Roland Emmerich

[Tyler]

German born director Roland Emmerich is responsible for TriStar's big-budget remake of Godzilla in 1998. Now I know most fans don't consider that a real Godzilla film and for good reason, but for the sake of consistency let's talk/complain about it anyway.

I was about five or six when the American Godzilla came out. I was already a major Godzilla fan so I was really excited. I'd say the first quarter of the film is alright. There are obvious changes to Godzilla (he's a lizard, eats fish, tunnels underground), but I'm all up for change. I even thought his design was pretty neat for something new. But then the movie takes a complete nose dive after the 'first act' when you find out the King of Monsters is asexual and then it becomes a Jurassic Park knock-off. Godzilla's thrown out of the way and his Velociraptor babies take center stage.

Like of all Emmerich's films (that I've seen) the movie contradicts itself several times and is about 45 minutes too long. They're long, drawn out messes that have really cool ideas, but are ruined by incompetent direction. It's sad when a cartoon spin-off is better than the real deal.

And just for fun here's his full filmography:
The Noah's Ark Principle (1984)
Making Contact (1985)
Ghost Chase (1987)
Moon 44 (1990)
Universal Soldier (1992)
Stargate (1994)
Independence Day (1996)
Godzilla (1998)
The Patriot (2000)
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
10,000 BC (2008)
2012 (2009)
Anonymous (2011)

Next week: Masaaki Tezuka

[Crocodile]

The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
10,000 BC (2008)
2012 (2009)

Every movie is even more mediocre than the last

Anywho, I've never been all that keen on G'98. I've never personally found it to be good for anything, except killing an afternoon. I wouldn't say it's as bad as people make it out to be, but it isn't a movie I enjoy.

[GodzillavsJason]

THIS GUY SUCKS I HOPE HE AND DEAN DEVLIN BURN IN HELL!(sorry for caps but it needed to be done)
I mean really this guy sucks at making movies all of his movies are terrible, in my opinion, Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin are the worst film makers that have ever existed. And the main reason why i hate these two is that basically ruined Godzilla. They bassically didn't care what about the character, they basically created a new stuipd monster. Basically i 110% hate Roland Emmerich, Dean Devlin, and Zilla forever.

[Mini-Godzilla]

Emmerich brought a nice visual style to the film, and it's certainly one of the best-looking movies to sport Godzilla's name (even though I'll take Honda's documentary-style approach to the original film over this slick Hollywood production anyday). However, as usual, he allowed the action to get too monotonous, thus weakening the impact of the entire film. So basically, the best thing I can say about his work on this movie is that he really knows how to film a rainy day.

[alienhulk2099]

Universal Soldier (1992)
Stargate (1994)
Independence Day (1996)
Godzilla (1998)
The Patriot (2000)
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
2012 (2009)

All highly entertaining movies. The only movie of Emmerich I didn't like was 10,000 BC, way too much pointless talking in that one.

[Showa Gyaos]

^10,000 B.C. did suck. I fell asleep during that movie.

On-topic: I think it's a decent giant monster movie, and I do think it's a different take on Godzilla. However, I still prefer my atomic monster more than the giant iguana.

[Sydney Aradi]

Meh Roland Emmerich isn't exactly my cup of tea. I do like a couple of his films (Stargate & Independence Day) and thats it. As for my thoughts as the 1998 Godzilla movie.....ehh don't really care for it. The movie is way too drawn out with many horrid characters except for Jean Reno & the score. The effects were okay for their time but overall I just don't care for it.

[shinmattiathekaiju]

Meh,i liked only Stargate.

[DaikaijuSokogeki!]

He did not deserve to be behind the director's chair of a Godzilla film (especially one with such an obscenely high budget) if he had no respect for the character. I haven't seen the US Godzilla film in years, but I'm about to in a few weeks. Pray for me.

As for his other work, they all range from pretty good (Stargate, Independence Day) to very mediocre (2012, The Day After Tomorrow). He knows how to direct a disaster scene, but he has grown far too obsessed with shitty CGI, as evidenced in 2012.

The only other Roland Emmerich film I have interest in seeing is Universal Soldier, and MAYBE Anonymous. 10,000 B.C. and The Patriot look far too passable.

[Gojira-Fan]

The Patriot is actually considered by a lot of critics (as well as myself) to be one of his best movies. I'd actually recommend that you check it out.

[Sydney Aradi]

He did not deserve to be behind the director's chair of a Godzilla film (especially one with such an obscenely high budget) if he had no respect for the character. I haven't seen the US Godzilla film in years, but I'm about to in a few weeks. Pray for me.

As for his other work, they all range from pretty good (Stargate, Independence Day) to very mediocre (2012, The Day After Tomorrow). He knows how to direct a disaster scene, but he has grown far too obsessed with shitty CGI, as evidenced in 2012.

The only other Roland Emmerich film I have interest in seeing is Universal Soldier, and MAYBE Anonymous. 10,000 B.C. and The Patriot look far too passable.

Good luck. You'll need it. I hope you don't pull your hair out as many times as I did when I first saw the US Godzilla film

[Living Corpse]

I hate these two. Do I wish death on theme? No. Do I want them to burn in hell? Well I would certainly yell at them to burn in hell but that's just crap people say when there angry so, no. Do I wish a G fan would walk up to one of them and punch their lights out? Oh yeah.

[King Caesar]

This guy has a definitive range in terms of movies. Either they're good (Independance Day, 2012) or they suck (GODZILLA). I'm not his #1 fan by any means, but he seems like an okay director.

[wataru]

The Noah's Ark Principle (1984)
Making Contact (1985)
Ghost Chase (1987)
Moon 44 (1990)
Universal Soldier (1992)
Stargate (1994)
Independence Day (1996)
Godzilla (1998)
The Patriot (2000)
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
10,000 BC (2008)
2012 (2009)
Anonymous (2011)

Never seen
Love.
Like
Tolerable.

[Hellspawn28]

G98 was a dull movie, a bad Godzilla movie but a okay action movie. Could have a lot better, but I have not watch it since 1999. I doubt I will watch it again anytime soon.

"Independence Day" (1996), and "The Patriot" (2000) where his best movies. I never care for "Stargate" (1994) since I remember renting it on VHS back in 1999, and never like it. I HATED "10,000 BC" (2008) and I would have walk out in the middle of the movie, but I saw the movie because my cousin wanted to see it for his birthday. I was surprise that I end up liking "2012" (2009) since I thought I would hated, but I end up liking it.

Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin are the worst film makers that have ever existed.

I disagree with you, Emmerich is not the worst film maker but he is okay. I feel like he could make great films if he does not write it, and is he giving a small budget. I can name you directors worst then both of them.

[TokyoVigilante]

I thought 10,000 BC was a fun, pulpy little film. At least he's carved out a cozzy little niche filming destruction porn for every summer.

[Tyler]

ID4 - I never liked this even as a kid. I thought it was boring. I wanted to see more of the aliens. I don't think the effects have aged well.

Patriot - I think this is a horrible war movie. It's just as bad as Pearl Harbor. It doesn't show both sides fairly and the violence is ridiculous.

Day After Tomorrow - I actually saw this in a theatre. I find it quite tolerable aside from those unconvincing animated wolves.

10,000 BC - I don't know why I watched this. Nothing really happens. I like how the sabre tooth cat was on the poster and every trailer but you barely see it in the movie.

2012 - This is like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. It's a long and monotonous. How many times can a vehicle making it between two giant falling objects just in the nick of time be exciting?

[Mecha-Anguirus]

2012 - This is like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. It's a long and monotonous. How many times can a vehicle making it between two giant falling objects just in the nick of time be exciting?

Try driving said vehicle sometime. Then we'll talk.

[The Dark Uniter]

Godzilla (1998) is a pretty good movie if you don't think of it as a traditional Godzilla flick. Not great but pretty good.

[DaikaijuSokogeki!]

Godzilla (1998) is a pretty good movie if you don't think of it as a traditional Godzilla flick. Not great but pretty good.

I can't even think of it like that. The film's overlong and it blatantly rips off Jurassic Park in the last act. Plus, much of the acting is horrendous, and it doesn't help that the characters are wholly unlikeable.