Review Roundup: Bryan Cranston & GODZILLA Stomp Into Theaters Friday

The newest addition to the Godzilla film franchise is being released this Friday, just in time to celebrate the 60th Anniversary. The cast, led by Tony front-runner Bryan Cranston, features Oscar winner Juliette Binoche, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, and of course a giant lizard and a number of other monsters.

Visionary new director Gareth Edwards ("Monsters") comes a powerful story of human courage and reconciliation in the face of titanic forces of nature, when the awe-inspiring Godzilla rises to restore balance as humanity stands defenseless.

Let's see what the critics had to say...

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A.O. Scott | New York Times

"People are thus somewhat incidental to the story, and their feelings - mostly fear and determination - are less interesting than those of the ancient giants, who in their slimy, scaly, computer-generated movements and expressions register rage and anguish with an intensity beyond what the humans can muster." Read the full review here.

Betsy Sharkey | Los Angeles Times

"As it happens, "Godzilla's" terrifying towering reptile - the latest in a very long line - is one very cool dude. He's a 21st century Godzilla, eco-conscious and with 3-D side effects that are monstrous in all the right ways. Ironically this big, lumbering movie could have used more, not less. More Godzilla without question, and more emotional content for its very good cast too." Read the full review here.

Claudia Puig | USA Today

"Edwards wisely builds dramatic tension by letting the story unfold at a stately pace, also following the hallowed Spielberg playbook. Think Jurassic Park meets Jaws. The film gathers momentum early, drawing viewers in from the artful opening credits. Audiences are compelled to wait for the big reveal. About an hour in, the fierce-looking Godzilla shows himself in all his terrifying glory. It's a riveting spectacle." Read the full review here.

Todd McCarthy | Hollywood Reporter

"The king of movie monsters has grown bigger than ever -- in size as well as in the budget, resources and zealous seriousness devoted to his exploits -- in this grandiose celebration of his 60th birthday. Even older than James Bond and with more films to his credit, Godzilla has never before been accorded the sort of lavish respect that the talented young English director Gareth Edwards bestows upon him here, and it's almost too much; as if he were an elderly stage star being deferentially treated, the title character barely shows up until the second act." Read the full review here.

Peter Debruge | Variety

"Godzilla movies, like wrestling matches, are ultimately judged by the quality of the mayhem, and Edwards excels at blowing things up." Read the full review here.

Chris Nashawaty | Entertainment Weekly

"Unfortunately, Gareth Edwards' Godzilla feels like two movies Scotch-taped together. Only one of these movies is any good. Thankfully, it's the monster one." Read the full review here.

Michael Phillips | Chicago Tribune

"In one fell swoop, and a pretty swell fell swoop it is, the new "Godzilla" makes up for the 1998 Godzilla movie... The latest "Godzilla," fine and fierce, removes the camp (though it's not humorless) and takes the smartly considered step of not over-exploiting its star." Read the full review here.

Joe Williams | St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"In one fell swoop, and a pretty swell fell swoop it is, the new "Godzilla" makes up for the 1998 Godzilla movie, the one with Matthew Broderick up against the sea beast klutzing around New York like Jack Lemmon in "The Out-of-Towners." The latest "Godzilla," fine and fierce, removes the camp (though it's not humorless) and takes the smartly considered step of not over-exploiting its star." Read the full review here.

Did you survive the invasion on opening weekend? Add your review to the roundup in the comments below.

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