Review of Godzilla

Video

I think everyone knows what to expect when this DVD is put into their DVD player. Godzilla is another Hollywood blockbuster with amazing special effects and sound. Typically the picture quality is excellent, along with the superb animated menus - one of the best I have seen on any DVD. The film is split into 28 chapters.

Audio

Well this has to be a reference disc for the Dolby Digital audio system. Firstly the animated menus are based around the Godzilla takes New York scene in the movie, with accompanying sound and echoes around the room with each monster footstep, putting your subwoofer to good use.

The movie itself sounds stunning. If you have been toying with the idea of upgrading your Dolby ProLogic sound system to Dolby Digital AC-3, this film should convince you to splash out! The boomy bass of each Godzilla footstep justifies a subwoofer, and the rear surrounds belt out the screeches of the monster as it makes it`s presence known! In one of the early scenes, Matthew Broderick is driving in hard rain which echoes around the room behind your ears.

All in all this disc is a Dolby Digital classic.

Features

A nice clutch of extras accompany the film on this DVD. It has excellent animated menus which are very original, with a huge Godzilla squashing said menus after a selection is made.

You get five different trailers - three of which relate to this Godzilla film, and two refer to the old 70s Japanese Godzilla movies. They are worth a view just for the laughter factor. A `making of` featurette is there too, `Godzilla Takes New York`, and some publicity materials.

A full commentary by the special effects team is also provided, which is very entertaining and informative, although can be quite amusing with the "We put a CGI Godzilla here, a CGI tail there, and another CGI monster over there…" type language. However full marks for providing a commentary at all, as these are very worthwhile extras that can add up to another two hours entertainment once the film has been seen.

Conclusion

This is a superb DVD for showing off your audio system. This is not a superb film.

The plot is lacking in parts, and often just plain silly. The special effects are excellent, but the feeling is that the movie relies on them far too much rather than trying to provide a better script.

It is an entertaining movie however, and if you are not the critical type and just buy DVDs for entertainment alone, then Godzilla is a fun disc to own. If you have all the kit - a Dolby Digital sound system and projection, it becomes a must have.