Let's be honest, very rarely does someone who goes to the cinema to witness the big screen destruction of a monster movie want to spend time focusing on the human characters. The fact is, oftentimes these sub-plots can slow down a film that really should be about these huge beasts in combat.
For the MonsterVerse though, the creative teams behind the three films in the series thus far, have tried to create compelling human stories which complement the larger narrative involving these terrifying creatures. Needless to say, not all of these actually work, but out of the main human characters in this cinematic franchise, some have genuinely intriguing storylines to follow.
10 Ford And Elle Brody
The original 2014 Godzilla movie was certainly a success in terms of launching this much larger shared universe. While this Gareth Edward directed project was a triumph overall, it did also have some missteps including its two leads.
For Ford and Elle Brody, interestingly played by MCU brother/sister duo Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, the film simply didn't find enough for them to do. Elle played a largely supporting role to her husband, whose main story was following on from his father's legacy by trying to shoot at Godzilla. Needless to say, despite giving them so much time, Elle barely got an arc at all, while Ford followed the military tropes of the genre.
9 Alan Jonah
2019's Godzilla: King Of The Monsters felt it had to create a human villain which would raise the stakes and create a catalyst for the conflict that Godzilla would ultimately be drawn in to. Alan Jonah was added, an eco-terrorist with big plans for the planet.
Unfortunately, the character's own arc was pretty one-dimensional. Not only is this a very familiar trope of the disaster genre, but Jonah's main plan was to allow these impressive kaiju to destroy the world seemingly to rebuild it. There were definitely some interesting concepts there but the execution was ultimately lacking, with Jonah never backtracking on his plan when he saw the truth of his actions.
8 Dr. Emma Russell
Dr. Emma Russell's own narrative is a little more complex. She also is convinced by this terrorist plot, believing it's the best thing for mankind. However, her own emotions on the plan are muddied by her daughter, who believes what she is doing is wrong.
It sets up an interesting dynamic between Emma and the rest of her family. It also allows for a genuine arc to take place, where Emma eventually reels back her vision to try and protect the ones she loves; ultimately sacrificing herself in the process.
7 Mark Russell
Mark Russell is of course already attached to this conflict because of his wife's dangerous plan. What's more, just like Emma, he blames Godzilla for the death of his son Andrew. However, as the narrative unfolds he comes to understand the nature of the beast.
This acceptance and willingness to allow the creature to survive demonstrates Mark's moral compass. He is in the middle of the action for most of Godzilla: King Of The Monsters and thanks to the trailer, looks to play a vital part of Godzilla Vs. Kong.
6 Preston Packard
Preston Packard matches the traditional stereotype of a military general that would rather shoot first and ask questions later. In contrast to that though, the fantastic performance of Samuel L. Jackson in Kong: Skull Island really takes the role to another level.
Throughout the movie Packard increasingly descends into madness. Once loyal to his men, his obsession with the threat of Kong leads him to not only sacrifice his friends and military brothers, but ultimately lose his life in battle; thanks largely to his own arrogance.
5 James Conrad
One of the biggest differences for Kong: Skull Island is that the human stories really tie in well to the monster action taking place. The stakes are increased as audiences come to really like these characters, without their own arcs taking away from the overall point of a monster movie.
For the SAS soldier James Conrad, he quickly learns to become sympathetic towards Kong. While his instincts may be to think with his gun, throughout the film he continues to develop and learns to appreciate these creatures. He becomes one of the most compelling protagonists in the MonsterVerse throughout the movie, as his viewpoint on his mission shifts and adapts to the situations unfolding.
4 Mason Weaver
Surrounded by military men, Mason Weaver is an incredibly interesting character to introduce that provides an alternative point of view for audiences to explore. As an anti-war photographer, she has made a career off of showing the true nature of bloody conflicts.
She is perhaps the most important protagonist introduced into the film as she helps James Conrad come to terms with his own viewpoint regarding Skull Island and Kong himself. The character also has an interesting role to play during the action sequences, considering she is not the typical gun-wielding hero of this franchise. Overall she is just as much of a catalyst to other character's emotional arcs!
3 Hank Marlow
Hank Marlow has been trapped on Skull Island for many years. Thanks to his wit and ingenuity he has somehow managed to survive, despite the destructive beasts that roam freely across this deadly island. John C. Reilly puts on a fantastic performance as the unhinged Marlow.
Not only does he provide a lot of exposition for the other characters who are trying to survive this place in their own right, but he also has a lot of brilliant comedic moments and is ultimately one of the most sympathetic characters of the franchise. His journey from his survivalist instincts and a lack of hope evolves as he sees this may be his time for freedom; ultimately getting reunited with his family in a fitting conclusion.
2 Dr. Ishirō Serizawa
It's fair to say that Dr. Ishirō Serizawa is a bit of a hero. This educated man of science managed to see the humanity in Godzilla and ultimately helped to not only protect him but actually revive him thus sacrificing his own life.
While he might be a man of many quotes, including the iconic 'let them fight' he has also become the heart and soul of the MonsterVerse. It's a shame he has been written out of this series as his viewpoint on the kaiju was entirely unique from every other character. Just like Mason Weaver, his role was just as much about helping others understand the truth about these beasts.
1 Madison Russell
Madison Russell is the daughter of Mark and Emma. She is one of the most important players in the MonsterVerse and will be returning once more for Godzilla Vs. Kong much like her father. From a young age, she has been thrown into this dangerous world.
She has quickly discovered what is and isn't right though and sought to make a real change. Fearless and intelligent, the franchise could very much be built around Russell, especially with the kind of performances Millie Bobby Brown has demonstrated recently. Her willingness to stand up to her mother and ultimately become a major component in Godzilla's survival is in many ways a coming of age story.
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