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Godzilla, Godzilla King of the Monster, Godzilla King of the Monsters Film Review, Godzilla King of the Monsters Movie Review, Godzilla King of the Monsters review
Godzilla King of the Monsters
Review by Paul Bowler.
The monster mayhem abounds on an epic scale in Godzilla King of the Monsters! After their previous encounter with Godzilla the ultra secret Monarch organization has continued its research into the ancient Titans. Now eco-terrorists are determined to awaken these sleeping beasts. Soon Mothra, Rodan and the terrifying three-headed Ghidorah are unleashed and Monarch must seek out Godzilla once more to save the world!
Set some five years after Gareth Edwards’ Godzilla (2014), Godzilla King of the Monsters, directed by Michael Dougherty, and written by Michael Dougherty and Zach Shields (story by Max Borenstein, Michael Dougherty, and Zach Shields), is the latest instalment of the Warner Bros / Legendary Pictures’ Monsterverse film series
Featuring a strong cast Godzilla King of the Monsters fast-paced script introduces Monarch scientist Dr Emma Russell (Emma Farmiga) and her daughter Madison (Stranger Things’ brilliant Millie Bobby Brown) as they witness the hatching of the giant moth creature Mothra. Using a device called the ORCA, which emits signals that can influence a Titans behaviour; they are able to calm Mothra. But Emma and her daughter are then captured by a group of eco-terrorists, led by Alan Jonah (played with a suitably villainous flair by Game of Thrones star Charles Dance), who intend to use the ORCA to awaken the Titans to further their own agenda.
The Monarch scientists and soldiers, who include Chief Warrant Officer Jackson Barnes (O’Shea Jackson Jr), with Ziyi Zhang as Dr Ilene Chen and Dr Ling, Bradley Whitford as Dr Rick Stanton, Colonel Diane Foster (Aisha Hinds), and a returning Dr Serizawa (Ken Watanabe) and Dr Vivienne Graham (Sally Hawkins) from 2014‘s Godzilla, seek out Emma’s ex husband, Dr Mark Russell (Kyle Candler) – who created the ORCA with his wife – to help them in their search for Emma and Madison. Of course their quest also involves tracking down Godzilla as well, but when Ghidorah is revived all hell breaks loose, and the epic battle of the monsters which follows quickly spills out across the entire world as Godzilla roars into action!
Sure the script is a bit flimsy in places. Indeed, the characterization is even flimsier at times, but at its core Godzilla King of the Monsters is still monstrously good fun. However, the broken family unit of Emma, Mark and Madison (having been ripped apart by a terrible tragedy) are cleverly placed front and centre as the plot unfolds, and they offer a much need focal point amidst all the monster action, sci-fi jargon, clunky humour, and military gung-ho bravado.
Needless to say despite some of the scripts weaknesses, it’s the monsters were here for right? Well, as a big Godzilla fan that’s what I sure as hell was looking forward to, and I’m happy to say that in this respect Godzilla King of the Monsters delivered on ever level. The kaiju action is spectacular! Godzilla is especially impressive and powerful, Mothra looks beautiful, Rodan is as savage as hell, and the three-headed Ghidorah is a magnificent spectacle to behold. The CGI battle sequences are well orchestrated, we get right into the heart of the action, and the final showdown will simply blow you away!
With its spectacular effects, fantastic monster battles, and thrilling action Godzilla King of the Monsters left this Godzilla fan feeling very happy indeed. While it’s not without its faults, as Hollywood remakes go Godzilla King of the Monsters eclipses its predecessors, and delivers the monster action with breathtaking style.
