GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS Review

The “pictures” have always been about spectacle and spectacle, especially in this day and age, is what we have come to expect from our picture shows. Spectacle isn’t a dirty word and is often the reason to pay more to be immersed in the movies, but spectacle is best served with a meaningful narrative. There are and can be a lot of variations on the word "meaningful" mind you, but when it comes to movies about giant monsters it doesn't seem to be asking for much for said narrative to at least try and find meaning in the smallest of details, character moments, or even just in the knowing indications of the filmmaking that own up to the fact that the movie itself knows what the audience is really in attendance for; if the focus is going to be the titans at least have a little frivolous fun with the extraneous elements. What is maybe most disappointing about Godzilla: King of the Monsters though, is the fact director Michael Dougherty (Trick 'r Treat, Krampus) touches on the potential meaning through each of those aforementioned examples in his screenplay yet never takes them far enough to where any of them connect. Instead, Dougherty’s sequel to Gareth Edwards' 2014 Godzilla doubles down on the spectacle so as to please the masses who are coming to this movie looking for more of what they didn't get in that previous film. Again, there’s nothing wrong with spectacle and if that's all you’re hoping this new Godzilla flick delivers then you’re in luck, but if you need the human element to help enhance your investment in the monsters then you'll likely be somewhat disappointed-especially considering the grade-A cast in place here. It’s not even that the characters aren’t likable or endearing, but rather that they don’t tend to be consistent in their intentions and/or as intelligent as they’re obviously supposed to be. Dougherty is a guy who knows how to deliver extravagance with a sly side of brazen as has been exemplified in his past works and while there was hope that this unique flavor might be able to transcend the big studio blockbuster system it seems Dougherty's special brand of schlock has been watered down to fit this pre-ordained plan of plain characters doing plot-convenient actions so as to bring these monsters together for a smackdown rather than being allowed the space and freedom to find meaning in any of these elements surrounding Godzilla that might have assisted in his presence feeling both more natural and impactful. That "spectacle" is admittedly grand in moments, but it can't help but feel empty; devoid of any real feeling and therefore not eliciting much of one either.

Official Trailer for GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS

While the distance between myself and 2014's Godzilla has not exactly made the heart grow fonder, last year's Kong: Skull Island at least did more with the titular monster character and his friends to be entertaining if not necessarily excellent. Skull Island completely knew what it was and embraced that whole-heartily and it seems Trick ‘r Treat and Krampus filmmaker Michael Dougherty has very much done the same with his follow-up to Gareth Edwards' film. In Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the crypto-zoological agency Monarch-which has been the connective tissue through both of those two, aforementioned Warner Bros. monster movies-faces off against an arsenal of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. Having no sense of the history of this franchise or real sense of significance with these monsters outside of that one time when a younger cousin got really into the old Toho Godzilla films, there was never any real connection I held with the material. I remember the names Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah, but not much else as I was never drawn to the appeal of the movies; I could see why people were drawn to them, but they never felt as if they were for me. This is all to say that while this latest Hollywood version of Godzilla's greatest hits will probably be a lot of fun and looks as if it knows how to be exactly what it wants to be there is a certain sense of coldness between myself and everything I've seen around the film that doesn't necessarily have me excited for what the narrative or even the action might have in store. It is worth noting that the human cast in this thing is pretty incredible as it not only includes the likes of Stranger Things breakout Millie Bobby Brown (I still can't believe that's her full name-it's so great) at the forefront, but also has newcomers Vera Farmiga and Kyle Chandler joining in on the action as what I can only surmise are Brown's character's guardians in some capacity though what connection her character makes with the title character remains to be seen. Godzilla: King of the Monsters also stars Bradley Whitford, Ken Watanabe, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Thomas Middleditch, and Sally Hawkins, but c'mon...we all know who the real stars are here. Additionally, the film opens on May 31st, 2019.

SDCC: Official Trailer for GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS

First trailer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the sequel from director Michael Dougherty (Krampus), starring Millie Bobby Brown, Max Borenstein, Vera Farmiga, Ken Watanabe, O’Shea Jackson Jr., and Sally Hawkins has arrived via Warner Bros. The movie hits theaters May 31, 2019.