Godzilla (2014) - - Part 11

[jmc]

There was nothing truly bad about King Kong either, yet i see many saying how awful and boring it was. I think it's a shame really, seems like many no longer have much patience when they watch movies about these high concepts.

Kong's main problem was that it was excessive, at it's core it's a really good movie that overstays its welcome by a good 45 mins. Unfortunately we live in an age of blockbuster films that rely too heavily on just throwing everything at us, people are kinda use to that type of wham-bam film making. I'll bet you had Godzilla appeared more in this film the critical consensus would have been far more negative, if anything the lack of Godzilla is a strength to the film overall. That said, people will be expecting huge monster battles throughout because that's what they know the character for, I don't think there will be an appreciation of actually what the films has delivered, at least not immediately. I will say this I never once felt bored during the movie despite no monsters for a large chunk of the film.

 

[Lord]

Well, i think this time it's the internet fandom's problem, with King Kong i even see people without much patience that i know liking it. The internet can be an interesting thing, on one hand you will have it complaining about the Transformers films as being excess, while on the other, they may hold the same opinion on something like King Kong due to finding it boring.

 

[LizardMan07]

I got the same feeling I got when I saw "Battleship", not bored, but not really excited, not because there weren't enough explosions, but I just didn't feel taken in to the film. I'd reccomend seeing it for some of the moments it excels though.

[BLACKOUT]I did like the scene where the Japanese Scientist is telling them not to meddle with them with radioactive bombs, I thought the Hiroshima reference was rather powerful.I liked the wife's death scene, was pretty good. [/BLACKOUT] I felt the main character, forgot his name, was a little shallow, didn't really develop much.

 

[Smallville13]

There was nothing trully bad about King Kong either, yet i see many saying how awful and boring it was. I think it's a shame really, seems like many no longer have much patience when they watch movies about these high concepts.

True. But I remember enjoying King Kong back when I saw it in cinemas (07?), haven't seen it since though.

But this definitely felt like a trudge. And I was fine with it for the first hour thinking it was building, but then it just kept grinding.

I can't see people being too disappointed. The sequences with MUKO are awesome as well.

It's just I guess Pacific Rim really embraced being a b-movie, and was just unapologetic and alot of fun.

And I really just could not buy Taylor-Johnson as a husband or a soldier.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

Can't speak for Godzilla but King Kong is an hour longer than it needs to be. Not a bad film though.

 

[jmc]

Kong is far too long, and yet I can still sit through it comfortably. It has a slow burn that is similar to Godzilla. There's is a part of me that would have liked more Godzilla, but on the other hand I can't complain with the amount I got. Essentially greedy jmc just wanted more mayhem and destruction coz he's a guy and likes stuff blowing up but when I actually thought about it the balance was IMO perfect.

It's just I guess Pacific Rim really embraced being a b-movie, and was just unapologetic and alot of fun.

There is definately a B-movie vibe in this film, it's just dressed up in A-movie clothing lol.

 

[Drz]

Godzilla would had been a memorable experience if Godzilla had shouted "shoop da woop" and "IMA FIRING MAH LAZORS" comedy gold!

It would have been so out of left field, but it would have made given an good experience to everyone.

 

[TheAQU4M4N]

without being too spoilery, is the ending fit for a sequel? hints at the future for the big G? sort of what we got with the 1998 one?

 

[Lord]

I hope it's not too obvious, i hate it when first films feel the need to end with major unresolved arcs and plot points, or to limit themselves because of their planned sequels.

 

[redhawk23]

I just found King Kong to be really self-indulgent, really playing into the worst of Peter Jackson's habits (This has only gotten worse with the Hobbit films.)

Also, while Kong himself was expertly realized, at some point around 2003 Jackson forgot how to use a greenscreen effectively. I don't understand the lighting he uses and how bad so many of those shot in his films look these days.

 

[redhawk23]

I hope it's not too obvious, i hate it when first films feel the need to end with major unresolved arcs and plot points, or to limit themselves because of their planned sequels.

Its nothing like that. It has pretty much the same ending has 2/3s of all Godzilla films.

 

[Lord]

Really? I think that the effects still look quite impressive today, we really haven't really seen that much improvement in the CGI.

 

[redhawk23]

Again, Kong himself is great. But Jackson is awful with compositing.

 

[Deserana]

Awesome street advert

Spoiler

 

[jmc]

without being too spoilery, is the ending fit for a sequel? hints at the future for the big G? sort of what we got with the 1998 one?

Like all good westerns the hero rides off into the sunset.

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

I think I've lost all hope for this movie. I will never understand how the studio ever agreed with the director about leaving the best for the end of the movie.

Dude, that's monster movie 101. You save the monster's best moment for last to leave the audience a feeling of excitement as they leave the theater. That's how it has been done for King Kong, the Wolf Man, the Predator, and of course, Godzilla.

 

[terry78]

See, I know what I'm getting going in, as I see that Gareth was trying to bring what the 1954 version did by having it focus on the populous' reactions to what's going on, though I know Godzilla has become so synonymous in pop culture as being a smashy smashy type character people will be like, wtf? A lot of the sequels are pretty much that.

 

[antonydelfini]

Just watched it. 7/10 for me.

POSITIVES:
- Godzilla- looked, sounded, felt, moved awesome. Every time he's onscreen, jaws drop. He's a warrior in this, a complete no BS bad ass.
- MUTO- scary and intimidating, although their attacks were kind of repetitive
- Cranston- he gives it his all, should have been the main human character until the end.. All the emotional scenes were his.
- music- scary and intense.
- Effects- top notch 10/10

NEGATIVES:
- Freaking Aaron Johnson and his family- bored me to tears
- other human characters: boring
- Action: the 3rd act spectacle that was built up from the beginning was a let down because it was too dark to see anything clearly. Goodness. If you thought it was hard seeing the Pacific Rim fights clearly, wait for the 3rd act battle.

If the humans and their stories/character interactions were good/enjoyable ala Alien/JP/Jaws, I would not have been bored too much with the 2nd act dominated by Aaron Johnson and the teased Muto/Godzilla battles. The first act was great due to Cranston, and when Aaron became the main man, the tension fell dramatically. Movie definitely needed more of the big G.

So for my 2014 summer movie blockbuster scores so far:
CAPTAIN AMERICA THE WINTER SOLDIER: 8.5/10
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2: 7/10
GODZILLA: 7/10

 

[CB Fan]

I can't wait to see this tomorrow! Looking at the reviews I feel like my previous concerns and opinions about Taylor-Johnson are unfortunately right as there just isn't anything special about him other than being good looking. I've seen a few movies that he's been in and he's just alright, hell Taylor Kitsch even out acted him in Savages, makes me worried about his role in Avengers.

 

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

Seeing this tonight, still excited. It's ****ing Godzilla, you namby pambys.

 

[LizardMan07]

Godzilla and the special effects were amazing, Cranston killed it, but pretty much every other actor was average.

If you like stuff getting blown up this movie is for you

 

[redhawk23]

Dude, that's monster movie 101. You save the monster's best moment for last to leave the audience a feeling of excitement as they leave the theater. That's how it has been done for King Kong, the Wolf Man, the Predator, and of course, Godzilla.

Here its not a problem of the "best" moments for the monster being left to the end but the "only" moments. There really isn't even a build up for the most part. Godzilla is not even a factor in much of the film. Then there is a buildup...with no pay off.

Imagine this

But instead of being followed up with

the film cuts immediately to

And then imagine that happens twice.

 

[redhawk23]

Seeing this tonight, still excited. It's ****ing Godzilla, you namby pambys.

who doesn't do much even when he is onscreen.

 

[MahvelBaby!]

Can't wait! 7 clock showing!

 

[Par Avion]

Well, i think this time it's the internet fandom's problem, with King Kong i even see people without much patience that i know liking it. The internet can be an interesting thing, on one hand you will have it complaining about the Transformers films as being excess, while on the other, they may hold the same opinion on something like King Kong due to finding it boring.

Most "fans" really don't know what they want. That's all it boils down to. They have some imaginary movie, filled with a checklist of "iconic moments" they want to see-with no real thoughts about the actual story.

Sometimes I get the feeling that the "fans" would be thrilled to death with a movie filled with scenes of Batman standing by a gargoyle with the actor's voice dubbed over by Kevin Conroy, or Spider-Man striking "iconic" poses and quipping non-stop- story be damned.