Film Preview: Godzilla (2014)

Poster

Additional posters can be found below.

Trailer Link

Release Date:

May 16, 2014

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “A giant radioactive monster called Godzilla appears to wreak destruction on mankind.”

Poster: A- / B / B / C+ / B+ / B (2) / B (7) / B+

Review: (#1-#3) Design #1 is a fascinating, beautiful construct that attempts to create an interesting, evocative look without feeling stale or uninspired. The second two designs aren’t as inventive, but they are effective enough. (#4) This is a much more traditional look that its predecessors, demanding attention for its colossal “protagonist,” while diminishing the creative spirit previously employed.

(#5-#7) The fifth design is a compelling, stylized design not unlike some of its predecessors. It uses smoke and flames to suggest the monster, a fascinating design. The sixth and seventh are more like the realism used in the second and third posters, which fits thematically, but are somewhat weaker stylistically than the more inventive ones.

(#8-#16) The next seven posters are all varied, interesting and draw on inspiration from past Godzilla designs, but are directed at the Asian markets where the designs will have more resonance than in the U.S. where Godzilla and his past have more niche and less mainstream. The final one gets extra points for trying to do something interesting even if the overall design isn’t that much more original than the immediate predecessors.

Trailer: A / B+

Review: I’m not sure why it took so long for this to show up on Apple Trailers, but I first saw the trailer back in November. It’s brilliantly executed, builds suspense effectively and climaxes with a familiar sound. This is the best sales tool they could have, but sadly they’ll eventually mock up a crappy, all-footage trailer that makes the film look offal.

(#2) Perhaps not as interesting as the first, we are teased still teased and excited for the film. Voice over, even if speech from the film, isn’t the best way to create tension. The trailer then has to rely on quick teases of the creature’s look to make it more enticing, though by now the look is pretty much spoiled.