Godzilla Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Godzilla Blu-ray Movie Review

Beautiful chaos.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 10, 2014

When it comes to sheer volume of films and cultural infusion, precious few characters can claim a legacy as long, as storied, as cherished as the creature for which the Godzilla franchise is named. The numerous James Bond pictures certainly come to mind as another entrant for the short list of lengthy screen resumés, but suffice it to say Japan's favorite kaiju runs rampant in entertainment circles; just plug "Godzilla" into the Blu-ray.com movie search bar above and be amazed at the mass. With that in mind, could another Godzilla movie really bring anything new to the table? Can any new entry stand part from the crowded field, at least beyond the spotlight it enjoys with its release, withstanding the test of time and climbing the heap of Godzilla movie experiences to become something of a classic in its genre? Hollywood's 2014 take on the franchise has a few things going for it to nudge it in that direction. First, of course, are budget and year of production. A huge movie made for modern audiences with not a rubbery outfit or obvious miniature in sight, the film could potentially redefine the franchise well beyond the Americanized take on the monster as seen in Director Roland Emmerich's entertaining but largely unfaithful 1998 film of the same name. Next, it could embody the franchise's essence with a more accurate re-imagining of the classic Godzilla structure, only with, again, a more energized, modernized façade. Finally, with the marketing muscle of a major studio behind it, the film could re-introduce large swaths of audiences to one of the world's most beloved franchises that, for better or worse, may not be much more than a blip on Western radars due to "barriers" such as age and language. Yet it's that need to remain true to a core style that seems most important in any big Western take on one of the East's most cherished cinematic treasures. Does Godzilla, then, succeed through the noise and chaos?

Emergence.

Godzilla represents a not-so-classic case of "in with the old, in with the new." Director Gareth Edwards' (Monsters) film lovingly hearkens back to the core essence of the classic franchise films but does so on a bigger scale and with a more immersive style than ever before. The story dates back to the creature's rightful origins in the dawn of the nuclear age but largely brushes aside Japanese canon in favor of constructing a new, linear story from then to now. This is arguably the most hardcore Godzilla film in existence, not because of the massive destruction but because of the blend of graceful cinema and technological advancement that provides a truly franchise-defining sense of chaos and scale never before experienced in a Godzilla film. It's all of the classic sensibilities made exceptional by progress, resulting in a film that blends the classic Summer blockbuster style with a knowledgeable, passionate approach that commands the screen for every minute of its two-hour runtime.

The movie, then, is really everything the audience expects and, perhaps, a lot that it doesn't expect. If one's exposure to Godzilla comes from the 1998 American film and maybe bits and pieces of the Japanese films on cable TV, viewers might be in for a shock considering the intimacy with which the film is made and the steadiness and scale and awe-inspiring visuals and serious tone that greet them, particularly throughout the mesmerizing second half of total chaos across the Pacific and the Western United States, all converging on the helpless San Francisco/Oakland bay area. This film leaves behind the fun and boisterous and moderately comedic Emmerich take (there are no overt jabs at film critics or obvious comic relief characters or any real moments of levity, for that matter) for a decidedly serious approach that's not just a matter of tone and pace but also of mood, photography, and visual effects. Even as the film wallows in a somewhat mediocre story that predictably centers on a family separated by disaster, it builds up a palpable intensity through the first half that absolutely explodes in the second, even if the action is often seen from "perspective" shots, such as through a school bus window, by way of a closing door, via the eyes of a parachutist, or back in the distance as monsters almost silently fight it out while other actions involving human characters play out in the foreground. The film's photography is its most startlingly wonderful asset. It pulls the audience in so deep -- even if the action is sometimes so far -- that the sense of intimate peril is never escaped until the credits run.

Indeed, the scope and scale of destruction is massive, but not implausibly massive. The film never shows chaos and destruction for the sake of throwing more action on the screen. Instead, it's all a natural progression from one moment to the next. The environment succumbs to the monsters' power very tangibly, very believably, bringing a whole new sense of chaos to the screen that even the best of the recent Disaster films have never quite before realized, not in 2012, not in Cloverfield, not in anything. The film does stumble over itself a few times with a somewhat overlong open that's crucial to the story but slows down considering the sense of inevitability that builds around it. The graceful action and destruction that does come makes the wait well worth it, even as the film further drowns around the edges with a dull lead character and predictable family separation events meant to add more drama to madness that stands well enough on its own. Still, despite a few hiccups, this is a tremendous film, one that's even better made than it is purely entertaining, and suffice it to say, it's a blast.

Godzilla Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Godzilla demands to be seen on a huge screen. Even as the Blu-ray looks incredible, viewers might walk away disappointed if only for having experienced it on a smaller home display rather than the larger canvas a proper theater can provide. Still, home theater will have to suffice, and Warner Brothers' 1080p transfer is up to the task of delivering the film as accurately as possible. The film's first act serves as its brighter half in which colors appear naturally robust and details sharp and accurate. Facial textures, clothing seams, and general backgrounds -- whether foliage or manmade structures -- enjoy a natural, tactile texturing that shows a lot of vitality and complexity, even considering the digital photography source. As the film transitions towards its second half, it becomes increasingly dark to the point that levels of black and small hints of light sources, such as flares or gunfire or explosions, become crucial in maintaining image visibility, particularly when things go totally dark under the influence of an EMP (ElectroMagnetic Pulse) effect. Still, even under the darkened conditions, the complexity of the digital creations, both monsters and destroyed environments, look fantastically sharp and natural. Black levels never waver; they remain perfectly inky and true in every circumstance. The image suffers from no discernible trouble points to prevent a perfect viewing experience.

Godzilla Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Godzilla roars with a breathtaking, ear-shattering DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 lossless soundtrack. This is, quite simply, one of the top handful of audio experiences the Blu-ray format has yet enjoyed and certainly a true reference track that will challenge any low end to its maximum capacity. Even better, the track isn't just a jumble of aggressive sound. Like the movie, it's perfectly orchestrated and balanced, hugely aggressive but naturally so, as if commanded by the actions, not over-pumped to create the feel of a large event. The realism is uncanny not only in the low end but in the aggressive spacing and natural envelopment the track offers. Whether up-close or at a distance, the sounds of mayhem enjoy an incredible balance as destruction and ear-shattering creature screeches spill from every speaker. Likewise, gunfire tears through the stage with impressive effortlessness, explosions pack a significant wallop, and jet fighters and helicopters and other speedy military hardware zoom through the stage with potent yet realistic effectiveness. Music shares the same sort of posture, enjoying an effortlessly wide spacing and aggressive yet balanced surround support. Light atmospherics spill into the stage on several occasions, but it's that more powerful second half that will make this a go-to reference presentation for years to come. Natural, clear dialogue rounds out a perfect track.

Godzilla Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Godzilla contains seven featurettes which branch out from two catch-all groupings. A DVD copy of the film and a UV digital copy voucher are included in the case.

• MONARCH: Declassified (1080p):
• Operation: Lucky Dragon (2:44): A "vintage" film about the origins of Monarch and the group's first encounters with Godzilla.
• MONARCH: The M.U.T.O. File (4:29): A "modern" piece that looks at the fictional history of M.U.T.O. since the 1940s.
• The Godzilla Revelation (7:25): A "TV Documentary" that recaps events depicted in the film and pieces together the larger story from the perspective of a researcher not privy to all the facts from the outset.



• The Legendary Godzilla (1080p):
  
  
  • Godzilla: Force of Nature (19:18): Cast and crew look back on the franchise's origins, the parallels with modern history, building a serious film, creature design, photographic style and the importance of perspective, digital effects construction, ensuring proper scale, the film's drama, Gareth Edwards' style, and more.
  • A Whole New Level of Destruction (8:24): A closer look at sets and shooting locations and the making of several key moments of destructive mayhem, including practical and digital elements.
  • Into the Void: The H.A.L.O. Jump (5:00): The filmmakers take audiences inside the making of one of the film's iconic scenes, including pre-visualization, practical and digital elements, and sound.
  • Ancient Enemy: The M.U.T.O.s (6:49): A look at the M.U.T.O.s role in the film, their physical design, and creature sound design.

Godzilla Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Godzilla sees the franchise not so much evolved but rather perfected. The film hearkens back to the classic imagery and style of the best of the older Japanese versions but updates them for modern audiences and the modern timeframe in which the movie is set. The plot is straightforward and the characters are flat, but the movie simply dazzles with its structure, style, and enveloping feel. Audiences will feel like a part of the chaos for the entire second half. The monsters look tremendous (Godzilla is a little "meatier," maybe, but never looks digital, while the other creatures look like oversized "bugs" from Starship Troopers) and the destruction comes as an evolution of the fight, not simply as the result of filmmakers wanting to digitally blow up legendary landmarks. There's a good chance that Godzilla will please almost all viewers, both franchise traditionalists who may have been unhappy with Emmerich's film and casual moviegoers just looking for well made entertainment. Warner Brothers' Blu-ray release of Godzilla offers excellent video, all-time great reference audio, and a fair array of extras. Very highly recommended.