Just got back from seeing Godzilla...
...and holy shit, it's awesome. Seriously disturbing in parts, but freaking awesome.
Trailers I Got:
22 Jump Street: Looks really good, and fucking hilarious.
The Expendables 3: Have been getting this one a lot. Needless to say, it looks great.
Interstellar: The new Christopher Nolan movie. The trailer looks really sad and even kinda dark, but nonetheless, it looks wonderful. I can't wait to see it.
The Rover: Really cool. Really dark, but really cool. Can't wait to see it.
Lucy: Definitely looks awesome.
Into the Storm: Looks scary as shit, but awesome.
The theater experience:
Believe it or not, I saw it on opening weekend in my town (and my dad and I also drove to a different theater to see it because we were kind of sick and tired of the uncomfortable seats, which actually kind of screwed up my back when I got back from seeing Captain America 2 and Amazing Spider-Man 2. Also known as why my mom won't go to theaters. Well, one of many reasons), so it was pretty packed; some people were actually coming in during the movie. There was also someone who brought their baby along; I mean, the baby wasn't crying too much, but it seemed to be fussing a lot during the movie. (I think that's my first experience in a movie theater where someone decided to bring their baby) And there were two guys behind me and my dad sort of riffing the movie, which was mostly really irritating, although there were some funny comments of theirs, like "Where's King Kong when you need him?" (Mostly when shit was getting fucked up thanks to the monsters fighting in the city) My dad and I would have moved, but it was actually pretty packed in there; I mean, not only was it opening weekend, but it's one of the most anticipated movies of the year. (Heaven help me when I see the Guardians of the Galaxy movie; there'll probably be like a million people there! /semi-kidding) I had a pretty good time, even if some of those factors did get annoying, especially considering that the movie really kept me hooked.
The movie itself:
I admit, I'm not really familiar with the Godzilla movies (I have a feeling I should watch some of them); hell, the most I'm familiar with is just pop culture. So I basically decided to see the new movie to remedy this; that and the trailer looked freaking awesome. And it definitely delivered. For starters, the monsters look incredible, especially Godzilla -- I mean, he looked just badass. And the other monsters just looked great, like the winged creature and the creature that kind of looked like a spider. That and the sound design for them, like the sounds they made, Godzilla's roar, etc. Seriously, whoever worked on the effects and the sound design should definitely get an award for this; I mean, it looks incredible. That and the scenes of them fighting in the city -- yeah, it can occasionally get disturbing and really scary, like the tidal waves and cities getting destroyed, but I think it's a pretty realistic portrayal of what would happen when these three guys decide to go head-to-head. That and focusing on the stuff like evacuations, hospital work, military work -- I really liked those touches; it really did make it feel more realistic. And scenes like Elizabeth Olsen's character (she's really good in this. Hell, in general, the acting is just really damn good) worrying about whether or not her husband's okay, and the guy, Ford (I think that's his name, really) in turn worrying about his wife and his kid and whether or not she's okay. As well as the Admiral in the movie talking with Dr. Serizawa (Ken Watanabe's character, who also kicked ass in this. I already loved Ken Watanabe in Inception, but he really did a great job in this. And I liked how they kind of used him -- as well as his group -- to sort of give information on the monsters without having it feel clunky) -- Dr. Serizawa believes that Godzilla can save the day (which he ultimately does, in the end. In an odd way) while the Admiral mostly wants to make sure everyone else is all right. And I like how they played that scene, with it really just being two fundamentally well-intentioned individuals trying to do what they think is right. That and it's the set-up for a really poignant moment, when Dr. Serizawa reveals that he's a Hiroshima survivor. It's very understated, comes after the Admiral's arguing with the doctor, and it really does feel like a punch to the gut. It's an emotional scene that works really well.
Actually, surprisingly enough, there's a lot of really emotional, really sad scenes. Stuff like the beginning when the radiation leak happens and Ford's mother ends up dying (I think it's when Ford's dad has to close the door so the leak doesn't escape and she's trapped in there that was really...honestly really cruel, actually) as well as little Ford watching the buildings collapsing (it helps that the child actor for Ford is really, really good. Just able to get across that feeling of devastation, and basically realizing his life as he's known it has ended, without even saying a word). That and later, when Joe, the dad, is arrested, yelling at the people in the interrogation room and accusing them of a coverup (which, he's right, and the people involved actually have their reasons for it) and his voice starts cracking as he talks about what happened to his wife -- Bryan Cranston, who played the dad, was amazing in that scene. Not to mention his later death -- I think it's Ford's reaction that's heartbreaking, as well as Joe telling him to go spend time with his family (which, of course, takes a long while before it actually happens). And one of the soldiers on Ford's team praying before they head down for their mission -- I found that touch really moving. That and the boy who Ford bonds with who got separated from his parents -- I think it's just him freaking out and calling their names that was really heartbreaking. But I loved Ford bonding with him and trying to keep him safe; I just found that sweet, and one of those things that really got me to like Ford a lot. I mean, that's what you've gotta do in a crisis, really. Look out for the little guys and make sure they're okay. And I loved him reuniting with his parents; that was really adorable and sweet.
Not to mention even some scenes with the Mutos, such as when they meet in the city, and keep in mind, the film's built them up as pretty destructive creatures, and yet there's kind of an unexpected moment of tenderness when the winged creature presents the spider-like creature the nuclear warhead he managed to retrieve, and they kind of start nuzzling. Takes on a bit of "Oh Crap" when the Admiral says the warhead might endanger some of the citizens, and yet...well, in that moment, it really provides an additional dimension to them other than just being monsters. And it's very well-done.
And even some scenes with Godzilla, such as when...well, I dunno if I would call it sad, but I did feel a bit sorry for him during some of his fights with the monsters, like when he became exhausted -- he just seems really pitiable during those moments. And near the end when it looks like he's dead -- though of course he isn't. One does not simply kill off Godzilla. XD But yeah, there were some pretty emotional moments during the movie. I honestly didn't expect that.
That and some pretty disturbing scenes. I know the opening when the scientists are in that sort of...I really have no clue what that was, but the scene was set up really well in terms of being really suspenseful. It felt very small and confined (I'm not necessarily claustrophobic, but I definitely felt myself tensing up during that scene), dark, and there was this pervading feeling of oh-shit-what's-going-to-happen. That and the reveal of the monsters. Hell, most of when Ford meets up with his dad, besides some father-son dynamics done really well, is just sort of figuring out what the fuck's going on. It's sort of the process of putting the pieces together that sort of got me tense, even though I knew what was going to happen, to know what would happen. Then there's the monsters' entrances, with the winged thing emerging while things in the base are going haywire, as well as the revelation of the spider-like thing. And Godzilla's entrance. I think it helped that in the opening footage, you really just saw his spikes, which gave a real feeling of menace, as well as when he actually enters when the tsunamis start rolling in. Doesn't help that Godzilla's freaking huge -- I mean, he's sort of the size of several skyscrapers. Not to mention the scenes like the soldiers trying to avoid the spider-like thing while it's skulking below, and when it looks like it's going to kill Ford (before Godzilla intervenes).
And stuff like the power outages.
Then there's some really funny moments (which actually work and don't get in the way of the film's tone), like the news report on TV with Ford's son (who's adorable) saying, "Look, Mommy, a dinosaur!" when Godzilla shows up. (Yeah, close, but no cigar) And a soldier saying to Ford when they're heading off to fight "So we're basically monster hunters now." (Basically) And some awesome moments in there, like Godzilla basically breathing fire, as well as a lot of military action, and just seeing Godzilla sort of duck under sea barriers and whatnot. And the end, when he's honored as a hero and leaves for the ocean -- there's definitely a sort of poignancy to it, and yet it leaves the viewer feeling satisfied and even really happy. That, IMHO, is how you write a great ending.
Honestly, it was a fantastic movie. Definitely harrowing at times, but fantastic.
So overall? Definitely go see it. It is fucking awesome.
Trailers I Got:
22 Jump Street: Looks really good, and fucking hilarious.
The Expendables 3: Have been getting this one a lot. Needless to say, it looks great.
Interstellar: The new Christopher Nolan movie. The trailer looks really sad and even kinda dark, but nonetheless, it looks wonderful. I can't wait to see it.
The Rover: Really cool. Really dark, but really cool. Can't wait to see it.
Lucy: Definitely looks awesome.
Into the Storm: Looks scary as shit, but awesome.
The theater experience:
Believe it or not, I saw it on opening weekend in my town (and my dad and I also drove to a different theater to see it because we were kind of sick and tired of the uncomfortable seats, which actually kind of screwed up my back when I got back from seeing Captain America 2 and Amazing Spider-Man 2. Also known as why my mom won't go to theaters. Well, one of many reasons), so it was pretty packed; some people were actually coming in during the movie. There was also someone who brought their baby along; I mean, the baby wasn't crying too much, but it seemed to be fussing a lot during the movie. (I think that's my first experience in a movie theater where someone decided to bring their baby) And there were two guys behind me and my dad sort of riffing the movie, which was mostly really irritating, although there were some funny comments of theirs, like "Where's King Kong when you need him?" (Mostly when shit was getting fucked up thanks to the monsters fighting in the city) My dad and I would have moved, but it was actually pretty packed in there; I mean, not only was it opening weekend, but it's one of the most anticipated movies of the year. (Heaven help me when I see the Guardians of the Galaxy movie; there'll probably be like a million people there! /semi-kidding) I had a pretty good time, even if some of those factors did get annoying, especially considering that the movie really kept me hooked.
The movie itself:
I admit, I'm not really familiar with the Godzilla movies (I have a feeling I should watch some of them); hell, the most I'm familiar with is just pop culture. So I basically decided to see the new movie to remedy this; that and the trailer looked freaking awesome. And it definitely delivered. For starters, the monsters look incredible, especially Godzilla -- I mean, he looked just badass. And the other monsters just looked great, like the winged creature and the creature that kind of looked like a spider. That and the sound design for them, like the sounds they made, Godzilla's roar, etc. Seriously, whoever worked on the effects and the sound design should definitely get an award for this; I mean, it looks incredible. That and the scenes of them fighting in the city -- yeah, it can occasionally get disturbing and really scary, like the tidal waves and cities getting destroyed, but I think it's a pretty realistic portrayal of what would happen when these three guys decide to go head-to-head. That and focusing on the stuff like evacuations, hospital work, military work -- I really liked those touches; it really did make it feel more realistic. And scenes like Elizabeth Olsen's character (she's really good in this. Hell, in general, the acting is just really damn good) worrying about whether or not her husband's okay, and the guy, Ford (I think that's his name, really) in turn worrying about his wife and his kid and whether or not she's okay. As well as the Admiral in the movie talking with Dr. Serizawa (Ken Watanabe's character, who also kicked ass in this. I already loved Ken Watanabe in Inception, but he really did a great job in this. And I liked how they kind of used him -- as well as his group -- to sort of give information on the monsters without having it feel clunky) -- Dr. Serizawa believes that Godzilla can save the day (which he ultimately does, in the end. In an odd way) while the Admiral mostly wants to make sure everyone else is all right. And I like how they played that scene, with it really just being two fundamentally well-intentioned individuals trying to do what they think is right. That and it's the set-up for a really poignant moment, when Dr. Serizawa reveals that he's a Hiroshima survivor. It's very understated, comes after the Admiral's arguing with the doctor, and it really does feel like a punch to the gut. It's an emotional scene that works really well.
Actually, surprisingly enough, there's a lot of really emotional, really sad scenes. Stuff like the beginning when the radiation leak happens and Ford's mother ends up dying (I think it's when Ford's dad has to close the door so the leak doesn't escape and she's trapped in there that was really...honestly really cruel, actually) as well as little Ford watching the buildings collapsing (it helps that the child actor for Ford is really, really good. Just able to get across that feeling of devastation, and basically realizing his life as he's known it has ended, without even saying a word). That and later, when Joe, the dad, is arrested, yelling at the people in the interrogation room and accusing them of a coverup (which, he's right, and the people involved actually have their reasons for it) and his voice starts cracking as he talks about what happened to his wife -- Bryan Cranston, who played the dad, was amazing in that scene. Not to mention his later death -- I think it's Ford's reaction that's heartbreaking, as well as Joe telling him to go spend time with his family (which, of course, takes a long while before it actually happens). And one of the soldiers on Ford's team praying before they head down for their mission -- I found that touch really moving. That and the boy who Ford bonds with who got separated from his parents -- I think it's just him freaking out and calling their names that was really heartbreaking. But I loved Ford bonding with him and trying to keep him safe; I just found that sweet, and one of those things that really got me to like Ford a lot. I mean, that's what you've gotta do in a crisis, really. Look out for the little guys and make sure they're okay. And I loved him reuniting with his parents; that was really adorable and sweet.
Not to mention even some scenes with the Mutos, such as when they meet in the city, and keep in mind, the film's built them up as pretty destructive creatures, and yet there's kind of an unexpected moment of tenderness when the winged creature presents the spider-like creature the nuclear warhead he managed to retrieve, and they kind of start nuzzling. Takes on a bit of "Oh Crap" when the Admiral says the warhead might endanger some of the citizens, and yet...well, in that moment, it really provides an additional dimension to them other than just being monsters. And it's very well-done.
And even some scenes with Godzilla, such as when...well, I dunno if I would call it sad, but I did feel a bit sorry for him during some of his fights with the monsters, like when he became exhausted -- he just seems really pitiable during those moments. And near the end when it looks like he's dead -- though of course he isn't. One does not simply kill off Godzilla. XD But yeah, there were some pretty emotional moments during the movie. I honestly didn't expect that.
That and some pretty disturbing scenes. I know the opening when the scientists are in that sort of...I really have no clue what that was, but the scene was set up really well in terms of being really suspenseful. It felt very small and confined (I'm not necessarily claustrophobic, but I definitely felt myself tensing up during that scene), dark, and there was this pervading feeling of oh-shit-what's-going-to-happen. That and the reveal of the monsters. Hell, most of when Ford meets up with his dad, besides some father-son dynamics done really well, is just sort of figuring out what the fuck's going on. It's sort of the process of putting the pieces together that sort of got me tense, even though I knew what was going to happen, to know what would happen. Then there's the monsters' entrances, with the winged thing emerging while things in the base are going haywire, as well as the revelation of the spider-like thing. And Godzilla's entrance. I think it helped that in the opening footage, you really just saw his spikes, which gave a real feeling of menace, as well as when he actually enters when the tsunamis start rolling in. Doesn't help that Godzilla's freaking huge -- I mean, he's sort of the size of several skyscrapers. Not to mention the scenes like the soldiers trying to avoid the spider-like thing while it's skulking below, and when it looks like it's going to kill Ford (before Godzilla intervenes).
And stuff like the power outages.
Then there's some really funny moments (which actually work and don't get in the way of the film's tone), like the news report on TV with Ford's son (who's adorable) saying, "Look, Mommy, a dinosaur!" when Godzilla shows up. (Yeah, close, but no cigar) And a soldier saying to Ford when they're heading off to fight "So we're basically monster hunters now." (Basically) And some awesome moments in there, like Godzilla basically breathing fire, as well as a lot of military action, and just seeing Godzilla sort of duck under sea barriers and whatnot. And the end, when he's honored as a hero and leaves for the ocean -- there's definitely a sort of poignancy to it, and yet it leaves the viewer feeling satisfied and even really happy. That, IMHO, is how you write a great ending.
Honestly, it was a fantastic movie. Definitely harrowing at times, but fantastic.
So overall? Definitely go see it. It is fucking awesome.