Godzilla (or Gojira as known in Japan) has been in countless kaiju (japanese for monster) movies since its debut in 1954, but the scars left by the 1998 Hollywood treatment by Roland Ememrich are still intact in most minds (in Godzilla's final Japanese movie, it pulverized  its American counterpart, goes to show how much the Japanese hated it). And after Hollywood screwed up the first time, will 2014's effort by Gareth Edwards (his big-budget Hollywood debut) help to eradicate the bad omens? I can happily say that this version does buck the trend of unwanted American adaptations of Asian culture (see Oldboy, Dragonball). Nonetheless, the movie is rather bogged down by the unnecessary human side of the monster problem.

This version of Godzilla pays homage to the original Japanese version in 1954, with an emphasis on its nuclear origins and less on the alien relations like in its 20-odd subsequent sequels, and it deviates (really) far away from Roland Emmerich's adaptation in 1998. starring Ferris Bueller.

The film's main shining light is definitely Bryan Cranston, who provides a supercharged and emotional performance as a caring and neglected father to Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass, the other Quicksilver). However, even Walter White himself doesn't get the screen time he deserves (and also advertised). In his place as the main human stars are the rather bland and limited Aaron-Taylor Johnson, coupled with Elizabeth Olsen, who seems to be everywhere only when the plot demands it (don't get me wrong, the not-Olsen twin is a good actress). 

Ken Watanabe (from Batman Begins and Inception), a Japanese scientist who seems to know first hand on our reptilian friend, was reduced to a single shocked face ever since Godzilla revealed itself. Watanabe's character had plenty of potential to be a main player in the movie, no thanks to Godzilla's Japanese origins, but all that hope was dashed off when he was pretty much sidelined in the movie's climax (put him away like they did to Vince Vaughn in Jurassic Park 2 and we'll probably wouldn't realize that he's gone). This isn't to say that the cast acted terribly (they're all  talented actors), the movie just doesn't have the same impact when Cranston wasn't around.

But who comes to a kaiju movie for the humans? Gareth Edwards made good use of dusts and light to conceal Godzilla, and the teases leading up to the behemoth's full reveal feels very Jaws-like. But while seeing the it in action was a sight to behold, the anticipation of the titular monster (it only really reveals itself halfway through the movie, making it look more like a disaster movie featuring Godzilla at some points) is somewhat dampened by the great teaser trailers released since December last year. Speaking of dusts, the movie feels bland in terms of colour and dull setting, especially when compared to last year's Pacific Rim, as the Hong Kong street lights and shiny Jaegers made the film look colourful amidst the night setting.

Up against Godzilla are the MUTOs, also known as the 'Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms'. Silly name aside, these Cloverfield-like monsters surprisingly took up way more screen time than Godzilla, and one might feel that Godzilla was only there to take down the nuclear-feeding MUTOs. Compared to the Toho (the company behind the original Japanese films) movie line-up, Gareth Edward's version seems to relate more to the original Godzilla sequels, which pits Godzilla against whichever monster that is causing destruction.

Hollywood make this happen!

The sheer expectations for the movie teased in the opening scenes might go unrealized once the movie shifts from Japan to America. Furthermore, monster movies have always been about the gigantic beasts, where the human element being there to avoid it looking like an all-action Ultraman-like flick for kids. However, these weak points should not shadow the fact that the new Godzilla shows what the original kaiju was all about - menacing, loud, mysterious (?), and Gareth Edwards have got all those points spot on. It's a shame though that the film should have been more aptly titled "Attack of the MUTOs (feat. Godzilla)".

It's also worth noting that Hollywood has learnt its lessons when handling foreign properties, and this helps make amends with the Japanese after its 1998 debacle. And with a sequel (or sequels?) on the way, it'll be excited to see what is in store for The King of the Monsters (Mothra! Mechagodzilla!) ... unless they start developing a Godzilla Cinematic Universe à la what Sony is doing with Spider-Man *shudder*