I have been a Godzilla fan for years. I've seen them all and love the franchise as much as any other. I'll be the first to admit that most of the Godzilla movies are just dumb fun and that's almost always enough for me. But this new Godzilla...what to make of it? It really blew me away when I saw it on opening day.

I've sat on my reaction to it ever since, because I guess, I find I'm being influenced by the weak character development consensus that has become the "Yeah, but..." for those who require an opportunity to sound smart or be dicks. But my actual satisfaction with the characters runs counter to that crowd-think. The nuclear family (literally), played by Bryan Cranston and Juliette Binoche, are instantly likable. When the accident occurs at the power plant, it's heartbreaking. The fact that director Gareth Edwards instills that much depth in mere minutes is amazing. Cranston goes conspiracy crackpot over the years to come, but the way that respect and trust is reestablished with his son (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) before the father's death is touching and reinforces the son's need to get back to his own son and wife. The fact that he keeps "bumping" into the MUTOs and Godzilla on his way home really drives the film. He provides the up-close-and-personal viewpoint that the audience gets of the monsters. If it wasn't for his character, all we'd have are big beasts fighting in the distance.

I found the pace of "Godzilla" pretty much perfect. Although I found Edwards' earlier film, "Monsters", to be preachy and severely lacking in actual monsters, the subtle commentary on environmental dangers found in this film are well communicated. This is a complement because I am far from the first person to swallow every end-of-the-world scenario painted by the latest hot documentary. In other words, Edwards nails it here.

In John Kenneth Muir's great review of this film, he describes Godzilla's new form as wonderfully realized with old, experienced eyes, weary gait and mannerisms, an aged soulfulness. It's an absolutely beautiful and goosebump-inducing description.

I love this take on the monster. I don't need Godzilla to be a friend to Man, a funny puppy you can find in any of the late Showa period movies. I prefer the pure evil take on Godzilla more. But the 2014 version, THIS is a beast I can enjoy. It doesn't care for man. It doesn't want to be our buddy. Instead, it corrects the wrongs to the Earth and departs, regardless of what happens to humans in the interim. I wouldn't mind the next film interpreting Godzilla as a punisher after humans have done something incredibly stupid to the planet. A "Don't f**k it up!" message delivered by the monster would be my choice for a sequel.

The fights are teased but all memorable monster flicks pull this off expertly. Compare it to the everything-but-the-kitchen sink approach in today's current action/fantasy/science fiction offerings. Seriously, watch "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen". There is so much action, it's mind-numbingly boring. Suspense and anticipation. They are key and "Godzilla" brings them.

Gareth Edwards gives us many great monster moments. The first roar, for example. Godzilla is centered in the frame, gathers up, and lets out the most satisfying roar I've ever heard. Another example is Godzilla's atomic breath, building from its tail, passing through its body and firing violently from its jaws. And of course, the dispatching of the mega-MUTO with a forced ingestion of some blue heat.

Now I'm gushing. The more I think about it, the more I need to get back to the theater before "Godzilla" disappears from the big screen forever.