Movie Review: GODZILLA - 8.2 Stars - No Spoilers - Possible $100 M Opening!

 Saw GODZILLA and was suitably impressed. This is a true monster movie and it was made by a coveted new director in Gareth Edwards. Edwards (MONSTERS) specializes in this genre and while you can clearly see studio interference with this movie, Edwards still manages to deliver despite those handcuffs.

I will point out that I saw a trailer for EDGE OF TOMORROW in 3D pre-rolling before the movie and the 3D sucked. Big time. I could feel my brain wince within SECONDS of the opening shot seeing light. I sincerely hope they clean that up as I was really looking forward to seeing that in three dimensions. As of now I cannot recommend seeing it.

Back to GODZILLA. The 3D is average I would say for modern standards. Nothing to write home about. Still much better in 3D than seeing it in flat.

I was worried about how Mothra (or whatever they call her in the movie) would appear as that is a tall order (pun intended) to get right. I was satisfied to a large degree with the flying beasts, but still there were moments where I shook my head.

Godzilla himself was impressive. Just what I wanted really. The devastation going on around there during battle set me aback - definitely worth waiting for and Edwards is a master of that. Wait for it, wait for it... YES!

Click to enlarge

So what didn't I like about it? Well this is spoiler free so I can't go into details but I will in the comments if it goes that way. I did feel that the nuclear "tests" should have been dug into much more. And my biggest dislike? I felt Aaron-Taylor Johnson failed. Totally. I felt no emotion when he was struck by bad things happening to him. Perhaps he just can't act. I loved him in KICK ASS but, wow, not good here. Bryan Cranston is always good. Oh and Ken Watanabe and his burrowed brow, pensive, gaze to no where look got old by the time he executed this maneuver the tenth time. Edwards should have gotten more out of him.

So, yes, I recommend going to see GODZILLA and still recommend IMAX 3D for it as the sound in that theater shakes you to your core. The 3D is always better on the largest screen possible as well. I will be seeing it again! Whenever you feel awe in going to a movie, that is MAGIC. It brings out the kid in us all and GODZILLA's got it :-)

New GODZILLA Image And Featurette !

Check the latest image and featurette from Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures. The image is sort of a POV shot of Godzilla from the ground and from some distance as well. I'm not overly impressed with this particular shot - no idea why this one was selected for marketing. Godzilla looks a little plastic here - I'm sure motion, breathing, dust, scaling effects (like seeing those birds moving in the background) and of course stereoscopic 3D will bring it all home, but I'm a little meh on this one.

The featurette is very cool because one of the major components of any motion picture is sound, but it holds particular attention when you are talking about a Godzilla movie. That Godzilla roar is unique and has to be captured just so. I like being able to see the focus they put on that aspect of the movie.

Here's the movie's storyline:
In Summer 2014, the world’s most revered monster is reborn as Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures unleash the epic action adventure GODZILLA. From visionary new director Gareth Edwards (MONSTERS) comes a powerful story of human courage and reconciliation in the face of titanic forces of nature, when the awe-inspiring Godzilla rises to restore balance as humanity stands defenseless.

GODZILLA opens on May 16 in 3D, IMAX 3D and flat.

Two New TV Spots For GODZILLA

Check out these two new TV spots for GODZILLA - they've got some new footage in them as well. Warner Bros. and Legendary are slowly building the momentum for this thing but once it takes off - look out. I expect huge numbers from this movie. Brand alone will take it forward but word of mouth will top it off.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
An epic rebirth to Toho’s iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure pits the world’s most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity’s scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

Gareth Edwards directs "Godzilla," which stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson ("Kick-Ass"), Oscar® nominee Ken Watanabe ("The Last Samurai," "Inception"), Elizabeth Olsen ("Martha Marcy May Marlene"), Oscar® winner Juliette Binoche ("The English Patient," "Cosmopolis"), and Sally Hawkins ("Blue Jasmine"), with Oscar® nominee David Strathairn ("Good Night, and Good Luck.," "The Bourne Legacy") and Bryan Cranston ("Argo," TV's "Breaking Bad").

GODZILLA opens on May 16 in 3D, IMAX 3D and flat.

Two New Posters For GODZILLA

Check out the two latest posters for GODZILLA. I have to say I think we are all in for a visual effects treat with this movie. Director Gareth Edwards is all about bang for the buck - especially with VFX, so prepare to be blown away.

I recently read an interview with producer Thomas Tull (the source escapes me at the moment) who actually brought on Edwards and he said that one of Gareth's early ideas was to have a guy see a flash of light and then wait for the roar of Godzilla while counting the seconds - to see how far away the beast was. That's brilliant! Love that story.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
An epic rebirth to Toho's iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, pits the world's most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

Gareth Edwards directs "Godzilla," which stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson ("Kick-Ass"), Oscar® nominee Ken Watanabe ("The Last Samurai," "Inception"), Elizabeth Olsen ("Martha Marcy May Marlene"), Oscar® winner Juliette Binoche ("The English Patient," "Cosmopolis"), and Sally Hawkins ("Blue Jasmine"), with Oscar® nominee David Strathairn ("Good Night, and Good Luck.," "The Bourne Legacy") and Bryan Cranston ("Argo," TV's "Breaking Bad").

For all of our GODZILLA coverage, click here.

GODZILLA opens on May 16 in 3D, IMAX 3D and flat.



Source: IMP Awards

Must Watch: New GODZILLA Trailer !

Wow - looking VERY good! Love the shot of Godzilla's head as the doors are being closed. Just what kind of creatures is Godzilla fighting? The premise of the Pacific nuclear tests actually being attacks against creatures is very interesting - great way to bring in suspension of disbelief.

It's a full trailer and I'm LOVIN' it! Have a look...

Here's the movie's storyline:
An epic rebirth to Toho's iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, pits the world's most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

Gareth Edwards directs "Godzilla," which stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson ("Kick-Ass"), Oscar® nominee Ken Watanabe ("The Last Samurai," "Inception"), Elizabeth Olsen ("Martha Marcy May Marlene"), Oscar® winner Juliette Binoche ("The English Patient," "Cosmopolis"), and Sally Hawkins ("Blue Jasmine"), with Oscar® nominee David Strathairn ("Good Night, and Good Luck.," "The Bourne Legacy") and Bryan Cranston ("Argo," TV's "Breaking Bad").

GODZILLA in 3D opens on May 16.

New Poster of GODZILLA Dwarfing The San Francisco Skyline

I'm really loving the new poster from Legendary Pictures' GODZILLA. Talk about massive! Look at the size of him beside the Transamerica building in San Francisco (850' tall). So that makes him what, 1400-1500' tall?

And he comes to us courtesy of an exciting new filmmaker who knows enough about huge monsters to be dangerous. Gareth Edwards (MONSTERS) accepted the challenge and I expect him to hand us a lovingly crafted, thrilling, edge of your seat monster movie. Anything less just wouldn't be Gareth Edwards.

The movie stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston, Kan Watanabe and Juliette Binoche.

GODZILLA in 3D opens on May 16. More info when we get it!

GODZILLA Will Strike In 2014... In 3D!!

Music to my ears! As I have been hoping, Gareth Edwards' GODZILLA will be in fact be presented in 3D. Not sure if he means to shoot natively or have it post converted, but the decision at least has been made to have 3D in mind at the minimum.

Mark May 16, 2014 in your calendars... Godzilla will rise again!

You will remember Edwards from his intelligently shot MONSTERS from 2010 which was shot on a woefully small budget, yet projected as a much bigger studio movie. Loved it. He is definitely the man to resurrect the Godzilla brand and inject some energy. Further, he wrote, designed, filmed and did the visual effects on MONSTERS too, so his hand will be creatively on just about everything. He kind of reminds me of a young James Cameron.

Here's the press release:
Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures have slated their take on the classic Godzilla franchise to kick off the Summer moviegoing season on May 16, 2014. The joint announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, and Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, and by Legendary Pictures.

Toho Co., Ltd.’s Godzilla franchise contains one of the most widely recognized movie monsters worldwide, including more than 25 films, multiple television programs, video games and book series. Legendary, which has been developing the project, and its partner Warner Bros. will return the character to its epic roots with a gritty, realistic actioner. The project will fall under Legendary’s overall agreement with Warner Bros.

The film is directed by Gareth Edwards, who earned worldwide acclaim for his feature directorial debut, “Monsters.” Edwards directs from a screenplay by David Callaham (“The Expendables” films), David S. Goyer (the “Dark Knight” trilogy) and Max Borenstein (upcoming “The Seventh Son”). Legendary’s Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni will produce, along with Roy Lee, Dan Lin and Brian Rogers. Alex Garcia and Patricia Whitcher will serve as executive producers alongside Doug Davison, Yoshimitsu Banno and Kenji Okuhira.

A presentation of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, except in Japan, where it will be distributed by Toho Co., Ltd. The tent pole film is expected to be presented in 3D.

Finally. Will we see the Godzilla movie we've all been waiting for?

Godzilla 3D: Coming to IMAX in 2009?

Trying to verify this for you guys!

As you may have noticed in my list of upcoming 3D movies I have Godzilla 3-D down as rumored. I have not been able to confirm details yet but it does seem like it will go forward with Japanese and American interests for a 2009 release in IMAX theaters.

Here are some as of now unconfirmed details of Godzilla 3D:

**POTENTIAL SPOILERS - Highlight the white text below to view **

The story for GODZILLA 3D TO THE MAX begins at dawn, as a flaming meteor from the Deathla Star crashes into the Sargasso Sea. The meteor releases a swarm of Locust-Deathlas which rises into the sky like a tornado.

At Iguassu Falls, an American reporter named Mischa is doing a story on the “Spray of Iguassu”, a rainbow that is only seen on nights of the full moon. She has traveled to Iguassu with her younger brother Jim. The two are still recovering from the loss of their father, a firefighter who was killed during the September 11 attacks in New York, with Jim having a particularly rough time. He constantly carries around a harmonica left to him by his dad, and his only friend is a German Shepard called Little Beard.

Mischa and Jim encounter the Locust-Deathlas in the rainforest. The alien swarm tears through the jungle devouring all plant life it their path and accidentally uncover the hibernating body of Godzilla. As the King of the Monsters rises from the jungle floor with a roar of anger, the Locust-Deathlas transform into Monster-Deathla. After a brief battle, Deathla reverts to the swarm and flies north, with Godzilla and the kids in pursuit.

A freak summer snowfall heralds the arrival of the monsters to New York City. Monster-Deathla grows larger and larger as it absorbs garbage at a city dump. The alien buries Godzilla in sludge at the Central Park reservoir, then oozes down Broadway in the direction of the 9/11 Monument. Revived by the prayers of children, Godzilla blocks Monster-Deathla’s path then leaps into the air. Godzilla attacks with the “Ultra Spin Tail Punch”, slicing Deathla into pieces with a series of tail strikes. The victorious monster then flies back to its jungle home.

Godzilla arrives at Iguassu as the full moon rises over the waterfall. As Godzilla disappears into the Falls, the beast’s tail strikes the rushing water and causes a huge spray that casts a rainbow over Jim and Mischa in glorious 3-Dimensions.

** Potential Spoiler Above - highlight white text to view **

It does seem however that the production will be made specifically for IMAX and therefore NOT feature length - most likely 40 minutes or so. But what it does mean is that the immersion will be spectacular as it will fully utilize all of the big IMAX screen to present in 3D. More info when I get it!