Godzilla: King of the Monsters (Michael Dougherty)

[TGM]

GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS

Director: Michael Dougherty

imdb (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3741700/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1)

[TGM]

This felt like watching a kid playing with his toys. His really, really expensive toys.

To say that the writing in this movie is beyond idiotic could perhaps be the understatement of the century. The movie is completely mindless, and the relentless CGI action follows suit in that mindless vein. Mind you, it was never boring or completely mind-numbing like something such as Independence Day: Resurgence or that second Michael Bay Ninja Turtles movie, and I never felt like the movie was actively trying to personally insult me as a viewer in the way that something like Jurassic World did. But with as CGI heavy as this movie is, I was left feeling like I was watching a cartoon, except that, if this movie WERE an actual animated film, I'd feel it'd perhaps be an improvement, as then at least some of the action might carry even the slightest sense of weight behind it.

As it is though, all of the action feels completely weightless. Not that a CGI heavy action flick can't work, obviously, as we've seen with countless superhero movies and such in recent years. But the thing those movies often have that's very much lacking here is decent writing, characters, or sometimes even just some sense of style which helps carry the movie, all of which is sorely lacking with this film. Sure, it's got big monster battles, but like I said, they're just so nonchalantly lacking in any sort of weight behind them that it's honestly not even that exciting. It's not too dissimilar to how I felt about, say, Legolas fighting that one big CGI dude at the end of the third Hobbit movie, where it was just too fake looking and filled with stupid moments such as him hopping from falling rock to falling rock, and overly done with the CGI to even be possible to suspend disbelief and be wowed by the action. That's sorta how the action often feels like here. With this movie, honestly, most of my fun came from internally ribbing the movie as it was going along, and if I had perhaps seen it in a worse mood, I very well might've hated the thing.

I'll also say that, as it regards what they do with Vera Farmiga's character, just, yikes. Imagine if Infinity War happened, but then Endgame followed up by giving Thanos a redemption arc where we're supposed to actually feel sympathy towards him, despite what he did in the previous film. Yeah, that's this character in this movie, and what they're asking of us is fucking ridiculous. Holy crap.

All in all, I can see some people liking this, but it wasn't for me. Godzilla 2014 and Kong: Skull Island are infinitely superior films, and everything I mentioned regarding the writing, the character work, and the weight and excitement of the monster fights in this film is pretty much the exact opposite in those. In fact, I'll also toss Shin Godzilla in there as well as being a far superior film, just cause it's recent enough and has come out during that same time frame, even if it is 100% unrelated. :p

[Dukefrukem]

This felt like watching a kid playing with his toys. His really, really expensive toys.

To say that the writing in this movie is beyond idiotic could perhaps be the understatement of the century.

More, or equally idiotic than Godzilla (2014)?

[TGM]

More, or equally idiotic than Godzilla (2014)?

As I implied in my closing paragraph, I thought it was significantly more idiotic than 2014 Godzilla (which I actually quite liked ;) ).

[Dukefrukem]

Ah. yeh I stopped reading because I was worried for spoilers (even though you do have a spoiler section).

[bac0n]

Okay, my perspective as a lifelong Godzilla fan, who has seen all 30 Godzilla flicks, most of them multiple times, is that viewed in context of classic daikaiju/tokusatsu cinema, this movie holds up really well. It's fairly obvious to me that 1) the makers have a tremendous amount affection toward these films like I do and 2) this movie has no illusions as to what it wants to be.

It has all the required ingredients:


Mass Destruction: CHECK
Kickass Godzilla Finisher Move: CHECK
Cornball expository dialogue: CHECK
Hammy megalomaniac arch-villain: CHECK
Human plot exists solely to get them into dangerous situations: CHECK
Mass evacuations of humans: CHECK
Iconic landmarks trashed: CHECK


And on top of that, all the stars (read: the monsters) were handled really well, especially regarding their reveals. Holy shit, when KG first appeared, my eyes were saucers, and when Mothra was revealed in full moth form, I about lost my shit. Finally, the film was packed to the gills with easter eggs, callouts, and homages to some of the classic Godzilla flicks, which had me smiling from ear to ear. I'm pretty sure successive viewings will reveal additional details I missed the first time through.

I'm looking forward to the next G-flick, and I hope this movie does enough bank to warrant another one, cuz this G-flick had this life long G-fan smiling the entire time.

[Milky Joe]

This was bad. I haven't really made a habit of seeing big dumb expensive CGI fests in the theater outside of Marvel, but this has the distinction of being the worst movie I've seen in a theater since... Godzilla 2014?

[Dukefrukem]

So this grossly under performed compared to the 2014 film, and it got myself asking why?

What appealed to people about the first movie more than this?

Bryan Cranston fresh off Breaking Bad

[bac0n]

I'm pretty sure the largely negative reviews hurt some, in much the same way they did for Hellboy.

[Wryan]

https://i.redd.it/1dayres5e4231.jpg

[Milky Joe]

there's actually way too much story, and it has about the depth of a daytime soap

[MadMan]

I loved the 2014 Godzilla film, and enjoyed the latest one a lot. Most of the critics probably have very limited knowledge of the series.

[Morris Schæffer]

I loved the 2014 Godzilla film, and enjoyed the latest one a lot. Most of the critics probably have very limited knowledge of the series.

I haven't seen the 2019 movie yet, but is this relevant? Detecting easter eggs isn't gonna make the spectacle any less vapid, the characters more layered. Though I suppose it can help you enjoy the movie a bit more in spite of its foibles.

[bac0n]

Well, to be sure, a simple cursory understanding of some of the conventions, erm, tropes, of daikaiju flicks would have added some nuance to their reviews, because they really have a style all their own. Definitely not for everyone, as evidenced by the beating the movie took in the review aggregators, but I'm seeing a lot more support for this movie among folks such as myself who are steeped in the genre, than folks who have less exposure to it.

[Skitch]

I haven't seen the 2019 movie yet, but is this relevant? Detecting easter eggs isn't gonna make the spectacle any less vapid, the characters more layered.
I haven't seen the 2019 movie yet either, but I have to say yes to this. Not because of easter eggs, but because the series is hardly renowned for its deeply layered characters and story so much as its vapid spectacle of monsters destroying cities.

If fine if critics aren't into that, but it is appropriate for the series.

[MadMan]

I haven't seen the 2019 movie yet, but is this relevant? Detecting easter eggs isn't gonna make the spectacle any less vapid, the characters more layered. Though I suppose it can help you enjoy the movie a bit more in spite of its foibles.

It is an ongoing series, so yes knowing what to expect and the parameters would be smart. It is also not hard to do when so much of the Godzilla series is easily available. I just saw Destroy All Monsters on Tubi last month, and have found copies of other Godzilla movies at Barnes & Noble.

[MadMan]

Also I have my own issues with the movie, but I still enjoyed it a lot. Getting to finally see the other monsters on the big screen for the first time made me grin. I have seen bad entries in the Godzilla series before, and I still have bad memories of the awful 1998 one.

[Morris Schæffer]

It is an ongoing series, so yes knowing what to expect and the parameters would be smart.

That's a tall order to expect critics to be knowledgeable about such things in a specific franchise. I'd argue that, because they're not seeing the movie through rose-tinted glasses, their assessments are based more on the core aspects of the movie and apparently those aspects are very flawed. Seems like a fair appraisal. It's not because your franchise is known for huge scale monster mayhem that there is no need for engaging characters or story or that the action is by default engaging. Otherwise all Transformers movies would be a grand old time at the cinema.


I haven't seen the 2019 movie yet either, but I have to say yes to this. Not because of easter eggs, but because the series is hardly renowned for its deeply layered characters and story so much as its vapid spectacle of monsters destroying cities.

Perhaps critics want such movies to aim higher, perhaps filmmakers should aspire for more than the basic requirements of a Godzilla movie.

I look forward to seeing it. I suspect I will find it no better or worse than the 1998 Emmerich movie.:)

[Milky Joe]

I came home and immediately downloaded SHIN GODZILLA and well, holy shit, that movie rules. I conclude that the US has no idea what made Godzilla interesting in the first place.

[MadMan]

I like Shin Godzilla. And Morris critics also ripped on the 2014 Godzilla for not having enough of the big guy. Most of the series is big dumb fun, and that is fine. I thought the new flick had a good balance of human drama and monster fights, stunning cinematography and was a commentary on man's (or woman's) destrictive impluses.

[Morris Schæffer]

Well, to be sure, a simple cursory understanding of some of the conventions, erm, tropes, of daikaiju flicks would have added some nuance to their reviews, because they really have a style all their own. Definitely not for everyone, as evidenced by the beating the movie took in the review aggregators, but I'm seeing a lot more support for this movie among folks such as myself who are steeped in the genre, than folks who have less exposure to it.

Well, I'm not sure I'm steeped in the Kaju genre. I've seen 1998 Godzilla, 2014 Godzilla, don't like 1954 Godzilla, would probably find all the other Godzilla's way too cheesy and cheap, but this new movie surprisingly convinced me with its towering and hugely persuasive sense of scale. So much of it was exceedingly well shot and coherent, and although I wasn't thrilled in the sense that I was hugely worried for the well-being of the characters, I was somewhat floored by the spectacle on a purely eye candy level. It didn't seem exhausting or obnoxiously bombastic, but rather closer to awe-inspiring. Whitford and Chandler actually had some fun zingers too. Agreed with TGM though with what they did with the Farmiga character although I can imagine it can't be easy figuring out a reason for these titans to meet and declare hell.

[Grouchy]

I get that they did a reverent job of translating classic kaiju tropes to this American version but, nerd credit notwithstanding, the movie is fucking terrible - bad script, complete waste of the cast, confusing editing and bland, boring special effects totally sunk this monster.

[Pop Trash]

I get that they did a reverent job of translating classic kaiju tropes to this American version but, nerd credit notwithstanding, the movie is fucking terrible - bad script, complete waste of the cast, confusing editing and bland, boring special effects totally sunk this monster.

It's weirdly boring for a movie that's ostensibly about giant awesome creatures smashing it out. The thing is, people who haven't seen it are all "who cares about the humans in a giant kaiju movie?" ... except the movie seems to care about them a whole lot, and when they are this dull and sketchy, most of the movie is boring. Also the TEAL AND ORANGE in this is like ... ugh.

http://theabyssgazes.blogspot.com/2010/03/teal-and-orange-hollywood-please-stop.html

[Peng]

Killer monster images and final fight, but man was Thanos Farmiga the dumbest scene of the year (and exemplary of how insufferable the human parts are in general). 5.5/10

[Dukefrukem]

Oof. Turned it off after 15 minutes. Yikes of an opening..... not sure if I'm going to return to this.

[Scar]

I was indifferent when I saw it in theatres, but was like a kid in a candy store just now watching it at home.

[Skitch]

This kicked ass.

[Dukefrukem]

Heh. Tony Stark's cabin.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdAlV8zqTBw

[Mr. McGibblets]

Vera Farmiga's character is so bad.