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Post by Bob Reyer on May 17, 2014 11:55:03 GMT -5
A spoiler-free review!
A really fine "film" by Gareth Edwards, and not just a "monster movie", although the elements that make those enjoyable are certainly all here as well. Godzilla boasts a clever screenplay with some interesting connections to the real world, solid direction by Mr. Edwards, and winning performances by all concerned, and of course, some amazing special effects sequences.
There are characters you become invested in, which makes the danger real, the destruction meaningful, and the emotions strong. The "Big G" isn't on screen a lot, but as does the shark in Jaws, his presence permeates every scene, and when he makes his entrance, it is a "Wow!" moment! Don't fret, there is a goodly bit of mano a mano (Kaiju a Kaiju?)action, and it is spectacular! Some critics are bemoaning the fact that this isn't a wall-to-wall slug-fest such as Destroy All Monsters, saying that the only reason people go to "Godzilla movies" is to watch monsters beat each other up, yet I'm sure that if this new film was along those lines, they'd grouse even more!
My one real complaint might be an over-use of "coincidence" in getting some characters and events situated, and although the score was fine, I would have liked to have heard some of Akira Ifukube's classic themes from the old films, if only as an homage.
A big "THUMBS UP!" from this Godzilla fan! (...and also Kathleen and Peter David, who were sitting in front of me at the cinema!)
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Post by Mighty Milton on May 17, 2014 12:50:05 GMT -5
I'm seeing it in a few hours! I've been watching Godzilla flicks all week in preparation, which got me thinking: what is everyone's favorite Godzilla movie?(preferably excluding the original because that ones a given)
After rewatching, I found myself really enjoying the 2002 Godzilla against Mechagodzilla and the 2003 Tokyo S.O.S, which is the one of the only direct sequels of the franchise. They have a very Pacific Rim feel to it which is why I might like it.
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Post by Bob Reyer on May 17, 2014 13:39:57 GMT -5
I'm seeing it in a few hours! I've been watching Godzilla flicks all week in preparation, which got me thinking: what is everyone's favorite Godzilla movie?(preferably excluding the original because that ones a given) After rewatching, I found myself really enjoying the 2002 Godzilla against Mechagodzilla and the 2003 Tokyo S.O.S, which is the one of the only direct sequels of the franchise. They have a very Pacific Rim feel to it which is why I might like it. Kienan, Have a great time! I definitely agree with you as to the Pacific Rim connection to those recent Godzilla films; the 2002 "Mecha" has a similar sub-plot running through it, as you know! Picking a favorite is going to be tough, as I enjoy so many of them, particularly in the later Heisei and Millenium Series films, but forced to choose one, I would say it's the 2001 Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. The film is set up as a direct sequel to the original 1954 Gojira in that Godzilla hasn't resurfaced in the years in between, and he is once again a dark and scary force of nature.
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Post by CaptainSuperior on May 17, 2014 14:53:01 GMT -5
I can't wait to see this movie. As a kid I watched King Kong vs Godzilla like 100 times, I still have the woren out VHS copy. Test Your Might!
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Post by Bob Reyer on May 17, 2014 15:14:03 GMT -5
Cap'n Nick,
I just now finished watching King Kong vs. Godzilla! I first saw that in the theatre back in 1963, having gotten my Dad to drive us more than 20 miles to the only local cinema that was showing it! He loved sci-fi and monster movies, but wasn't all too thrilled with King Kong's appearance, as he had seen the original film back in 1933, and this new one didn't quite measure up!
(What I hope will be) an interesting aside; in the late Fifties, Willis O'Brien, the creator of the original Kong's special effects, and one of the pioneers of stop-motion animation, went to Toho with an idea for a movie entitled "King Kong vs. Frankenstein". His pitch involved a mad scientist who had created a 30-foot tall monster from various animals, who would fight Kong, and it wouldn't be easy as the beast could regenerate itself even after being torn asunder. The Toho executives thanked Mr. O'Brien, but told him that they wouldn't be able to use his idea, as they didn't employ his dimensional animation techniques. (Sadly, many amazing-sounding projects by "Obie" never saw completion.)
Flash forward a couple of years, and Toho cranked out King Kong vs. Godzilla, Frankenstein Conquers the World (which features a hundred-foot tall "Frankenstein's Monster"), and what was intended to be a sequel to that film, War of the Gargantuas, where-in the kaiju re-generate after having being blown apart in the previous film! As Willis O'Brien passed away in 1962, he likely had no idea of their perfidy.
On to Mothra vs. Godzilla!
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nikcel
Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Posts: 78
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Post by nikcel on May 17, 2014 15:52:44 GMT -5
I must agree with the critics that the main reason you go to a Godzilla films is for a giant monster battle. The 2014 Gareth Edwards made a good film, but not the best Godzilla film. I thought the score was an awesome modern translation of the older films. The action was a bit limited, but the bit seen had some great moments.
Overall a good film, but I wanted more of a monster flick.
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Post by scouts1998 on May 18, 2014 5:58:33 GMT -5
This film was AMAZING.
It didn't go over the top with action like man of steel and didn't have to little and it let the characters shine.
I have seen parts of the 1998 one but I haven't heard good stuff so i plan to watch as many of the Japanese ones as I can
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Post by rccarroll on May 18, 2014 10:50:26 GMT -5
God, what a great movie. There wasn't a moment I can think of where I was ever bored or disengaged; the intense focus on the characters and the noticeable lack of hackneyed cliches (eat your heart out, Roland Emmerich), and although there were times where I could predict the general direction the story would go, I didn't mind all that much. Toho really succeeded in making Godzilla a force of nature, an epithet perfectly matched by the philosophical musings on the creature made by Doctor Serizawa (played by the incomparable Ken Watanabe).
It's a very minute detail, but definitely something I felt was worth mentioning, giving all of the raving about the design of Godzilla himself: the eyes. It was a genius move by whomever designed the creature to provide an iris and pupils, much as a human eye, as it makes the character significantly more relatable and empathy-drawing not only by actions but also by appearance. There were several notable shots and sequences that highlighted this even more, but for the sake of those who haven't seen it, I'll seal my lips.
Just because it bears mentioning, and because I simply can't resist: holy cow, the climax. The lighting, the unnerving sound design in those brief few minutes of the calm before the storm, the contrast between red and blue(!) and black--incredible.
Finally, I think that the visual designer, screenplay writer, and story writer should be credited for keeping the amount of destruction relatively tame, for a giant monster movie. They were very careful, it seemed, about not verging into the territory of "disaster porn" (as filmmakers like Michael Bay and Roland Emmerich himself are wont to do). To limit spoilers, I won't say more besides this: the creature(s) weren't mindlessly destroying everything in sight; they had a goal, and the destruction left in their wake was simply a consequence of them trying to fulfill that goal. They wouldn't destroy an iconic building simply because it was iconic, they destroyed it only because it was in their way.
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Post by Huw on May 18, 2014 15:34:01 GMT -5
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Post by Huw on May 18, 2014 15:35:56 GMT -5
I'm yet to see Godzilla, this coming Wednesday will be the day.
It's great to see people saying that watching this movie is making you want to delve into the Japanese films. No doubt Mr Bob Reyer would be proud!
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Post by Bob Reyer on May 18, 2014 15:56:40 GMT -5
I'm yet to see Godzilla, this coming Wednesday will be the day. It's great to see people saying that watching this movie is making you want to delve into the Japanese films. No doubt Mr Bob Reyer would be proud! Huw, As I type, I'm watching the 1992 Godzilla vs. Mothra, having just finished Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah from 1991 which features the "origin" of The Big G, and of course both in Japanese with sub-titles! Probably not so much in this community, but so few people know that Toho continued to make Godzilla movies all the way up until 2004. Those films in the later Heisei (1984-1995) and Millenium (1999-2004) series have much to recommend them in terms of a more serious tone (no shortage of fun, though!), and spectacular effects work, even though it is still a "guy in a suit"!
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Post by CaptainSuperior on May 18, 2014 19:56:31 GMT -5
I just saw it today and I like the more traditional style they took in not overly villainizing Godzilla. I've heard different reports that there was an after credit scene in the Asian markets that displayed Mothra, which there is no after credit scene in the States.
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Post by Simon on May 18, 2014 23:42:30 GMT -5
I'm yet to see Godzilla, this coming Wednesday will be the day. It's great to see people saying that watching this movie is making you want to delve into the Japanese films. No doubt Mr Bob Reyer would be proud! Huw, As I type, I'm watching the 1992 Godzilla vs. Mothra, having just finished Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah from 1991 which features the "origin" of The Big G, and of course both in Japanese with sub-titles! Probably not so much in this community, but so few people know that Toho continued to make Godzilla movies all the way up until 2004. Those films in the later Heisei (1984-1995) and Millenium (1999-2004) series have much to recommend them in terms of a more serious tone (no shortage of fun, though!), and spectacular effects work, even though it is still a "guy in a suit"! There's still some of us that know that, as a matter of fact I watched the final Millennium era Godzilla film Final Wars just the other night. It's worth it just to see what Godzilla does to G.I.N.O in Sydney.
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Post by scouts1998 on May 20, 2014 6:44:53 GMT -5
After seeing this movie I want to watch some of Japanese ones. What do people recommend watching?
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Post by Simon on May 20, 2014 7:05:05 GMT -5
After seeing this movie I want to watch some of Japanese ones. What do people recommend watching? Destroy All Monsters, Final Wars, Giant Monsters All Out Attack, Mothra vs Godzilla, the original 54 Godzilla. I like Vs Megalon but I think it was one of the worse received ones.
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