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Godzilla
- Review Date: May 19, 2003
- PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 1998
Common Sense Media says
Updated classic is Jurassic Park with one monster.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that younger kids aware of nuclear testing may be concerned that real mutations could be occurring. Some kids may be confused because at times, Godzilla is presented sympathetically, especially as he/she shows protective fury in finding her babies have been killed.
What's the story?
Nuclear testing has resulted in the mutation of a fish-loving lizard who seeks out Manhattan as an ideal place to lay eggs (he is a self-reproducing hemaphrodite). While Godzilla roars around knocking down buildings, bespectacled scientist Nick Tatapolous (Matthew Broderick) works with the U.S. Army and a mysterious group of Frenchmen to try to stop him, and Audrey (Maria Petillo), the girl who broke Nick's heart in college, tries to break into the broadcast reporting big leagues by getting the inside story.
Is it any good?
The classic Japanese monster film has been updated by the team that produced and directed Stargate and Independence Day, and what we get is basically Jurassic Park with one very, very big dinosaur.
On the scariness scale, GODZILLA fits in at around the Jurassic Park level, with a few jump-out-at-you surprises and some tense moments. The special effects are state-of-the art, but not particularly innovative. There are some striking visuals and a few clever plot turns. But the movie sorely misses the quirky charm of Independence Day's Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum and the story never captures the heart. And, as far as I am concerned, the real special effect in this movie is the way they managed to make it appear that Manhattan was evacuated almost instantaneously.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why it was important to Phillippe to take responsibility for Godzilla and why it was wrong for Audrey to betray Nick's trust.
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AGE
A bad remake!!!! America bombs it again
I hate this movie. It's stupid. It's as bad as Daegoesu Yongari(1967) or Uchu Kaiju Gamera(1980). Get Rashomon(1950) and Daikaiju Baran(1958) instead. Skip it
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AGE
no point
There's no point in watching this movie, other than seeing a big lizard crush buildings.
Honestly, there's no plot, no characterization, no reason or purpose at ALL!
The old, dubbed, black-and-white Godzilla movies were better than this mess!
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AGE
Great Movie
the movie was really good but godzilla is different looking from the oringinal so might dissapoint some fans. The movie at times says bad words. In the movie some people die from the babies (but doesnt show them being cut or anything like that) but still i think it was an great movie!
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Kid, 11 years old
March 16, 2011
AGE
Thats a lot of fish
Language is pretty intense *such as uses of the B-Word*, a fire breathing mutant iguana can be terrifiying for some, and this just not the Godzilla we all know and love. ot to metio, Matthew Broderick's preformace is WORSE than the Super Mario Bros. movie!
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AGE
America ruins Godzilla....again.
The 1954 "Godzilla" was a classic, but the Americans have tried one too many times to re-create it. Okay for kids, but they'll probably just say "It was good," and then run off to do something better with their time. Did I enjoy it? It was OK. But if America really wants some "Godzilla fame," they'll just have to keep trying. It was almost a success, but almost won't cut it.
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AGE
godzilla yeah right
this movie was ok terrible godzilla movie . but an alright movie for ages 11 and up.
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AGE
might be to scary for kids younger than 4
spectacular !
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AGE
Okay for 10 and up, but does have language and some violent images
My 9 year old saw this and can't believe (and neither can I) that you say that language is not an issue! You should rewatch and re-evaluate. Also, there is swearing in French in this movie! That should also count! Some scenes are too graphic with dinosaurs crunching on humans.
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| Studio: | Columbia Tristar |
| Director: | Roland Emmerich |
| Cast: | Harry Shearer, Jean Reno, Matthew Broderick |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 139 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 20, 1998 |
| DVD release date: | November 3, 1998 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | sci-fi monster action/violence |
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