Warner Bros. | Release Date: May 16, 2014
6.8
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Generally favorable reviews based on 1759 Ratings
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445
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209
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9
guitarguy001May 16, 2014
A very well made monster movie and a return to glory for the King of Monsters. The movie looked amazing with its visuals and cinematography, you care for the characters and the build up to Gojira definitely pulls off. This movie has alot ofA very well made monster movie and a return to glory for the King of Monsters. The movie looked amazing with its visuals and cinematography, you care for the characters and the build up to Gojira definitely pulls off. This movie has alot of crowd pleasers too. If you like Gojira, i highly reccommend this movie, its one of the best, if not THE best, Godzilla movie made. Expand
4 of 12 users found this helpful48
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8
CybercoreCEOMay 16, 2014
This reincarnation of the beloved Kaiju franchise is 20 times better than the 90s American version. This movie focuses on the human interaction, where it shows believable reaction if giant monsters were introduced to mankind. There are veryThis reincarnation of the beloved Kaiju franchise is 20 times better than the 90s American version. This movie focuses on the human interaction, where it shows believable reaction if giant monsters were introduced to mankind. There are very obvious homages to the source material, from the design and talks of the dangers of nuclear warfare. I love the action sequences, when they are there. There are few in depth shots of monster on monster fighting, but when the action was up close and personal, it blew me away. If you are new to the Godzilla franchise, you will not be confused, but intrigued by this new world of colossus and titans. Expand
6 of 13 users found this helpful67
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10
MovieReviewsMay 16, 2014
Not only one of the best monster movies in recent years (This includes Pacific Rim) Godzilla is the best Gojira monster movie ever made, such a blast. This movie is epic, despite I didn't watch it in 3D, I was infected by its beautiful,Not only one of the best monster movies in recent years (This includes Pacific Rim) Godzilla is the best Gojira monster movie ever made, such a blast. This movie is epic, despite I didn't watch it in 3D, I was infected by its beautiful, mesmerizing visual effects. However, if you are coming in to watch 2 hrs of Godzilla, Godzilla is show only for 20 mins or something, because this movie about humans facing this terrible plague of monster(s). Godzilla is highly recommended to everyone, it will be one of the best of 2014 and will be an instant classic for sure. Expand
12 of 28 users found this helpful1216
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5
RtheomMay 16, 2014
I wanted to post another review because I just watched the original Godzilla (without Raymond Burr) and the people claiming that this new movie is close to the source material are DEAD WRONG. The original Godzilla had a ton of satisfyingI wanted to post another review because I just watched the original Godzilla (without Raymond Burr) and the people claiming that this new movie is close to the source material are DEAD WRONG. The original Godzilla had a ton of satisfying destruction caused by the King himself. He tears into the city, and even in all its rubber-suited glory, it is so much more enjoyable. Don't go see this new film, just rewatch the original. So much better.

I think the big area the new Godzilla fails in is that it tries to focus on one guy and his struggles with the situation. The original shows us a wide mix of people with all different backgrounds and their reaction to it, making the whole thing feel so much more real. And then there's also the super awesome scenes of destruction. I remember what made me fall in love with Godzilla in the first place. America needs to give up. We'll never even come close to matching what Japan has done.
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7 of 16 users found this helpful79
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7
croeth_1234May 16, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. All over I think this movie is an example for a good "monster movie", which should be watched in the cinema. All effects, started at Godzilla himself over to explosions and so on, and also the sound are worthy for the cinema. When I went to watch the movie I just saw the first trailer, so I was unbiased, because I heard some trailers after include "spoilers". That was good.

At the beginning the movie starts with a good pace, but then there is a lean period in the middle. The movie takes time to describe the characters and the background of Godzilla, etc. I don't think that it is as bad as it sounds but I wished there was more pace in this part of the movie. In addition in my opinion the character Ford Brody keeps a little bit pale. The love to his wife and his little son is illustrated very well but I think the relationship to his father is neglected. But this might be dedicated to the early death of his father. These are the only points of criticism. The rest of the movie is great. As I said the effects and especially the final fight are awesome!

Persons how know the "old" Godzilla will watch this movie with a little chuckle I think. Above all at the final fight.

I hope you'll like my first little review. (I apologize for my beginners English. Be patient with me, I promise to improve :-)
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6 of 10 users found this helpful64
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4
foxgroveMay 16, 2014
When remaking a film who's main character is so iconic the driving ambition has got to be at least to improve on previous incarnations. Unfortunately, that is only partially the case here. This version suffers from a storyline that is prosaicWhen remaking a film who's main character is so iconic the driving ambition has got to be at least to improve on previous incarnations. Unfortunately, that is only partially the case here. This version suffers from a storyline that is prosaic to the point of boredom and it takes nearly an hour of dull exposition before the main event even appears. However, when he does things liven up no end. For all its other inadequacies, visually this is a stunning achievement. When the titular character and special effects take centre stage there is just no faulting the film as the craft on display is just amazing. Images like a crashed plane; Godzilla in the sea flanked by ships, A Tsunami, A burning train, shadows of the monsters aginst the city's crumbling buildings and Godzilla's face disappearing in to a pall of smoke are just a few of the breath taking compositions to behold. There are countless more, all exquisitely photographed.

All this good work is somewhat predictably confounded by the dull human angle and perfunctory screenplay. Also, although acting is secondary in a film like this, it has to be said that the performances
(besides a good turn from Bryan Cranston) range from the indifferent (Aaron Taylor Johnson) to the outright bad (Elizabeth Olsen). Sally Hawkins looks constantly downcast and on the verge of tears, in all probability wondering how she arrived here after bagging an Oscar nomination for ' Blue Jasmine', and Juliette Binoche appears pointlessly. Anyone could have done what she contributes here. Finally, we are left with a film that never orally matches its stunning visuals.
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18 of 35 users found this helpful1817
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6
Just1nsaneMay 16, 2014
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ok, This movie started out reallly interesting Bryan Cranston killed the first 1/4th of the movie then....he dies....WTF. Kick ass dude is the lead and dude is BORING so many scenes im like wtf is even going on. The humans has such poor connection. There was tease actions scenes then the ending was good the last 20 mins was good action with old school vibe and old school music loved that. But THAT STORY wtf was so out of place the actors were so off putting. Its bad guys im sorry. 2 dudes I went with the movies with we were roasting on this movie all night long it was that bad. Let me add if I see that asian man open his mouth ONE MORE TIME BY THE HEAVEN I WILL PUT SOMETHING IN IT. They barley even explained what godzilla was or where he even came from. The kick ass dude like didnt even feel like he cared at all. Expand
7 of 16 users found this helpful79
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5
Mazmorrero47May 16, 2014
I appreciate the filmmakers' effort to create a more dramatic take on Godzilla. However, they forgot that in order to achieve that, they needed to make the characters interesting and develop them. Giving the lead role to Aaron Taylor-JohnsonI appreciate the filmmakers' effort to create a more dramatic take on Godzilla. However, they forgot that in order to achieve that, they needed to make the characters interesting and develop them. Giving the lead role to Aaron Taylor-Johnson was a huge mistake, because the guy can't act to save his life. He plays just another stereotypical soldier with a nurse as a romantic interest. And if you watch the film because of Bryan Cranston, you're going to be sorely disappointed, because he doesn't have much screen-time; same thing for Juliette Binoche. Talk about wasting talent.

Technically speaking, the film is stunning. It should get Oscar nominations for visual effects, sound (seriously, Godzilla's scream is one of the best sound effects ever) and cinematography. Unfortunately, when a cool action sequence is about to happen, the story immediately moves away to throw boring exposition and cliches.

Sure, it's better than the Roland Emmerich train wreck, but that doesn't make it a great movie either.
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13 of 20 users found this helpful137
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7
NeelyryMay 16, 2014
Not quite what I was hoping. Avoided combat scenes extremely often, almost entirely till the last 20 minutes. It was upsetting bc every time that something good was going to happen it just switched scenes.
34 of 42 users found this helpful348
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10
aleksasstaMay 16, 2014
Awesome movie! .
7 of 21 users found this helpful714
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10
FluffopotamusMay 16, 2014
I have seen every Godzilla movie, all 28 of them, all I can say is that the critics here are they lack a proper appreciation for the genera, because this was the greatest Daikaiju film I have ever seen.
People complaining about there being
I have seen every Godzilla movie, all 28 of them, all I can say is that the critics here are they lack a proper appreciation for the genera, because this was the greatest Daikaiju film I have ever seen.
People complaining about there being not enough of Godzilla apparently haven't sat down and taken the time to actually watch the source material.

He wasn't eye candy, he wasn't the main character, he wasn't MEANT to be the center of attention, he was meant to be an allegory and the destruction he caused and the peoples lives he affected were the main focus of the original.Given, that through the 60's and 70's he WAS the main attraction, but, that was in a time when he was targeted towards twelve year old kids while the original as well as the 1985 sequel were meant to be enjoyed for their undertones and plot.

TL;DR The movie is like the original which was amazing and the movie is SUPPOSED to be about the human element, so quit whining about there not being enough monster even though he is there for a reasonable amount of time.
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25 of 45 users found this helpful2520
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10
TheOnlineGamerMay 16, 2014
To all the people who complain there wasn't enough Godzilla in this movie: Have you ever seen the original Gojira (1954)? Or ever heard of a thing called 'tension-building'? Surely not.

This film was everything I hoped it would be and
To all the people who complain there wasn't enough Godzilla in this movie: Have you ever seen the original Gojira (1954)? Or ever heard of a thing called 'tension-building'? Surely not.

This film was everything I hoped it would be and thensome! The characters were all great, there isn't a single bad performance - everyone treats this with respect and add an appropriately serious tone to the film. Ford Brody is my favourite as his strict code of honour and morals was put to the test by malevolent creatures, which created some brilliant dilemmas and great duo scenes with his father (played brilliantly by Bryan Cranston). Themes were perfectly adapted from the original Gojira, which makes this 10x more dark and gritty, but it doesn't come off as stale or half-assed.

Godzilla himself is a majestic beast, and one I don't think audiences will forget about in the near future, as well as the MUTOs who are perfect adversaries for Godzilla. This isn't Pacific Rim, you actually care about these Monsters fighting and look forward to the outcome.

In conclusion, Gareth Edwards' Godzilla is a magnificent monster movie full of heart and soul with wonderful direction and spectacular visual effects.

Even better than the original, IMO! (10/10)
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88 of 166 users found this helpful8878
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