Review by Jonathan Godfrey for Mr. Will Wong
The charts displayed a seismic anomaly and a crew was sent to investigate. What was this mysterious movement, and could it be settled? The questioning minds ran as their heart rates quickened. Boom, boom, BOOM! The circumstances became explosive. A New Age had dawned in the recesses of a nuclear facility, an age of Monsters. This was not a nightmare, it was waking reality. Humanity had been eclipsed…
It’s Blockbuster season. Eye Candy abounds, making the theatre a treat for all types. But as the curious Crowd stumbles forth from their cinematic slumber they seek confirmation that what they are about to witness is worth seeing. Rest assured that Godzilla won’t disappoint.
Since Legendary Pictures was founded many moons ago, the earthling that created it had a dream. Thomas Tull, the aforementioned Terrestrial, not only wanted to resuscitate the Batman and Superman franchises, he wanted to bring his beloved Godzilla back to the Big Screen. Thanks to his director Gareth Edwards, his dream has now come true. Godzilla is back and bigger than ever. Nearly 400 feet of natural phenomena digitally rendered by a bevy of Artists. A task that must have been relatively simple in comparison to the detailed collateral damage Godzilla forced them to draw.
Indeed, the Monster rampages relentlessly, and the Characters that witness this are worth mentioning also. Ken Watanabe (Dr. Ichiro Serizawa), Bryan Cranston (Joe Brody), and Elizabeth Olsen (Elle Brody) guide a Supporting Cast that spans over two decades as well as the Pacific. However, it is Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Ford Brody) that truly leads the troops in their fight for survival. Taylor-Johnson is slowly becoming a formidable Leading Man, and his Role as Ford is certain to solidify his career even further. He moves and emotes well amidst the chaos of forces far bigger than himself, and he does so convincingly considering that most of these forces were make-believe on set.
Nevertheless they’re alive on the silver screen, and Godzilla breathes therein as an amalgamation of past iterations. Meaning, he is not only an astute aesthetic representation of the beast, but also a fittingly metaphorical one. Whereas in the past Godzilla alluded to Truman-era America and the subsequent Cold War struggles, he is now a representation of Mother Nature’s Balancing Act. Like typhoons and tidal waves he is nature’s aggressive means of stabilizing the eco-system. Perhaps there is more to the metaphor than just its biological applications, but this will be left to those with tenure to ponder.
For the rest of us, Godzilla is certified summer fun. Brilliant visuals mixed with creative sound engineering to create an excellent theatrical experience best enjoyed in IMAX. So gather the family together and bask in the beauty of monster mayhem. This is your alarm call. Wake up, wake up now!
Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release Godzilla on Friday, May 16, 2014.
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