Parents' Guide to Godzilla

Movie 1998 PG-13 139 minutes
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Common Sense Media Review

By Nell Minow , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 11+

Violent updated classic could be too intense for young kids.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 11+?

Any Positive Content?

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Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 16 parent reviews

 

 

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age 9+

Based on 41 kid reviews

Kids say this movie is a divisive take on the classic monster genre, with opinions ranging from it being a fun yet cheesy adventure to a disappointing portrayal of the iconic creature, reducing Godzilla to a giant iguana without its classic powers. While some viewers appreciate the special effects and think it's entertaining for kids, many die-hard fans criticize it for its lack of connection to the original films and excessive violence.entertaining for kidspoor adaptationbad character portrayalexcessive violencespecial effects praised
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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 hermaphrodite). 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?

Our review:
Parents say ( 16 ):
Kids say ( 41 ):

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. The real special effect in this movie is making it appear that Manhattan was evacuated almost instantaneously.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how this 1998 version differs from the original 1956 Godzilla movie. What's most compelling, the story or the nonstop action?

  • If you're used to seeing Matthew Broderick in romantic comedies and quirky dramas, what do you think of him in an action movie loaded with special effects?

  • Why do you think so many movies have been made about the disastrous effects of nuclear testing?

Movie Details

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