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SAN FRANCISCO — It’s finally here, the summer movie many have been waiting for: “Godzilla.”
The movie had some great trailers that got fans and non-fans alike excited. Well, now that the movie is in theaters, it’s with a heavy heart that I inform you that it’s just not that great.
While “Godzilla” has its moments and amazing CGI, it just falls short in too many other areas to make it a good film.
Here are three reasons “Godzilla” isn’t worth your time.
MILD SPOILERS
Where’s the human element?
I know that “Godzilla” is a monster movie, and I’ll tell you what, the monster action is actually really cool. This is by far the coolest Godzilla you’ve ever seen. But there are some great actors in this film, but you just don’t really care about any of them.
Other “monster” movies like “Jaws” and “Jurassic Park” highlighted the frightening creatures. But they also made you care about the human characters, but “Godzilla” just can’t manage to do that.
Not enough Bryan Cranston
One of the characters we actually care about in the film is Bryan Cranston’s, but he’s gone about as fast as he shows up.
Cranston managed to bring a gravitas and emotionality to the film that hooked you. But all of the sudden he’s gone and never shows up again.
According to the trailers, you would think this was Cranston’s movie. But it’s not so. This is all Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s. It’s not that Taylor-Johnson is a bad actor; it’s actually quite the contrary. The problem is that his character isn’t nearly as interesting as Cranston’s.
Story lacks interest
Yes, it’s a Godzilla movie, but that doesn’t mean it should abandon story and that’s exactly what happens.
“Godzilla” actually starts out really intriguing. You’re interested in what’s developing, where the story is headed and how it’s setting up. Then, without warning, that storyline is halted and it makes the movie lose steam.
If the writers could have kept the same emotion and storytelling from the first 45 minutes continue on through the next 75 minutes, then we would have had a really entertaining and intriguing film, but unfortunately that didn’t happen.
What we get instead is a pretty straightforward monster movie with explosions and roars.
As hard as I’m being on “Godzilla,” I would be lying if I said it wasn’t entertaining. Director Gareth Edwards has a way of showing the action, and Godzilla himself is as big and menacing as ever.
While the film lacks in several areas, it is entertaining — if you’re headed to the theater to just shut off your brain for two hours and watch mayhem ensue. Let’s be honest, we all like to do that on occasion.
“Godzilla” is rated PG-13.
