Godzilla (2014) In a time when studios believe more is more, I'm especially fond of the restraint Gareth Edwards brings to this Summer blockbuster about fighting dinosaurs. There's as much careless destruction here as in Man of Steel, but Edwards doesn't treat crumbling buildings like fireworks, and he pushes himself to come up with creative ways to film the action. The running time feels right and I'm left anticipating Godzilla's return, not dreading its inevitability.
I warned my wife about Aaron Taylor-Johnson, but she was watching for Godzilla anyways. Him and Bryan Cranston, who reminds her of Jack Lemmon. There's a similar delivery style and an unmistakable joy in their work. She scoffed whenever the military tried to take action against the creatures and laughed out loud when a MUTO bears down on ATJ and he pulls out a pistol. Considering how long it takes to get to Godzilla, she was never bored, and his introduction - which also builds anticipation really well - was very effective. "These things always turn into a wrestling match eventually", but she liked how it wasn't just that for 45 minutes (like the climax of The Incredible Hulk.)
MY RATING: * * *
Mrs. 1SO: * * * - moments of scariness
I thought this was a stretch for a Shocktober selection, but there are a couple of nice jump scares, some spooky shots of MUTO's rising out of the darkness and a freaky scene on a train bridge.