Godzilla re-entered the cinematic landscape in 2014 to a mixed reception. It successfully removed any trace of 1998’s Godzilla version, which is a blessing. It’s a well-crafted movie, but was criticized for pulling its punches and withholding its bigger moments until the very end. Godzilla: King of the Monsters answers those criticisms by giving critics everything they complained about and more.
This is the 3rd movie in the new Monster-verse, after Godzilla and the ’70s based Kong: Skull Island. King of the Monsters takes us to back to the present where Godzilla has been in hiding for years, while the mysterious Monarch organization and the government bicker about the inevitable threats of titans that are currently lying dormant.
The focus of the human side of the story is put on the Russell family – Emma (Vera Farmiga), Mark (Kyle Chandler) and Eleven Madison (Millie Bobbie Brown). The collateral damage from Godzilla in 2014 has brought tragedy to this family and essentially tore them apart. Their choices going forward directly affect the reawakening of dozens of the Earth’s hibernating titans.
One by one, these monsters rise, as our crew of humans (played by Ken Watanabe, Ziyi Zhang, Sally Hawkins, Thomas Middleditch and Bradley Whitford) lead the chase and try to prevent the extermination of the human race.
Format-wise, this movie closely follows the formula of the classic Toho Godzilla movies. Humans talk in meeting rooms, monsters fight, humans talk in military crafts, monsters fight, human run around the rubble in panic, monsters fight. I enjoyed the reverence to how it felt like an old Godzilla movie, but I don’t think that formula was ever mastered to begin with. There are times when our principal cast is directly in the crossfire of these monsters and it gives the actual slugfests relevant scale and geography. Though, when the humans just argue amongst each other or sling one-liners (I’m looking at you, Bradley Whitford), you’re reminded that you paid to see monsters fight, not get bad dialogue and commentary on how these species-killing monsters are here to save the world from us.
The human element of this movie is an absolute drag. That’s not to say that there isn’t good acting involved. Kyle Chandler has the ability to anchor every movie and deliver lines with sincerity. Millie Bobbie Brown’s character is not only torn between two parents and a crumbling home (sometimes literally), but also she’s caught in a world that’s crumbling around her. Outside of these two, there are characters who know they’re in a monster movie and taking it about that seriously, but also without good writing or characterization behind it.
However…
This is a straight up Kaiju v Kaiju movie. These god-like beasts clash in the most glorious ways possible. Every battle scene could be hung up on your wall. There is actual beauty in the destructive force of these encounters. Not only has the modern (not man in suit) creature design for Godzilla been perfected, but they’ve also created intimidating and beautiful renditions of Rodan, Ghidorah and Mothra. Yes, a movie has made me root for a skyscraper-sized moth. That’s a success by any measure.
As mentioned, there is no pulling back from the action. Monsters literally go for the throat as the horizon of the cityscape disintegrates below them. The destruction shown on-screen in King of the Monsters is second to none. Major metropolitan cities are laid to waste in an enthralling climactic battle. This sheer calamity is only enhanced by the impressive score by Bear McCreary.
This is a movie that begs to be seen on an IMAX screen. It’s hard to recommend it beyond having the loudest and largest experience possible. The action will fascinate anyone from a preteen to action junkies of any age. There is pure escapism to the events in King of the Monsters. This is designed to be a fun night at the movies by delivering a visual feast of immense destruction. As a monster movie, it completely succeeds. You just might wish that these prehistoric beasts would accidentally step on the principal cast and keep the focus where its strongest. C+
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