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In his masterful critical history of the Godzilla films, David Kalat notes that the greatest incentive Hollywood had to make a Godzilla movie -- the tremendous global recognition of the brand -- was also the greatest obstacle. This was because people, and specifically Americans, not only recognized the name but also associated it with cheesy, campy, and cheap movie making. The monster from the 1998 film was therefore completely different from every other incarnation of Godzilla, such that IMO it cannot be properly called Godzilla. (I believe Toho thinks of it as a separate monster altogether, called "Zilla.") Roland Emmerich and his team probably didn't need to go that far to dodge the prejudice Americans associated with the name brand. But perhaps their mistake has made it easier for Gareth Edwards and his team. Kalat concludes that although Emmerich's film is basically a joke, it did allow US audiences to imagine a more serious tone than what's offered by suitmation camp when they think of Godzilla.

Also you have to credit Cloverfield a bit with making big monster movies serious again.

I'd proffer Pacific RIm stepped that back a good bit though into the campy realm.

 Frazzled wrote:
I'd proffer Pacific RIm stepped that back a good bit though into the campy realm.

Totally agree. That movie could not settle on whether it was serious and realistic or knowingly farcical. The resulting compromise is that it felt unwittingly absurd.