The Big G gets a 90s make over in this thrilling roller coaster of FX. In this version, Godzilla is the result of French nulcear testing in the 50s. He is supposedly a mutated Iguana, and is well over two hundred feet tall.
The main plot revolves around Nick (Matthew Broderick), a Biologist/Nuclear Physicist who is researching the results of Radiation on animals. He is called in to investigate when Godzilla attakcs a Japanese Fishing boat.
Meanwhile, Nick's ex girlfriend is struggling in a dismal job as toadie to a smarmy anchorman. It seems she dumped him when he asked her to marry her in the films lame attempt at a love story. But hey, who cares about the little people? THis move ain't called Broderick; We are here to see the Big Guy turn up the heat!
There are many struggles by the script writers to keep Godzilla "realistic." He is not the invincible juggernaut of Japanese Kaiju films; He can be hurt, and used speed, agility, and cunning to defeat the army instead of brute strength.
Godzilla's special FX are nothing short of amazing; His sheer size is well displayed by some artful direction, and his much more reptillian appearance makes him all the more menacing. Instead of an atomic fire blast, he can create hurricane force winds with his roar.
BTW, he is a HE. Yes, the egg laying thing is a big part of the plot, but he produces the eggs asexually.
Godzilla dwells little on the human side of the drama, which is good since it basically sucks. The producers probably knew this, so there are many, many jabs a Film Critics Siskel and Ebert. Doesn't excuse the thin plot, though.
Kudos do go to the Professional, (forgot his name.) who plays a French Secret Agent. He is the only well developed character in the movie, and his screen time is among the shortest.
All in all, I have to say that Godzilla is a great, entertaining movie, but not for the human actors; For all of the city stomping anctics of the Big G. The movie screams for sequal; How about a rematch with King Kong? Hey, it could happen...
******** of Ten .
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