Godzilla (2014) - - - Part 12

[Adenjo]

I really wanted to love this movie.
But sadly I didn't.. In fact there were points where I wasn't even enjoying it.

Gripes.
MUTO design made me think of the ****e monster design from Cloverfield.

Godzillas feet. picky I know but I just hated the design.. Godzilla in the whole looked great but his feet were just lacking.. Something.

Human to monster screen time ratio was well off.

I hated the score. HATED it.

Cranston was wasted.

Things I liked..

Godzillas overall design.

The roar was "close" to the classic roar... Close enough for me to like it.. Not love it.

The one thing I loved about this movie, th eone solitary thing that made me think "yes" it's finally a Godzilla movie...

Thefirst Atomic breath scene... Loved it.


Would I see it again?
Sadly I have to, i'm taking the kids on Sunday.

Is it better than Godzilla 1998?
I disliked both films equally.
2014 design beats 1998 design hands down tho... So 2014 just about edges it.

Verdict.
Godzilla 2014.... Don't believe the hype.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Umm, what? I never got any vibes that Godzilla tired to be "intelligent" or go "beyond its genre".

Also, next time you see a movie I'd recommend taking off your sunglasses because it was very easy to see what was going on. The final fight was hardly obscured by darkness at all.

While my glasses do have tint when outside, it fades before the trailers start to roll. I get to the theater early.

Hmm...I'll be Sundance.

As you wish milady.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Except he is completely off the mark here. He says Godzilla works best when it embraces its roots and talks about how it should have embraced the cheese. But the original Godzilla ("the roots") was not cheesy. It was a serious and dark movie, far more serious and dark then this incarnation.

I didn't say it should embrace the cheese. When did I say that? My point was that in both films they overdo it with the cheese. I am talking about stuff like "The King of All Monsters" or walks out of town like he is a gunslinger passing through town. It embraces the concept of the character, but it is cheesy as hell. It could have been done in a less cheesy manner imo. Still, it put a smile on my face that same way the majority of Pacific Rim did.

 

[Visualiza]

Except he is completely off the mark here. He says Godzilla works best when it embraces its roots and talks about how it should have embraced the cheese. But the original Godzilla ("the roots") was not cheesy. It was a serious and dark movie, far more serious and dark then this incarnation.

Well, I was speaking more to the first couple sentences in that reply; should've clarified that. I'll put highlight them in bold. Either way, I think the entirety of Skywalker's post is one that should be read between the lines. I think that what he's trying to say is that the movie just didn't know what it was trying to be, so it reached for something in particular and was a poor imitation of that style when all was said and done.

 

[The Shape]

I'm really finding it hard to believe that so many Gozilla fans are unhappy with this film...

 

[ares834]

I didn't say it should embrace the cheese. When did I say that? My point was that in both films they overdo it with the cheese. I am talking about stuff like "The King of All Monsters" or walks out of town like he is a gunslinger passing through town. It embraces the concept of the character, but it is cheesy as hell. It could have been done in a less cheesy manner imo. Still, it put a smile on my face that same way the majority of Pacific Rim did.

Ah, with this "even if you could possibly choke on the cheese in both" in conjunction with your original quote about it trying to "go "beyond" its genre" I thought you meant it should have been more cheesy ala Pacific Rim. My mistake.

 

[Visualiza]

I'm really finding it hard to believe that so many Gozilla fans are unhappy with this film...

*shrugs*

It happens.

Nothing we haven't seen before from every corner of every other fanbase. I hope you're not trying to insinuate that this movie is everything a Godzilla fan should want.

 

[Ajendo]

Ok so I saw this and I thought it was decent but it felt kind of like a chore to sit through. I agree with those who say Cranston was wasted and I didn't think much of the giant bugs' designs. Gidzilla's screen time was a joke and most if the time he was on screen before the final battle, he was always obscured by a huge ass building or smoke!

With big G'd lack of screen time I would have liked to see more of the mythology surrounding him really he crap out of these people but raft sense of awe, wonderment and terror just wasn't there with the people in the movie.

Another problem I had within the context of the movie is, Wantabe referring to the creature as Gojira and then everyone else hears Gojira and then calls him Godzilla! Are westerners supposed to be that ignorant?

Anyway, Godzilla looked great, his raw was awesome and his finishing move....yeah!

I think so much more could have been done to really make this a great film but as it stands, it's...ok.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Ah, with this "even if you could possibly choke on the cheese in both" in conjunction with your original quote about it trying to "go "beyond" its genre" I thought you meant it should have been more cheesy ala Pacific Rim. My mistake.

No problem, it was my mistake. Looking back at my original post, it is no surprise you took it that way. I probably would have as well.

I'm really finding it hard to believe that so many Gozilla fans are unhappy with this film...

I am simply a fan of cinema. And you know I am serious, because I used the word cinema instead of movies. t:

 

[Visualiza]

Another problem I had within the context of the movie is, Wantabe referring to the creature as Gojira and then everyone else hears Gojira and then calls him Godzilla! Are westerners supposed to be that ignorant?

I remember noticing this as well, but it didn't bug me too much, even after having lived in Japan for several years. Maybe I'm just desensitized to it, but most of the people I know can't even pronounce the word 'Karate' correctly, even in this post-MMA world we live in (not to mention even if they have kids that partake in the discipline).

 

[UltraSuperGuy]

I'm really finding it hard to believe that so many Gozilla fans are unhappy with this film...

Hey, it's not like I didn't want to like the movie! I've seen every Godzilla film multiple times, been a fan for almost 40 years and this film just bugged me, and it bugged me more coming out of the theater and thinking about how much better it could have been and should have been.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Too me it sounds like he said "Godzilla", but with his accent. Never really got "Gojira" from the way he was saying it.

I remember noticing this as well, but it didn't bug me too much, even after having lived in Japan for several years. Maybe I'm just desensitized to it, but most of the people I know can't even pronounce the word 'Karate' correctly, even in this post-MMA world we live in (not to mention even if they have kids that partake in the discipline).

This is also true.

 

[Visualiza]

Hey, it's not like I didn't want to like the movie! I've seen every Godzilla film multiple times, been a fan for almost 40 years and this film just bugged me, and it bugged me more coming out of the theater and thinking about how much better it could have been and should have been.

Thank you. Always an ulterior motive in the minds of some, as if it's too much to just accept that not everyone was pleased with something.

 

[Adenjo]

Tear me a new one if you like but..
If Michael Bay had made Godzilla it would have been awesome.

 

[Visualiza]

Too me it sounds like he said "Godzilla", but with his accent. Never really got "Gojira" from the way he was saying it.



This is also true.

He definitely pronounced it the traditional way the first time, however...and maybe this is just my ears screwing with me this time, I could have sworn that he started to say 'Godzilla' after the rest of the cast had begun doing so.

 

[redfirebird2008]

I'm really finding it hard to believe that so many Gozilla fans are unhappy with this film...

For me, I just have a much stronger preference for the original version of the character in the first movie compared to what Toho turned him into in later films. [BLACKOUT]This movie's marketing material was hyping a return to the original version and that isn't really what happened with the story. [/BLACKOUT]

 

[Visualiza]

Tear me a new one if you like but..
If Michael Bay had made Godzilla it would have been awesome.

Well, I don't know how to respond to that, but I do think that any Godzilla fan being honest with themselves would agree that the franchise has seen films as bad as anything Bay has produced, and then some. I love many of the old movies all the same, though.

 

[The Shape]

*shrugs*

It happens.

Nothing we haven't seen before from every corner of every other fanbase. I hope you're not trying to insinuate that this movie is everything a Godzilla fan should want.

Well, many Godzilla fans want different things, I guess. But I would think that more fans would be happy with a film that doesn't disrespect the character, honors the source material and all that's come before, while also adding in some fresh elements for the modern audience.

I agree with some of the complaints about the human characters being lame, which made it hard for some people to wait for the Godzilla appearances, but I thought the slow-burn take was the absolute best route to go. I get that everyone wants to see Godzilla himself, but the suspense and the wait to see him in action made it that much more worth it when we finally did get to see him **** **** up towards the end. The lack of Godzilla for the first 2/3 of the film prevents audiences from getting "used" to seeing him", which, in turn, makes it more exciting when we DO see him in all his glory.

My main problems with the film were the silly disaster movie cliches found throughout, like the dog severing its leash and running away from the incoming water and Ford saving the kid on the train. There's always gotta be a dog and a kid in a disaster movie. And the BIGGEST problem was not simply making Bryan Cranston's character the main focus of the human storylines. It would have been great if we got the chance to see him completely figure out the mystery and help the government figure out the best course of action, whilse also getting retribution watching Godzilla face the monsters that were responsible for his wife's death.

But yeah...I still find it very hard to believe a Godzilla fan could hate this film. Some are saying it's awful and one guy literally just said he dislikes both Godzilla 2014 and 1998 equally. I'm just not sure what some folks expected from this latest Americanized version.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

He definitely pronounced it the traditional way the first time, however...and maybe this is just my ears screwing with me this time, I could have sworn that he started to say 'Godzilla' after the rest of the cast had begun doing so.

That is probably what it was. My brother and I couldn't really tell though, and we made a point to listen for it.

 

[Adenjo]

Well, I don't know how to respond to that, but I do think that any Godzilla fan being honest with themselves would agree that the franchise has seen films as bad as anything Bay has produced, and then some. I love many of the old movies all the same, though.

Bay makes enjoyable pop corn movies.... I happen to like pop corn movies.

Big monsters knocking the snot out of each other on the big screen? Bay's your man.

However what we got was a film that just misfired. A lot.

 

[redfirebird2008]

But yeah...I still find it very hard to believe a Godzilla fan could hate this film. Some are saying it's awful and one guy literally just said he dislikes both Godzilla 2014 and 1998 equally. I'm just not sure what some folks expected from this latest Americanized version.

Yeah, I've got some big problems with it but I don't hate it. It's like a 6.5/10 movie for me, which is pretty average. I wish it had turned out better, but now I also have hope that the sequel will improve.

 

[craigdbfan]

I'm really finding it hard to believe that so many Gozilla fans are unhappy with this film...

A lot of the people here don't really seem to be Godzilla fans. A good portion are just judging the film as a standalone. The Goji fans (especially those who were fans of the Heisei era) have enjoyed themselves.

Those whose extent of Godzilla knowledge stems from the 1st American one and possibly the original seem disappointed.

 

[Adenjo]

But yeah...I still find it very hard to believe a Godzilla fan could hate this film. Some are saying it's awful and one guy literally just said he dislikes both Godzilla 2014 and 1998 equally. I'm just not sure what some folks expected from this latest Americanized version.

I wanted to be entertained.. I wasn't.. In fact I was pretty bored for a lot of this movie.
I felt the same when I saw Godzilla 98.. I expected so much but got back so little.

Sadly this latest version could have been great...It just wasn't.

 

[The Shape]

For me, I just have a much stronger preference for the original version of the character in the first movie compared to what Toho turned him into in later films. [BLACKOUT]This movie's marketing material was hyping a return to the original version and that isn't really what happened with the story. [/BLACKOUT]

So you basicaly mean...

Spoiler

You don't like him as the "good" guy? You don't appreciate both interpretations of the character? I can understand you leaning towards the original version of Godzilla, and I love that version too, but I kind of think this was way the best way to go this time. I think that after films like Cloverfield (which featured a monster attacking cities without remorse) and Pacific Rim (humans fighting monsters and saving the day in a light-hearted romp), it was time to see the King of the Monsters do battle in a film that was serious, atmospheric, and which hyped him up to be the "God-like" creature that he is.

 

[The Shape]

A lot of the people here don't really seem to be Godzilla fans. A good portion are just judging the film as a standalone. The Goji fans (especially those who were fans of the Heisei era) have enjoyed themselves.

Those whose extent of Godzilla knowledge stems from the 1st American one and possibly the original seem disappointed.

Yeah, I agree.