I told a friend the other day that I can’t recall a time in my life when I did not love Godzilla. Big G has been with me from some of my earliest years on God’s green earth. He has been a constant companion, a source of strength and symbol of endurance in this harsh life. I cherish the 30+ films in the Godzilla franchise that have been produced over the last 65 years since the original film was released. To me they are treasures.

As a lifelong fan, Legendary and Warner Brothers had my money the moment they announced this film was being made five years ago. That doesn’t mean that they had the money of the general public, the skeptic, or the casually interested moviegoer. If you are one of those people who are either apathetic or on the fence about going to see Godzilla: King of the Monsters allow me to make a case for why you absolutely should (in spite of what some critics may be saying).

Wonder & Awe

If someone were to ask me to distill the central message that runs through the entire Godzilla franchise I would say this: the smallness of humanity. Godzilla is a force of nature that cannot be restrained or withstood by our modern advancements. He is a personification of the great power and unbridled fury that lies dormant within creation. The Godzilla movies remind us that there are forces far greater than modern human ingenuity at work in the world and that these forces are entirely outside of our control.

These movies force us to pause and reconsider our role in the universe, they do not puff us up with pride but rather steep us in humility. We come face to face with the whirlwind and say along with Job “Behold, I am of small account!” We cannot draw out Leviathan with a fishhook for he is beyond us in every imaginable way. All we can do is gaze in reverential awe.

This is not to say that this is the singular purpose of every Godzilla film but it is an inherent attribute to his character. Even at the height of Godzilla’s campiness the films always retained this message by demonstrating that there were threats to our existence that only a power such as Godzilla was capable of stopping. Even if that existential threat was clothed in campy fun the message remained.

A Ton of Fun

Which brings me to my next point. These movies are a ton of fun. If you have never had the privilege of witnessing an all-out kaiju brawl on the big screen then you are in for a visual delight. The scale of the action in both size and sheer power will likely dwarf every other summer blockbuster this year, yes that includes Endgame. There are few characters in cinematic history who leave a bigger impact than Godzilla when the action and atomic blasts heat up.

This especially true now that Big G’s longtime kaiju counterparts Mothra, Rodan, and King Ghidorah are along for the ride. I can assure you that seeing these four battle it out on the big screen will make Jurassic Park look quaint by comparison. In the Toho films the monsters are not just lumbering beasts they are genuine characters with their own motivations. This dials up the fun when the monsters begin to clash because you can see their personalities shine through.

It is not a slight against the franchise’s enduring legacy to say that having a good time has been a hallmark of the series since the 1960s. Godzilla began as a metaphor for the horrors of nuclear war but he did not remain only that. As with all enduring pop culture icons there is a layered history that only provides depth to his character.

If you buy a ticket expecting to have a great time with a group of friends you will not walk away disappointed. Just remember to suspend your disbelief and check your cynicism at the door.

Closing Thoughts

I will not sit here and make the claim that Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a perfect film. I am sure that there is credit to what some critics are saying, there likely are problems with the writing and dialogue. There is a chance some poor decisions were made in the direction and production of the film. All of that could very well be true. It is honestly rare a Godzilla film has ever been considered very good in the eyes of western critics upon it’s release. And yet, he is still here going strong some 65 years later.

I get it. Godzilla is not for everyone. I mean, I don’t really get it, but I guess I have to try to understand why someone would want to live a life unable to enjoy a Godzilla movie.

I won’t promise you that this will be your favorite movie-going experience of the summer but I can say that if you allow yourself, you will have fun with Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

Who knows maybe, just maybe, you will even feel a little bolt of wonder jolt through your heart as you watch Big G rise from the oceans depths to face the harsh darkness of this world, rear back his head, and let out his out trademark roar which echoes throughout cinematic history once more. In that moment maybe you will find yourself saying under your breath “long live the king.”