Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Ken Watanabe
Elizabeth Olsen
Juliette Binoche
Sally Hawkins
David Strathairn
Bryan Cranston

Max Borenstein

123 mins.
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
May 16, 2014

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of destruction, mayhem and creature violence. (MPAA)

The opening credits of “Godzilla” do a great job of setting the tone. They depict nuclear testing during the 1950s. As the film moves to 1999 and then to the present day, it keeps that old-fashioned sensibility. The look’s appropriately nostalgic, yet current. In a way, in regards to visual style, it fits in with the “Captain America” films: The camera shifts its angles constantly, and the 3D gives those angles depth.

Unfortunately, the script is paint-by-the-numbers with dialogue that doesn’t serve its actors. The cast is formidable, but the actors don’t have much to do or say. Anybody could have played these parts. The only thing that the cast may have contributed is a sense of clarity and focus that keeps “Godzilla” from coming across as silly. However, silliness may have injected some much needed energy into this film.

The setup’s OK, with Bryan Cranston doing most of the work. But if you want to spend time developing a backstory, then you better deliver characters that we can care about. I didn’t care about anyone here. If you can’t write compelling characters, just create a rollercoaster of a film. That would’ve worked just fine here, as it did in “Cloverfield.”

Aaron Taylor-Johnson is fine as the lead, but he’s never fully on-voice. As a result, he comes across as being on the verge of manhood, instead of actually being a man. He seems to be a bit of a lightweight.

Despite that, the best part of “Godzilla” is the monsters. Their effects are impressive, and the story line that explains their existence (a re-imagining of Godzilla’s origins) is more thoughtful and inventive than I thought it would be. That’s the only part of the script that worked for me: (Spoiler Alert!) Essentially, Godzilla is the god of primordial monsters that exist close to Earth’s core, where they absorb radiation in order to thrive. When the monsters get out of control in their pursuit of nuclear energy due to their drive to breed, Godzilla is the force that restores balance. So, Godzilla serves as a protector of the planet … I didn’t see that coming. (End of Spoiler Alert!)

The question is: Will the humans believe that theory when the scientists (played by Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins) tell them so? We don’t see the first monster, called a MUTO (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism), until about 40 minutes into the film. But once the monsters appear, they do provide a bit of a thrill.

However, ultimately, the thrills don’t add enough to “Godzilla” to pull it out of the commonplace. It’s a well-made and smartly paced film with a weak script that lacks a punch.

Verdict: OK to Somewhat Good

About: (Source: godzilla)

In Summer 2014, the world’s most revered monster is reborn as Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures unleash the epic action adventure “Godzilla.” From visionary new director Gareth Edwards (“Monsters”) comes a powerful story of human courage and reconciliation in the face of titanic forces of nature, when the awe-inspiring Godzilla rises to restore balance as humanity stands defenseless.