Gigantic monsters fighting it out with each other, using the city of San Fran as a battleground: that's the stuff we want from Godzilla. Fire, suspense, destruction and the thrill of the hunt (and being hunted) balance out the unconvincing emotional scenes, lack of character development and off pacing. Bryan Cranston (scientist-turned-conspiracy-theorist) is somewhat underused, Ken Watanabe's only expression is shock/disbelief as scientist Ishiro Serizawa, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (hero/family man) shows off muscular arms and a furrowed brow and that's about it. The real stars are the computer-generated Godzilla and MUTOs (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism) – who elicit more feelings than the human characters – as well as the tense, industrial-tinged score/sound design. The 3D aspect of the film is lacking, particularly when there is so much opportunity for things to come flying at you, although the point-of-view shots from characters' perspectives are often anxiety-inducing. Not one to add to the list of must-see monster films, but worth watching for its occasional moments of brilliance.
In cinemas
