There's one thing going for Godzilla: Final Wars: It's not the 1998 American travesty called Godzilla. Final Wars knows this, and few references to that ugly mess are the only real highlights here. It's an attention deficit disorder nightmare of a film, radically altering a concept (admittedly quickly going stale) that's worked for decades.
Bringing in Ryuhei Kitamura of Versus fame, the overly energetic director at least tries to do something different with the monster vs. monster epic. Unfortunately, it's so out there, this barely resembles a Godzilla film. The dark tone, gore, and brutal edge to the fight sequences earn this one a PG-13, a first for a movie in the Japanese series.
That should indicate a new direction for the franchise. If it is, let's be thankful this could be the end of the franchise. Inserting action sequences that take the series to new levels of absurdities, giant monster fans will be treated to Angilas being kicked like a soccer ball as Godzilla tries to make "a save," Minya returning, and countless Matrix knock-off human fights that drag on without a point.
Running over the two-hour mark, this entry in the series has too much going on, and with the rapid editing, you'll never what you're actually viewing. The soundtrack with songs from Sum 41 continues to alter this movie for the worse. There is no flow from scene to scene, and with fifteen monsters involved (some for a few seconds at the most), everything is crammed in without care.
Admittedly, this is a film that gets better with multiple viewings. It's hard to ignore the intensity of the monster fights, even with the unnecessary camp moments. Unfortunately, in those moments where you have a little time to concentrate, all you can think about is what this COULD have been, not what it is. 
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Article comments
1 - josephiroth
contrary to the review above me, i believe this is the best godzilla to date. the story IS there, there isnt to much going on to confuse you, sum 41 makes the movie better for the little time they were in there, and to say this barely resembles a godzilla movie... this one is the pinnacle of the series. Godzilla going out with a bang, and a big one at that. If you are a godzilla fan you will undoubtedly accept the faults of the movie and still love what you are watching, and in this there is alot to like: even the vegetarians lol, watch the movie and youll want to watch it again and again, awesome movie, and a fitting end for the king of monsters series.