This is a weekly meme that I am hosting here at Reviews from a Bookworm. I own over 500 books, I'mn a book blogger so it's kind of obvious that I love books. But the one thing I own more of than books is DVDs, I love movies, TV shows, musicals. So I think it's time to include a weekly movie review on the blog. To take part all you have to do is share a movie review once a week, link back to Reviews from a Bookworm and add your link to the linky tool.
This weeks movie review will be for:
Godzilla
I'm finding Godzilla really hard to review because it seems to be a movie that everybody loved and then my boyfriend and I both really disliked it. I just don't want my review to put someone off watching it who was looking forward to it, they'll probably enjoy it as much as everyone else did. I do feel like my review is important though because, in my honest opinion, the trailers were misleading to a fault. They can act as though it's to avoid spoilers but to me they are purposefully misleading you about the kind of movie you're about to watch.
I knew that it wasn't going to be similar to the Godzilla I knew, as a nineties kid I had seen the 1998 version. The 1998 version is critically slammed and definitely slammed by Godzilla fans, but as a kid I really enjoyed it. I haven't seen it in years but I remember enjoying the general storyline and liking that the movie had humorous parts too it. The movie didn't take itself too seriously, something that this reboot definitely does and it's a little laughable when you look at the storyline. I also remember being more freaked out by the 1998 version, one reason being that I was only seven but also because this storyline is so out there that it's just too silly.
My biggest issue with Godzilla was that I felt deceived by the trailers. They show Godzilla and he's destroying stuff and upsetting people and that's the general gist of it. But, that's not what the movie is about at all. Godzilla is like a secondary character, I'm not even sure he classes as a main secondary character. We barely see him and he isn't the focus of the movie at all. The first time we finally get to see the monster causing all the trouble was a moment I was looking forward to. So, imagine my shock and dismay to realise that that isn't Godzilla. That's right people, this has THREE monsters. One Godzilla and two ridiculously stupid, weird looking creatures called MUTO. I was not a fan, I was just utterly confused and staring rather perplexed at my screen.
I guess I was hoping to see a movie where Godzilla is the bad guy and the humans are working to take him down. That's what I wanted, the trailer didn't suggest otherwise and so I had come to kind of expect that. I really hadn't gone to watch a movie where Godzilla is the hero and our only hope to stop these two random creatures that have ridiculous powers like super strong EMP that stops all electronics. I mean, seriously. And this movie is trying to take itself super seriously.
It's other biggest fault is that the characters aren't very well developed. I was so excited to see Bryan Cranston in this, it was a huge part of the reason that I decided to go see it. He did have an okay character and he's a superb actor but he just wasn't given much to work with. He's not in the movie for nearly long enough and I wish they had kept him in for the entirety of the film. Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays his son and I guess he's the hero of the film. I think a lot of people who watch the movie can admit that the characters are very flat, there just isn't much to any of them. I think it's a real shame because their superb actors and if they had been given more to work with they could have nailed it.
The main thing I felt was lacking was some humour or wit to this movie. It was very intense but too much so at times. I think it's a movie that could have been helped and saved by a tiny bit of humour or comic relief every now and again. They try to build up the tension but when your storyline is basically one of those Giant Something Vs Mega Something movies then I really don't think you should be trying to be so overly dramatic and intense.
One thing that can't be faulted is the special effects, they really are impressive. This definitely shows just what movie studios are capable of and I definitely applaud it for that. The director creates some scenes that did take my breath away because how how striking they were. One particular scene sees the army parachute into China Town and the camera pans down a street and the lanterns are hanging down and it just works so well. If you see the film then I am sure you'll spot the exact moment I am talking about. I was very impressed by that. The monsters are very well done and the fighting works but Godzilla still fights like a guy in a costume. His moves are just a bit too human, it really does still look like it's just a guy in a costume doing it. I also wasn't a fan of his look, he was too big in size for me and I don't think it really worked.
This is a movie that true Godzilla fans will love because it does add in so many aspects from the older movies. I am not a follower of all the films, I have only seen this and the 1998 version. Some may slate me for it but I'd definitely rather watch the poorly done but humorous 1998 version than this. Yes the special effects are stunning but I couldn't help but feel a little bored throughout, disappointed and not overly impressed with any other aspect of it.
X-Men: Days of Future Past
The one where Quicksilver steals the show!
The Distance Between Us by Kasie West: Review 5/5
Five Friday Favourites: Not-So-Favourite Dystopians
My Weekly Book Haul: 24/05/2014
Signed, Skye Harper by Carol Lynch Williams: Review
Discussion: How Book Series Made Me Their Bitch
This weeks movie review will be for:
Godzilla
I'm finding Godzilla really hard to review because it seems to be a movie that everybody loved and then my boyfriend and I both really disliked it. I just don't want my review to put someone off watching it who was looking forward to it, they'll probably enjoy it as much as everyone else did. I do feel like my review is important though because, in my honest opinion, the trailers were misleading to a fault. They can act as though it's to avoid spoilers but to me they are purposefully misleading you about the kind of movie you're about to watch.
I knew that it wasn't going to be similar to the Godzilla I knew, as a nineties kid I had seen the 1998 version. The 1998 version is critically slammed and definitely slammed by Godzilla fans, but as a kid I really enjoyed it. I haven't seen it in years but I remember enjoying the general storyline and liking that the movie had humorous parts too it. The movie didn't take itself too seriously, something that this reboot definitely does and it's a little laughable when you look at the storyline. I also remember being more freaked out by the 1998 version, one reason being that I was only seven but also because this storyline is so out there that it's just too silly.
My biggest issue with Godzilla was that I felt deceived by the trailers. They show Godzilla and he's destroying stuff and upsetting people and that's the general gist of it. But, that's not what the movie is about at all. Godzilla is like a secondary character, I'm not even sure he classes as a main secondary character. We barely see him and he isn't the focus of the movie at all. The first time we finally get to see the monster causing all the trouble was a moment I was looking forward to. So, imagine my shock and dismay to realise that that isn't Godzilla. That's right people, this has THREE monsters. One Godzilla and two ridiculously stupid, weird looking creatures called MUTO. I was not a fan, I was just utterly confused and staring rather perplexed at my screen.
I guess I was hoping to see a movie where Godzilla is the bad guy and the humans are working to take him down. That's what I wanted, the trailer didn't suggest otherwise and so I had come to kind of expect that. I really hadn't gone to watch a movie where Godzilla is the hero and our only hope to stop these two random creatures that have ridiculous powers like super strong EMP that stops all electronics. I mean, seriously. And this movie is trying to take itself super seriously.
It's other biggest fault is that the characters aren't very well developed. I was so excited to see Bryan Cranston in this, it was a huge part of the reason that I decided to go see it. He did have an okay character and he's a superb actor but he just wasn't given much to work with. He's not in the movie for nearly long enough and I wish they had kept him in for the entirety of the film. Aaron Taylor-Johnson plays his son and I guess he's the hero of the film. I think a lot of people who watch the movie can admit that the characters are very flat, there just isn't much to any of them. I think it's a real shame because their superb actors and if they had been given more to work with they could have nailed it.
The main thing I felt was lacking was some humour or wit to this movie. It was very intense but too much so at times. I think it's a movie that could have been helped and saved by a tiny bit of humour or comic relief every now and again. They try to build up the tension but when your storyline is basically one of those Giant Something Vs Mega Something movies then I really don't think you should be trying to be so overly dramatic and intense.
One thing that can't be faulted is the special effects, they really are impressive. This definitely shows just what movie studios are capable of and I definitely applaud it for that. The director creates some scenes that did take my breath away because how how striking they were. One particular scene sees the army parachute into China Town and the camera pans down a street and the lanterns are hanging down and it just works so well. If you see the film then I am sure you'll spot the exact moment I am talking about. I was very impressed by that. The monsters are very well done and the fighting works but Godzilla still fights like a guy in a costume. His moves are just a bit too human, it really does still look like it's just a guy in a costume doing it. I also wasn't a fan of his look, he was too big in size for me and I don't think it really worked.This is a movie that true Godzilla fans will love because it does add in so many aspects from the older movies. I am not a follower of all the films, I have only seen this and the 1998 version. Some may slate me for it but I'd definitely rather watch the poorly done but humorous 1998 version than this. Yes the special effects are stunning but I couldn't help but feel a little bored throughout, disappointed and not overly impressed with any other aspect of it.
4/10 Butterflies
The special effects were very well done and it was visually stunning at times, but everything else was lacking. The storyline was just a little too ridiculous for me and I wish the trailer had been more revealing. I felt like you're deceived about what kind of movie you're about to see. I came to see monster versus human, not monster versus two weird looking, flying, EMP power possessing monsters. I don't understand hiring such a superb cast and then giving them absolutely nothing to work with. This needed some wit or comic relief added in, it took itself far too seriously. It's been highly praised so if it's something you're looking forward to seeing then I suggest you do it. It's by no means a bad movie but it just didn't really work for me, I found myself nodding off at times. It started out very well but slowly lost momentum and dragged at the times where it should have been the most interesting.
Next Week:
X-Men: Days of Future Past
The one where Quicksilver steals the show!
I have been meaning to take part in both of the following memes for a while now, so its nice to finally be able to get to them. I will be taking part in Reading is Fun Again's Thoughtful Thursday and Okay, Let's Read's Thursday Thoughts, picking between them or doing both topics each week.
POV
What is your favourite POV style? First person? Second person? Third person?
I haven't seen many books that use second person and I honestly feel like there is a reason for that. I definitely prefer first and third person as I think they work the best in fiction. I can never really decide which one I prefer but I think third person is the least limiting. Most of the books I read are in third person and I believe it works well, they don't always need to follow one character. First person can be very beneficial to a story and can really help you truly get to know a character. I loved My Life Next Door and really enjoyed Samantha's first person narrative. If I had to pick between the two I am sure I would change my mind a million times, I rather love both and you can't make me pick!!!
Book Hype
If a book is over-hyped does it make you want to read it more, less or does it not effect you whatsoever? Do you think book hype hurts or helps new releases? Do you think book hype can skew or taint peoples opinions on a book? What is the most recent over-hyped book you can recall?
Ok, Let's Read's topic this week is perfect. I just reviewed Cinder and mentioned how much the hype kind of bothered me and effected my enjoyment of this book. Book hype can help a book I think, if a book has a huge hype surrounding it then I do think it definitely intrigues me and makes me want to see what all the fuss is about. It's probably the reason I picked up Fifty Shades and now I can never unread that, EVER! *cries* Cinder has such an over-hype right now that it is crazy. It's not completely undeserved but it's just a bit too much. How can the book really live up to that kind of hype? It didn't for me because all the little problems I had with it seemed like a much bigger deal. I just wondered a lot why it was so overly hyped up and I think I judged it more harshly because of it.
I do believe that book hype can skew and taint peoples opinions on a book. A lot of the time I feel like some people make a book seem so much more amazing to themselves even if they don't truly feel that way. Like they're making themselves believe the books utterly amazing just because that's what everyone else is telling them. I felt like this was the case with both Twilight and Fifty Shades. I feel like the Twilight hype got to me because I enjoyed the books a lot at one point and yet have so many issues with them. I hate the main characters, the plots are boring, the romance is creepy and let's not get started on the disaster that was Breaking Dawn. Hypes do crazy things to people, CRAZY THINGS! I think the Fifty Shades hype made the people who read it believe that it was just as amazing as they had heard, even if it wasn't.
The most recent hyped book I read that I felt 100% deserved it was definitely We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, I absolutely loved that book. It blew me away and I wasn't expecting it to be anywhere near as good as it was. So I definitely recommend that one!
The most recent hyped book I read that I felt 100% deserved it was definitely We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, I absolutely loved that book. It blew me away and I wasn't expecting it to be anywhere near as good as it was. So I definitely recommend that one!
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The Distance Between Us by Kasie West: Review 5/5
Five Friday Favourites: Not-So-Favourite Dystopians
My Weekly Book Haul: 24/05/2014
Signed, Skye Harper by Carol Lynch Williams: Review
Discussion: How Book Series Made Me Their Bitch
Glad I went to X-men instead. :D Love Quicksilver
ReplyDeleteHe was AWESOME! :)
DeleteEven though I normally like this kind of thing (sci fi and fantasy in movies), I really don't think I will like this one at all. It sounds horrible and I wasn't a fan of the original to begin with so I was hoping a remake would be well done. Darn it. Oh well though, there are quite a few other movies I will gladly go to instead.
ReplyDeleteI just think that special effects are all well and good but it needs to have a decent plot as well. It just didn't work for me. I've seen a lot better movies lately. Like I've said, everyone else seems to love it so you might end up really enjoying it but I just wasn't a fan.
DeleteI'm sooo excited for your review of XMen. I WANT TO SEE THAT. Buuut, I have to pick between XMen and TFIOS, and that's a killer choice, but hey. I'm perpetually broke. It's TFIOS and I'll just rewatch all the Wolverines to numb my sorrows. ;)
ReplyDeleteI think I like 1st person best. There are some stellar written 3rd povs out there, but for some reasons 1 person seems easier to write/read? I loooove the Lunar Chronicles in 3rd, because there's so many characters, but I can't imagine Katniss in 3rd. x) I love being so inside the character's head it's like you ARE the character. Gosh, I can sure do awesome things when I'm reading. XD
X-MEN IS AMAZING!!! I definitely recommend that one if I am totally honest, but I get the dilemna. We have a super cheap cinema here so I can go see a ton of movies now without it destroying my bank balance. I will definitely be going to see TFIOS when it comes out.
DeleteI do think I prefer 1st but then I remember all these amazing third person narrative books that I've loved and change my mind. I think it just depends on the book and what works for that particular story.
Oooo, goody, some relavent topics this week! POV, well, I tend to prefer first, it allows me to connect better to a character, but the downside is the inner monologue and depressing thoughts (Katniss anyone?), but third person is good because you get the range of feelings and emotions from all the characters and you're an outsider to everything which means you see things the characters can't and it can change your thoughts and feelings, so definitely those too. Hype? WELL HELLO THERE PERFECT QUESTION! Hype can seriously put a damper on a book, think that's where The Hunger Games came in, but Dangerous Girls was great because there wasn't any, so that was an amazing surprise! Hey, I'll so be able to link my film review next week, I'M SO EXCITED! (Minor point: I LOVE Quicksilver in the comics, he's my comic husband, so he's mine, just saying ;))
ReplyDeleteI think I also prefer first but it does depend on the book. I have loved so many books that are in third and so that made me very indecisive! Hype is becoming the bane of my existence right now. I am getting so fed up of it now, especially when they end up disappointing.
DeleteYAY!!! So excited to finally get to see your film review :) You can have him, he steals the show but I wouldn't want to marry him ;)
I can not wait to watch X-Men: Days of Future Past. This movie is a must see for me. And if it's less than super awesome-fantastic-mind blowing I'm going to cry! Seriously. Need to watch it.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED IT!!! I really hope you end up loving it too. I was so anxious and worried that it would disappoint but it was truly amazing!! :)
DeleteYep, I agree with you in that people's opinions are sometimes skewed by hypes. This goes two ways though! I see people love hyped books that were a disappointment to me... and left me thinking 'I trust my friends, why do they like this book omg' XD But then I am super sceptical when a book is hyped so to be fair I'm probably easily disappointed... oops.
ReplyDeleteI think I might be easily disappointed at times too, but I like to think I go into it really hoping that I am going to love the book. Sometimes the hype is just too much for a book to actually live up to.
DeleteIt's a toss up between Maybe Someday (heard a really good review of it the other day) and My Life Next Door as I have heard a lot of good things about that author recently. Like you, I am not good at making decisions....
ReplyDeleteHAHA, at least I'm not alone ;) Both are amazing but my favourite of the two would be My Life Next Door! <3
DeleteI haven't actaully seen Godzilla or have any diser to watch it at all to be honest, its just not my cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteI'm commenting because I can no wait to see what you think of the new X-men film haha. I've loved them for as long as I can remember and I'm really looking forward to the new one, like stupidly excited. I just hope I get to see it before your review haha.
Great post as always hun :)
Well, I kind of wish I had been smart and avoided it. It did not work for me at all.
DeleteWell spoiler for next weeks review and all, but I LOVED IT <3 Haha. You can check back to get all my thoughts but I can safely say that I love it. There's no spoilers in the review so don't worry.
Thanks for checking it out :)
I LOVE The Lunar Chronicles series, but I can totally see how the hype would make at least Cinder seem disappointing. My advice for that would be to push on with the series. I, personally, (and I think a lot of other people as well) feel like those books just keep getting better. Cress has been my favorite by far of the three that are out.
ReplyDeleteI loved how you mentioned We Were Liars. It seems like EVERYONE is talking about it and I'm so so intrigued to read it myself. My favorite thing is that everyone keeps saying "It's amazing, but I can't tell you anything about it." I feel like it's just going to be fantastic and amazing, mostly because I don't know exactly what it's about.
Great post! I loved hearing all of your opinions. Thanks for participating in Thursday Thoughts! :)
I am actually loving Scarlet right now, I am enjoying it way more than the first one. So I am very excited to see what I make of Cress.
DeleteRead it!!! Hopefully the hype won't get to you and you'll love it as much as I did. HAHA exactly, it was so hard to review because I couldn't give away one little detail. Frustrating to write but I couldn't risk spoiling anything.
Great post this week. I'm not a massive Godzilla person...so I think I'll skip this one. I CAN'T WAIT to see the new X-Men movie though, I love them, I love them all! I haven't even seen Divergent yet *runs away and hides* but I really want to. I need to give the POV post a little thought - I'm planning to do more discussion posts and will link in to these at some point, as well as doing Life of a Blogger. I posted a huuugge comment on a Hype post this week and I agree that some hype is good for a book, but when it blows up - like J Green, it kind of ruins it because books go on these super high pedestals that the reality will just never live up to. It can come close, but there's always that wee niggle that it just isn't perfect. I gave TFIOS 4.5/5 for this reason, and I think if I'd read it a year or two ago it would have blew me away more...
ReplyDeleteR x
I LOVED X-MEN!! You definitely need to go see it, one of my favourites <3 I know, hype has definitely made it so some books could never live up to my expectations of them. Sometimes I think it does ruin my enjoyment of the book a bit because I judge the book more harshly.
DeleteI know what you mean about Twilight. I liked the books way back when, but I also didn't like certain parts, but yet I felt like I was supposed to love it because SO MANY others do.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that you didn't like Cinder as much as the hype for it. (I love the series, but I didn't really hear any hype for it before I read it. It was before I became a blogger).
Great post! And thanks for stopping by my blog! :D
I know, that's exactly how I felt about Twilight. I am loving the sequel to Cinder way more though, so I am kind of in love with the series now. Thanks for checking mine out too :)
DeleteI was actually somewhat looking forward to this movie, only because my sister is super excited to see it. But that kind of sucks that Godzilla itself doesn't even seem like a secondary character. Lame... As for POV. If the author writes a book that I can connect with the characters, writes well, and makes a story I'll care for, then it doesn't really matter to me.
ReplyDeleteHe really doesn't appear often or for very long, which was very disappointing. I didn't like that this was Monster V Monster either, that's not what I bought tickets to go see tbh.
DeleteSorry you didn't end up liking Godzilla. I haven't seen it yet and I probably won't. How strange that it didn't have any humor in it, usually these type of movies do. I do like Elizabeth Olson, but not enough to see this movie.
ReplyDeletePOV: I don't really have a preferences, I enjoy both.
Hype: I sort of miss the old days when you would just be browsing in a bookstore, pick up a book and read the back, buy it and love it, knowing absolutely nothing about it. That doesn't happen to me anymore. ~Pam
She was really great in it, very talented but she doesn't have a huge role in it.
DeleteMe too, it's hard to pick.
Doesn't happen to me either since I've started blogging, I actually really miss it!
I agree that some people bend their opinion toward the hype (or the hate actually). I wonder if it is because it's hard to be the only one saying "er... I didn't like it!" around over-enthusiastic people. Or when that happens, people often make shy excuse about it: "I'm *sorry* but I didn't really like it" or "I don't know what's up with me but I actually liked this book...".
ReplyDeleteExactly, it can be hard to feel like the only person who felt one way about the book when it seems everyone else felt the other.
Delete