So. Godzilla, eh? You know- a big lizard that stomps all over cities and apparently shoots lasers or something? Yup. That was the extent of my Godzilla knowledge when I went to see this movie. Is Godzilla kid-friendly, or heck, any good for a non-monster movie fan? Godzilla: King of the Monsters Parent Movie Review will help you decide if your kids should miss this one.
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Can a Newbie Enjoy Godzilla: King of the Monsters?
Have you sensed the trend this week? It’s the week of “new to Patty” franchises. I mean, I vaguely know about the MonsterVerse movies like Kong and Godzilla, but it’s never really been my fandom. Neither was John Wick or the X-Men and Dark Phoenix for that matter.
But I went in anyway, for the sake of parent movie reviews. And yes- John Wick got one because there were kids in my theater. Gasp. But hey, parents, you do you I guess!
As far as answering the question of a newbie enjoying Godzilla, I personally think this one was a little harder to get into. I think it’s a subset of the geek/comic type movies that you either get or you don’t. I, despite some pretty cool effects and CGI, still land on the “don’t get it” side of things.
Most of the movie was spent with me laughing and exchanging looks with my husband at moments that weren’t quite intended to be funny. But the dialogue was so dumb you just had to laugh. Or at least I did.
About Godzilla: King of the Monsters
The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah.
When these ancient super-species – thought to be mere myths – rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.
Rated: PG-13
Run Time: 132 minutes
Godzilla: King of the Monsters Review
Alright- so what went wrong here? I couldn’t decide if it was me- that I just didn’t know enough of the story to get it- or if it was more of a mess than the fans seem to be saying.
Talking with my family after (who do enjoy the Godzilla and monster stories much more than I do) it seems that it was a combo of both.
While there was some exposition from characters giving background and that helped a lot, it didn’t go far enough to explain or draw me into the Titans fold. And I simply didn’t like the human characters- any of them- enough to care much about the path they were on.
The plot is thin, to say the least, but then again, I think that’s similar to most Godzilla movies. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that you are showing up for the monster fights more than the dialogue. As a parent who has lost a child, I wanted to feel empathy to the main characters, but they were both kinda awful and I just couldn’t.
I’m not sure what I wanted going in, but I left shaking my head and just not on board.
What I Liked About Godzilla: King of the Monsters
It wasn’t all bad. The special effects and the variety of Monsters we get to see are pretty cool.
The music is also incredible and that is probably what kept me in the action.
If you don’t want to over-think for 2 hours, then you might enjoy Godzilla.
No-Guilt Fangirls Podcast Godzilla Review
Are There End Credit Scenes in Godzilla: King of the Monsters?
There is.
I have an idea of where this is going but don’t want to give it away as a spoiler. So just know that you might want to stay in your seat until the end if you decide more Godzilla is in your future.
When Can You Pee During Godzilla: King of the Monsters
As you can tell, I was fine leaving at any point in this movie to head to the bathroom. I just really didn’t enjoy it and felt it was pretty easy to catch up on if I did step out for a bit.
But when can you pee during Godzilla: King of the Monsters?
- When the main Monarch team heads to Antartica around 30 minutes in
- When they say they are looking for Emma and Godzilla is swimming around 46 minutes in
- After Emma fights with her mom at the 1:06 mark
Godzilla: King of the Monsters Parent Movie Review
Alright, so your kids talk you into this one. What do you need to know from a parental standpoint? Is Godzilla: King of the Monsters kid-friendly?
Ages 13 and up as recommended should be fine- provided your family is not sensitive to language. Because there’s a lot of it- and most come from a scientist who has a prominent role in the film. Like- he just wouldn’t stop and some of it was pretty strong.
The child in the movie also shoots the finger, so know that little gem going in.
I assume you know what to expect from a violence standpoint. If you are considering this for kids, it’s a lot of destruction of cities as you’d assume. It’s definitely violent and while most of it is concentrated on blowing up buildings, there are scenes where people are running for their lives. Sensitive children could have issues with this one.
You also need to know that the death of a child is featured in this movie (not on screen but discussed often). Some families could be sensitive to this subject matter as well.
Rating: 5/10 because the visuals are impressive- and just because it’s not my jam doesn’t mean it doesn’t have some redeeming qualities for some audiences
Patty Holliday is a parent movie reviewer, writer, and podcaster living in the Washington, DC area. Her goal is to bridge the gap between casual fandom and picky critic with parent movie and television reviews. As a lifelong fangirl and pop culture connoisseur, she’s been creating online since 2009. You can find her work at No-Guilt Disney.com, No-Guilt Fangirl.com, No-Guilt Life, and as host of the top-rated No-Guilt Disney Podcast.