Read User Reviews and Submit your own for Godzilla (1998)

7

Reaper1990Dec 20, 2012

Damn that time flies so fast...
I remember the 1998 when I was just 8 years old and watched it alongside same-name cartoon anyway it was good film for that time...

But today, its only nostalgia of thing which never comes back - childhood...

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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5

MovieLonely94Jun 11, 2011

Based on the Godzilla Japanese franchise and a re-imagining of a 1954 movie of the same name (in which I haven't even watched/heard before), it was known for being one of the best movies of 1998 despite it having received Golden RaspberryBased on the Godzilla Japanese franchise and a re-imagining of a 1954 movie of the same name (in which I haven't even watched/heard before), it was known for being one of the best movies of 1998 despite it having received Golden Raspberry Awards. Now to get on with the story.

After a mutation was caused from the lizards by the french in French Polynesia, a deadly reptilian creature was created and migrates to New York City, destroying everything in sight. Dr. Nick Tatopoulos is called by the military force to do research on this gigantic creature and to aid them to stop it once and for all.

Do you think that Action and Science Fiction movies keep you interested on what's going on? Then, frankly, this is one of them.

The good things that I found to be tolerable was the cinematography, Matthew Broderick's performance, the CGI, the music score and the action scenes.

The bad things are the plot holes, overused clichÃ©s, the scenes, the development, and the scenes in where the hatchlings of Godzilla started to eat the team by ripping off the scenes from Jurassic Park that were very familiar.

Godzilla isn't good or bad either. It just did okay and it's a very mediocre action/science fiction movie, but at least Roland Emmerich tried. It is worth watching and a guilty pleasure on DVD or VHS only.

5/10… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

paragD9Sep 21, 2014

GODZILLA 1998 is a good action flick Its Roland Emmerich he is good he has a unique way to show it was a box office hit and i also purchased DVD of this film. Forget about negative reviews first you have a look then decide until that dontGODZILLA 1998 is a good action flick Its Roland Emmerich he is good he has a unique way to show it was a box office hit and i also purchased DVD of this film. Forget about negative reviews first you have a look then decide until that dont hold any negative comments or reviews OK.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

Evyan2002Jan 24, 2016

Godzilla is a really great action movie. Roland Emmerich did a very good job directing it. All the actors were really great too. This will always be one of my favorite movies ever

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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3

mds03Apr 14, 2013

I was greatly disappointed since I was a huge fan of the many Japanese Godzilla aka Gojira films. This Godzilla just didn't feel right to me. In fact, just about everthing is wrong with it. It has a bad script, bad acting, mediocre specialI was greatly disappointed since I was a huge fan of the many Japanese Godzilla aka Gojira films. This Godzilla just didn't feel right to me. In fact, just about everthing is wrong with it. It has a bad script, bad acting, mediocre special effects, and it's unbelievably cheesy. The biggest problem is that it doesn't even feel like a Godzilla film it just feels like a ripoff of Jurassic Park and King Kong.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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0

CameronPowellXJul 26, 2011

Godzilla? More like Attack of the Radioactive Iguanas. This isn't a Godzilla film. This movie is disgrace to the name. If you want to watch this movie go ahead. But you know even though its a disgrace to TOHO and the name it isn't thatGodzilla? More like Attack of the Radioactive Iguanas. This isn't a Godzilla film. This movie is disgrace to the name. If you want to watch this movie go ahead. But you know even though its a disgrace to TOHO and the name it isn't that bad of a movie. Its a monster movie at least. It a simple monster movie. Monster attack city people fight its a nothing more than a simple monster movie that ruined the name of GODZILLA.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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2

InspectorJavertMay 10, 2014

As Mathew Broderick's character would surely agree, something is rather fishy here. Godzilla is a perfect example of a cash grab. Godzilla is filled with horrible writing, illogical characters, and god awful special effects. And you cantAs Mathew Broderick's character would surely agree, something is rather fishy here. Godzilla is a perfect example of a cash grab. Godzilla is filled with horrible writing, illogical characters, and god awful special effects. And you cant claim that its just 90's cgi, look at Jurassic Park, that was far superior to this garbage. Unfortunately this movie doesn't qualify for the right of being called "so bad its good." Its just nothing but boring all the way through. If you want to have a laugh at a bad movie, don't waste your time and instead watch Troll 2.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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9

FungoB.Mar 11, 2008

One of the best action films of recent years. Don't listen to the critics! Even the short quotes on Metacritic show that most of them weren't paying attention to the actual movie. How else to explain that so many get basic plot One of the best action films of recent years. Don't listen to the critics! Even the short quotes on Metacritic show that most of them weren't paying attention to the actual movie. How else to explain that so many get basic plot details wrong??? (e.g. "No surprises..." "humorless"... And my favorite: "How come he [sic'] only breathes fire twice?" Hey, bonehead: Godzilla doesn't breathe fire _at all_! He blows across something burning, in a perfectly obvious in-joke reference to the Japanese fire-breathing original. Too high-brow for professional movie critics, I guess.)… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful

8

MovieFan123May 17, 2014

OK so don't get me wrong Godzilla is no Best Picture winner and it is not the Citizen Kane of monster movies but it is not as terrible as everyone says it is. Then again this is coming from a kid who has not seen any Gojira films and doesOK so don't get me wrong Godzilla is no Best Picture winner and it is not the Citizen Kane of monster movies but it is not as terrible as everyone says it is. Then again this is coming from a kid who has not seen any Gojira films and does have much knowledge of the subject. Yet while today this film would be criticized for bad special effects back in 1998 those effects were probably pretty good. Also while the acting is not top of the line Matthew Broderick gives it good effort and makes his character pretty interesting. Unfortunately Godzilla is weighted down by the poor design of the creature (which looks like an over sized iguana and from what I heard couldn't even scratch the real Godzilla in Final Wars.) In conclusion, while Godzilla is not perfect it has some decent performances and some good special effects. A decent movie from start to finish.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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8

MalevolentMay 31, 2013

I freaking loved this movie when I was kid. It came out in the year I was born. I've seen this movie a million times as a kid. Sure, the effects were cheesy, but the monster was really cool. I felt really sorry for it at the end.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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0

aheadsonic22May 17, 2014

ok lets see this is like the freaking WORST GODZILLA MOVIE EVER IN EXISTENCE THEY DIDN'T GET A THING RIGHT HE DOES NOT BREATH A ATOMIC LASER HE IS NOT ALMOST IMPOSABLE TO KILL HE LOOKS NOTHING LIKE GODZILLA HE WAS TOOK OUT WITH ROCKETS!ok lets see this is like the freaking WORST GODZILLA MOVIE EVER IN EXISTENCE THEY DIDN'T GET A THING RIGHT HE DOES NOT BREATH A ATOMIC LASER HE IS NOT ALMOST IMPOSABLE TO KILL HE LOOKS NOTHING LIKE GODZILLA HE WAS TOOK OUT WITH ROCKETS! GODZILLA GETS HIT WITH ROCKETS EVERY DAY! HE EVEN WAS HIT WITH A BLACK HOLE GUN! AND TOHO CHANGED USA GODZILLA TO ZILLA CAUSE HE DIDN'T DESERVE THE NAME GODZILLA IM NEVER WATCHING THIS MOVIE EVER AGAIN YOU SHOULD NOT EVEN BE THINKING ABOUT WATCHING IT the japanese godzilla was amazing BUT THIS USA GODZILLA IS HORSE CRAP!!!!!! im done… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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2

TheDude-Jun 1, 2015

this film has nothing redeeming the acting is bad the characters are poorly written and quite unlikable the design of Godzilla is awful he looks like a freaking dinosaur not to mention the countless scenes that try to rip off Jurassic parkthis film has nothing redeeming the acting is bad the characters are poorly written and quite unlikable the design of Godzilla is awful he looks like a freaking dinosaur not to mention the countless scenes that try to rip off Jurassic park BTW the attempt at comedy in this movie is cringe worthy… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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10

zeoxdragonMay 18, 2014

This movie is beautiful, maybe is not the original japan godzilla, but "original" is not always "better" and this is the case.
if you are not a stupid fanboy of the original japan godzilla, then watch this.

5 of 11 users found this helpful56

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8

Gojira63Jun 13, 2013

The American Godzilla movie seems to be a very divisive film. There is no middle ground, some either like it or they hate it. I am one who actually really enjoys this film despite its flaws. Having grown up on the Toho Godzilla films of theThe American Godzilla movie seems to be a very divisive film. There is no middle ground, some either like it or they hate it. I am one who actually really enjoys this film despite its flaws. Having grown up on the Toho Godzilla films of the 60s and the 70s it seems that the majority of the complaints about this movie are in how far Rolland Emmerich and Dean Devlin deviated from Godzilla's original design. I think those who were upset with the design changes do have a valid point. When you change the design of a cultural icon it is bound to upset the core fan base. However, despite the monster being Godzilla in name only, the movie does have many qualities to redeem it.

Pros: Taking the design of the monster on its own merit, Godzilla, or Zilla, as he is renamed by Toho studios, is a very creatively designed creature. Even if one doesn't consider this creature Godzilla, on his own he is a well designed monster and a welcome addition to the panoply of Toho's Kaiju creatures. He is more animal like than his Japanese counterpart (and less indestructible) and this has been the source of many of the criticisms levied at this incarnation of Godzilla. But from my perspective the CGI effects are much more superior to a guy walking around in a latex suit and that adds to the sense of realism. Rolland Emmerich and Dean Devlin have unapologetically stated that they make fun lighthearted popcorn movies. That is exemplary with this movie and that is where the enjoyment comes. All of the Toho Godzilla movies are covered with a healthy slice of cheese or two and the American version is no exception. This is a light hearted movie which doesn't take itself too seriously and is enjoyable despite its flaws.

Cons: Sure the movie does have its cheesy moments but in my opinion all of Toho's Godzilla movies (with the exception of the 1954 Japanese original) are covered with more Velveeta than this American version. I believe Matthew Broderick does an excellent job in the lead role as well as much of the supporting cast. My only major complaint and big flaw as far as the characters are concerned is with Mayor Ebert. He spends the majority of the movie just whining and complaining and worried how this will affect his popularity. Even when the military is doing things to protect the city Mayor Ebert really doesn't seem to care about the welfare of the citizens at all. The other complaint is that the time spent in Madison Square Gardens with the baby Zilla's is the part of the movie which seems to slow down and drag a bit too much. Other than that I really do enjoy this movie and wished Zilla could get another chance to star in his own feature length movie.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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2

grandpajoe6191Oct 6, 2011

"Godzilla", the remake of the (gasp!) Godzilla movie in Japan, is pure trash. This time not even Roland's broad visuals can't save this clunky film. If you think you were going to watch this, forget it. It's just unbelievably terrible.

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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4

RikiegeJan 12, 2013

Not a great movie.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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8

ManolisspaikMay 11, 2014

I dont't care about the people's opinion, this was one of my favourite movies of my childhood. Seriously, a movie with a big dinosaur would be a miracle not to entertain me. I really enjoyed the animalistic side of Zilla. Overall, if thisI dont't care about the people's opinion, this was one of my favourite movies of my childhood. Seriously, a movie with a big dinosaur would be a miracle not to entertain me. I really enjoyed the animalistic side of Zilla. Overall, if this movie was named Zilla, i would give it a 10. And what's up with the cgi, it was 1998........ don't expect too much...… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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10

WulfSuzakiMay 21, 2014

Recently saw the 2014 Godzilla, and I gotta say, Zilla '98 is about 5 million times better. '98 starts out showing off the power of Zilla and lets you know just why we should fear her. The script does a superb job of explaining why thingsRecently saw the 2014 Godzilla, and I gotta say, Zilla '98 is about 5 million times better. '98 starts out showing off the power of Zilla and lets you know just why we should fear her. The script does a superb job of explaining why things have turned out the way they have, and the explanations are realistically conceivable. The entire script was fun and action packed, with plenty of screen time for The Lizard. And just when you think the movie is over - BAM! More excitement! The acting was fantastic, and the actors fit the parts and played them expertly (with the exception of one bad crying scene). The nerds were nerdy and quirky, the bad A** camera guy was friggin cool, the wanna-be reporter was unconfident, the wife was caring/compassionate/protective, the military head guy was determined, and the politician was a sleaz-bag. For 1998, the graphics were spectacular, and the rebooted monster was sleek and beautiful. Warning to hard core old school fans, this ain’t your grandma’s Godzilla, this is a reboot with its own timeline, universe, and dimension. This is America’s Godzilla. She is not THE Godzilla, but it was the closest name they could find to describe her. And if this happened in reality – no matter what it looked like, I believe the world would call a giant dinosaur/lizard/any non-mammal “Godzilla”. Graphics – good for the time. Acting – Great for the script that was written. Script – did exactly what it was meant to do with action, adventure, comedy, and character development. Excellent movie. Watch this instead of Godzilla 2014. Fun times.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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8

Kdog152Apr 1, 2023

Sounds rubbish on paper, but on the screen, it's pretty good. Yeah there are some cheap moments, but no film is perfect.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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10

BakaHaramMay 24, 2014

This is a masterpiece, very realistic, gripping, terrifying movie about what could happen as a result of nuclear tests. Godzilla looks very lifelike and behaves like a really smart animal. This movie is a milestone of action films, it's onThis is a masterpiece, very realistic, gripping, terrifying movie about what could happen as a result of nuclear tests. Godzilla looks very lifelike and behaves like a really smart animal. This movie is a milestone of action films, it's on the level of Jurassic Park. And I don't like how the Japanese plagiarized the ideas of the brilliant Roland Emmerich and made a bunch of their crappy, trashy, low-budget remakes. This movie was a serious drama, and Japan turned it into a laughing stock of badly designed puppets.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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10

eganretanaApr 20, 2013

one of my favorite monster movies of all time i really don't care about all the negative reviews this is a fun, cool, and imaginative monster flick and I have watched a million times and will watch it a million more :D

1 of 7 users found this helpful16

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10

JaredC.Aug 16, 2007

The computer generation is top notch, while the story is flowing with its every character and visuals. It is crafted superbly and it turns out nice.

0 of 1 users found this helpful

3

dante_finnJun 28, 2014

The films plot is very thin,the acting is off,and the directing is just terrible.I espicially hate the redisign of Godzilla from the source material. It is so bad I like to pretend this movie never happened. But I will say that the effectsThe films plot is very thin,the acting is off,and the directing is just terrible.I espicially hate the redisign of Godzilla from the source material. It is so bad I like to pretend this movie never happened. But I will say that the effects animation is outstanding. But other than that the screenplay sucks.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

bfoore90Nov 16, 2016

I liked this adaption as a kid and even still, I still have a bit of a soft spot for "Zilla." Starting out, this movie is not by any means a very good movie. I don't 100% fault the movie as much as I fault TriStar for allowing Roland EmmerichI liked this adaption as a kid and even still, I still have a bit of a soft spot for "Zilla." Starting out, this movie is not by any means a very good movie. I don't 100% fault the movie as much as I fault TriStar for allowing Roland Emmerich to helm this project and Roland Emmerich for taking on this project and not staying close to the material. I thought the actual monster was a very unique and cool take on Godzilla but they diminished the "God" in his name by making him just a mere mortal with no powers. The acting is also pretty mediocre as well as somw of the special effects, script ect and alot of the movie seems to just want to rip-off Jurassic Park rather than pave its own way. All in all, I would say if you're a fan of monster movies then give this a watch but if you're a fan of Godzilla then this would just be nothing more than a guilty pleasure flick. Its a decent movie but the Legendary 2014 adaption of the movie is better and a much more faithful adaption for the King of All Monsters.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

Danielhero1998May 17, 2014

Godzilla (1998) is not a good movie, but in my opinion it is a guilty pleasure movie. I think it is entertaining, but I know its not good. The characters are like stick toys. The monster looks like an iguana and the baby godzilla's :, but itGodzilla (1998) is not a good movie, but in my opinion it is a guilty pleasure movie. I think it is entertaining, but I know its not good. The characters are like stick toys. The monster looks like an iguana and the baby godzilla's :, but it is still just fun to watch. Hate if you wish :'(… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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6

MovieMasterEddyApr 9, 2016

“Godzilla” is not so much a remake as a reinvention of the 1954 Japanese production that spawned scores of sequels, comic books and television commercials. (U.S. audiences are more familiar with the first pic’s 1956 Americanized version“Godzilla” is not so much a remake as a reinvention of the 1954 Japanese production that spawned scores of sequels, comic books and television commercials. (U.S. audiences are more familiar with the first pic’s 1956 Americanized version “Godzilla, King of the Monsters” which incorporated new footage with Raymond Burr as a reporter/narrator.)

In the Emmerich-Devlin version, as in the original, the title creature is an unforeseen side effect of nuclear testing. The big difference is, this Godzilla is not a regenerated dinosaur. Rather, fallout from French nuclear blasts in the South Pacific have turned a lizard into a gigantic mutant monster.

Only tantalizing bits and pieces of the monster are glimpsed during the early portions of the pic, as screenwriters Devlin and Emmerich (working from a story they concocted with Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio) zip through exposition and introduce lead characters. After an effectively frightening Godzilla attack on a Japanese fishing ship, focus shifts to the Ukraine, where Dr. Niko Tatopoulos (Matthew Broderick), a biologist from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, is studying the effect of radiation leakage on earthworms near Chernobyl. A military team led by Colonel Hicks (Kevin Dunn) drops in to whisk Tatopoulos away to help with a much bigger problem.

Joined by paleontologists Elsie Chapman (Vicki Lewis) and Mendel Craven (Malcolm Danare), Tatopoulos and the military team examine, among other things, the beached wreckage of the Japanese vessel. The ship has a huge claw mark on its bow, but that’s not the worst of it. Tatopoulos finds traces of blood that, along with the creature’s footprints, point to the existence of “some sort of enormous reptile.”

Right from the start, Broderick conveys a gee-whiz ingenuousness that is distracting at best, insipid at worst. Broderick’s mannered affectations are either meant to humanize a thinly written character or simply provide comic relief. Either way, the performance as a whole comes off as a major miscalculation, to the point of making one miss the morose gravity of Burr in the earlier “Godzilla.”

In sharp contrast, Jean Reno takes a winningly subtle approach in offering a crafty mix of foreboding and bemusement as Philippe Roache, a French secret agent who’s working undercover as an insurance company representative. .

Throughout “Godzilla,” New York endures the most sustained rainfall in all of movie history. Most of the action takes place at night, but even the daytime scenes unfold under darkly overcast skies, which, of course, makes it all the easier for Emmerich to obscure Godzilla’s features for the maximum amount of time to generate the maximum amount of suspense.

But when the creature is fully visible, it resembles nothing more than a hybrid of the mother beast from “Alien” and a T-Rex from “Jurassic Park.” Although the effect is striking, it’s not the familiar creature who often managed to earn audience sympathy, or at least develop a distinct personality. There’s something oddly generic-looking about this computer-generated image.

This slimmed-down, turbo-charged beast is able to move easier and lunge more quickly while dashing through the streets of Manhattan. But, then again, why should Godzilla have to dash? Part of what made the original “Godzilla” and its sequels so much fun was Godzilla’s bad-ass, take-no-guff attitude as he lumbered down streets, kicking over buildings and remaining defiantly immune to bullets, bombs and heat-seeking missiles. This Godzilla usually runs away from his attackers, causing most of his damage mostly by accident.

There’s no getting around the fact that all the Godzilla offspring bear a suspicious resemblance to the “Jurassic Park” raptors. Just as in that lizard epic, the good guys — joined by TV cameraman Victor (Animal) Palotti (Hank Azaria) race down hallways and crouch behind closed doors, pursued by the hungry creatures and the thrills and spills appear to be recycled from the climactic sequence of “Park.” But the sheer number of the creatures here, and the genuinely clever way Emmerich utilizes them, make for a high-octane adrenaline rush.

And the banal dialogue particularly in scenes where Broderick and Pitillo try to sort out their relationship is spiked with a few witty touches.

Godzilla designer and supervisor Patrick Tatopoulos whose name is commandeered for Broderick’s character does a bang-up job of creating a lean , mean monster machine. But there is little that is charismatic about his handiwork. As a result, there is no emotional frisson at the very end, even when it’s obvious that the audience should share Broderick’s pang of sorrow for thefallen creature. Size does matter, of course, but some things matter more.

The soundtrack is also primed to produce sensory overload, as it is very loud , sometimes discomfortingly so, but the target audience likely would be surprised if it weren’t.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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3

Fixer84Mar 31, 2023

I didn't quite understand what the film wants to be, as 90% of the scenes are mostly blacked out.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

tonydannieJul 3, 2006

This film is not really bad. The effects are descent and the action sequences are good if not a bit campy at times. The problem with this movie is the dialogue. But David Arnold's score over powers it. This is the same director who This film is not really bad. The effects are descent and the action sequences are good if not a bit campy at times. The problem with this movie is the dialogue. But David Arnold's score over powers it. This is the same director who redeemed himself to me when he directed Mel Gibson's The Patriot" and then went back down hill when he directed "The Day After Tomorrow". You win some,you loose some.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

0

KurtC.Jul 13, 2008

A stubid, lamebrain boring film. Godzilla looks more like a 100-foot reptilian rat for pete's sake. A disgrace to the original Japanese Godzilla.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

8

IanReyP.Sep 29, 2008

I just searched Godzilla for it's rating and saw how it's poorly rated. I was 12 yrs old when I watched this and I just enjoyed it. For those ages and below, this is a definitely something to watch for!

0 of 0 users found this helpful

7

JordanP.Sep 10, 2007

A brave attempt at a concept that immediately is unfavorable amongst every critic, just for what it is, a monster movie. Because it is brave, has stunning special effects, jean reno and Hank Azaria, it should certainly be regarded higher A brave attempt at a concept that immediately is unfavorable amongst every critic, just for what it is, a monster movie. Because it is brave, has stunning special effects, jean reno and Hank Azaria, it should certainly be regarded higher than it is. Also, it took me 9 years to find a film like this which was in the same concept, the Host, and thats one of my favourite movies. Period.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

3

GeoffSDec 27, 2005

My main problem with this film can be summed up in two words: Matthew Broderick.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

8

GeraldoZNov 21, 2008

For 1998, this movie had top-notch graphics. The storyline was a little dull but flowed well. The movie definitely could have been made better but still proved to be strong.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

3

ArkonBladeAug 28, 2010

oh Godzilla what have they done to you. even TOHO company the japanese film complany that makes the godzilla films in japan was disgusted with what was done to godzilla by hollywood. that giant lizard on the big screen was not godzilla andoh Godzilla what have they done to you. even TOHO company the japanese film complany that makes the godzilla films in japan was disgusted with what was done to godzilla by hollywood. that giant lizard on the big screen was not godzilla and calling it Godzilla felt like a insult . if this was not called godzilla i might be able to squeeze out a 5 or a 6 for this film . the special effects where ver nice but thats about it. the film felt abit to cheesey even for the japanese godzilla films . atleast the japanese saved godzilla abit with Godzilla 2k.… Expand