Godzilla 2014 Reviewed

Going into a film, especially one based on a preexisting property, I'm usually able to do 2 things.

1. Piece together a story line from the endless trailers, clips and still photos released by the studio. These puzzle pieces also enable me to imagine where the rest of the film will go. Often, this is setting myself up for failure as, at the heights of my ego, I enjoy my own version of the film better than what actually happens.

2. Putting aside the direction a trailer/clips/stills seeks to steer you in all together, I'm able to formulate what tone I am expecting from a property. This is more a gut reaction than anything else.

Godzilla was a film so shrouded in mystery, you could not possibly hope to work out a story line beyond "Monsters attack...we do our best to NOT DIE". That very basic assessment would prove to be more complete than I could have dreamed.

Destroy Your Tiny Cities With Bandai's Godzilla 2014 Movie Toys

We've still got 2 months til we can watch a slightly redesigned, absolutely more monstrous than ever Godzilla wreak havoc and destruction on a planet ill equipped to handle such a gargantuan threat, but Bandai thought it was time you start making your own stories and they've provided a small but fearsome army of monsters to help you do just that. Hitting stores across the planet right now are an array of Godzilla toys with ingenious action features assuring maximum play value for kids of all sizes.  Let's take a look at the lot!

Godzilla 2014....Revealed!...Again! Toys from JAKKS, Bandai, NECA & Diamond Select

Yes, anticlimactic..we know..and so do the toy companies...but it is an unfortunate situation. Back ...probably further than January, the toy world gave us the first, full, clear-as-all-get-out look at the giant lizard we know and loved in his somewhat tweaked look for the 2014 film from Legendary Pictures. Did this reveal cause executives to shout "The game is up! Since people have seen the toy already, let's show off the lot and bring more excitement to everyone's Toy Fair coverage!"?? Nope. Instead, Legendary held on tight through a plush and book reveal, more giant JAKKS figure reveals and finally an onslaught of in package shots of Bandai's line before someone at sales said "screw it" and spilled the lot to retailers online seconds before they turned up in stores. Keep in mind, you could buy them as of at least 3 weeks now...which makes it the perfect moment to reveal the JAKKS Giant Size Godzilla!! ...Timing is everything.

The Roar of Godzilla 2014

CRANK UP THOSE SPEAKERS!!

An epic rebirth to Toho's iconic Godzilla, this spectacular adventure, from Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures, pits the world's most famous monster against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence.

The truth has been awakened. From Legendary Pictures and WarnerBros Pictures  #GODZILLA http://www.godzillamovie.com/awakenthetruth/
2.25.14 10:00AM PST

Toy Fair 2014: Bandai's Godzilla Toys Taking Shape

As we dive head long into Toy Fair 2014, the name of the game is "cover as much ground as you can, beg to shoot everything and be happy with what you get." This goes double for Toy Fairs not held in the U.S., as most companies are saving their prime reveals for New York (2 weeks!) and other companies are under the watchful eye of their various licensors who dictate what merchandise they can show from the year's most anticipated films. Sometimes...we get one piece as a promise of more awesome to come. This method is quite effective. Sometimes, we get nothing, but are allowed to see what little the company has brought for buyers to place orders on, and when that is the situation, I count on my reporters to describe every little detail they can squeeze out of their over stimulated minds. I mean..it's TOY FAIR! I only send people who love toys to Toy Fair..and that being the case, I can only hope these fine folks remember their names and deliver clear pictures at day's end.

A Second Godzilla 2014 Toy Arises

The first was a plush toy that showed...well..next to nothing but the shape of the massive creature's look for the 2014 film. Now, from Toy Fairs or meeting rooms or retailer meetings unknown, we have the first, full on, head to toe look at our new, Americanized Godzilla!

So far, we know Bandai will be handling the bulk of the Godzilla 2014 toy production, with NECA taking on nicknacks and "one big item", which we can take to mean a new addition to their quarter scale figure line. Since this sucker seems fairly well sculpted and quite possibly enormous, it could very well be the NECA Godzilla in the flesh...so to speak. In the plastic would be more accurate. Still, Bandai has announced a Deluxe Attack and Roar figure in their toy line, but this seems a bit smaller than that possibly 12 inch piece. It COULD be a larger model just for display..or it could be JAKKS Pacific's 24 inch figure! If you measure the likely height of the "Pending Licensor Approval" sign (at about 5 inches high from my Toy Fair experience), you'll come to nearly (over or under) 24 inches.

Godzilla 2014 Surfaces

As is generally the way of things, it seems we may get our first genuine look at the new movie Godzilla via a toy. Expect a lot of this in the first couple of months of 2014.

We say "MAY" even though we have an image courtesy of Godzilla-movies.com, as they have stated they don't have a concrete source for this image and therefore won't guarantee its authenticity. Never the less...GODZILLA!!!

Kit includes figurine of the legendary monster with “atomic ray” light emanating from his mouth, and sound of his iconic roar, a 16 page book and an 8 sticker book filled with Godzilla illustrations. Hit the jump for the eye candy...

Godzilla Movie Merch Looming

Warner Bros. Consumer Products has signed a slate of renowned global licensees, led by master toy partner Bandai America Incorporated, to capture the adventurous thrills of Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ highly anticipated film Godzilla. Returning the character to its epic roots, Godzilla stomps into theaters on May 16, 2014, with a star cast including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen and Juliette Binoche, with David Strathairn and Bryan Cranston.

Featuring spectacular creatures, thrilling action, epic battles and a legendary monster, Godzilla provides the backbone for a monstrous merchandise offering for fans of all ages and enables compelling cross-category opportunities across mass and specialty retailers.