FILM REVIEW – ‘GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS’ (2019)

Set five years following the events of Godzilla (2014), the world finds itself in rebuilding mode, trying to adjust to life in the wake of the discovery that monsters are real. The Monarch task force has set up various outposts all over the globe trying to monitor and control the stasis of these sleeping giants, while the governments of the world debate on what to do with them. Meanwhile, Dr. Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga of Bates Motel and The Conjuring franchise) has developed a special device known as the ORCA which can emulate the special sonic signatures to communicate with these Kaijus. Just when they have finally perfected the device, an eco-terrorist group led by an ex-military colonel and MI6 agent Alan Jonah (Charles Dance of Game of Thrones) attacks the compound, kidnaps Dr. Russell and her daughter Madison (Millie Bobby Brown of Stranger Things) and obtains the device in a plan to awaken all of them and destroy most of humanity and civilization.

Meanwhile, the agents of Monarch track down Dr. Mark Russell (Kyle Chandler of Friday Night Lights) Emma Russell’s ex husband and Madison’s father – a former Monarch agent who helped initially develop the ORCA device in an effort to track down his ex-wife and daughter, and rescue both them and the world from the sinister plans of Alan Jonah and his band of terrorists.

Among these recently awakened creatures is a Kaiju they’re calling Monster Zero, a strange and immensely powerful monster from another world, who seeks out to exact dominance over Earth… a planet that currently is dominated by Godzilla. From there we begin a veritable Royal Rumble of Kaiju fights, with Godzilla and Monster Zero at the forefront alongside such favorites as Mothra, Rhodan, and many others in a battle for Earth, or whatever may be left of it. Who wins? Who loses? Who will survive? And what will be left of the blue planet following the Great War of Kaijus? Well, you’ll just have to watch for yourselves and see!

Now, if you’re going into a Godzilla movie expecting some deep, intricate plot of intrigue and drama focusing on some profound statement about the human condition, or some kind of political message shoehorned in there for good measure, you will most definitely be disappointed. This movie, quite frankly, isn’t meant for you. That said, if you’re looking for “KaijuMania” an insane, action-packed super smackdown of giant monsters fighting huge battles and destroying all sorts of things all around you then this is exactly the kind of movie you’ll love, and yes, this movie IS most definitely made for you!

Is it scientifically accurate? Of course not. Is it more about the human drama? Most definitely not. Is it just a giant festival of giant monster fighting and badass special effects courtesy of overpowered godlike beings? Absolutely! And most importantly, is it fun? You’re damn right! Make no mistake, this movie is 100% for fans of Kaiju monsters, Godzilla, and the like, and this movie makes zero bones about it. It kicks into high gear early, never lets off the gas, and gives audiences more loud, adrenaline-fueled, action-packed insanity than even our favorite mega lizard could probably digest in one sitting. At the end of the day, this is a movie about a giant, radioactive nuclear sea lizard fighting a giant electric space dragon… so really, what do you want here? Just strap in, grab the popcorn, and enjoy one hell of a fun ride!

The Bottom Line:
Overall, Godzilla: King of the Monsters is everything you could ever want out of a Godzilla movie. It’s all killer, no filler. It doesn’t waste a bunch of time on the human drama, spits acid in the faces of the critics that clamor for this sort of thing, and makes it all about the action, violence, and fun that its fans asked for the last time. Again, it’s a giant nuclear sea lizard fighting a giant electric space dragon. If you were looking for this to be some sort of high brow politically-charged thinkpiece art film, you’re in the wrong place. But if you want nothing more than exactly what was advertised: a fun, nonstop battle royal of Kaiju monster fighting and a ton of explosions and destruction, you’re definitely in the right one. Hail to the king, baby! – 9.0/10