Godzilla (1998)

User Rating:

4.8/10   

Director:

Roland Emmerich

Writers (WGA):

Ted Elliott (story) &
Terry Rossio (story) ...

Release Date:

19 May 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Size Does Matter

Plot:

A montage of French nuclear tests in the Pacific Ocean, observed by many marine iguanas. Then, in present days...

Plot Keywords:

Godzilla | Lizard | Monster | Military | Scientist

Awards:

8 wins & 8 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 15

1:00 PM

MyNetwork

Cast

Matthew Broderick	...	Dr. Niko Tatopoulos
Jean Reno	...	Philippe Roaché
Maria Pitillo	...	Audrey Timmonds
Hank Azaria	...	Victor 'Animal' Palotti
Kevin Dunn	...	Colonel Hicks
Michael Lerner	...	Mayor Ebert
Harry Shearer	...	Charles Caiman, WIDF Anchor
Arabella Field	...	Lucy Palotti
Vicki Lewis	...	Dr. Elsie Chapman
Doug Savant	...	Sergeant O'Neal
Malcolm Danare	...	Dr. Mendel Craven
Lorry Goldman	...	Gene, Mayor's Aide
Christian Aubert	...	Jean-Luc
Philippe Bergeron	...	Jean-Claude
Frank Bruynbroek	...	Jean-Pierre

Also Known As:

Gojira (Japan)
Godzilla (Austria) (Germany) [de]
цНДГХККЮ (Russia) [ru]
Godzila (Slovenia) [sl]
Godzilla (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Godzilla (France) [fr]
Godzilla (Spain) [es]
Godzilla (Poland) [pl]
Godzilla (Greece) [el]
Godzilla (Brazil) [pt]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi monster action/violence.

Runtime:

139 min | Denmark:133 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English | French | Japanese

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

Iceland:10 | Iceland:LH (video rating) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #35077) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Philippines:G | Brazil:Livre | Australia:PG | Belgium:KT | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Centropolis Film Productions

Trivia:

Tomoyuki Tanaka had produced all of the Japanese Godzilla movies. He died only a month before this film began actual production. This film is dedicated to him.

Goofs:

Continuity: We see the top of the Chrysler building being knocked off early in the film. When there is a long shot of Madison Square Garden after the air strike the Chrysler is shown intact.

Quotes:

Audrey Timmonds: Wait, I don't get it... If he's the first of his kind, how can he be pregnant? Doesn't he need a mate?
Dr. Niko Tatopoulus: Not if he reproduces asexually.
Audrey Timmonds: Where's the fun in that?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

Soundtrack:

Deeper Underground

I thought this was fun. I don't know why people whine about it so much.

Well, being a longtime fan of the GODZILLA/GOJIRA films as a youngster, I remember seeing this with great anticipation. I, unlike a lot of people, was not at all disappointed. This film was exactly what I was hoping it would be at the time. Sure, it certainly wasn't as charming or as funny as the films I loved as a kid, but it was a lot of fun. I loved the action scenes, the look of the monster was crazy to me, and the plot was simple enough for a first time viewer to get right into. Seeing it again 10 years later, I had the same reaction. My opinion of this film hasn't changed one bit. I guess everybody's complaints stem from how this has no charm or any kind of attempt at being cute or original. I guess that's understandable, but I still don't see what everybody's problem is. This was supposed to be a fun, exciting, and action packed thrill ride. That's all it is, no more, no less. I personally think that it succeeds at what it achieved to be perfectly. Matthew Broderick may not exactly be an action hero, but his character sure was quirky and funny. Jean Reno was as good as usual.