Summer Review #1 -- Godzilla

Having never seen a Godzilla film -- and I am working on remedying that fact -- and having loved Gareth Edwards's Monsters, I was excited to see his take on the Japanese hit. The film does not disappoint. This is a globetrotting adventure that boasts an incredible cast and human story, as well as fantastic effects and entertaining action.

Fifteen years after a nuclear reactor accident, engineer Joe Brody (Bryan Cranston) keeps trying to prove that the Japanese government is concealing the true cause of the disaster. When he meets up with his estranged son Ford (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and the pair crosses paths with a pair of scientists (Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins), they discover that the truth goes back to World War II and that it may be more than humanity can handle...

I am a huge fan of Monsters and the subtle, organic way that Edwards had chosen to depict the human reaction to an alien invasion. The filmmaker does the same thing with Godzilla, weaving multiple thematic threads and rooting the tale in a story about family and history. He never forgets the origins of the cautionary narrative, though, which is evident even in the innovative opening titles that combine the actors' names with "redacted" information. This is as much a tale about humanity's arrogance and affinity for conflict as it is a popcorn flick. Edwards and writers Max Borenstein and Dave Callaham have created a blockbuster with a conscience, all the while recognizing that no stakes can be high enough without good characterization and complex relationships. 

As far as the effects go, they are spectacular on the big screen, especially the skydiving sequence, the bridge scene and the monster battles. Godzilla's new look is equally impressive -- that tail! On another note, the film looks ominously beautiful, thanks to Seamus McGarvey's (Atonement, The Avengers) steely cinematography.

The cast is terrific. Cranston and Juliette Binoche make their characters truly relatable; their last scene together is devastating. Taylor-Johnson does a great job as a leading man and shares sweet chemistry with Elizabeth Olsen. I do feel that Watanabe, Hawkins and David Strathairn occasionally get lost in exposition and are not given much to do, but the upcoming sequel might change that. I also look forward to seeing the talent that the second film attracts.   

Godzilla is a great start to the summer movie season and an excellent sophomore effort by a visionary filmmaker. It offers two hours of edge-of-your-seat sequences, but manages to ground the fun in realism. Count me in for the sequel.  

8/10