TRAILER: ‘Godzilla’

From Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. 

Here is the intro where I would normally try to be a bit quippy and summarize what you’re about to watch. But I’m at a loss as to how you word, and here’s why. 

This is the second directorial effort by Gareth Edwards, and though I regretfully admit I haven’t seen his debut he must have made quite the impression. And if the trailer is any indication he was a solid choice to bring the Tokyo metaphor back just in time for Godzilla’s 60th birthday.

This trailer certainly packs a different punch than the quiet teaser with the J. Robert Oppenheimer voice over. The last trailer reminded us what Godzilla really is – the force of nature that will always punish humanity’s misdeeds – but this one reminds us what Godzilla does: Destroy. A lot.

A few details in these some two minutes hit the mark for me; seeing Bryan Cranston in something new, the decisions used in sound (especially the use of the Kyrie from Gyorgy Ligeti’s Requiem dear Lord that blew my mind, and I wonder if permission was actually given this time), and the slow and brief reveal of the monster. 

Edwards has gone on record voicing his opinion of Godzilla as an anti-hero, describing him as “the punishment we deserve” and stating that his film will stay true to this theme. It looks as though this film takes place on US soil, which adds even more weight to the theme of greed and power’s rewards.

If I was excited before this trailer, I’m about 700% more excited right now.