2 things that I thought I could not happen (not so soon at least) happened with this movie. One, Transcendence is now the second worst movie of the year; two, Roland Emmerich's 1998 version suddenly became better when compared to this.
This movie was an unmitigated disaster almost right from the moment we left the opening credits. Seriously, the opening credits and the Alexandre Desplat's overture was possibly the best moment of the whole movie. Desplat's score was way too good and epic for the events that were unfolding on the screen. The other good thing was the character design of Godzilla. Not surprising since it was designed by Weta Digital - Peter Jackson's digital visual effects company that gave us the creatures in Lord of The Ring and Smaug from The Hobbit.
This is not a monster flick. Having said that, if director Gareth Edwards does not want to shoot a monster movie, than he better have a solid human-angle going on. Unfortunately, he does not. Let's just put it this way: Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim is at least a hundred times better than this as a monster movie, and perhaps just ten times more interesting as a humanity story, despite all its flaws. I really do not care about any of the lead characters nor humanity in general. As for special effects, really other than the creature design, we have seen better in a lot of other non-effects driven movies.
The broad story by David Callaham follows closely to the original Toho Godzilla storyline, but the screenplay by Max Borenstein is beyond ridiculous. Not only was the dialogue clunky and cheesy, but the plot contrivances have reached a new high and plot holes a new depth in this movie. Absolutely nothing that was done by the humans made much sense. The monsters were possibly more intelligent than the humans. All actions were done only to fill up the 123 minutes run time and forced conflict and tension out of nothing.
Aaron Tyler Johnson is not a leading man. Even in the Kick Ass franchise he was constantly overshadowed by Chloe Grace Moretz. He makes me scared for Avengers: Age of Ultron (in Joss we trust!).
Speaking of Avengers 2, it is another clear sign that the movie is tanking when I cannot stop thinking whenever Elizabeth Olsen comes on that the Scarlet Witch could just manipulate the monsters out of reality? Or, as we near the half-way mark, wipe this movie off my memory? She was grossly under-utilised, and we know she can act (see: Old Boy), and she and Johnson had absolutely zero chemistry.
The rest of the cast were just plain wasted. Ken Watanabe, Sally Hawkins, Juliette Binoche and Bryan Cranston - 3 Academy Award nominees and a multi-Emmy/Golden Globe winning actor.
This movie really tested my patience and I would have walked out if I was not seated in the middle of a row. It is pure stupidity and an insult to an intelligent audience. At least Transcendence had a more intelligent concept behind it. Also, you cannot get more racist and white supremacist than this movie.
3D and IMAX absolutely not necessary.
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