Godzilla: King of the Monsters

A review by Chris Lee

I’m going to keep this one pretty short because there isn’t much to say about a gorgeously shot film where 300 foot monsters knock each other around commercial districts with claws and fire breath.

2019’s follow up to 2014’s Godzilla, and 2017’s Kong: Skull Island serves as the de facto footprint in the ancient earth for Hollywood’s attempt at a shared monster universe. The special effects this time are serviceable, though notably less crisp than 2014’s outing. The inclusion of a dozen more creatures (and set-pieces) this time around may explain the downgrade, but great angles, immersive pov shots, and an almost religious fascination with grandiose lighting makes up for it.

The fights themselves are epic on a scale rarely seen. Godzilla himself has never been in better form, and pitting him against his storied nemesis, King Ghidora, was a smart move. Ghidora is evil and knows it and is happy about it. The 3-headed monstrosity seems to revel in destruction and death and conquers all he comes into contact with, making for a great foil for our laser-breathing hero.

When it comes to the film’s sound, you’ll be treated to some of the most immersive and intense roars, metal scraping, and engine failing the industry has to offer. When a human is stuck in the middle of one of these monster fights, one can’t help but feel a bit of unease as the soundscape of a collapsing world swirls around you. The music in the film is also as much of a highlight as the monsters themselves, with themes that swing from gorgeous to terrifying, with a very primitive, tribalistic tone that feels like the music of myth worship.

On the human front, well. Half of the people in the movie should not have been. Too little good dialogue spread over the mouths of too many people with too little to actually do. Where 2014’s humans were stretched thin, 2019’s cast is packed into an already too-tight room. Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, and Millie-Bobbie Brown do good work here trying to bring humanity and emotion to the proceedings, but they’re surrounded by too many replaceable, and in some cases, downright annoying, nobodies. Ken Watanabe brings dignity and weight to the Godzilla mythos, returning as Dr. Serizawa. Based on his very noble arc in the film, he should have been the main human character, but alas, it was great to see at least one professional on set.

All in all, if you want to see monsters smash things with a Hollywood budget, you won’t leave disappointed. If you wanted some grounding from the human characters, you might want to look to smarter fantasy.

Rating: 3/5

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