REVIEW: Godzilla By Luke Buckmaster (bucky@alphalink.com.au)
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Hank Azaria, Maria Pitillo, Kevin Dunn, Michael Lerner, Harry Shearer, Arabella Field Director: Roland Emmerich
Director: Roland Emmerich
Australian release date: June 11, 1998
>From 0 stars (bomb), to 5 stars (a masterpiece): 2 stars
For those of you who thought that the Titanic had appeared a little too many times on film, get this: there have been over twenty motion pictures featuring Godzilla in some way or another. These include the big lizard appearing with "the giant moth," King Kong, "Space Godzilla," the "Bionic Monster," and (would you believe) Bambi.
The 90's equivalent from this massive Japanese market, which put the country on the map for international films, is a remake of the 1954 hit Gojira (or as we know it, Godzilla: King of the Monsters). Not unpredictably, it's what we've come to expect from mainstream remakes: state of the art special effects, and cinematography that leaves the original for dead. But whereas the original film was a revelation for its time - pushing the realms of classic cinema to produce something that no one had seen before - the new version looks strangely recycled, bringing more than just elements of Jurassic Park and The Lost World back to the big screen.
For reasons none too clear to me, a giant lizard somehow emerges from French Polynesia to destroy a large Japanese fishing vessel. It goes on to create havoc on other fishermen until it finds its way to land - the city that never sleeps. Whilst this is occurring we are hastily introduced to Dr. Niko "the worm guy" Tatopoulos (Mathew Broderick), and a team of lets-not-kill-it-too-soon-because-that-wouldn't-make-a-good-movie experts.
They have a little trouble - well, maybe more than a little - destroying the beast that is turning New York into rubble. From setting traps to searching the subways, Godzilla is not an easy fella (or sheila, in all fairness) to bring down. One soldier wisely points out that they "need bigger guns."
Having an estimated budget of US one hundred and sixty million dollars, the film is a spectacle to watch. Cinematographer Ueli Steiger captures the urban streets of New York quite well, and it rains for most its duration because, darn it, it just looks more exciting that way. But that's it for Godzilla - just looks - there is no depth, no point and no emotion attached to this cold serving of banged up lizard.
Saving Godzilla from total failure are the moments with Jean Reno (whom you may remember as "Krieger" from Mission: Impossible) playing a French secret service agent; with motives that are not clearly defined yet intriguing none the less. He orchestrates some well-timed send-ups of the "American way of life" with hilarious results; he's a strong actor who gives an equally strong performance. In fact, it's interesting to note that most of the laughs come from Reno, surprisingly leaving Harry Shearer (famous for his many voices in "The Simpsons") looking bland and predictable as a conniving journalist. I found this disappointing, because Shearer is such a naturally funny man who, when given the chance, might just be able to work as well as some of his more famous characters, like Monty Burns and Ned Flanders (both hilarious and legendary in their own deranged way).
Roland Emmerich's (the film's director) other recent blockbuster (remember a little film named Independence Day?) and now this indicates a belief that the public want large budgeted, special effects bonanza motion pictures. Whilst he may be right to some extent (as these two films have scored massively in the box office), can't Emmerich ever consider that perhaps people also want intelligently written, appealing scripts? Probably not, since many Godzilla posters have the words "Size Does Matter" printed in big bold letters. But forget that - its plot that really Does Matter.
If you simply must see Godzilla to get a whiff of possibly one of this year's biggest films, watch out for the thrilling helicopter chase scenes and the final confrontation on top of the Brooklyn Bridge. But if you take my advice - and I highly suggest you do - wait till Godzilla is released on video, so you can fast forward through all of the failed sub plots and the unnecessarily large chunk of the film devoted to a ridiculous scenario in Madison Square Garden. Even this holidays' other Sci Fi disappointment, Deep Impact, will prove to be vaguely more satisfying.
Review © copyright Luke Buckmaster
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bucky@alphalink.com.au
"How ironic - my crusade against television has come to an end so formulaic it could have spewed from the power book of the laziest Hollywood hack." --Sideshow Bob
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