Godzilla: King of the Monsters

In 2014, we saw the rise the Godzilla. Now, see what happens when humanity tries to control a monster. In an attempt to study the other “Titans”, Monarch, a crypto-zoological agency throws nature into disarray when they awaken them. Mothra, Rodan, and Godzillas rival, King Ghidorah. With the fate of humanity on the line, the clash of the Titans duke it out to know who the King of the Monsters truly is.

I’ve been anticipating this film since I heard that the sequel was in the works and was pumped when the first trailer dropped. I enjoy seeing massive monsters fight and shoot atomic breathe and spew lightning at each other. It’s just fun to watch. The 2014 Godzilla had a lot of great elements and this new film pulled all of those best moments and added to it.

Director Michael Dougherty did a great job expanding on the Godzilla world. Even taking things from the Kong: Skull Island movie to make these interconnected films feel more cohesive. Had a good cast including Vera Farmiga, Sally Hawkins, Kyle Chandler, and others. I felt that majority of the cast felt sort of weak, but both Ken Watanabe and Millie Bobby Brown were the key highlights for me and had a great presence throughout.

The creature design is something I feel is necessary to touch on. This movie has a lot of monsters and they all have to feel unique and distinct from one another, and they achieved that. Godzilla looks better, adding more spikes and ridges to his back and making them glow blue when he is using his atomic breathe, Rodan has a trail of smoke coming from his wings as if they still have embers lingering as he flies. Mothra with a bright, blinding light to confuse her opponents. Ghidorah, the three headed dragon has the ability to shoot lighting and even create a storm around itself as an intimidation tactic. All I’m trying to say is that I love to see a movie where it just isn’t a copy/paste with the monsters. The designers took their time to make each creature unique and well thought out.

Another thing is the score, composed by Bear McCreary. This film did such a great job knowing the best parts to use a theme for a monster, create suspense, feel emotional, and even know when to simply have no music. Embracing the great orchestral pieces of the first film and integrating it here. Props there.

Overall, a very well done movie with a subpar cast and slayer monsters. Both literally and figuratively. I could easily see another one of these and I already know I will. A Godzilla VS. King Kong is apparently in the works.

I’ll give Godzilla: King of the Monsters a 4/5.