Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters (3/5)

Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters is a truly stunning monster movie in the Kaiju universe. Unfortunately, the story and characters are lacking in some equally awful ways. Still, you absolutely should watch Godzilla on the big screen. Read more in our Godzilla 2 review here!

Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters is a visually stunning monster movie. It’s part of the Kaiju universe that also includes King Kong and we’ve been really excited for this sequel which comes on the heels of Kong: Skull Island.

Also, we’re very excited about the next movie in this universe which is Godzilla vs Kong (2020).

While we were looking forward to this Godzilla sequel, we never expected that the story would be so weak. However, the monsters in Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters do not disappoint. Read more in our Godzilla 2 review below!

A powerhouse of a monster movie!

There can be no doubt that Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters is a gorgeous and impressive monster movie. I don’t see how anyone could argue with this. I almost felt like I was in the Jurassic Park franchise at times. And that’s a huge compliment since I actually forgot that these creatures are from fantasy and not history.

Unfortunately, the story and characters are lacking in the worst ways. Not that this ruins the overall movie watching experience, but it does create quite a drawback.

In fact, it gets downright embarrassing and you will be rolling your eyes and squirming in your seat. The characters are boring and one-dimensional while the plot just feels dumb and silly at times. And those lines?! The actors in Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters are some of my favorites but they have no chance of making these awful lines work.

Especially Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring) has a character arc that seems like an uphill battle throughout the movie. I kept rooting for her, but I don’t think I was supposed to. Also, Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) ends up having a rather “simple” character development.

Still, both actors push everything they’ve got into their respective characters and their scenes together. If it hadn’t been for them, Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters wouldn’t have worked as well as it managed to.

Godzilla 2 plot is simple but wild

During the plot of Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters we deal with both eco-terrorist and awesome girlpower (from several species). However, before we get very far, the story evolves more into “climate change nutters” and some very stereotypical plot twists for the female characters.

It’s impossible not to mention the huge issues with the storyline. Honestly, it feels like something out of a mediocre 1990s action movie. 

We do also get some intentional comedy which actually works when Thomas Middleditch delivers it. Of course, he is mostly known for his starring role in the HBO comedy series Silicon Valley. And for horror fans, he should be familiar from the horror-comedy The Final Girls (2015). Unfortunately, his character seems to disappear as the plot progresses.

Instead, Bradley Whitford gets to deliver several cringe-worthy one-liners. Now, I truly adore Bradley Whitford from movies like Get Out or Cabin in the Woods as well as the iconic TV series The West Wing. But in Godzilla 2, it’s very rarely a good scene featuring his character. Due to the script and not him, but still… it is bad!

Godzilla belongs on the big screen

For horror fans, the director of Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters should be a familiar name. Even if he’s only done smaller movies so far. The movie was directed by Michael Dougherty who previously made two horror movies; The Halloween anthology Trick ‘r Treat (2007) and the Christmas horror movie Krampus (2015).

Michael Dougherty has written more than he has directed. But that certainly doesn’t help this movie which he also co-wrote with his usual writing partner, Zach Shields. The two have also written the script for the next Kaiju movie Godzilla vs Kong (with the tagline “God vs King”). 

This upcoming Godzilla vs Kong sequel will be directed by Adam Wingard, who we’ve adored in the past. He made movies like A Horrible Way to Die and You’re Next. However, then he also made Blair Witch (2016) and Death Note (2017), so now I don’t know what to expect.

In any case, if you’re going to watch Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters (and you absolutely should), then make sure you watch in on the big screen of a movie theater. Watching these impressive monster movies simply isn’t the same on a small screen. 

Also, Godzilla himself is awesome as always and continues to fight for us tiny humans (even when we don’t deserve it). So does Mothra who is the most stunning monster – and labeled “Queen of the Monsters” in this movie.

So watch Godzilla 2 in a movie theater because Godzilla deserves it – and so does Mothra!

Godzilla 2: King of the Monsters is out in movie theaters from May 31, 2019.

Details

Director: Michael Dougherty
Stars: Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Ken Watanabe, Ziyi Zhang, Bradley Whitford, Sally Hawkins, Charles Dance, Thomas Middleditch, David Strathairn

Plot

The crypto-zoological agency Monarch faces off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah.