Godzilla (2014) has weak development. It attempts to stay grounded and restrained, but lacks the heart and themes to support that approach. The family drama quickly becomes predictable and stagnant. Its characters are flat, bland, sidelined, and pointless. The narrative is heavy on formulaic plot. Its dialogue is almost exclusively exposition. There's inconsistent science, contrivances, blunt allegories, and detached stakes. It broaches ideas of nature, balance, and control, but these discussions are undercooked. The acting is mild, aimless, and one-note (besides Cranston's motivated intensity). Thus, Godzilla's missing relatability makes its story generic and downright boring.
Technically, Godzilla is clunky. Its direction is somber, dry, and removed. The imagery offers flashy money shots among desaturated colors and dark lighting. Its editing adds action, cross cuts, iffy momentum, and sluggish pacing. The sound uses split cuts, genre elements, smash cuts, echoes, muffling, and perspective. Its music is suspenseful, ominous, fitting, and fairly forgettable. The production design supplies creatures, scale, globe-trotting, military elements, and drab personality. Its cast provides underutilized talent and misplaced fame. The effects are primarily CGI and mo-cap, with textured details. Overall, Godzilla builds competent craft around dull emotions.
Writing: 3/10
Direction: 5/10
Cinematography: 6/10
Acting: 6/10
Editing: 5/10
Sound: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 6/10
Production Design: 6/10
Casting: 7/10
Effects: 8/10
Overall Score: 6.0/10