After the travesty that was the 1998 Roland Emmerich reboot of “Godzilla,” the king of the monsters went in to hiding from the states for a long time. It was until Legendary came along to hop on the expanded universe band wagon to finally give Gojira and his merry band of monsters and allies a chance to win a new generation of fans. Despite some bumps and tumbles, Gareth Edwards’ “Godzilla” is a giant step up from the 1998 embarrassment and still manages to travel well, with or without the impending “Godzilla vs. Kong.”
Ford Brody (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a Navy bomb expert, has just reunited with his family in San Francisco when he is forced to go to Japan to help his estranged father, Joe (Bryan Cranston). Soon, both men are swept up in an escalating crisis when Godzilla, King of the Monsters, arises from the sea to combat malevolent adversaries that threaten the survival of humanity. The creatures leave colossal destruction in their wake, as they make their way toward their final battleground: San Francisco.
Gareth Edwards does a damn better job than the aforementioned flop ever did, allowing for a brand new Godzilla that’s bold, terrifying, and respectful. I can definitely see why Toho appreciated this version more, as Edwards and Legendary Studios bring back the traditional design while also injecting their own flair in the process. Godzilla is a force of nature, he’s a god like beast that can not be restrained. Director Edwards shifts back and forth between classic monster brawls, and the humans trying to survive through it. Along with a bang up cast including Aaron Taylor Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, and Juliette Binoche, “Godzilla” is a top drawer reboot that’s improved with age.
The features for this repackaging includes a new Slip Cover along with the 4K Disc. Along with the Blu-Ray, there are the same identical features from the 2014 release located exclusively on the BD. The 4K includes a new Dolby Atmos track, with the additional immersion creating a bigger audio experience of destruction and rampage that will plunge you in to this world. There are also Optional English and foreign subtitles during the main feature and extras.
For a refresher there’s the extra “MONARCH Declassifies” which garners three chapters. There’s “Operation: Lucky Dragon” a three minute vintage film about Monarch and their first experience with Godzilla, “MONARCH: The M.U.T.O. File” a five minute look at the history of M.U.T.O. going back to the 1940’s, and “The Godzilla Revelation” an eight minute mock TV Documentary that chronicles the rise of Godzilla with a montage of sightings of the beast. “The Legendary Godzilla” is another multi-chapter segment featuring “Godzilla: Force of Nature,” a nineteen minute look at the making of the film, the history of the monster, and Edward’s approach to the movie.
“A Whole New Level of Destruction” is an eight minute technical feature with looks at sets, locations, and the making of specific moments of destruction. “Into the Void: The H.A.L.O. Jump” is a five minute look at one of the most striking moments in the film where how it was achieved. Finally, “Ancient Enemy: The M.U.T.O.s” is a seven minute look at the role of the M.U.T.O.s, and their general designs.