Plot: What’s it about?
After a nuclear test on a remote island, a normal lizard is transformed into a mythical beast of harrowing proportions, GODZILLA ( insert echo). Aboard a huge fishing boat, a crew of Japanese fisher-men is thrown into the sea after Godzilla smashes their ship and steals their fishies to eat. Godzilla makes his way through the ocean, and all the way to The Rotten Apple, where he decides to crash for awhile. I mean, New York, is the city that never sleeps, but I would stay awake if there was a huge lizard wandering in my city. Anyway, a animal researcher (Matthew Broderick) is called in to help keep Godzilla under control, and get him out of New York. A small back-story brews about Broderick and his old girlfriend, but what the real draw of this film is, is the smashing and trashing of the Big Apple. Godzilla vs. New York. Does size matter?
Godzilla had a massive media blitz, promising huge thrills and an epic film for the ages. Well, it’s not an epic, and it’s not an AFI 100 candidate by any means. It delivers on the thrills part of the hype however, giving us a few, but not enough, scenes with Godzilla wreaking havok throughout the city, knocking buildings to the ground, squashing cars and people, and doing that cool-ass growl of his. The effects in this film are excellent, but not very often. But when they are done, they are done very, very well, as should be expected from Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich, who also did Stargate and ID4. While the effects are fantastic, the story could use some work. The whole love story between Broderick and his old flame seems out-of-place, and slows the movie considerably. The movie would be much better with more Godzilla, less mushy stuff.
Godzilla is a franchise, and even in this big-budget version, it still seems campy, which is not at all a bad thing. It is a very fun movie, and is re-viewable many times, but only if you like it the first time. While it is not deep on believability, why should it be? It’s Godzilla, not Amistad for Pete’s sake. The supporting cast is very good, featuring Jean Reno, Maria Pitillo, Hank Azaria, Michael Lerner, Harry Shearer, and Kevin Dunn. While not the greatest of acting, it’s better than any cast in a Godzilla flick before this one. The main reason to watch this DVD is Godzilla, the lizard himself, and the chaos he creates. This is a special effects movie, pure and simple. So, look elsewhere for brain-busting plots, and stay with the big green guy for great effects and alot of fun.
Video: How does it look?
This movie sets the standard in video quality, with even the darkest, most shadow filled scenes look as crisp and clear as is humanly possible. The movie also has this unique green glow to it, and the greens are lush and beautiful in this transfer. No artifacts or discolorment can be found, and a truly perfect visual treatment.
Audio: How does it sound?
Another reference quality feature of this disc. The roars, shattering glass, and screaming bystanders can all be heard perfectly, with no bleed over between the dialogue and effects/music.
Supplements: What are the extras?
A commentary by the special effects supervisor lends some inside scoop on how they did some of the more memorable scenes and also some details, like the opening sequence and stuff like that. A humorous featuette starring Harry Shearer is also included, and is a throw away, but still a nice feature. Detailed Cast/Crew bios, especially for Devlin/Emmerich are included, as is a music video, trailers, photo gallery, and before and after shots of when “Godzilla Takes New York”.
