click for new

click here for current front page

Search for: UK's largest videos store Search For:

Recently I decided that science fiction movies, if they're worth considering at all, can be divided into two simple categories. SF films and SF eye-candy. Godzilla is definitely in the latter category. It is pure eye candy. No forebrain required. That isn't to say that it isn't fun, but a moron can enjoy it as easily as can a genius. Nico Tatopolous (Broderick) is a scientist studying earthworms around Chernobyl. He's grabbed by the US military to examine a site in Panama where giant lizard footprints have been found. On the thinnest of pretexts, the giant mutant marine iguana is heading for Manhattan Island, followed by Nick, the US military and a hip and suave bunch of French secret service guys lead by the ever amusing and watchable Jean Reno, who is to French movies what Chow-Yun Fat is to Hong Kong cinema. That's all you need to know, really. There are some nice digs at the media and at America in general, a lot of expensive real estate gets turned into landfill and there's a climax reminiscent of the Ray Harryhausen ending to The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, albeit with some more sophisticated special effects. Jokes punctuate the movie, which is only to be expected of a flick in which a giant Galapagos lizard detrimentally renovates the Chrysler Building. The dumbest thing to do would be to take the premise seriously. That hasn't worked well since the original 1950s Gojira (the version without the Raymond Burr additions). It only worked then because the mass destruction echoed Japan's experience during World War 2 and the idea of a demon being raised by black science rather than black magic was still new. This Godzilla is played for laughs and spectacle. At that level it works tolerably well, though I would've liked more edge to the satire. And I am glad that they decided not to kill off Jean Reno's character. He was the best human actor in the film.

	Terry Frost For credits and official site details, click here. Search Festivale for more
Like us on facebook

Enter movie, TV show, or person   Provided by Internet Movie Database.	Just the facts: Title: Godzilla (1998) Written by: Roland Emmerich & Dean Devlin Directed by: Roland Emmerich Produced by: Dean Devlin Edited by: Director of Photography:
	The Players: Dr. Niko Tatopoulos: Matthew Broderick Philippe Roache: Jean Reno Audrey Timmonds: Maria Pitillo Victor (Animal) Palotti: Hank Azaria Col. Hicks: Kevin Dunn Mayor Ebert: Michael Lerner Charles Caiman: Harry Shearer Lucy Palotti: Arabella Field Dr. Elsie Chapman: Vicki Lewis Sgt. O'Neal: Doug Savant Dr. Mendel Craven: Malcolm Danare
	Official website
	For session times of current films, use the cinema listings on the Movie links page. For scheduled release dates, see the coming attractions section.

Like us on facebook

Movie images, sounds, and video clips are solely owned by their respective companies. No other uses are permitted without the prior written consent of owner. Use of the material in violation of the foregoing may result in civil and/or criminal penalties. disclaimer Festivale Online Magazine Celebrate everything! www.festivale.info ISSN 1328-8008 Published in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia disclaimers | contact the editor | Festivale revision history Published in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia copyright © Festivale 1998 All rights reserved Filed: 9-Jun-1998 Last updated: 18-Jun-1998 Last tested: 3-Jul-2014 Last Compiled: 3-Jul-2014 Entire site refreshed: Dec 2008-Feb 2009 | Site URL transferred: Jan 2005 (previously www.festivale.webcentral.com.au)