For a monster, there's a lot of ways people can interpret the most recent incarnation of Godzilla (which is part of why I loved this film).
The obvious one is that Godzilla is just an animal, albeit a large one. He only came up during the 50's because he sensed the Nautilus nuclear submarine, the first time such a source of radiation came to those depths. He approached the surface, and the U.S. Navy subsequently tried to kill him with atomic weapons. I'm assuming since the bombs didn't have a chance of killing him, Godzilla simply stuck around because he sensed the radiation from the bombs or he got tired of being nuked. In the present day, Godzilla heard the male MUTO calling out to the female MUTO, recognized that his mortal enemies still lived, and emerged to kill 'em. The humans weren't a threat to anyone but themselves, and they had never done Godzilla any harm, so he left them alone. That's why he never went after the Navy or the Army for shooting at him, they weren't able to actually harm him, and when he killed the MUTOs and woke up after his nap he just left.
Then there's also the theory that Godzilla is sentient, and that he sees himself as the protector of humanity. Even though the film doesn't say this, and none of the Project Monarch scientists suggest this, there are some very subtle hints. For example, when Godzilla is approaching Hawaii he intentionally submerges beneath the aircraft carrier, yet surfaces again when he's clear. When Godzilla leaves Hawaii, he's cruising at the surface with several Navy ships and helicopters very closely monitoring him. He never tries to shake them off or outrun them, only when he approaches San Francisco. Then at the Golden Gate Bridge, he stands up just as the cruise missiles are about to impact the bridge full of people, and again Godzilla avoids ramming any of the several Navy ships present. Then later on Godzilla sees Ford and seems to have a moment where he acknowledges Ford, which is right after Godzilla killed the male MUTO and Ford destroyed the MUTO nest. When the fighting is over, Godzilla stands up and looks around at all the humans around him and leaves peacefully.
From what I've seen on the Internet it seems like fans of the Godzilla series and Japanese fans favor the sentience theory in the 2014 Godzilla. Personally I favor this theory as well, since it makes Godzilla more of an anti-hero and provides more reason to root for him.
Can't be too careful with all those weirdos running around.
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lm362
9 years ago
I kind of favor the sentient theory, too and like that Godzilla was not humanized.
And did you notice how, when he wakes up, the camera cuts to another scene and then returns when he leaves? I think that was great since it gives the viewer a chance to imagine what might have happened between him and the humans surrounding him. And I also noticed that the soldiers, when he woke up, understandably were seen about to raise their guns. When they are seen again, their guns are not pointing at Godzilla. One could interpret many things from that. This was a movie that was fun, moving and made you think.
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