Review of Godzilla (1998) by Blake A — 12 Jul 2012

"Godzilla" is privileged to occupy a special place on my movie wall of shame. It is easily the dumbest movie of the 90s (a decade where making dumb movies was a good career move) and makes director Roland Emmerich's previous effort, "Indepence Day", sound like Oscar-caliber material.

The writing is so disjointed and contrived that it feels like any scene without carnage or explosions in it was left on the cutting room floor. Basically, a group of scientists, army officials and news reporters chase (and get chased) by the titular character, who arrives in New York with the intention of stomping on everything in sight.

The special effects may be well-executed, but there is more soulless filmmkaing present here than in the entire "Transformers" franchise. Leading man Matthew Broderick makes a terrible "action hero" and looks embarrassed to be there; Jean Reno, a proven cinematic gun-slinger, also looks considerably out of his depth.

The point is this: watching "Godzilla" might simulate the effects of a lobotomy, which I hear is not the greatest experience in the world.