Christian Rosario

Okay, this one lives up to the reputation given by fans….which is not good if you want to be a true sequel to a pretty good film. I will give it points for some cool jaeger and kaiju designs. Plus John Boyega is always a treat to watch. Grade: Mid C

While it ages more gracefully than KOTM, KSI and even its own sequel, Pacific Rim is not as good as what many make it out to be (akin to TLW: Jurassic Park). It’s got some notable holes that fans will either hand wave or will try to over analyze in order to prove you wrong. However, it’s still a really well directed, fun and occasionally quite sincere. It’s a beautiful and at times, heartfelt, movie whose dumb moments if anything, don’t drag it down. Grade: High B

I’m not gonna sugarcoat it, this movie is a mess and is a pretty cheesy send off. But it’s fun and it seems everyone (even the monsters) are having a blast, so that’s a win. Grade: Mid B-

It’s too long and overly designed to the point of excess, but 2005 makes a strong case for Kong being a sympathetic individual. The human characters are likable sans Carl (if a little underwritten for some), it’s got great visuals and action, and it’s got a very passionate direction from Mr. Jackson Grade: Low B+

Politically astute filled with the most horrifying Godzilla imagery (and Godzilla) since 54’ and a shockingly well-rounded plot, Shin Godzilla actually makes a strong argument that the series could benefit for more examinations of the horrifying effects that the Toho monsters could have on the world at large. The main issue is that the human characters are kind of boring. While I don’t mind boardroom meetings, they last a little too long and often. Not helping is the lack of a set main character. Grade: Low B+

I know this one was not loved by many, but 2014 actually has a pretty strong plot for the first 40 minutes, is well directed (probably the Monsterverse’s best), and has an excellent 3rd act (when it’s well lit). While it doesn’t help that the DVD was needlessly darkened, the film can be hard to see in it’s third act and once tone character dies in the first act, the film struggles in the 2nd act (to the point it could’ve be 10 minutes shorter). Grade: Mid B-High B

I know I am going to be in the minority when I say this, but the movie’s not as good as what many make it out to be. Characters are thinly written (especially in comparison to 2014’s Bryan Cranston) and reliant on MCU quips and humor, the action feels oddly flat (telling how this one had the least exciting third act). It’s visually pleasing, the cast gives it their all, and the story is not awful. The directing is pretty good all things considered. Grade: High C+/Low B-

Imperfect, but deliriously fun. GvK does not have the greatest story, as unlike its predecessor, it has fits and starts throughout and could probably benefit from a darker tone. However, the human cast, despite having less to do, is arguably more likable than KOTM’s by a long shot. The monsters are at their most enjoyable in this film. The action sequences are the series’ best. Grade: High B

A occasionally visually pleasing and fun action film that has some fairly well done fan service to go along with it, a game cast (both human and monster) and a not-too bad story. It’s too bad that it’s let down by woefully unlikeable human characters (sans one or two), occasionally muddled visuals and a story that ironically, gets weaker in the third act where most of the monster punching and fan service takes place. Grade: High B-

A exciting and scary as well as occasionally emotional Godzilla film that takes the franchise out of the backhanded pop culture osmosis that many seemed to treat it as. Bad news? It’s another film where the monster represents personal trauma to one individual. Which isn’t entirely wrong as Godzilla represents the collective trauma of Japan following Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but it does feel oddly quaint. Grade: Mid A-