Many audience members were taken aback with how little screen time Godzilla has in his own movie. For those familiar with the franchise, this isn't exactly new territory, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating. The restraint is understandable, as is the argument for it. Show too much Godzilla, and the sense of awe he is supposed to inspire will inevitably fade through familiarity with his presence. But general movie goers' frustrations with the lack of Godzilla has some merit, and the reason for that is because of how well Godzilla is realized. Even the film's biggest detractors will admit that Godzilla is incredible in this movie. This Godzilla is an amazing digital creation with real character. Despite how little we see of him, we are still able to get a sense of his character, which is a testament to how well done his characterization is. By the end of the film, the audience is thirsting for more, which means the sequel has to quench that thirst and give us more Godzilla. Edwards clearly loves and understands the character, it is obvious in every frame he's in. Godzilla is endowed with such pathos without going overboard and making him like a puppy. Is it so bad that we want to see more of him; a character that rivals some of the best the digital age has offered us? Godzilla should be a major character in a series of movies named after him, so he needs to have a greater presence in the sequel. While he should absolutely not be treated like a human character, he does need to be given material that subtly builds and expands on his motivations and feelings, subtly being the key word here. Godzilla has always been full of character; it is why he has endured for so long. This first film did a great job in keeping with that tradition, despite his limited screen time. Now the sequel just needs to give us more. How do you do that? Well...
