The first summer blockbuster of 1998 has arrived and it has supplied all the excitement and special effects that it has promised since Sony started running previews a year ago. It may not have the best acting in the world, but the computer generated star makes Godzilla worth more then just the pictures you get on the internet.
The starring role and title character, Godzilla
The plot of the most recent Godzilla isn't quite the same as its Japanese predecesors. Yes, Godzilla orginates from nuclear testing in the South Pacific (this time it's France's fault)... but that is where the similarities end. For some reason, which the writers forget to mention, Godzilla travels half way around the world and over part of a continent to arrive in Manhattan and reak havoc in the Big Apple. Once he (we'll call it a he, even though it really has no gender and can reproduce asexually) arrive he first runs through the city stepping on people and then suddenly dissappears into the sewers and subways. This is another point the writers never really expand on... he just dissappears without tearing up the tunnels bad enough to rip up the street above them, but this is an action movie and you are supposed to suspend your disbelief. It is discovered by Dr. Nick Tatapoulos (Matthew Broderick) that this giant lizard is pregent and is most likely gathering food to bring to its nest. Tatapoulos tries to convince the military that they need to find and destroy this nest, but they chose not to listen and fire him from the Godzilla project because he inadvertantly revealed top secret material to Audrey (Maria Pitillo), his ex-girlfriend who just happens to be a reporter. Nick is then befriended by Philippe (Jean Reno), a French secret service agent who is trying to cover up his country's nuclear mistake. Together they find the nest in Madison Square Garden while Audrey and "Animal" (Hank Azaria) her cameraman follow him to get the story. When they get into the garden and find about 200 eggs with mini Godzillas inside... and they are all hatching!
Matthew Broderick as Nick Tatapoulos
The writers of Godzilla needed to get a clue because most of the plot was incredbly far fetched and very stupid. Luckily for the producers the computer geeks came through with spectacular special effects and one of the most impresive displays of computer graphics I have ever seen (until next year when the Star Wars Prequels come out). Godzilla himself is extraordinary, although the acting of most of his supporting cast is week. Lucky for him he only has one line (his roar) which was already a classic. Overall, Godzilla was an enjoyable movie. It isn't a classic by any stretch of the imagination, but it will keep you watching for the entire movie and the action scenes are very exciting even if they are pretty hard to believe.
