Godzilla May Not Be King of the Box Office, But Reigns Supreme Among Monster Fans

The King of the Monsters doesn't get much respect these days. Attempts to bring the giant radioactive lizard to the big screen have largely succeeded in special effects, pleasing the hardcore Godzilla fans, but plotlines haven't been enough to draw in wider audiences.

Thus it is with the newest in the franchise, GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, the sequel to the 2014 GODZILLA. The focus of this release is the discovery and awakening of so-called titans around the world -- giant monsters who have been dormant and now rising to the surface. A global agency, Monarch, has been working to subdue or destroy these creatures, with little success. But Dr. Emma Russell (VERA FARMIGA) has been working on a device that may turn the tide: the ORCA is a device that mimics the subsonic calls the titans emit, similar to the way whales communicate across hundreds of miles. Think of it as a dog whistle for monsters, capable of telling them to calm down -- or calling them to you. But Emma may not be developing the tool for Monarch, when she joins forces with an eco-terrorist group that sees the titans as the Earth's way of maintaining balance.

Now Monarch relies on Emma's estranged husband, Dr. Mark Russell (KYLE CHANDLER) to assist with the monster uprising. But Mark's only interest is in destroying them, particular Godzilla whose last attack resulted in the death of Mark's son.

Make no mistake, the allure of GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS is seeing the giant creatures portrayed in a fashion other than a man in a rubber suit. These depictions are absolutely nerdtastic, with clashes between Mothra, Rodona, King Ghidorah (aka Monster Zero) and, of course, Godzilla. And while there is a transformation in the relationship between man and monster, owing to the actions of the Russell daughter, Madison (MILLIE BOBBY BROWN), it's not enough to elevate the actual plot above "monsters smash each other destroying cities."

And, quite honestly, that's all we wanted anyway.

But don't think this is the end of the franchise. The closing credits make numerous references to a place called Skull Island -- home to the other king of the monsters: King Kong. And there are even deeper hints that the Mecha monsters are on the horizon.

So put this up on the biggest screen possible, get a big bowl of popcorn, and revel in monster mayhem and massive collateral damage.