![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/62\/2014\/05\/new-godzilla-trailer-shows-off-multiple-monsters.jpg-e1400250844755.png\" "\\"new-godzilla-trailer-shows-off-multiple-monsters.jpg\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe first half of the movie lags a bit as it focuses on human stories: Joe\u2019s relationship with his son and wife, Ford\u2019s love of his son and wife (a lovely Elizabeth Olsen), Joe\u2019s relationship with Ford, and Japanese scientist Dr. Ichiro Serizawa\u2019s (Ken Wantanabe) relationship with the lizard he studies.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a scene in which Serizawa interrogates Ford about his father\u2019s data about the giant creatures, Ford insisting he doesn\u2019t know anything, Serizawa asking increasingly detailed questions. Ford, indeed, knows nothing. The movie is not moved forward. If Ford doesn\u2019t know, why is the scene in the script? That\u2019s valuable screen time that could have been used knocking stuff down.<\/p>\n
The movie also squanders some chances for humor. Serizawa, apparently the son of a scientist in the 1954 film, is played very straight, all brooding glances and weighty responsibility. He feels like a throwback to 1954<\/p>\n
Even more glaring is the chances for funny missed in all the destruction. As the monsters devastate Japan, then Hawaii, then San Francisco, the audience settles in to wait for the giggles. Maybe a reaction shot of an old hippy saying \u201cTrippy, dude,\u201d or the anti-nuclear club at UC Berkeley getting stepped on mid-demonstration. Those would be good for a chuckle.<\/p>\n
Or someone in a newly legal medical marijuana shop throwing his joint away and swearing off the stuff forever.<\/p>\n
When the monsters take a detour through Las Vegas, it\u2019s showtime. Maybe a glimpse of a cigarette-leathered woman doggedly pulling a slot machine as the building behind her collapses. Or maybe in the rubble a machine finally rings and flashes with its payout after the building is dust.<\/p>\n
So many opportunities, sadly only existent in my mind. There\u2019s not a single wink in all that lovely destruction.<\/p>\n
What the movie lacks in bellylaughs, though, it makes up in action and special effects. When Godzilla appears in the sea, all spiky mountainous back and slashing tail, it\u2019s truly awesome. As he slides beneath an aircraft carrier, dwarfing it by comparison, or wades through a skyline, the movie is stunning.<\/p>\n
And mankind gets its licks in too, especially a HALO (High Altitude Low Open) jump executed by our boys in the Navy, falling right through a monster-combat zone.<\/p>\n
It doesn\u2019t get cooler than that, even if it is a thinly disguised advert for a video game.<\/p>\n
There are other things to like about this movie as well. The military is portrayed as good, honorable and brave. Even though top brass show the arrogance of humanity in their desire to blast the creatures, their hearts are in the right place of desiring to protect civilians. The rank and file is all nobility, bravery, and self-sacrifice, even in the literal face of an overwhelming monster.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s even a scene where an officer leads his men in prayer before engaging.<\/p>\n
Rated PG-13, there\u2019s very little sexuality (just a slight kissing scene between the young married couple), no language, and no innuendo. The rating comes from the strong action, situations of peril involving children (all of whom make it out ok) and violence. There\u2019s a tsunami that\u2019s pretty powerful and a scene showing not particularly gory but still quite deceased soldiers. If your children can handle suspenseful action and scary monsters, this is a great movie to share with the family.<\/p>\n
In the end, Godzilla represents not man\u2019s arrogance with splitting the atom, but nature\u2019s insistence on restoring balance to the world. Perhaps it\u2019s not as primal a message, but it sure is a fun movie.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despite some throwback acting and a distressing lack of humor, ‘Godzilla’ of 2014 delivers with stunning action and effects.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":4957,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[161,204,11],"tags":[1105,1131,116],"class_list":["post-4955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-in-theaters","category-new-movies","tag-1105","tag-godzilla","tag-review"],"yoast_head":"\n
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<\/a>Godzilla is a sort of modern day Grendel, the monster from Beowulf, or Minotaur, one boogieman from Greek myth. Born of the deep, subconscious grief and terror of nuclear war, the myth of Godzilla is primal and powerful. We all know who Godzilla is, even if we haven\u2019t watched the multiple movies exploring him.<\/p>\n