DJ Watches: Godzilla: King of the Monsters
Godzilla: King of the Monsters is about as perfect an interpretation of a Godzilla movie made in the modern age can be. Every second of the movie is filled with the care and thought put into it by some obvious fans of the series, and it shows. First thing’s first, I am a fan of the franchise but by no means am an expert of any kind, and while I share some criticism of the 2014 film this is a sequel to, I ended up being mostly liking that one. This one, however, blows that one out of the water in pretty much every way, and is 100% deserving of its title. I really had a good time with the movie and walked out liking it, to the point where I just had to get all these thoughts out of my head and onto something. This isn’t a review – that’d be Goblin’s territory – but just a place for me to dump said thoughts and feelings out, because the movie hit me in ways I really didn’t expect. With that in mind, I am completely fresh on this movie and am writing on pure adrenaline and emotion, so keep that in mind. Full warning, there are 100% full on spoilers here, so if you don’t want to see them, turn back now.
First and foremost, the music. The music is fantastic, and Bear McCreary is to be applauded for his work in the score. Honestly, it seems like such an obvious thing to do, but finally, FINALLY using Godzilla’s proper Akira Ifukube theme was a smart, impactful move, but what really sold it was how it get used. It’s not just a matter of taking it and playing it, but the context that the themes were used absolutely nailed it. Comparing it to another recent movie, it was nice to hear the instrumental version of the Pokémon theme and the sad drunken version sung by Ryan Reynolds in Detective Pikachu, but those scenes wouldn’t have been hurt if they just used generic music or some other song, respectively. Godzilla’s theme being used in exactly the same context as in those old films hammers it home that this movie was made with love and care – from the big, main ominous theme being used for when he first appears, to the faster march playing when the military arrives in full force to give the Big G back-up. I won’t lie, during the rebirth scene, when the march plays as Godzilla reveals himself fully healed to the cast on the submarine, I was shocked to find myself a little misty eyed. It just hit me the same way that Zelda’s Lullaby being played live at the Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses or the Prelude at the Distant Worlds: Final Fantasy concert shows did, and I didn’t realize that it would affect me so much. I still cannot explain it.
Another big surprise that caught me off guard was how they also not only gestured at various leitmotifs from her movies, but they use Mothra’s own theme as well. Combined with the fully original music McCreary composed for the monster, the giant moth monster ended up having a big emotional impact on the movie, and it ended up being a pretty neat part of the whole experience. I have never been a fan of people who say using emotional music is manipulative and is a crutch for movies, games, or whatever medium – it is as much of a part of the experience as the script, the cinematography, the post production effects, and everything else that makes up the film. This movie absolutely kills it in terms of music and sound design, and honestly, is the best part of the whole thing, at least for me. The themes for Ghidorah and Rodan similarly accentuate their appearances and actions in the movie, as an unwelcome, imposing invader and an opportunistic little piece of crap, respectively. The Gregorian chanting and off kilter vibe for Ghidorah especially works well to make it feel like he’s just wrong for existing and doesn’t belong here when it cuts into the score. Of course, I also have to bring up the cover of the Blue Oyster Cult song over the credits – the original is definitely better, but the Serj Tankian led version is a pretty pumped way to end the movie.
The movie itself is a total love letter to the Showa era movies while continuing on with the idea that Godzilla isn’t exactly humanity’s best pal, but isn’t a malevolent evil creature either, he’s just way bigger then we are and starts off being indifferent, though it seems he’s starting to maybe not be quite so apathetic to all these bugs running around him. To that end, it hits all the tropes for those movies on the dot that it would be a big surprise if it’s unintentional. Monarch is the big organization that humans have made that is massively well funded and a little disturbingly well militarized that studies and tries to help Godzilla. The new lead characters are people we’ve never heard of before but were totally involved and affected by Godzilla’s wake last time. There’s an over the top malevolent human villain who wants to use the monsters for his own personal goals, and has people in his organization that are in some way related to the lead. Scientists think they can control or do something to the monsters only to be hit with their own hubris, and ultimately try to help Godzilla instead. There is an ancient kingdom that is related to the monsters. All these little things that all those old movies used are re-used here in such a way that this movie is absolutely what a modern made Godzilla movie should be. That’s not even bringing in all the direct references and lore implications it brings up. The reveal of the doctor’s twin being present at Mothra’s emergence from her cocoon, and the follow up of how both their mothers and grandmothers also being twins (all portrayed by the same actress, and all working for Monarch) was a nice way of sneaking in the twin priestesses from the old films, and the way it just generally embraces the wild, mythological aspects whole hog worked in the movie’s favor.
The monster characterization is similarly spot on – Mothra is beautiful and graceful and radiates light and hope, while being notably more skilled as a fighter this time around. Playing her up as the Queen of the Monsters to Godzilla’s King title was basically closing the loop on something long left unsaid in terms of her popularity, though I’m sure that phrasing just opens up a whole can of worms on the internet with fan artists. Rodan continues to be Godzilla’s shitty, cackling bird friend, except now he manages to look totally badass while doing it? Having rewatched some of the older movies involving the main four monsters leading up to this release, I am now almost convinced that whomever at Nintendo was responsible for creating Falco Lombardi from Star Fox or Revali from Breath of the Wild is a fan of Rodan. I liked that he was initially subservient to Ghidorah before Godzilla finally makes him and the other monsters acknowledge his status at the end. Speaking of whom, I loved that Ghidorah’s code name was Monster Zero, and they kept his status as an entity from beyond the stars, coming to Earth specifically to destroy it and bend it to his liking. Being the false King usurping the throne due to humans sloppily inserting themselves into a fight they had no business in was a good way to go with the character. I also especially liked the little details of how his three heads all seemed to have their own little personalities and quirks, like how the main, central head just doesn’t like the left head at all. In some ways, he was more of a foil to Mothra then Godzilla, whereas Mothra seems to bring forth light and peace, Ghidorah literally forms hurricanes in his path, destroying everything just by being close to it. I was initially disappointed that they didn’t really show us all 17 of the now awakened monsters, or Titans as they’re called, but that seems to be an intentional call to leave room in the future for other legacy characters in the franchise. I don’t mind the inclusion of original monsters though, with that giant mammoth looking creature, something that looks like Kumonga the giant spider from the old movies, and even another MUTO from the 2014 film.
Godzilla himself is perfect. From the way he still mostly doesn’t care one way or another about these little humans who keep following around, but in a weird way seems to have had character growth by starting to take notice of them and maybe even be a little impressed in the same way you or I can be impressed by little termites building a towering mound in a field. He comes across as an animal, sure, but an intelligent one, one who maybe recognizes these little meaningless things around him and absolutely seems to be able to put things together in his mind. One good thing I liked about the 2014 movie that carries on here is that he does actually seem to take care not to intentionally cause destruction, from taking care not to purposely step on those buildings in Honolulu to not just knocking everything over unless in a fight or prompted to by a greater goal. I especially like the news clipping at the end during the credits that says Godzilla is purposely stopping the other titans from getting too close to cities showing he is maybe a little more accepting that maybe they shouldn’t just knock over humans’ measly little ant hills. Honestly, my biggest problem now is that, despite the ominous line about Godzilla being on humanity’s side “For now,” it would be a major disappointment for him to be the villain in next year’s Godzilla vs. Kong. Frankly, it would similarly suck for Kong to be the baddie after they built him up in Skull Island. As much of a cop out as it would be, the only way I’ll be satisfied now is if they do the superhero thing where they fight each other at first, but team up to fight the third, actual villain monster for the finale.
As for the humans, they’re still pretty stock characters, but they fill the roles better then the leads in the 2014 film. I cared a bit more about everyone, and at the very least, the motivations and driving force were clearer and easier to follow this time. Dr. Serizawa and Dr. Greene both return from last time, but the former, to be blunt, gets done dirty here as she gets killed in such a quick and completely nothing way that I was a little confused about it to the point that it took me out of the movie for a bit as it ended up being so pointless to the plot other then to remove a character from the story. It kinda leaves a bad taste in my mouth since she wasn’t a bad character at all, if a little thin. Serizawa’s death is at least a little more dignified, as he finally gets to be up close to this titan he’s been chasing for pretty much his whole life and has at least some sense of closure. Still, most of the people we’re let with end up being okay, the main family unit are all easy to follow, and I liked that when Emma starts to explain her plan for letting the titans loose on the world to clean up the mess humans have made, Mark and Madison both rightfully call her out for it being a completely insane plan. Jonah as the inexplicably well-armed eco terrorist is just Charles Dance having fun as an evil villain, and also being the guy being all-in on the plan when Emma starts having second thoughts. CCH Pounder as the head of the Senate committee reviewing Monarch’s funding is a fun little bit that made me think “Oh shit, Amanda Waller is the one you have to answer to!?” The only person I really had an issue with is the “funny” white haired comic relief scientist who just made me groan whenever he made a joke, but thankfully he gets glossed over pretty quickly by everyone else around him.
Some other random thoughts:
So, Serizawa and Dr. Emma ended up being right in that the titans’ radiation actually does just help the Earth, what with how life just springs forth wherever they go, from coral reefs becoming active again to jungles growing overnight at the edge of the Sahara.
The bit about Godzilla keeping the other Titans in line by making them avoid cities just gives me the image of the big man standing with arms folded on the outskirts of New York City shaking his head no when Rodan tries to sneak over to push a building over.
With Zhang Ziyi returning for Godzilla vs. Kong, I hope they go more into exactly how much her twin characters are like the Fairy Twin Priestesses of old. With that new egg being found, Mothra definitely seems like she’s not quite dead as well.
I again express how much I liked that Rodan was just this piece of garbage as a personality, and having Mothra be the one to defeat his cocky ass was great.
So, that post credits scene. It’s notably that left head that was ripped off earlier in the movie, the one that’s a little off, and this seems to be gesturing towards Mecha King Ghidorah, hm? Overall, I’m curious if this gives Toho more confidence in Legendary’s series and they’ll hopefully allow them access to more of their monsters for the future.
In that regard, I’m super looking forward to Godzilla vs. Kong, but man, I hope that “ONE WILL FALL” tagline on the promo poster is just hype. I don’t mind there being a definitive winner in the fight, but I really hope they write it carefully as to not make one or the other look lime a chump or suddenly turn full heel.
Obviously I liked it, and I for one can’t wait for more.