Thanks, guys. I watched Godzilla Rises last night, and I really enjoyed it.
I liked the bonus short too. I do think it could've been integrated into the edit without slowing it down too much. The benefit is more Cranston and some actual character development (seeing a happier Brody to contrast with his later "crazed" self). It's a sequence with some actual human emotion in it. I guess the downside is it gives us a false impression early on that we'll actually care about any of the characters by the end. The fact is, you don't, and can't, care about anyone - in the theatrical cut they are so one-dimensional, and in Godzilla Rises, they are barely there. That's my only criticism of your edit - characters appear, speak some lines to advance the plot, and then vanish - and it's hardly fair because you had a sow's ear to work with. Adding more scenes with these people doesn't make you care about them or like them. Quite the opposite, in fact. In the theatrical cut you are more likely to hate them for doing stupid things and taking valuable screen time away from the monsters. So you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, and I think you did a great job pulling something enjoyable out of it.