Godzilla 2014! Science Fiction Reality.

Godzilla 2014 Plus One

Yes, I realize it’s Wednesday and Writer Spider Street Fighter, and the day I blog about self-publishing a science fiction e-book or any fiction. But I did Gozilla at the IMax in 3D yesterday, and since I have been a huge Gozilla fan since the age of four; I couldn’t let today go by without saying this movie is well worth a look see—that is, if you too are a Gozilla fan like me.

Godzilla’s evolution is paramount and in the 2014 version we see a his characterization deepen, and we see him become more believable on camera. He finally got his roar back.Unlike the 1998 Gozilla, and the original 1954 Japanese monster, this Gozilla portrays a different type of character more like the Godzilla portrayed in later Godzilla movies—once a deadly force which humans must defeat and kill turned good guy. Modern allegory? Japan—once a foe now a friend—perhaps, some say. But whether the modern day theme is  conscious or subliminal, fans can trace the use of allegory back to the first Godzilla and the effects manmade weaponry, aka nukes, have on the environment and the creatures that inhabit. Godzilla 2014 goes with both the nuke and bad-boy vs good guy allegory, and presents it in a—hey, that makes sense—scenario. Well done, writers: Max Barenstein, screenplay, and David Callaham, story, and director Gareth Edwards.

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Muto co-stars with Godzilla and does a bang up job, literally. Is Muto (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism) a friend or foe? I won’t do a spoiler here, but it’s good. Really good. And if no one tells you ahead of time, a surprise. At least it was for me. I complained in Blog Post # 12, April 28, 2014 about no new monsters. I can now officially put that complaint to rest for a bit. I’ll go ahead and say it: Hollywood you proved me wrong.

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Aaron Taylor-Johnson, as Lt. Ford Brody, does a nice job. He doesn’t detract, but then neither does he add. He balances which is exactly what is needed when costarring with a legendary great such as Godzilla. I did laugh after counting over eight times the young, handsome lieutenant is rescued and/or missed the claws of death while all those around him perish.

The real hero, however—in my opinion—is played by Dee Jay Jackson. He is a bus driver and when he does what everyone in the audience is hoping he will do—against all odds. The audience clapped. True real life, believable heroism is portrayed. When an average Joe says to himself: There is a damn monster coming. We’re on a bridge in a school bus. I’ve got kids to save. To hell with the police barricades. There’s no dialogue. You just see it in his eyes and actions

Now, as much as I enjoyed Godzilla, there are some loop holes. The website HitFix http://www.hitfix.com/comedy/8-baffling-questions-godzilla-2014-refused-to-answer
does a funny job of asking eight baffling questions about the movie. (Spoilers here.) I read them. And laughed. And thought yes, true. But as I watched the movie, totally engrossed, those questions never entered my mind. But hey what’s a sequel for anyway? And there are rumors of a Guillermo del Toro Pacific Rim/Godzilla crossover. I’ll be there if it happens, how about you?