Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Review

Godzilla: King Of The Monsters
Director: Michael Dougherty
Cast Headliners: Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Ken Watanabe, Godzilla, King Ghidorah, many more monsters this time
Original Release Date: May 31st, 2019



How does one follow up a movie as literally BIG as 2014's Godzilla? That movie proved that Americans can make something almost as fun and true to the spirit of the giant lizard as the Toho Japanese originals. It struggled through some of its mundane-ness and human element but the potential it poked at had promise for the future if done right. Godzilla: King Of The Monsters delivers on some of that promise especially where fans would want it to although it falls trap to some of the same flaws as well. However more of the same is a good thing when it involves the chaos at play.
The main human cast and premise has been partially swapped out this time. After a tragic loss in the past a family is separated between a hunter / nature animal behavior expert Dr. Mark Russell(Kyle Chandler) from an estranged(seems like this is always the case in these movies) from his wife Dr.Emma(Vera Farmiga) and daughter Madison(Millie Bobby Brown aka Elevan from Stranger Things making her big screen debut). They have ties to the kaiju creature/Titan shadowy but noble organization Monarch in the only returners Dr.Ishiro Serizawa(Ken Watanabe) and Dr.Vivienne Graham(Sally Hawkins) amongst others.  They face an awakening of not just one but many Godzilla sized beasts across the globe.
The noble side of humanity  is definitely a bit improved from the first although it definitely has its cheese and slow periods. There's much more Serizawa which is fine as Watanabe is always a delight. He takes more of a “Big Good leadership” role than ever and has even more wise lines getting into the frontline of action although it's at times limited. The other Monarch scientists don't quite land as well with Hawkins just having some exposition much like peers in  Dr.Ilene Chen(Zhang Ziyi), Colonel Diane Foster(Aisha Hints), and Admiral William Stenz(David Strathaim) all being generically serious. There's some attempted comic relief this time from Dr.Sam Coleman(Thomas Middleditch) and moreso Dr.Rick Stanton(Bradley Whitford) but some of it (perhaps purposefully) doesn't quite hit.
  The main Russell family is a bit better although nothing to write home about. Chandler's Mark sometimes goes for an unbearable whisper in his approach which is a bit odd but he has passion, intellect, and charm when he needs to even if generic although the “reluctant” aspect is enjoyable and nuanced. Bobby Brown may surprise one to hear if one is used to her past work as here she is a very spunky , talkative teenage girl with no accent or monotony but she's ok even if it's mainly being scared of what's going on around. Farmiga's role is.... a bit odd. She has an interesting connection to the events that happen that quickly goes for an “insane cultist” approach. It's sometimes hard to tell if the filmmakers wanted us to sympathize or hate her as there's not much benevolent aspects shown but it is certainly more flavorful than the past. 
This is what the movie is about... the MONSTERS. This took takes a bit more time than one wants to get going since before this it has some neat human vs evil human action ( a franchise staple usually moreso “Humanoids from space”). This is because the mercenary forces of  Alan Jonah(Charles Dance) seek to awaken the other Titans, like Godzilla, for a global cleanse. Dance gives a fearsome yet British-ily refined take although there's not enough of him or direct conflict as one would want as he like most of the human cast is confined to planning rooms / laboratories.  A great aspect of the film is that it fully embraces its outlandish world potential compared to the first. If the first was kind of realistic this one is not much at all. There's giant flying airships and underwater and icy antarctic bases. There's ruined jungle temples and underwater lost civilizations. Most of all however there is not giant lizards or bugs but ICONIC Titans of the source as so much more lore is present as a whole.
Yes what this movie is most effective at is bringing the classic Godzilla rogue's gallery into this universe.... a bit all at once. There's both the larval and flying form of the moth Mothra, the pterodactyl (although here more dragon-like) Rodan,  and the ultimate enemy of all the alien three-headed dragon King Ghidorah. There's even some momentary cameos but made up various giant octopuses, woolly mammoths, the first films MUTO, and a shoutout or two to the past King Kong(see him in 2020).  It truly is a Destroy All Monsters kind of event. Godzilla has him work cut out for him and certainly smashes some things along the way.
Credit should largely be given to director Michael Dougherty for his visual approach. There's some nice, beautiful wide shots as more of a dreamlike approach is taken to things to go along with the fantastical beasts. There's big crazy views of these beasts. The destruction is raised by the variety of what chaos they can chaos whether Mothra's silk or Rodan's fire melting soar(a twist on the classic). Ghidorah has just as powerful electric blasts as Godzilla as lasers . There's some intense music by Bear McCreary as well leading to some thrilling sequences. As with the best these monster vs monster clashes are reallly good.... when they do show up. As mentioned there's some long stretches without ANY monsters or parts without Godzilla but things escalate especially at the end when all parties are involved. Godzilla has some fearsome new powers and some apparent personality again so it's good to get a bit more but it's only a bit more. However the best is mostly worth it. Things can also seem a bit dark and monotone (With some mixed quality CGI especially on Ghidorah's heads although usually great) for visuals at times but then again it is more of a world-ending dark theme going on so it makes sense.
It's not a movie that will totally blow ones more especially if they aren't a bit of a true fan. However for those that are it brings the action, mostly, where one would want. Simple explosive destruction fun with some epic additives.  8.46 out of 10