Godzilla (2014 film)

"The world ends, Godzilla begins."

- Tagline

Godzilla (ゴジラ, Gojira) is a 2014 American science-fiction film produced by, and the twenty-ninth installment in the Godzilla series, as well as the second American Godzilla film, along with being the first in the Legendary series. The film was released to American theaters on May 16, 2014.

Plot
Frank Darabont, the screenwriter, described his plans for Godzilla as returning it to a "terrifying force of nature" in interviews. The film will add a "very compelling human drama" and that Godzilla would be tied to a "different contemporary issue" rather than the original atomic bomb testing. Director Gareth Edwards, at a promotional appearance in 2012, described the tone of the film. "We're just going to take it really seriously. I've wanted to see this movie this way all my life. Imagine if this really happened – as crazy as it sounds – what would it really be like?".

In January 2013, it was reported that Warner Brothers, in a meeting for advertisers, revealed that the film would contain two new monsters in addition to Godzilla, and the plot of the film would revolve around the story of a young U.S. Marine. David Goyer, who is also a screenwriter, stated that there were two other monsters in the script when he worked on it.

Elizabeth Olsen described the film as "definitely not lighthearted. It's kind of going back to its roots of the original Japanese film" and that "there's a strong theme of the importance of family, as well as the theme of trying to control nature, and how that backfires in the end". Cranston says that he plays a scientist called Joe Brody that "discovers an anomaly in some sonar, signalings, patterns, and is just starting an investigation when all hell breaks loose".

In an interview with Collider.com, Gareth Edwards said that the U.S. government knew about Godzilla for some time, and that the nuclear tests that they did were actually attempts to kill Godzilla.

Production
The film was first announced at Comic-Con 2010 where an early concept art impression for the new Godzilla was revealed. Gareth Edwards, director of the movie Monsters has been announced as the director. Mr. Edwards has stated he knows the importance of getting the film right for the fans. Some Godzilla fans dislike the choice of director while others are okay with it because he is a fan of the Godzilla series. In October 2010, David Callaham was named to write the first draft of the script. After Callaham, four more persons worked on the screenplay during the film's development.

David Goyer (the story writer for "The Dark Knight") has been announced as a writer for the movie. Many fans were excited about the this choice as they say David Goyer (along with Christopher Nolan) brought justice for the Batman movies using dark themes. However, Goyer only worked a few weeks on the script and did not get a screenwriter credit. In November 2011, Max Borenstein was hired to continue work on the script. In October 2012, Legendary announced that writer Drew Pearce would polish the final script, making the principal characters older to suit the actors that Legendary intends to cast.In January 2013, Frank Darabont (writer-director of The Shawshank Redemption and The Walking Dead), was officially added to work on the film script.

In 2007, film producer Brian Rogers met former Toho company director Yoshimitsu Banno who had the rights to make an IMAX 3D Godzilla film. Rogers then met Toho to arrange a license to produce a 3D Godzilla film. After securing the rights, Rogers approached several film companies and Legendary Pictures agreed to work with Rogers on the project. In August 2009, rumors surfaced that Legendary were in talks with Toho to produce a new American Godzilla film to be released in 2012.

On March 29, 2010, it was confirmed that Legendary had acquired the rights to Godzilla. They plan to reboot the franchise with Warner Bros. co-producing and co-financing. will not be involved in the production because their rights to the character expired in 2003. Legendary plans to make the new film closer in style to the original Japanese character than TriStar's iguana-like creature. According to Thomas Tull, chairman and CEO of Legendary Pictures, "Our plans are to produce the Godzilla that we, as fans, would want to see. We intend to do justice to those essential elements that have allowed this character to remain as pop culturally relevant for as long as it has".

At the 3D Summit conference held in September 2010 at Universal Studios, producer Brian Rogers confirmed the planned date of 2012. The reboot will be a live-action project featuring a computer-generated Godzilla. Godzilla will fight at least one other monster, rather than the United States Army like in Roland Emmerich's film. It was also mentioned that Godzilla will use his atomic breath, a trademark weapon omitted by Emmerich and co-writer/producer Dean Devlin in the previous American film in favor of power breath.

Development
During Comic-con 2012, director Gareth Edwards participated in a Godzilla panel, in which they screened a new teaser trailer, described as so, a destroyed city is seen, as Robert Oppenheimer's speech comes in, "I am become death, destroyer of worlds" as a huge dead centipede type creature is smoldering, and finally, a roar is heard, and the camera cuts to Godzilla, true to his Japanese origins, roaring. This same trailer was leaked a year later.

As of September 13, 2012, the movie's release date has been announced. The movie will be released on May 16, 2014.

On October 3, 2012, the movie is set to be in production on March 2013 in Vancouver. Also, Drew Pearce, the screenwriter of Iron Man 3, has been hired to do some rewrites to the script.

On December 18, 2012, a screenshot of, what appears to be, the Godzilla trailer was posted on the Tumblr of Jordane Menard, the modeler concept and texture artist for the film. Menard has said "I'm Working on the Trailer of the next Godzilla here at MPC London as Modeler and Texture Artist. I've worked on the foreground on the building and the characters." Also, Drew Pearce was asked, on his Twitter, if there's going to be some scenes where Godzilla breathes fire, destroys buildings, taking out the military, done right and will be nothing like the 1998 film and his response was "There's a lot of of it in the current trailer... but new stuff coming very soon..."

Announced on March 13, 2013, the film has started production and filming on Vancouver Island. Also, Jim Rygiel, visual effects supervisor of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, has been hired to do the special effects for this film.

On March 18, 2013, Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced the final principal cast for the film, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, Juliette Binoche, David Strathairn and Bryan Cranston. Also, the film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Brothers while Toho will be distributing it in Japan, and the film will be in 3D.

On March 19, 2013, Gareth Edwards has announced that they've finished filming the first scene. Also, reports of a burning helicopter and a nuclear missile being transported by a train have been cited at Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, all of this is rumored to be in the movie.

On March 21, 2013, Richard T. Jones joins the cast of the movie.

On March 28, 2013, Akira Takarada, who starred in previous Godzilla films, joins the cast of the movie.

On April 5, 2013, Sally Hawkins joins the cast of the movie.

On April 17th, 2013, Brian Markinson joins the cast of the movie.

On April 20th, 2013, Yuki Morita joins the cast of the movie.

On April 23rd, 2013, it has been revealed that Godzilla will continue filming for two months in Hawaii.

On April 25th, 2013, Legendary posted a picture in their wall showing a path of destruction Godzilla has left behind.

On May 2nd, 2013, Legendary posted a picture in their wall showing what seems to be a power plant.

On May 16th, 2013, a new photo about people being hospitalized in the FEMA stadium popped up and was confirmed by Gareth Edwards appearing in it in an update.

On May 18, 2013, Legendary posted a new picture in their Twitter. Other sources, like Lainey Gossip, PUNKD Images, Spoilertv, Clayton Perry Photography, and VancityFilming have put up additional pictures and videos.

On Monday, December 9, 2013, TotalFilm posted a picture which is part of the viral marketing campaign showing Turkmenistan's infamous burning "Door to Hell", which might have something to do with M.U.T.O.

Marketing
Visitors to the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con received a t-shirt with an image of the new Godzilla design. The image is credited to comics and manga publisher UDON Entertainment. Gonzalo Ordóñez Arias worked with Legendary and Toho for the painting. Visitors to the Legendary Pictures booth at the convention could view an animation of the new Godzilla breathing his atomic breath superimposed over their image captured via a webcam. The augmented reality promotion was designed by Talking Dog Studios of Saskatchewan, Canada.

In the summer, Legendary opened the Godzilla Encounter, a museum where Godzilla stuff can be seen, in summer. They also released a Godzilla Encounter application for iOS, and opened a Godzilla Encounter website.

On December 8, 2013, the film's viral marketing campaign started with the release of the M.U.T.O. Research website.

On Tuesday, December 10, 2013, Legendary finally released the official teaser trailer as well as a new poster and a new official site.

Soundtrack
Godzilla's soundtrack, released as "Godzilla: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack", was composed by Alexandre Desplat. The soundtrack contains 20 tracks.

Theatrical Releases
Here are all the countries this film will be released in:
 * United States - May 16, 2014
 * Japan - July 25, 2014 (Distributed by Toho)
 * Argentina - May 15, 2014
 * Australia - May 15, 2014
 * Austria - May 16, 2014
 * Belgium - May 14, 2014
 * Bolivia - May 14, 2014
 * Brazil - May 14, 2014
 * Bulgaria - May 16, 2014
 * Canada - May 16, 2014
 * Chile - May 15, 2014
 * Colombia - May 16, 2014
 * Croatia - May 15, 2014
 * Cyprus - May 16, 2014
 * Czech Republic - May 15, 2014
 * Denmark - May 15, 2014
 * Egypt - May 14, 2014
 * Estonia - May 16, 2014
 * Finland - May 16, 2014
 * France - May 14, 2014
 * Germany - May 15, 2014
 * Greece - May 15, 2014
 * Hong Kong - May 15, 2014
 * Hungary - May 15, 2014
 * Iceland - May 16, 2014
 * India - May 16, 2014
 * Indonesia - May 16, 2014
 * Israel - May 15, 2014
 * Italy - May 15, 2014
 * Korea - May 15, 2014
 * Latvia - May 16, 2014
 * Lebanon - May 15, 2014
 * Lithuania - May 16, 2014
 * Malaysia - May 15, 2014
 * Mexico - May 15, 2014
 * Netherlands - May 15, 2014
 * New Zealand - May 15, 2014
 * Norway - May 16, 2014
 * Panama - May 16, 2014
 * Peru - May 15, 2014
 * Philippines - May 15, 2014
 * Poland - May 16, 2014
 * Portugal - May 15, 2014
 * Puerto Rico - May 15, 2014
 * România - May 16, 2014
 * Russia - May 15, 2014
 * Serbia - May 15, 2014
 * Singapore - May 15, 2014
 * South Africa - May 30, 2014
 * Spain - May 16, 2014
 * Sweden - May 14, 2014
 * Switzerland (French) - May 14, 2014
 * Switzerland (German) - May 15, 2014
 * Taiwan - May 16, 2014
 * Thailand - May 15, 2014
 * Turkey - May 16, 2014
 * Ukraine - May 15, 2014
 * United Arab Emirates - May 15, 2014
 * United Kingdom - May 15, 2014
 * Uruguay - May 15, 2014
 * Venezuela - May 16, 2014

Reception
Godzilla has received generally positive by critics and fans alike. Mose Persico of CTV says it's "a film not to be missed," Scott Carty of ABC TV deems it "epic for all the right reasons," Shawn Edwards of FOX TV calls it "the most incredible movie of the year," and Nancy Jay of Daybreak USA says it's "an instant classic." IGN gave it 9.0 out of 10.

The movie has also received its fair share of criticism, however. Most of the complaints revolve around the fact that Godzilla gets very little screen time, less screen time than the M.U.T.O.s in fact, and that the battles don't take most of the movie's running time. In addition, many critics found Ford Brody to be bland and generic, and criticized marketing for leading people to believe that Joe Brody was going to be the main character, though Bryan Cranston's performance has received universal praise.

Sequel
Gareth Edwards stated that he wanted Godzilla to work as a standalone film with a definitive ending, and opposed suggestions that the ending should leave the film open for a sequel. While Edwards wasn't against the possibility of future sequels, his main concern was delivering a satisfying experience with the current film; "I want a story that begins and ends, and you leave on a high. That's all we cared about when we were making this; just this film. If this film is good, the others can come, but let’s just pay attention to this and not get sidetracked by other things."

In an interview with Gareth Edwards said that if the film were to have a sequel that he would like to do a Destroy All Monsters-like film.

Trivia

 * This film is the first time Akira Takarada appears in a non-Japanese Godzilla film.
 * Most of the producers for this film were also involved with Pacific Rim.

Poll
Did you like Legendary Pictures' Godzilla? Yes! No. Kind of.

Godzilla (2014) Godzilla (2014)