Geek of Oz

Thanks to a superbly executed marketing campaign, Gareth Edwards’s Godzilla was one of my most anticipated blockbusters this year. The film’s initial trailer showcased the standout set piece of the film: the soldiers skydiving into what looked like a desolated city with that unmistakable droning score from 2001: A Space Odyssey. It was simply breathtaking. This is possibly where it all started going wrong: the trailer set a tone which was sadly at odds with the final product. However, I was a fan of this film upon first watch and feel like I’ve been defending it ever since. I’ll be the first to admit that it’s got its fair share of issues, but with Godzilla hitting stores and VOD services this week, it was a good chance to revisit the film to see how those issues played out on a second viewing. Ryan summed up Godzilla quite eloquently in his review upon its theatrical release, and I don’t cavil with much of what he said. Just recently, I caught Gareth Edwards’s Monsters (201...

Monsters don't get much bigger than Godzilla, both literally and figuratively. The anticipation surrounding the latest incarnation of the King of Monsters has been palpable; Godzilla + Kick Ass + Heisenberg = unbridled awesomeness. Unfortunately, Hollywood doesn't often subscribe to the science of math and Godzilla is case in point. Granted, this film is leagues beyond what we were left with from 1998's train wreck of a film, but still didn't live up to my own lofty expectations. That said, I guess I have no one to blame but myself for that one. Glaring plot holes and lengthy exposition fuel what could have either been an all out, balls to the wall kaiju slugfest or a more subtle yet still ultimately terrifying creature flick like Gareth Edwards previous jaunt, Monsters. Unfortunately, only Brian Cranston seems to deliver his A game. The great hunk'a'spunk, Aaron Taylor-Johnson certainly looked the part but never really seemed emotionally invested i...