Godzilla

Release Date: May 16, 2014
Runtime: 2 hr. 3 min. 
Director: Gareth Edwards
Cast: Aaron Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe, David Strathairn.

When you hear "Godzilla," you're likely to picture the 1998 blunder, starring Matthew Broderick and Jean Reno. Hokey, uninspired, and poorly scripted, it was an ill attempt at modernizing the legendary monster. But as the saying goes, "it's better late than never," we finally get an American remake that's worthy of that title. Gareth Edwards directs the latest on the Japanese classic, going back to its roots of epic proportions. Spanning the globe and introducing a new set of creatures, it's already a giant departure from its deficient predecessor. The story, for one, is effectually developed, bringing humans to the forefront inside embattled cityscapes. Bryan Cranston, particularly, carries the emotional heft of the film, as he struggles to expose the truth by any means necessary. His brief screen time is far more compelling than Johnson's leaden performance, who is easily forgettable when not dodging disaster. Yet despite the film's title, Godzilla himself is seldom present – teased repeatedly through dark waters and billows of fog. Edwards strategically builds up the anticipation, so when the beast does appear it's all the more thrilling. His gargantuan size and trademark "atomic breath" are a sight to behold when he's ultimately unleashed. As he comes face to face with his equally massive prey, the slow build and suspension seem reasonably diminished. While diehard fans will eternally find flaws in these remakes, there's no doubt that we've progressed since 1954's "Godzilla." With lookalikes like "Cloverfield" and "Pacific Rim" steadily emerging, it's nice to see the return of the original "King of Monsters."

Rating: 4 stars