Showing posts with label Ken Watanabe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ken Watanabe. Show all posts

Thursday, May 30, 2019

GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS



Release Date: Malaysia, 30 May 2019
Genre: Adventure
Running Length: 2:11
Cast: Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Ken Watanabe, Zhang Ziyi, Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, Thomas Middleditch, Aisha Hinds, O’Shea Jackson Jr.
Director: Michael Dougherty 
Screenplay: Michael Dougherty & Zach Shields 

GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS is a direct sequel to Gareth Edwards’ 2014 Godzilla. One of the major complaints from the fans back then was that it featured "too little Godzilla" and "not enough kaiju smackdown". That movie had a more dramatic approach as it centred around its characters. 

I guess the filmmakers took those feedback and boy, did they double-double down on the monsters. You gotta see it on the big screen to fully appreciate the spectacle and the visually stunning kaiju smackdown! There was a scene in the movie where I literally exclaimed, "YEAAAH!!!" when one of the monsters literally "power up" by chomping on some power grid.

It was like watching a WWE match.

"I've seen stranger things"

However on the flip side, when it came to its characters, boy oh boy, I really don't know what were the filmmakers thinking. I have no idea what's the purpose of the human beings in this movie except to give exposition. Everytime when the characters appear on the screen (usually in-between the monsters fight sequences), they are there telling each other stories on the legend of the gods (the kaiju). Mind you, whoever is explaining this usually has images magically ready on their monitors to help the other people in the room to visualize better what he/she is talking about. Yes, like a powerpoint presentation.

And the dialogue is JUST TERRIBLE. Who talks like this! And I really pity the actors involved in this movie as they are capable artist but unfortunately, they were dealt with a poor script. So when some of these characters die, I just couldn't care less.

And don't get me started with the baffling decisions these characters make throughout the movie! All in all, the plot is supposed to be simple but it turned out to be so convoluted. When I checked on IMDB who is this "Michael Dougherty" director, I was surprised to find out that he is primarily known for being a screenwriter. But yet, he could churn out such a garbage script! Makes me wanna scream!

"Hehe. That tickles!"

If there is one movie which did an excellent job in balancing the monsters and the human beings, it's the original Jurassic Park

That being said, if you're into seeing cities being torn apart and flattened as these god-sized monsters collide with one another (accompanied with a dramatic soundtrack) , you won't leave disappointed.

RATING: 6/10

Saturday, May 31, 2014

GODZILLA (2014)


Genre: Adventure
Running Length: 2:03
Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston, Juliette Binoche, Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, David Strathairn
Director: Gareth Edwards 

GODZILLA the movie clearly propagates an anti-nuclear message - play with fire and you will get burned. Godzilla is like the consequence of man's folly with power, a force of nature so unstoppable when it fights back, men can prepare all they can to execute search and rescue missions, but there's not a lot they can do to stop him. Two things I like about the movie's direction; (1) the movie offers a slow build-up and takes its time with the big reveal because when Godzilla finally appears in its full glory rampaging self, jaws will drop (Godzilla looks absolutely amazing and its deep "throaty" roar sent chills down my spine) and (2) although the movie is about Godzilla, the events that unfold are observed from the human perspective. But here is where the biggest problem lies - the human characters are absolutely wasted. I was totally not invested in them at all. I blame it on bad casting and perhaps a terrible script. The cast is so one-dimensional they barely exist (there were times when they became so dull I wish they were crushed by the monsters). Thankfully, the film makers nailed the last 30 minutes with the jump off the plane scene and the smackdown between Godzilla and other giant monsters.

Rating: 5.5/10