects of the movie, may I ask? :)

My favorite parts of the movie was, how Godzilla looked. He just looked incredibly powerful and primal. His atomic breath was also a big plus for me in the movie. I also thought the history of how the monsters are all primordial gods was very cool. It peaked my interest and I kind of wished they went into it a little more in the movie. The things I did  not like or care for were the characters. Sure having characters in a Godzilla movie is fine, but I feel as if the human characters had much more screen time than Godzilla. I found that very dissapointing. Another thing was the fighting scenes with the monsters, everytime they would start fighting they would cut off to the human characters which was really irritating. I was expecting to see more Godzilla, and to me it just didn't feel like the movie delivered on that part.

@ Black Mumbasa

Thanks for commenting.  While Godzilla usually does have less screen time than the humans, it's the focus they put on Godzilla that counts.  They build him up for half the movie (maybe a little longer), then when he appears and the movie switches focus to either be mostly about Godzilla or, at the very least, 50% human 50% Godzilla+other monsters(if the movie has them.)  This movie got the focus ALL WRONG.  In the last fight, which did have a few cool scenes, it still felt like Godzilla was a background character.  What's worse, though? The constant teases.  They are what made the final fight feel as disappointing as it did.  Had there been 1-2 more fight scenes in the movie, then how the final fight played out would have been perfectly fine with me.

Gotta agree with ya.  I saw it once and was vastly disappointed, though my friends liked it.  I had to see it a second time, and while I enjoyed it more, it pretty much settled for me what I thought: 7/10 at most.  I give it credit for some inventiveness and some great cinematography, but the slow-drip reveal flopped, A. because we see a full MUTO before Godzilla, killing suspense and B. because when Godzilla finally showed up, he really wasn't delivered.  And they had plenty of opportunity to show it off.  Ford was practically in the middle of the battle at the airport, and yet we saw none of it from his perspective.  A missed opportunity was when the female was at the bridge.  Imagine if Godzilla had showed up too, and fought in the night right then and there.  And when we FINALLY get Godzilla fighting at the end, they constantly pan down with the camera shot or cut away to the humans, who are no longer paying attention.  There was no quiet moment of Godzilla to take him in in all his majesty.

Honestly my favorite part may have been when the Muto's meet in the city, when the behemoth female is revealed by the smoke, and then they nuzzle.  That and the kids screaming in the bus as Godzilla gets shot, though thats a far second compared.

Least favorite: SCRIPT.  How hollywood can just not get a good script down is beyond me.  They're spending hundreds of millions of dollars, and if they just made a GOOD MOVIE, it would all come back ten-fold.  Seriously, if Godzilla had a great script, or was Jurassic Park level good, Xmen would've had stiff competition for the weekend.  But instead the script was weak, and the box office dropped off, and PLEASE LET THEM HAVE LEARNED A LESSON.

Godzilla 2014 embodies greatness.

@ Panthalassan

Man, they cut so quick I completely forgot Ford was still there.  It would have been great to see things from his perspective, while also seeing parts where the camera was focusing on it.  THEN near the end we cut to Ford's son watching it on TV.

I also agree that the box office this past weekend could have been much better.  However, because of mixed word of mouth, many didn't go AND they missed out on repeat viewers, like me, who would have gone a second or third time, if it had delivered better on the Godzilla action.

I refuse to believe you wouldn't change your mind to being a little more commending if you saw it again. As a matter of fact, your reviews now lose a little substance here, if you haven't seen it a second or third time like most of us have, you don't know if your anti G 2014 crusade since the 16th is based on emotion more than fact, I am now almost certain it is more emotion driven than not. No wonder you are so harsh, I recommend you see it at least once more in theaters even if you don't want to out of sheer principle. At least for the sake of having a more well rounded review overall, and maybe some more positive post film thoughts.