Godzilla (3D) (2014, Dir. Gareth Edwards, USA/Japan) (Cert: 12a/PG-13) **** Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Cranston, Ken Watanabe In 1999, shortly following an extraordinary skeleton finding in the Philippines, a nuclear power plant in Japan is destroyed under strange circumstances. Joe Brody (Cranston) an American expatriate who worked at the plant and suffered tragedy on that day has spent fifteen years looking for the truth and when his now-grown son Ford (CJ Adams, Taylor-Johnson) arrives back in Japan, the two go on a search to find out what exactly happened and witness the unleashing of a tremendous beast. Sixty years have passed since the atomic giant reptile known to the world as Godzilla (or to his homeland in Japan, Gojira) tore his way in. At first in a sombre mirror on Japans war and environmental tragedies only for him to morph into a figure of fun and even, at times, a hero in later sequels and spin-offs. In 1998, Roland Emmerich brought Godzilla stateside and didnt really succeed. This time, Godzilla gets another Hollywood treatment, chiming (largely) with the originals dark tone and providing a rather satisfying slab of monster mayhem. Whilst the film is a Japanese co-production, Godzilla has lost most elements that would make it seem very tied to Japan. Yes, a significant part of the story takes place there and we have one major Japanese character (Ken Watanabes Serizawa. Also the only character, or really a rough approximation thereof, to be in both this film and the 1954 original) but the story is undoubtedly Americanised. That isnt exactly a bad thing. The original Godzilla is tied into Japans experiences with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the fire bombings of Tokyo, the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake, the a-bomb tests off of the Japanese coast, the related radiation of Lucky Dragon 5 and Japan facing a very different future. A lot of comparative elements. For this films slant towards America, we get a lot of comparisons with 9/11. The crumbling buildings, a major city covered in dust and chaos and in quieter moments, Bryan Cranstons actions and speeches seem closer to a conspiracy theorist (especially from the 9/11 Truther movement) whilst there are still points that resonate with contemporary points in Japan, such as the opening sequence bringing to mind the Fukushima nuclear power incident (actually, that element of the story was decided upon before the actual event, so its at least partially coincidental). Still, its mostly Godzilla romping around Las Vegas and San Francisco rather than Tokyo. This is by no means the first Hollywood science-fiction blockbuster to tackle themes related to 9/11. Spielberg did it in War Of The Worlds (2005) and J.J Abrams did it in Cloverfield (2008) to name just two examples. Also, akin to Godzilla, both films were heavily informed by earlier films. War Of The Worlds is hugely influenced by other adaptations of the HG Welles story, especially the film adaptation from 1953 and Cloverfield is very much like Godzilla and a number of other sci-fi films in a crazy mish-mash, with one of its most notable sequences referencing the famous poster of Escape From New York (1981). Even this new Godzilla looks beyond the Godzilla series and 9/11 for other influences. Surely, the main characters being named Brody is intentionally acknowledging the Jaws franchise (1975 - 89) with even having some similar traits. So, what of the Brodys? Its no shock that the films promotional material has capitalised on Bryan Cranston. Now at a time in his life and career most actors would be slowing down, his success with the TV show Breaking Bad has made him more successful and well-known now more than ever. Hes a great actor and not always one for understatement. His style is intense but what could be laughable in the hands of a lesser is actually interesting and impressively emotive. Sadly, this does leave Aaron Taylor-Johnson seeming dull by comparison. Perhaps best known for his role in the Kick-Ass films (2009 - 13) as a dorky kid who becomes a self-made superhero vigilante, his role here as the standard soldier, husband and father comes off as generic. A fault that probably lies more with the writing than the performance. Filling out the main cast are Juliette Binoche, Sally Hawkins, Elizabeth Olsen in roles that all also shrink into the background. Overall, this Cranstons show. Of course, the films prime focus is as a noisy sci-fi action blockbuster and on that score, the film succeeds brilliantly. Of course, we get to hear THAT Godzilla roar and it sounds fantastic, rivalling if not surpassing the brilliant sound design of Jurassic Park (1993). Buildings crumble and shake to the ground in both a faithful homage and suitable updating of classic kaiju, in the vein of last years Pacific Rim. As you might expect the film is very strong on a technical level, with some truly extraordinary production design. The cities look real and look like theyve gone through some realistic destruction and the film has an extraordinary depth (not in the 3D sense, the 3D is once again, superfluous) and the film feels as big as it should. Ultimately, Godzilla os not perfect and lacks some of the originals dramatic punch but for sheer scale and dynamism alone, it doesnt get much better.
Posted on: Wed, 21 May 2014 08:22:55 +0000
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