10 Critically Reviled Sci-Fi Movies (That Weren't Actually That Bad)
2. Godzilla (1998)
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score: 16%
Critics Consensus: "Without compelling characters or heart, Godzilla stomps on everything that made the original (or any monster movie worth its salt) a classic."
Look, no matter what anyone says, it's clear that fans' main gripe with Roland Emmerich's Americanized Godzilla was the fact that it looked nothing like Godzilla. And you know what? Nobody's going to argue with them because, save for the spines, that reptilian lizard looked (and behaved) nothing like the Toho legend. But should that result in the complete overlooking of a damn good monster movie? Absolutely not.
The fact of the matter is that, on its own and without context, Godzilla '98 is actually a thoroughly enjoyable high-stakes popcorn flick that can be enjoyed over and over again. The special effects are phenomenal and the plot is incredibly straightforward which makes it an easy watch. And, whether you think there's depth there or not, the characters are actually quite funny - especially Jean Reno's show-stealing Philippe Roaché.
It might not be the Godzilla you know, but if you allow yourself to overlook that, you might actually end up enjoying this highly decent '90s blockbuster.