Godzilla, the most famous giant lizard monster in all of popular culture, first debuted back in 1954 when Japanese production company Toho used the skyscraper-sized behemoth as an allegory for the devastation caused by nuclear weapons. The film - now cited as a classic of Japanese cinema - was followed by a series of sequels (27 to date); some good, some bad, some downright laughable. And then, in 1998, Hollywood decided it was time to unleash the beast for themselves to terrible results. A critical flop, the movie felt like an epic missed opportunity. Now, sixteen years later, Godzilla returns our screens in a movie directed by Gareth Edwards, who showed audiences that he knew a thing or two about massive creatures with his debut feature, the aptly titled Monsters. Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Bryan Cranston, the latest movie to tackle the Godzilla myth is a visual treat, and offers fans some of the most rousing sequences in the canon's mythology thus far (read our review here). Unfortunately, it's also something of a mess; for all that's good about Godzilla, it's a largely disappointing film. Join us, then, as we take a close look at 10 reasons why the latest Godzilla movie failed to meet our high expectations. Hey, at least it's better than the Matthew Broderick version (but what isn't?). Please note that this article contains major spoilers; read on at your own risk.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
