(CNN) "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" rekindles a 1950s subtitle, but this latest addition to Warner Bros.' ambitious plans to create a lucrative "Monsterverse" generates more smoke than actual fire. Mostly, "Godzilla" exhibits a level of reverence that a cinematic series known for its schlock value doesn't necessarily deserve. Those who spent Saturday mornings watching men in suits knock over toy buildings might appreciate the special-effects upgrade, but mostly, all the sound and fury just evokes sympathy for the human actors, leaving a prestigious international cast to stare in awe at the mayhem. In what feels very much like a sign of the times, Warner Bros. has committed to series of Monsterverse movies, with the disappointingly weak "Kong: Skull Island" followed by this slightly better entry, and the inevitable faceoff, "Godzilla vs. Kong," scheduled for next year. "Godzilla" doesn't start from scratch, rising from the ashes of the 2014 movie, bringing back a few key players -- Sally Hawkins and Ken Watanabe -- while adding new faces, among them a monster-savvy family with issues played by Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga and "Stranger Things'" Millie Bobby Brown, in her movie debut.

Source: CNN May 28, 2019 21:00 UTC