Film: Godzilla

GENRE: Action / Daikaiju Film

RATING: PG13 for creature violence and destruction
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 3 minutes

STARRING: Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass, upcoming Avengers 2)

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), Ken Wantanabe (Inception)

DIRECTOR: Gareth Edwards (Monsters)

WRITER: Max Borenstein (newcomer)

PLOT: Godzilla tries to help out San Francisco by taking down some massive deadly creatures. City demolishment ensues.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 I was going to avoid this film at first but after reading a friend’s blog post, I was swayed to watch it. He’s knows his monster stuff, so I trust his opinion. He did not steer me wrong. This was an interesting and fun flick. Lots of entertaining destruction and monster fights. Read his blog here:

http://docperschon.blogspot.ca/2014/05/godzilla-2014.html

2 The trailer made it seem like it was humanity fighting Godzilla. I was surprised to see other radioactive creatures doing some damage. Don’t believe the trailer.

3 I did find it kind of weird to see Godzilla as a ‘friend to the humans’, like he was doing San Francisco a solid by helping them out.  

4 Looking behind you while you are running only slows you down. Why don’t people realize this?

5 If you miss seeing Cranston in a radiation suit, you’re in luck. If only it was yellow.

RECOMMENDATION: Big monster needs big screen.

UPCOMING REVIEWS: X-Men: Days of Future Past

Film: Neighbors

GENRE: Comedy

RATING: 18A for language, nudity, & crude content
RUNTIME: 1 hours and 36 minutes

STARRING: Seth Rogen (Knocked Up, 50/50, Pineapple Express)

Zac Efron (High School Musical), Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids)

DIRECTOR: Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall)

WRITERS: Andrew J Cohen & Brendan O’Brien (newcomers)

PLOT: A frat house moves next door to a new family with a newborn. Loudness and pranks ensue

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 This was a fun frat film. What was interesting is that for the most part, I wanted both sides to win somehow. I did find it strange that no one else in the neighborhood complained about the frat despite some of their good deeds.

2 I liked that Byrne didn’t play the nagging wife and got in on the action.

3 I often find Ike Barinholtz (Mindy Project) too much, but there was a good dose of him in this film.

4 There’s a very fun fight scene between Efron and Rogen. Good stuff.

5 Much like Efron’s often shirtless body, this film came in at a trim 90 minutes instead of the usual Rogen-esque bloated two hours. Well done guys.

RECOMMENDATION: Wait for the DVD

UPCOMING REVIEWS: X-Men: Days of Future Past

Film: The Amazing Spiderman 2

GENRE: Action/Adventure

RATING: PG for violence
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 22 minutes

STARRING: Andrew Garfield (The Social Network)

Emma Stone (Easy A, The Help), Jamie Foxx (Django Unchained)

DIRECTOR: Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer)

WRITERS: Jeff Pinkner (Alias, Lost, Fringe)

Alex Kurtzman & Robert Orci (Star Trek, Transformer)

PLOT: Peter’s relationship with Gwen is tested when a number of Oscorp villains arise and cause trouble in New York.

FIVE OBSERVATIONS:

1 For an adventure film, there could have been a lot more action sequences. Most of the movie played out like an expensive Smallville episode. Lots of talking and young adult angst, barely any web-slinging.

2 The acting was pretty good though. Stone and Garfield are way more fun to watch than Tobey Maguire and Kirstin Dunst. Newcomer Dane DeHaan (Chronicle) is a great addition; he’s kind of like a young DiCaprio. Also Foxx always brings it, though his character’s motives are a little suspect.

3 Sally Field (Forrest Gump) is perfectly cast as Aunt May. She may not look how I imagine Aunt May to look like, but she sure can make me feel for her.

4 Honestly, this film is giant set up for the next Spiderman installment. The Sinister Six is coming.

5 In the middle of the end credits is a scene from the upcoming X-Men. Huh? I don’t need a random ad for any old Marvel film, either give me more Spiderman or stay off the screen. Who’s dumb idea was that?

RECOMMENDATION: Toss up of theatre or DVD

UPCOMING REVIEWS: X-Men: Days of Future Past