Review of Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) by Compi24 — 01 Jun 2019

One of the summer event films where you're going to need to check your expectations at the door and check them real closely. Are you going into this movie as a fan of the 2014 Gareth Edwards film who appreciated the sensitive and grounded approach to the larger-than-life ideas therein? If so, you may be sorely disappointed by the rather uncouth and matter-of-fact nature of things this time around.

Are you walking in as someone who was tremendously let down by the 2014 predecessor's lack of action and kaiju combat in favor of dry character work and performances? Because you may have just gotten a movie that flies in the face of all that, for better or worse.

Are you somewhere betwixt these two groups, enjoying the 2014 film for what it was, but understanding the need for certain elements to change? Well you might just end up in the camp that this reviewer's planted his flag within.

This movie is fine. The action is thrilling and brilliantly rendered, featuring a hefty number of moments that'll make you smile. The character work is spotty at best, featuring some of the more head-scratchingly misguided attempts at depth I've seen in a while, but you're at least given a protagonist that has more emotional drive than the 2014 film did.

The performances get the job done, with some actors bringing a bit too much to the table than others (I'm looking at you Bradley Whitford). And the lore is -- as always -- sopping wet with imagination and creativity.

In short, it's imperfect, but a worthwhile time at the cinema, to be sure.