Godzilla (2014) - General Discussion Thread

[Mechagigan]

G'14's scale is pretty appropriate for a "return" film, not unlike G'85 or G2K - and also like those, I think it's got it's own distinct vibe compared to the series it's spawned. IMO it's too bad the MV almost immediately dropped the more intense, horror-y angle, but I also can't blame them for seeing the faults in Gareth's approach and cutting to the fun stuff. I think a return to the grittier style is pretty inevitable, all three succeeding MV Godzilla films have been pretty heightened, Showa type stuff, so I imagine they'll shake stuff up sooner than later. Plus I notice a lot of people have become kinder to G'14's cooler elements, as time goes on.

[Jomei]

Smaller scale can often be better. The issues with the later Monsterverse films are not unconnected to how they try to cram in these huge, apocalyptic plot lines.

There's even a version of Godzilla 2014 that could have stayed localized in Hawaii and might have been a better film, something akin to Son of Godzilla or Godzilla vs the Sea Monster.

Part of what's great about Kong: Skull Island is that it's a much more intimate kaiju movie. The fate of the whole world isn't at stake. The plot doesn't zoom from one end of the globe to another. We're a lot closer to one environment and one group of people in a localized mess there. In that way, the smaller scale of the first two films makes them, actually, far more Showa than the more outrageous later entries.

But I've long defended the 2014 film and still think it's the best of the whole Legendary end of the franchise. I still enjoy much about what Wingard and Dougherty did, but IMO Edwards and Vogt-Roberts gave us the best films.

[Handsome Shrek]

It's really crazy what this movie ultimately gave rise to

Back in the pre-G14 hype days (basically the whole year before this came out), none of us had any idea where this franchise would go. Who would've thought that we'd eventually have 4+ other movies (with Kong, Mothra, Ghidorah, Rodan, and MechaGodzilla), an anime show, a direct sequel TV show with 2 seasons now, 2 spinoff shows, a good handful of comics, and even a fucking video game

For what was originally supposed to be a one-and-done, it's fucking crazy where we are now

[JAGzilla]

And you also need to factor in that this movie enabled the rest of the Renaissance. If it had flopped, we probably wouldn't have gotten Shin. A new Japanese Godzilla movie was inevitable, but it might not have been that one at that time, which then eliminates the Anime Trilogy and GMO. And we almost certainly wouldn't have Rampage, PR:U, The Meg, Colossal, Troll, or whatever else has come out from America and other countries.

[Jomei]

I'm always one to give lots of credit to G'14, but as has been pointed out before, Anno had already agreed to direct in March 2013. Toho waited until after Godzilla 2014's success to announce their plans for a new film and ride the wave of interest + play the whole "and here's the Japaneeeeese Godzilla" card, but Shin was already growing for its assault.

[king_ghidorah]

I just got the Spiral figure of the 2014 Godzilla last night and it’s really the first time I’ve gotten a good look at this design in 3D. I have to say, while I’ve had some reservations about dorsal size, feet, head ect in the past, seeing the design in person really sells me on just how great it is. Everything just works about it and feels proportional in a way that the other MV designs have not.

It’s just a shame that so many of the other figures for this design have been so inaccurate that it’s taken nearly 10 years to get a decent figure of it.

[MechaGodzilla]

This is going to be a Burning Godzilla hot take but I do believe Godzilla 2014 is one of the best Godzilla Films ever.

[Jomei]

I don't think it's that hot of a take. It's a very well made movie. It's aging well, too, as its relative restraint and tasteful approach contrast with later MV entries.

[king_ghidorah]

Yeah it’s becoming more and more popular. Similar to Biollante in that it was met with lukewarm reception but has steadily gained a larger following with time, ultimately being considered one of the better films in the franchise, or at least post-Showa.

[JAGzilla]

It's a combination of things. It legitimately is a competent movie in a lot of ways. As Jomei said, since it came out we've seen two alternative takes on Hollywood Godzilla, both of which heavily lean into the Marvel/Bayformers style of Big Dumb Blockbusters. We've had two top-level Japanese movies come out and give us a more 'authentic' Godzilla experience, taking pressure off of the MV. And Gareth Edwards has since directed the popular Rogue One, an original sci-fi movie, and is about to try his hand at Jurassic World, raising his own geek cred.

[MechaGodzilla]

There is a side of me that always imagined what Gareth Edwards would do for a Godzilla trilogy where it stayed apocalyptic with that enormous sense of scale instead of going full blown sheer insanity like what we got in GXK.

I should really make my own version on what we could have gotten. I might use stop motion to make it as soon as I get a 3d Printer.

[Garzon]

I always considered KSI to be the best of the MonsterVerse, but I think I’m gonna re-evaluate my stance and say that the MV peaked with this. Yeah, Ford Brody still isn’t the most interesting character, but he works well enough as the POV guy, and as short as Bryan Cranston’s screen time is, I think they make pretty good use of him while he’s onscreen.

In terms of sheer scale, none of the other MV films can compare to this. The monsters feel appropriately massive here, as opposed to being weightless action figures like the Adam Wingard films, and the relatively “grounded” tone makes them more terrifying to me than the more apocalyptic vibe KOTM went with.

[Cryptid_Liker]

^
Agreed 100%.

Such an amazing, impeccable film. Words can't describe how glad I am Godzilla 3 will be written by a G14 alumni, especially after what we got left with last year.

[gottatalktothefake]

^
Agreed 100%.

Such an amazing, impeccable film. Words can't describe how glad I am Godzilla 3 will be written by a G14 alumni, especially after what we got left with last year.

Wait it is? That’s awesome

[Your Boy Leroy]

Just happened to watch this again last night. I was sort of dreading that the film wouldn’t be as good and not worthy of the high regard I’ve held it to over all these years. Luckily, it’s still just as good as it always was. Still wished the finale was longer, but other than that, this is as good as the MV will get for me.

Hell, this was before there even was an MV.

[GojiDoobyDoo]

I don't feel like I can say how I truly view this movie. With the lack of a good DVD/Blu-ray version (outside of the 4K version, and I don't have a TV that supports 4K), I haven't watched the movie in its entirety since either 2014 or maybe 2015. Maybe I can find a good fan version to purchase that fixes the lighting issues?

Regardless, off of a decade old memory, I will say this movie is very artistically done. The monsters have never felt bigger and more intense than this movie. It's just a big lizard hunting two big, parasitic bugs, yet the stakes feel huge. While I really enjoy the crazy action of the later films (particularly GvK), there's a certain grace and genuine quality to G14's action sequences that's refreshing to look back at. If anything, I remember my problem with this movie being that it needed at least one or two more action scenes placed somewhere in the middle of the movie. Gareth spent a bit too much time on wanting to build suspense, to the point where he somewhat overdoes it. Not having a short action sequence after Godzilla's big reveal and after he and the male MUTO clash is a big mistake IMO.

Again though, this is all going off of a fairly old memory. I'd have to see the movie again to give a more definitive opinion.

[Chaos Reincarnation]

Watched this again in anticipation for Jurassic World Rebirth, it's so funny how this takes from Jurassic Park in the best ways and G98 takes from it in the worst ways.

Rewatching it definitely reaffirms to me how good he's gonna do for Jurassic World Rebirth.

[GojiDoobyDoo]

Watching the trailers for Jurassic World Rebirth makes me want Gareth to come back for another Monsterverse film. He still has a lot of his distinctive style on display, but you can tell he’s grown as a director. Especially in regards to working on these larger projects.

To me, G14’s main problems is that it suffered from a boring human protagonist, was a bit too dark visually, and lacked any good monster action in the early-mid film. With what we’ve seen of Rebirth, there seems to be none of those problems. The human case appears to be entertaining, the movie has a lot of variety when it comes to lighting, and there’s plenty of action.

[GojiDoobyDoo]

Idk how to edit my previous comment, but after what I’ve read read recently on Jurassic World Rebirth, I might need to rescind my comment

Still looks nice visually, but almost everything else sounds… not so good.

[LSD Jellyfish]

I watched Jurassic World Rebirth. I talked shit about it in the Jurassic world thread. But, let it be said that movies like that, really make me appreciate Godzilla (2014) a lot more.

Godzilla (2014) has aged like a fine wine. The more that time passes, the more I recognize Godzilla (2014) might be one of the last “old Hollywood” movies and it does so much right.