Americans, as I can attest, produce splendid blockbuster movies. When it comes to going to the cinema for enjoyment indulging in excessive action and visual spectacles, no one can rival Hollywood, which we often refer to as the gods of cinema. Their sole purpose is, indeed, just that: to entertain. When it comes to satiating the appetite for action, one of the best methods, in my opinion, is destruction. They seem to revel in the destruction of their cities, with skyscrapers stretching towards the heavens. Godzilla: King of the Monsters takes the concept of “destruction cinema” to new heights, offering the audience a colossal spectacle. So colossal that we are faced with the most enormous monsters in cinematic history.
In brief, let’s touch on the plot… After Godzilla and Kong, humans realize they are not the true rulers of the world and embark on a quest to find these colossal titans. They find most of them. Their goal is to keep them under control and ensure they remain dormant or, if they awaken, neutralize them. However, a group of eco-terrorists decides to awaken these dormant titans in order to reset the world. As each titan awakens, the situation becomes dire, and Godzilla, the big boss, takes the stage.
In recent years, the most famous theme is “mass destruction,” which is also prominent in Godzilla. The idea of sacrificing millions for the greater good of billions now forms the main plot of many films. However, Godzilla takes a different approach to this issue. In contrast to other films, the “villains” who seek massive destruction actually, due to a miscalculation, bring the entire world to the brink of destruction. The dangers of uninformed activism. Blockbuster stories are generally built on clichés, but Godzilla: King of the Monsters presents a well-thought-out storyline.
Of course, what makes the film truly magnificent are the ancient monsters and colossal action scenes. The 2014 Godzilla film directed by Gareth Edwards was a remarkable achievement. It was by far the best Godzilla adventure ever made. The second film surpasses the first. These types of films generally manage to satisfy the audience with visuals and action alone. However, when good direction is added to these elements, the enjoyment of the film is entirely different. Michael Dougherty successfully enhances the film’s watchability with brilliant direction.
As someone who has watched most of the Godzilla films, I am a fan of the colossal creatures and Godzilla’s adversaries. They did justice to Godzilla in the first film, creating a magnificent and invulnerable lizard. In the second film, they manage to repeat the same success, depicting the presence of Godzilla and all his adversaries splendidly. There isn’t a single name I can single out. Ghidorah, Rodan, Mothra… They are all so perfectly designed that I was mesmerized while watching. The grandeur of their battles, human involvement, and the designed actions are nothing short of breathtaking. Are there flaws? Of course, there are. But none of them are as significant as the 3D glasses they try to market so forcefully (!).
In conclusion… Godzilla: King of the Monsters delivers the expected grandiosity and endless destruction. With its stunning visuals and sound, the film is a work of art that will make everyone who goes to enjoy it leave the theater with a smile. When you add a bit of story and good direction to Hollywood’s forte in this kind of destruction action, an unforgettable work is created. I will surely open the Blu-Ray and watch it again and again once it’s out. Especially the scene where Rodan sweeps the city up in its “destruction” while flying gave me that feeling of devastation to the fullest.
Cast & Crew
director: Michael Dougherty
writers: Michael Dougherty, Max Borenstein, Zach Shields
starring: 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.
USA – CHINA – JAPAN | 2019 | 132 MINUTES |