Kent Reviews “Godzilla”

It has been an incredible journey to get to this point! Four years, in fact! On the one hand, the journey has seemed long and tedious while, at the same time, seemingly coming and going in a flash. Nevertheless, the wait is over, and we are treated to Gareth Edwards’ vision of Godzilla. I had high expectations for this film; as I actually do with any Godzilla film. How well did this film meet my expectations? Read on to find out!

Synopsis:

Dr. Ishiro Serizawa visits a mine in the Philippines in 1999. The mine floor collapsed killing 30-40 miners, but also exposing a cave. The miners and Serizawa come across a large, fossilized skeleton with two egg-like spores attached to it. One, however, looks to have recently hatched and escape into the ocean.

Meanwhile, in Janjira, Japan, Joe and Sandra Brody investigate tremors that have been occurring at their nuclear power plant. Sandra goes into the heart of the plant with fellow co-workers in hopes of getting any visuals as to whether the plant has been breached and to find out the possible cause. Above, in the control room, Joe continues to look for the causes of the tremors as well as the epicenter. Suddenly, the tremor returns stronger than ever. Joe radios his wife to get her and her team out of the plant. Joe asks for the lockout doors to be switched to manual so he can make sure his wife and her team make it out safely before shutting the doors to prevent radiation from spewing into Janjira. Unfortunately, Sandra and her team don’t make it, and Joe is forced to close the doors.

Fast forward 15 years.

Ford Brody, Joe’s grown son, is returning home from a 14 month active duty tour as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialist. That evening, he receives a call that his father was jailed in Tokyo. The crime? Joe was caught breaching the Q (Quarantine) Zone in Janjira. Ford bails his father from prison and takes him home. Upon reaching Joe’s apartment, Ford sees various pictures and newspaper clippings plastered throughout Joe’s apartment; including a textbook on echolocation. Ford interrogates Joe on his reasons for heading into Janjira. Joe tells his son that he believes the government and military are covering up the true reasons as to why the plant was destroyed and that the events were not caused by an actual earthquake. Joe proceeds to ask his son for assistance in figuring out what caused the plant’s destruction and the death of Sandra by locating his disks in their old home. Ford believes Joe to be crazy, but tags along with his father into quarantined Janjira.

Joe takes a radiation reading and finds no radiation to be present in the abandoned Janjira. Joe locates his disks and the two begin to make their way out of Janjira upon hearing helicopters entering the area. But they see the site of the old power plant in the distance. Lights and vehicles are present at the plant and the father and son begin to think something, indeed, is going on. Before they can investigate, the military police arrest them and take them to the power plant.

At the plant, Dr. Serizawa and his team are studying a large cocoon-like structure resting in the heart of the plant. The cocoon has been absorbing the plant’s radiation for the past 15 years and has occasionally pulsated, creating the wavelengths Joe had discovered 15 years earlier. Joe is interrogated and is demanding answers to what the military is hiding. But the cocoon is pulsating quicker than ever and parts of it begin to fall off. Serizawa gives the order to kill it with electricity. However, the attempt is a failure as the creature inside begins to breakout. The creature is massive and has multiple appendages. It breaks free and begins destroying the area, including a walkway Joe was standing on. Ford is able to break free of his handcuffs in the police vehicle and watches the creature fly off into the night.

The military approaches Serizawa and tells him they are taking over the destruction of the creature, which is given the name MUTO (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism). Serizawa, however, wants the help of Ford and Joe. However, on the way to the U.S.S. Saratoga, Joe dies from the wounds he sustained during the MUTO’s rampage. Serizawa pulls Ford aside and shows him old video footage of U.S. nuclear tests. However, as Serizawa tells Ford, these were not tests. They were attempts to kill a large creature, Gojira. It is believed, however, that these multiple bombings did not kill Gojira. In fact, Gojira and the MUTOs feed on radiation he tells Ford..

Serizawa asks Ford if he knows anything about his father’s findings. Ford mentions Joe discussing echolocation. Serizawa compares his data with that of Joe’s and finds that the data matches. But one tremor reading shows an anomaly. Something responded to one of the later tremors. Serizawa concludes that the tremors were calls by the MUTO, a male. The response was from a larger female MUTO. Serizawa tells Admiral Stenz they need to check out the nuclear storage facility in Yucca Mountain. The unhatched spore, found with the hatched spore in the Philippines in 1999, was taken to the facility due to its radioactive properties.

Ford heads to Honolulu to catch a flight home in San Francisco. Meanwhile, a Russian nuclear sub is missing and it is discovered at Honolulu along with the winged male MUTO; who is seen devouring the nuclear warheads inside the sub. Irritated by the choppers, the MUTO pounds his leg on the ground sending an EMP throughout Honolulu. Choppers and jets crash and power goes out, including the train Ford is riding on to get to his plane.

Near the shore, the water begins to recede, and the military is sensing something approach the island; something really huge! On the ship’s deck, Serizawa witnesses three large spiky rows of spines pierce the surface of the water heading for the ship. The spines dive under the vessel and reappear on the other side of the ship. The military shoots off flares revealing a large creature.

When the power comes back on at the airport, the male MUTO is spotted and creates havoc. But before he can obliterate the airport, the large creature that came from the Pacific, reveals itself to the MUTO and gives a cry of defiance. Godzilla has arrived! Elle, Ford’s wife, along with their son, witness the brief skirmish between Godzilla and the MUTO on television. The MUTO flies off and Godzilla enters the ocean, following the MUTO.

Meanwhile large portion of Yucca Mountain is destroyed. The female MUTO hatched moments earlier and makes her way to Las Vegas, leaving a path of destruction in her wake. It is projected she is heading West towards San Francisco; the same location her mate and Godzilla are heading.

The military is advised by Washington to use nuclear warheads to lure the MUTOS 20 miles outside of the San Francisco bay area. The MUTOs will, then, lure Godzilla and the warheads can be detonated, killing all three monsters. But the detonation devices are replaced with analog timers, so the MUTOs cannot stop the detonation process. The warheads are loaded onto a train and Ford convinces a military superior that he needs to be on the train so he can head home to evacuate his family and in case he needs to stop the analog from detonating the warheads.

Along the way, however, the train is attacked by the female MUTO. She devours all but one of the warheads and Ford barely escapes her attack. Ford and the lone warhead are discovered by the military. Ford is tended to by a medic while the warhead is transported to a battleship in the Bay Area to lure the MUTOs.

Serizawa implores Stenz to reconsider using the nuclear weapon. To illustrate his point, Serizawa hands Stenz his watch. Stenz replies that the watch is no longer working. Serizawa proceeds to explain the watch was his father’s and it stopped at the moment the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.

An evacuation order is placed for San Francisco, but thousands are trapped on the Golden Gate Bridge where the military has setup tanks to confront Godzilla and the male MUTO.

Godzilla surfaces and the military bombards him. Godzilla crashes through the bridge and heads toward San Francisco. But moments later, an EMP shuts off all jets and battleships in the Bay Area. The male MUTO is nearby. The warhead’s detonation timer is set. The MUTO crashes into the battleship housing the nuclear warhead and meets up with his mate in downtown San Francisco. The two MUTOs exchange affectionate gestures and the male hands the warhead to the female as she digs into the ground to create her nest. Serizawa concludes that the warhead will be used to feed the MUTO hatchlings.

Stenz and the military are devising a halo jump to retrieve the warhead from the nest and send it out to sea. Ford, being an EOD specialist, joins the extraction crew.

Godzilla makes landfall and engages the male MUTO while the female lays her eggs. Ford and the extraction crew make their jump and land near the battling titans. The nest is located as well as the warhead, but the female MUTO is protecting her nest.

After Godzilla is able to temporarily send the male MUTO flying, he engages the female. The nest is now free. The crew extracts the warhead, but cannot open its casing to stop the timer. They quickly exit the nest and make for the harbor down the hill. But Ford stays behind to release gasoline from a tanker truck.

Godzilla and the MUTOs trade blows. Eventually, the MUTOs gain the upper hand. They send Godzilla to the ground and continuously pummel him.

The nest explodes and the female gallops to her nest. She cries at the sight of her dead brood. Ford, being tossed nearby by the explosion, is spotted by the female. She closes in on him until Godzilla spews his atomic breath at her; temporarily knocking her out. Ford begins to make his way to the harbor.

The male MUTO and Godzilla continue their fight. The MUTO turns and flies towards Godzilla. But Godzilla is ready. When the male gets close, Godzilla whips his tail and smashes the male into a skyscraper. One of the beams has impaled the MUTO and he dies. But the force of the collision makes the building unstable and it crashes onto Godzilla. Ford is able to see the exhaustion in the eyes of Godzilla before ash hides Godzilla’s face.

The extraction crew get the warhead on a ferry, and the sound of the ferry’s engine catches the attention of the female MUTO. She makes her way to the harbor and kills the team along with several other soldiers sent in to help the extraction team.

Ford sees an opportunity to board the ferry and begins heading out to sea. The ferry’s engine is suddenly dead. Ford realizes the female sent off an EMP. He looks up and sees her staring at him. She brings her head closer to the ferry, mouth gaping.

She suddenly stops and is pulled backwards. Godzilla has bitten her left shoulder and grabs her maw. He pulls open her mouth and shoots a stream of atomic death into her body. Her head detaches from the rest of her body and Godzilla bellows a cry of victory before collapsing onto the shore.

Ford, suffering from injuries and exhaustion, collapses onto the ferry’s floor. Believing he won’t escape the blast, he begins to drift into sleep. But a bright light pierces his eyes. A military chopper extracts him and carries him off. Moments later, the warhead explodes.

The following morning, fire and rescue crews are scouring for survivors. Godzilla’s body lies nearby, covered in rubble.

Ford and his son make their way into a ballpark where survivors can meet and find loved ones. Moments later, Elle comes through the stadium entrance and is reunited with her family.

Outside the stadium, Serizawa observes Godzilla. Suddenly, Godzilla opens his eyes and makes to his feet.

Inside the stadium, the titantron displays Godzilla. News footage reads: King of the Monsters-Our city’s savior? The crowd cheers and looks on in awe at the footage of Godzilla making his way to the ocean.

Before entering, Godzilla gives one last victory cry. He plunges into the ocean and swims off. His dorsal spines sail across the water until they gently disappear under the surface.

Story:

Godzilla changes the way things are done compared to the original Gojira. Many fans, myself included, believed that Godzilla would have a role playing the nuclear allegorical figure like he did in 1954. I also believed Godzilla would terrorize some urban areas before meeting up with the MUTOs and battling them to the death. However, that is not how it goes. I think I, and many other fans, believed this route would happen because, as Edwards’ stated in numerous interviews, he was a fan and frequently referenced Gojira in the making of this movie. Hence, I assumed he was making a pseudo Gojira with Godzilla battling other kaiju.

Instead, Edwards took a route that threw me off, in a good way, and went a route similar to the Godzilla films of the ’60s, ’70s, and Heisei era. That is, Godzilla is the hero and a force of nature. Of course, I knew Edwards was using Godzilla as a force of nature due to, in those same interviews, he stated this fact. But, along with saying he was using Gojira as a frequent reference to this film, he also consistently stated Godzilla would be an anti-hero. I completely disagree with Edwards on this point. Godzilla is, indeed, a hero in this movie. Godzilla never goes out of his way to destroy a city simply because he wants to. Any real estate that is destroyed by his doing is unintentional and a result of his battles with the MUTOs.

And I like that. Initially, I was puzzled by most of this film due to Edwards’ style and the fact that some of what he said (i.e. Godzilla being an anti-hero) didn’t match with what I actually saw. After several more viewings, I began to really understand Edwards’ style and where he was really going with the film and its characters.

The MUTOs, more or less, take over the role Godzilla played in Gojira. They purposely seek out nuclear material to feed on and to use to feed their hatchlings. They are the ones that go on the rampage and are the driving force of the story. Godzilla is the key. Serizawa states this several times throughout the film. At one point, he tells Admiral Stenz the line that is, perhaps, the most famous line of this movie: “The arrogance of man is believing nature is in their control, and not the other way around… Let them fight!” Serizawa is practically pleading with Stenz to let the kaiju sort it out the way nature  meant it to be instead of using nuclear weapons where who knows what will happen.

Let me talk about the human characters since I already started talking about Serizawa. The journey of Ford Brody feels very natural and his responsibilities in this chaos is one of the most natural means any human(s) has been thrusted into his/her mission in a Godzilla movie. His becoming the hero was not of his own doing. He was simply placed into that role due to his team being exterminated by the female MUTO.

Joe Brody’s plight also feels natural. After losing his wife, he strongly believes there is more to the Janjira power plant’s destruction due to the readings he constantly was receiving. Having his character die so soon in the movie was really shocking; something I was not expecting. I felt for his death, but also found it appropriate. Appropriate, because I believed he would have fallen into the stereotypical role of the “nut case” telling everyone he was right all along. Either that or falling into obscurity for the rest of the movie.

Edwards’ Jaws and Alien means of gradually showing the audience Godzilla and the kaiju action was tremendously effective. After my first viewing, I was a bit annoyed with it, but subsequent viewings made me really enjoy this and I found that the kaiju action is appropriate. It does help build tension and suspense and the audience is rewarded when the final battle commences.

The pacing is perfect also. Again, during the first viewing, I thought it was tedious. Multiple viewings had me feeling that the movie clipped along so much quicker than I had felt it did before and, before I knew it, I was seeing Godzilla in all of his glory in what felt like half the time it felt like during the first viewing.

Edwards and Max Borenstein wrote a wonderful story that does add some of the traditional elements of Gojira. On the surface, it seems as if this movie is endorsing the use of nuclear weapons. Not true. The unseen politicians in Washington endorsed it and the military were following orders: Protect as many people as possible. Stenz repeats this numerous times to Serizawa. Serizawa, I personally believe, is Japan’s voice in this film. Having lived through the horrors of two atomic bomb drops, Serizawa knows the tremendous amount of damage nuclear weapons can have on an urban area and the environment. Serizawa’s underlying premise, outside of attempting to prevent the possible pre-detonation of a nuclear bomb in a  densely populated area, is to let nature take its course. Not to mention the damage the kaiju will inflict will be immensely minimal compared to a bomb going off.

The flow of the film is actually brisk. It may seem tedious on the initial viewing, but it flows quite well once you see multiple times. The story takes elements from Gojira and the Heisei era while also drawing some of the elements of the ’60s and ’70s in the portrayal of Godzilla. Our characters’ missions run their natural course and they are pushed into roles simply because the story calls for them to act in those roles. The building of tension is a tremendous success and it pays off really well at the end of the movie with Godzilla battling the MUTOs.

With Godzilla, we have a rare case in which the story is absolutely natural and perfect.

Special Effects: 

The portrayal of Godzilla, the MUTOs, destruction, and several other scenes involving effects are executed very well. Perhaps the thing that surprised me the most was how well the kaiju moved about and, even more impressively, how they fought each other. Their movements flowed in a crisp way and were effective.

Other impressive shots are Godzilla’s spines sailing along the top of the water in numerous scenes. They’re beautiful and awe-inspiring. One overhead shot of Godzilla swimming shows a silhouette of him just under the surface. This shot looks absolutely gorgeous, for it gives the exact amount of detail to display him as if he really existed. Speaking of Godzilla swimming, one shot involves viewing Godzilla swimming underwater through a monitor on the U.S.S. Saratoga. This is the most realistic and beautiful scene we’ve ever seen of Godzilla swimming underwater.

Godzilla’s entrance is one that imbues awesome and power. The male MUTO tosses a plane across the tarmac. It collides with another plane and the explosion reaches hundreds of feet in the air. Godzilla’s foot crashes onto the tarmac and he plods closer to the MUTO. The fire illuminates half of Godzilla as the camera pans from feet to head. His face turns into a snarl and he jolts his head forward as he cries out, challenging the MUTO.

The sets were also very well constructed. The Janjira plant at the beginning of the film, for example, looks authentically Japanese while mixing the technology from previous decades with the latest.

The effects work is top-notch and is the best in the franchise up to this point.

Acting:

Let me get to the point: The acting is incredible! I was thoroughly impressed with every actor’s performance in this movie.

The show stealers, though, have to be Bryan Cranston and Ken Watanabe. Cranston brings heavy emotion when he realizes the power plant is being breached and when he sees his wife sealed in the plant. When he starts to believe something bigger happened, he goes on an unbelievably realistic mode of an individual who is obsessed and gone a little nuts.

Watanabe delivers a Dr. Serizawa that is inquisitive, yet shows concern when events go awry. Once the MUTOs are hatched and Godzilla shows up, his concern for the use of atomic weapons is authentic. He definitely carries the emotional scars of a person who, more than likely, saw the devastating aftermath of Hiroshima in 1945.

While we unfortunately don’t get to see much of her, Elizabeth Olsen, as Elle, comes across as a wife who is deeply concerned about her husband’s well-being and her frustration shows when she has difficulties contacting him. Perhaps he best moment comes when Ford contacts her while she tending to patients at the hospital. The tears of shock and joy, along with minor shakes throughout her body, truly make me believe that I am watching a wife who has been through so much emotional distress in the past few days.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, as Ford Brody, was one who I did not warm up to initially. However, through subsequent viewings, I find his character to be relatable and authentic. As a soldier, the suppression of emotions is critical. Of course, we’re all human, and I buy his sadness when Joe talks about them needing to head back into Janjira to find the answers of his mother’s death. His most powerful scene comes at the end on the ferry. After Godzilla kills the female MUTO, he collapses to the floor out of pain, exhaustion, and a realization that he is going to die when the bomb goes off in a few minutes. Even after his character is rescued, I can see some sense of relief, but the recent events have taken a tremendous toll on Ford and he slumps back, drifting off as the bomb explodes.

Battles:

My biggest fear was whether or not the MUTOs would be able to hold their own against Godzilla.

When I first saw pictures of them, I thought they were going to get utterly smashed by Godzilla. They look frail compared to the heaping mass that is Godzilla.

Thankfully, my fears were quickly eradicated. Both male and female MUTOs give Godzilla a valiant fight. The male through the air and the female with her size and strength.

The ending battle is entertaining and goes back and forth between the two kaiju teams as far as who is getting the upper hand. The flow of the battle is natural. Only when Godzilla is caught off-guard by the female smashing him into a nearby building does he get his butt handed to him. He is down until he gets a break when the MUTO nest goes up in flames.

I really enjoyed the nice touch of showing Godzilla’s exhaustion during, and after, the battle. We see, through the MUTOs’ own action, that they are formidable. But Godzilla taking the periodical moment to lower his head and catch his breath further illustrates that the MUTOs are deadly and tremendous fighters. His collapsing onto the shore after disposing of the female MUTO was a really touching moment.

Speaking of Godzilla disposing of the female MUTO, I love how Godzilla uses his atomic breath for the second, and final time in this scene. At first, I thought he was going to break her jaw a la King Kong vs. T-Rex. Instead, we are slightly surprised to see him quickly charge himself up and breathe death into her; melting her head away from her body in the process. It is a satisfying ending and is appropriate for this incarnation of Godzilla.

Human Drama:

From the get-go, the movie centers around the kaiju. Everything the kaiju do affects everyone involved, and that is a good sign of a well-written kaiju film!

Joe’s mission of figuring out what happened in Janjira is fulfilled before dying shortly after.

Ford’s journey home and then finding himself needing to get the warhead out to sea is believable.

Dr. Serizawa’s continuous persuading of the military to let the kaiju fight it out is true to a character who witnessed the horrors of nuclear weapons and what it did to his homeland. Serizawa even seems like he’s on the verge of tears in some scenes.

Stenz shows stoic leadership, but even he expresses fear and concerns through body language later in the film when the warhead is taken by the MUTOs.

Elle’s story of being strong around her son and patients is believable. Her anger and concerns, along with her moments of shedding a few tears, make me believe I am watching an actual wife wanting her husband home as soon as possible.

I find myself involved in their individual roles and actually feeling concerned for their well-being. Witnessing Joe die, and so early in the film, for example, definitely hit my heart strings.

Overall:

Godzilla is an amazing film in every sense of the word! Edwards’ style is unique and definitely new to the franchise. So much so that, I think, most people will need to see the film multiple times to really appreciate what he is doing here. Not to mention, the flow of the movie is so much quicker through multiple viewings than the first.

The effects work is phenomenal and the best the franchise has seen up to this point! The kaiju representations, as well as their movements, and fight scenes are smooth and realistic looking. The kaiju are even given personalities. Godzilla expresses anger, frustration, and exhaustion. The MUTOs also express frustration, anger. They even show inquisitiveness and sorrow when the nest is destroyed. The tradition of having the kaiju show some form of a personality continues here and Edwards made sure that tradition continued in his film.

The film is sure to please most of the Godzilla fandom. While some fans may not like the building tension and limited screen time of the kaiju, I firmly believe multiple viewings will cure that for some. I am positive general audiences will thoroughly enjoy this film as well.

Godzilla is a film that definitely is one of the best in the entire series. This incarnation of Godzilla may be my personal favorite. The story is engaging and the characters are well-written. I thoroughly enjoy this film and cannot recommend it enough!

[include id=”27″ title=”Kent Reviews “Godzilla””]