Godzilla (2014) - - - - Part 13

[CapedCrusader14]

I personally hope that Edwards doesn't return for the sequel. The more I think about it, he's missed the entire point of a Godzilla movie.

 

[Terminator]

I hope he makes Godzilla films for the next 20 years just to spite the negative crowd in here.

 

[Breaker]

There was no need for Kick-Ass or Olsen to be in this movie, the two main human characters should have been Watanabe and Cranston. The monsters were criminally under used, and the constant cutting away from their battles makes no sense whatsoever. Edwards might argue that it was to build suspense, but there was no need to do it 3(?) times. And what was the deal with that young Asian kid on the train? Who allowed those scenes to make into the final cut? Utterly pointless.

Their characters represented the human element on the grounds of what if this happened in real life, how would it affect people? What would it be like for them? How would they tried to handle it and survive? They represent us in the wake of a grand disaster. (The young Asian child segment also plays into this.

Joe was trying to get back and get his wife and son to safety. Throughout the whole segment before the train attack, you see him act as a father figure. Trying to comfort and reassure the boy like any father or parent figure would when a child is frighten and alone. In a way, you see him treat this separated child like how he would treat his son if his child was there and in a frighten situation. And when the male Muto did attacked the train, you also see Joe give his entire best to save the kid, very much to the same alarming degree as to how a parent would do everything they can to save their own child. This really gives Ford a firm sense of embodiment of how people in real life act in a situation similar to this. (Minus monsters of course)

So really, this wasn't pointless. It was to show Ford's character beyond his soldier scope. Of how determine he is to save his family from the destruction currently unleashed within the world. It may feel generic to others, but given how that plays out in real life, I was able to connect well. Most people in this world have found themselves in Ford's position, trying to save someone from some harmful outcome, or trying to get their family to safety from some powerful force(Like a hurricane, earthquake, storm, etc) And while Aaron Taylor may not have given his character the vast emotion needed for others to feel for him. I did not find Ford's person to be dull or boring.

Olsen aka Elle Brody, she plays into the real embodiment of a worrisome stressed out wife and mother. She sees what's on the news, what knows what is happening into the world. Millions of people have been either killed by these monstrous forces, or are severely injured by them. Her husband isn't there, and she rightfully worries about his well being. She also worries over the safety of her son, and given that she still has to work to save thousands of lives once the MUTO arrive, she sensibly tries to make the best out of a bad situation to ensure her son's safety. Entrusting her child to another respectable adult figure(And friend). At least this way, her son is potentially out of harm's way, and she focus on the chaos currently around her.

This again, may seem generic to others, but again plays into that same human element that she embodies us, people who are like her. A wife, a mother, or both. Women like her in real life would worry about their loved ones, especially if there's barely anything they can do, and at the most they would tries to make the best out of a bad situation. Although in the face of massive disasters, there's so little that the common person can do. (Unless your lucky and have bomb basements or shelters)

Because of this reflection, these embodiment characters, they aren't really dull. Although perhaps, since its a massive blockbuster film, and its based around giant monsters, obviously people aren't really there for the human characters from the get-go and most likely never cared for them or bothered to try to to grasp an understanding with them in the first place. (Or they simply just did not know of Gareth's approach with them from his interviews)

---------------------------
Both Dr. Serizawa and Joe Brody are mediums that set up the film's world, introduce the origin of Godzilla and his current metaphoric representation, set up and introduce the Mutos, and last but not least, set the general game-board for Ford Brody in trying to get back to his family and rescue them from threatening oncoming forces beyond the control of mankind. They are interesting characters, very interesting, i will admit to that. And while they do play in the same human element, they are generally doorways to set everything in place.

Although I must, Dr. Serizawa sounds like most potential character to return, him and his assitance studied Godzilla for years, and uncovered creatures like him (The MUTO). Him and his assistant are perfect mediums to introduce future monsters in the sequels, who knows what other hidden monsters they could have discovered over the years since 1999. (Or potentially before 1999)
-----------------------------
And yes, it was his direction that he wanted to build suspense, he didn't want to spoil us and splash all of his best hits with nothing to top by the time the final act rolled on screen. It was never meant to frustrate anyone, but to make you appreciate the spectacle once it was finally delivered to you to enjoy. Kinda like how you taste the samples of something extremely delicious, and its being cooked for you to enjoy. You given samples and tastes to hold you long enough until your course is finally ready, and once its ready and you can eat, you are satisfied in finally having such a succulent meal.

I'll admit, perhaps he restrained himself a bit too much, but generally I find it to be quite respectable to go with that kind of cinematic direction. Nowadays summer blockbusters just throw almost everything on screen, Gareth tried to hold himself back with firm control to tell the story he wanted to on the big screen.

Still I want to be clear that I know It's not everyone's cup of it, and I can understand the disappointment others have towards this direction. But I wouldn't go as far as to say that Gareth doesn't get what a Godzilla movie is. By far he is the only one to get it right (In terms of making an acceptable American Godzilla film and launching a new franchise with a respectably faithful Godzilla). Gareth might not have lived up to your expectations, but he did considerably well, especially when compared to what we had gotten 16 years ago.

 

[Defacto]

The human characters were dull as ****! In Jaws at least, the characters had something interesting and funny to say, unlike Mr "I'm the only one who can disarm the bomb, I desinged the clock myself" or whatever generic crap it was, same goes for the wife.
They really ought to make the characters more interesting, if they are going to keep making them the focus of the story.

 

[AnneFan]

It's not, really. They're given enough fight time. And there's PLENTY of destruction and cool looking **** happening.

We'll have to agree to disagree.

 

[Supernova]

There is just no pleasing people sometimes. What would you people have wanted different? A monster fight every 10 minutes? Is our society so use to michael bay type directing that they expect a major set piece every 5 minutes and forgot how to enjoy a slow burn movie? After that roland emmerich crap this version was the only way they could go IMHO to reintroduce the character.

 

[AnneFan]

It's just too much of slow burn for my liking. Sure, seeing Godzilla fighting every ten minutes could become repetitive and mind numbing, but that applies to the human component as well, which to me does fit that bill. There's a way to pull off mystery without the frustration.

 

[Defacto]

There is just no pleasing people sometimes. What would you people have wanted different? A monster fight every 10 minutes? Is our society so use to michael bay type directing that they expect a major set piece every 5 minutes and forgot how to enjoy a slow burn movie? After that roland emmerich crap this version was the only way they could go IMHO to reintroduce the character.

No, I for one don't need a monster fight every 10 minutes, or Michael Bay type crapfest. I just want a monster movie, where the human characters are as interesting as the monster, if not more so. Is it too much to ask for good character development and interesting characters? I think not.

 

[The Dark Defender]

Their characters represented the human element on the grounds of what if this happened in real life, how would it affect people? What would it be like for them? How would they tried to handle it and survive? They represent us in the wake of a grand disaster. (The young Asian child segment also plays into this.

Joe was trying to get back and get his wife and son to safety. Throughout the whole segment before the train attack, you see him act as a father figure. Trying to comfort and reassure the boy like any father or parent figure would when a child is frighten and alone. In a way, you see him treat this separated child like how he would treat his son if his child was there and in a frighten situation. And when the male Muto did attacked the train, you also see Joe give his entire best to save the kid, very much to the same alarming degree as to how a parent would do everything they can to save their own child. This really gives Ford a firm sense of embodiment of how people in real life act in a situation similar to this. (Minus monsters of course)

So really, this wasn't pointless. It was to show Ford's character beyond his soldier scope. Of how determine he is to save his family from the destruction currently unleashed within the world. It may feel generic to others, but given how that plays out in real life, I was able to connect well. Most people in this world have found themselves in Ford's position, trying to save someone from some harmful outcome, or trying to get their family to safety from some powerful force(Like a hurricane, earthquake, storm, etc) And while Aaron Taylor may not have given his character the vast emotion needed for others to feel for him. I did not find Ford's person to be dull or boring.

Olsen aka Elle Brody, she plays into the real embodiment of a worrisome stressed out wife and mother. She sees what's on the news, what knows what is happening into the world. Millions of people have been either killed by these monstrous forces, or are severely injured by them. Her husband isn't there, and she rightfully worries about his well being. She also worries over the safety of her son, and given that she still has to work to save thousands of lives once the MUTO arrive, she sensibly tries to make the best out of a bad situation to ensure her son's safety. Entrusting her child to another respectable adult figure(And friend). At least this way, her son is potentially out of harm's way, and she focus on the chaos currently around her.

This again, may seem generic to others, but again plays into that same human element that she embodies us, people who are like her. A wife, a mother, or both. Women like her in real life would worry about their loved ones, especially if there's barely anything they can do, and at the most they would tries to make the best out of a bad situation. Although in the face of massive disasters, there's so little that the common person can do. (Unless your lucky and have bomb basements or shelters)

Because of this reflection, these embodiment characters, they aren't really dull. Although perhaps, since its a massive blockbuster film, and its based around giant monsters, obviously people aren't really there for the human characters from the get-go and most likely never cared for them or bothered to try to to grasp an understanding with them in the first place. (Or they simply just did not know of Gareth's approach with them from his interviews)

---------------------------
Both Dr. Serizawa and Joe Brody are mediums that set up the film's world, introduce the origin of Godzilla and his current metaphoric representation, set up and introduce the Mutos, and last but not least, set the general game-board for Ford Brody in trying to get back to his family and rescue them from threatening oncoming forces beyond the control of mankind. They are interesting characters, very interesting, i will admit to that. And while they do play in the same human element, they are generally doorways to set everything in place.

Although I must, Dr. Serizawa sounds like most potential character to return, him and his assitance studied Godzilla for years, and uncovered creatures like him (The MUTO). Him and his assistant are perfect mediums to introduce future monsters in the sequels, who knows what other hidden monsters they could have discovered over the years since 1999. (Or potentially before 1999)
-----------------------------
And yes, it was his direction that he wanted to build suspense, he didn't want to spoil us and splash all of his best hits with nothing to top by the time the final act rolled on screen. It was never meant to frustrate anyone, but to make you appreciate the spectacle once it was finally delivered to you to enjoy. Kinda like how you taste the samples of something extremely delicious, and its being cooked for you to enjoy. You given samples and tastes to hold you long enough until your course is finally ready, and once its ready and you can eat, you are satisfied in finally having such a succulent meal.

I'll admit, perhaps he restrained himself a bit too much, but generally I find it to be quite respectable to go with that kind of cinematic direction. Nowadays summer blockbusters just throw almost everything on screen, Gareth tried to hold himself back with firm control to tell the story he wanted to on the big[ screen.

Still I want to be clear that I know It's not everyone's cup of it, and I can understand the disappointment others have towards this direction. But I wouldn't go as far as to say that Gareth doesn't get what a Godzilla movie is. By far he is the only one to get it right (In terms of making an acceptable American Godzilla film and launching a new franchise with a respectably faithful Godzilla). Gareth might not have lived up to your expectations, but he did considerably well, especially when compared to what we had gotten 16 years ago.

 

[craigaat]

Still I want to be clear that I know It's not everyone's cup of it, and I can understand the disappointment others have towards this direction. But I wouldn't go as far as to say that Gareth doesn't get what a Godzilla movie is. By far he is the only one to get it right (In terms of making an acceptable American Godzilla film and launching a new franchise with a respectably faithful Godzilla). Gareth might not have lived up to your expectations, but he did considerably well, especially when compared to what we had gotten 16 years ago.

The 1998 film is no benchmark. I doubt there's many directors out there that could do a worse job than that.

Edwards made Godzilla take the back seat in his own movie, and he's done it before. You can't call a movie Monsters if there's bloody monsters in it until the last 5 minutes! You say he's trying to build suspense, but it's gratuitous to cut away from the action so many times. So much so that I actually let out a FFS on the last one, and in a movie I was enjoying too.

 

[P Supreme]

Just got a chance to see it yesterday and I in the crowd that Cranston should've been the character we followed and Godzilla be featured more
in his own movie

Taylor Johnson was weak in this I hope Whedon can do better with him
in the Avengers sequel

 

[Marvin]

There is just no pleasing people sometimes. What would you people have wanted different? A monster fight every 10 minutes? Is our society so use to michael bay type directing that they expect a major set piece every 5 minutes and forgot how to enjoy a slow burn movie? After that roland emmerich crap this version was the only way they could go IMHO to reintroduce the character.

Considering just about every one of these summer action films do, and have been doing a faster paced type of action set piece plotting(including all the previous/recent monster movies in this very genre)...I wonder why use bay as an example to present the question or raise the point? I always wonder...

 

[Drz]

Red Letter Media reviews Godzilla!

 

[DeadPresident]

Considering just about every one of these summer action films do, and have been doing a faster paced type of action set piece plotting(including all the previous/recent monster movies in this very genre)...I wonder why use bay as an example to present the question or raise the point? I always wonder...

I agree it's a little cliched now, but it happens for 3 big reasons:

1) Bay started the trend in '07 with the first Transformers, and has continued applying it in the subsequent 3 Transformers movies and most likely with TMNT as well. He's the pioneer of the mindless "let's eye**** the audience for 90 minutes" model of "storytelling".

2) He sucked whatever soul might have been in the Transformers source material and turned it into nothing but "action" (cinematic *********ion more like?) with very tacked on and artificial attempts at establishing any investment in the characters.

3) It's trendy to hate him, some of it is justified, some of it is just a hive mind mentality. For what they are his movies are decent, just don't go in there expecting anything other than a lack of substance dressed up very, very well.

 

[Supernova]

I agree it's a little cliched now, but it happens for 3 big reasons:

1) Bay started the trend in '07 with the first Transformers, and has continued applying it in the subsequent 3 Transformers movies and most likely with TMNT as well. He's the pioneer of the mindless "let's eye**** the audience for 90 minutes" model of "storytelling".

2) He sucked whatever soul might have been in the Transformers source material and turned it into nothing but "action" (cinematic *********ion more like?) with very tacked on and artificial attempts at establishing any investment in the characters.

3) It's trendy to hate him, some of it is justified, some of it is just a hive mind mentality. For what they are his movies are decent, just don't go in there expecting anything other than a lack of substance dressed up very, very well.

I was getting ready to say all of this except bay started it back with bad boys 1. Bay started the trend and other filmmakers and companies saw how profitable his films are and copied the formula. Bay's only real slow paced movies are pearl harbor and the island to some degree and shocker the island is my favorite Bay movie's.

My point is though audiences are incredibly use to having a movie at a break neck pace now and keeping eyes fixed on the screen or else the cell phones and god knows what else takes over.

I enjoyed the movie for the slow burn aspect and yes I will admit it was bordering on the slow side too much but they gave enough interesting info on the monsters and teases to keep me engaged. I cant defend johnson though, he went full hayden christensen here.

 

[Tim_Riggins]

The nitpicking in this thread is incredible.

 

[Defacto]

The nitpicking in this thread is incredible.

I would strongly disagree. The comments I've read and made myself have to do with ****** characters in the movie. I don't see how that is nitpicking.

 

[Arach Knight]

There is just no pleasing people sometimes. What would you people have wanted different? A monster fight every 10 minutes? Is our society so use to michael bay type directing that they expect a major set piece every 5 minutes and forgot how to enjoy a slow burn movie? After that roland emmerich crap this version was the only way they could go IMHO to reintroduce the character.

I find there to be a fundamental problem in the general understanding of the Godzilla franchise from a historical standpoint. Contrary to whatever high art notion people have been sold on based off of the original Godzilla film, the franchise is very much about a giant monster destroying things, even in the Showa era (to which the original "Gojira" film is a part of). Look no further than 1968's "Destroy All Monsters", in which an alien race takes control of all of the monsters on Monster Island and sets them loose on the populous of the earth. Many of the sequences are the likes of Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan and Anguirus destroying international landmarks and capitols, until Godzilla has a lengthy throw down with King Ghidorah.

Now, the 2014 film is meant to be a remake of the initial film, so taking the route that we have all seen is some what understandable. Conversely, the ire this film has drawn is also understandable. Most Godzilla films feature a Godzilla scene at least once every twenty to twenty-five minutes, be it the Showa, Heisei or Millennium era.

Godzilla usually winds up with about twenty to twenty-five minutes of on-screen time in a film that usually runs about an hour and a half (90 minutes). Even on the low end, that means that Godzilla comprises roughly 22% of the screen time of the average Toho production, where as Godzilla only gets ~11% of the screen time in the Legendeary production. That's half of the screen time Godzilla generally has.

Like it or not, even if this is a remake of the original film, that just isn't the version of Godzilla that the general public has in mind. It would be like someone doing a Superman film in which Superman has his original power set (no heat vision, no flight, no invulnerability, low grade super human strength, no super breath). Sure it would be faithful to the source, but it would deviate so far from the modern understanding of the character that it would reasonably piss people off.

This is the problem that Godzilla has created. Don't blame Michael Bay. And even if Michael Bay has set a precedent for action films, who cares if they are hyper-kinetic films rife with huge set pieces and mayhem? That is what people expect from an action film. It is the reason why The Expendables franchise is such a success despite the fact that the films skate on thin ice in the plot department. That hasn't really changed as an audience expectation be it the era of Conan the Barbarian and Rambo, or now.

It is curious that people keep comparing this film to Jaws. Jaws was a Hitchcockian thriller. Godzilla is traditionally a kaiju film, a genre of Japanese films in which huge monsters rampage through cities and wreak havoc. While it is admirable that Gareth Edwards re-envisioned the franchise as a disaster drama, it isn't absurd or all that difficult to understand why fans of Godzilla would be pissed about this film. People walked in expecting the equivalent of 1991s Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah, but with better effects, and instead walked away with 2012's "The Impossible" except a giant monster is the cause of the tsunami.

 

[Enriquespy]

The nitpicking in this thread is incredible.

Yes, I have to do a lot of tail-slaming, since I promised to tail-slam everyone who didn't like this movie.

I would talk about how the merits of the movie outweight its flaws and how I enjoyed the aproach they took more on a second viewing. I could also read their critiques and gain a better understanding of their perspective and learn new things....

But I prefer to resort to violence.

 

[nocomics]

I would strongly disagree. The comments I've read and made myself have to do with ****** characters in the movie. I don't see how that is nitpicking.

Agree, but at least these characters weren't as annoying as the ones in the last Godzilla movie(that includes Godzilla 2000; which I overall enjoyed).
Far as the other main criticism, the quick cutaways from the earlier fights is warranted. I just think like the airport scene, show them scuffling then, break away to the tv view of it, which me personally would of been better.
If u do that quick appearance and then go to to something else, too many times it irks ppl off. if the characters were a tad more interesting and not so stale in acting it would of went a little smoother, but u killed off the best actor/character and not shown enough of the other.

 

[Rock Sexton]

I hope he makes Godzilla films for the next 20 years just to spite the negative crowd in here.

 

[Rock Sexton]

This again, may seem generic to others, but again plays into that same human element that she embodies us, people who are like her. A wife, a mother, or both. Women like her in real life would worry about their loved ones, especially if there's barely anything they can do, and at the most they would tries to make the best out of a bad situation. Although in the face of massive disasters, there's so little that the common person can do. (Unless your lucky and have bomb basements or shelters)

Because of this reflection, these embodiment characters, they aren't really dull. Although perhaps, since its a massive blockbuster film, and its based around giant monsters, obviously people aren't really there for the human characters from the get-go and most likely never cared for them or bothered to try to to grasp an understanding with them in the first place. (Or they simply just did not know of Gareth's approach with them from his interviews)

Oh they're dull. Just because they were meant for the human element and their purposes were plain as day, it doesn't mean it was developed well.

You're simply making excuses by bringing up the "summer blockbuster" aspect. The films title character Godzilla only had 13 minutes on screen. This left a lot of the load to be carried by the actors. Cranston more than held his own, it was when the baton was passed that the movie fell apart in the character development aspect.

 

[DeadPresident]

Oh they're dull. Just because they were meant for the human element and their purposes were plain as day, it doesn't mean it was developed well.

You're simply making excuses by bringing up the "summer blockbuster" aspect. The films title character Godzilla only had 13 minutes on screen. This left a lot of the load to be carried by the actors. Cranston more than held his own, it was when the baton was passed that the movie fell apart in the character development aspect.

I like how you say something new each time, instead of just responding with the same statements of preferences to different users

 

[Rock Sexton]

I like how you say something new each time, instead of just responding with the same statements of preferences to different users

EDIT: I'm swamped with work and not even sure I'm reading your statement correctly.

I removed my comment and going to withhold a new one for the time being.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Spider-Fan already warned everyone to knock off the petty squabbling, I suggest you guys take notice and quit this line of arguing on this page, just accept that people enjoy different things than you do and stop trying to browbeat how "right" you are into the other person.