david-2011

Structurally the characters and plot are satisfying. Every character has more than superficial motivation for who they are and what they do. The episode takes time to show that everyone has understandable reasons for the things they do, even if the things they do hurt others. No one is made out to be a complete villain and neither is anyone a blameless saint. ..Except for budda-like wisdom-dropping Dolly, but that is to be expected. There is enough character development and small turns to the plot to keep interest for an hour.

Unfortunately, the delivery of this otherwise structurally sound story is so saccharine and obvious, that it felt painful to watch at times. There are obvious moral lessons throughout the story, and characters make it even more obvious through ABC Afterschool Special-level moralizing.

In many ways this whole endeavor was a relief from standard rom-com plot stupidity, where absurd and terrible things happen to buttress a plot which wouldn't otherwise unfold if characters would communicate with one another in a semi-realistic way. "Jolene" in some ways addresses this, either implicitly by showing people's motivations for what they do, and explicitly and heavy-handedly explaining how they could do it better.

Finally, the story has an overarching theme of personal agency and responsibility. Every character at some point in the story is forced to look inward when considering their particular predicament. The characters themselves had a depth that is absent from many overall better TV dramas or movies.

Didn't hate it. Didn't love it. Can't fault the apparent motivations, and Dolly is a gem.

The lack of a plot, predictable "surprises," and completely flat, unlikable characters makes this family drama an unexploded dud.

Oh, yes, there are monsters too, and enough special effects budget to feed and shelter a large city's homeless population for a year. This is important because the destruction wreaked by the Titans -- Godzilla and his ilk -- will put millions in what's left of the streets. The monsters are undeniably big and powerful and a handful scenes cast some truly memorable images of giants slugging it out.

Still, the monster combat is for the most part linear and suspenseless. And I couldn't help but wonder throughout at the inconsistencies in their destructive power. The monsters seem to have no problem leveling an entire metropolitan downtown area -- either by marching through buildings like matchsticks, or by generating F5-level tornadoes by simply flying over it -- yet when the protagonists' vehicle it struck by one of the monsters, the worst they suffer is a cracked windshield.

Which leads me to the main characters, an estranged combat-scientist couple who vie for the attention of their plucky adolescent daughter. This movie would have you believe that their little family drama is the most important thing going on against the backdrop of cataclysmic, extinction-level events threatening the human species. Inexplicably, world government organizations tasked with the study of the monsters and the preservation of human life in recognition of their existence diverge from their mission, on multiple occasions, to help this trio of protagonists, while presumably millions of others are being massacred.

Is it worth it? If you love Godzilla, this is another film in that series, so queue up. If you enjoy plot, suspense, character development, or even inventive onscreen action, the best part may be the end credits.

This movie made no sense. Characters run from one special effects display to another, and say nonsensical lines which do nothing to shape or advance a plot line. There is no structure or continuity on what the characters do. Most characters exist to explain some piece of action or back story, but none of what they say has been supported by anything that precedes it. Effectively, every thread spun by dialog is a red herring, because it is never woven into a coherent story.

The special effects look cool. Newt has a way with creatures. Movie sucked.