Science Fiction
Action
Thriller
French nuclear tests irradiate an iguana into a giant monster that viciously attacks freighter ships in the Pacific Ocean. A team of experts, including Niko Tatopoulos, conclude that the oversized reptile is the culprit. Before long, the giant lizard is loose in Manhattan as the US military races to destroy the monster before it reproduces and it's spawn takes over the world.
Directors
Matthew Broderick
Dr. Niko Tatopoulos
Jean Reno
Philippe Roaché
Maria Pitillo
Audrey Timmonds
Hank Azaria
Victor 'Animal' Palotti
Kevin Dunn
Colonel Hicks
Michael Lerner
Mayor Ebert
Harry Shearer
Charles Caiman
Arabella Field
Lucy Palotti
Vicki Lewis
Dr. Elsie Chapman
Doug Savant
Sergeant O'Neal
Malcolm Danare
Dr. Mendel Craven
Lorry Goldman
Gene, Mayor's Aide
Christian Aubert
Jean-Luc
Philippe Bergeron
Jean-Claude
Frank Bruynbroek
Jean-Pierre
François Giroday
Jean-Philippe
Robert Lesser
Murray
Directors
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User reviews4
Review
Featured review
The hype was as big as the monster to start with!
It felt like this take on Godzilla was advertised for 2 years in advance of the actual release, every time (it seemed) I went to the cinema I was awestruck by little teaser trailers, in fact the one of the old guy fishing and hooking Zilla is a personal favourite...SIZE DOES MATTER! Love it I do. Sadly as most of us now know, the film didn't meet fans and critics expectations at all, but was the film done down by the hype and an expectation of a masterpiece for the genre?.
Well it didn't help that is for sure, but taking aside that problem, the film only glimpses at what might have been. It has many great points that seem to have been forgotten, so sadly we are all too aware of the film's failings on the makers behalf. The build up in the film is excellent, the makers mount the tension in steady strokes, doing what all classic monster movie makers do, they have you waiting with gripping expectation of the creature by a series of scenarios and inventive dialogue. The sound is incredible, making it an essential viewing for those who cherish home surround cinema, while some of the shots and destruction of New York are well worth the viewers time.
But then? Well they throw the good work away by turning the film's focus away from the big lizard to a story line that was only fitting for the cartoon version of Godzooki. Thus rendering the film as a poor man's Jurassic Park, which quite frankly doesn't sit well. Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno and Hank Azaria all deserved better scripting, hell we all did!
It's not the evil stinker some would have you believe, it does have its moments of both good and bad, it is, by definition, very much a film split down the middle. 5/10
John Chard13 Apr, 2020
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Box office
Budget
$130,000,000Gross worldwide
$379,014,294