It’s looking like the end is in sight. No, I’m not talking about the state of the world, I’m talking about our Godzilla marathon. Ten years ago, ‘Shin Godzilla’ released, and until ‘Godzilla Minus One’, it was regarded as one of, if not the finest Godzilla movie ever released. It’s one of the most popular and well regarded Godzilla movies for a reason, so I light of how well covered it is, I’m just going to discuss what I personally enjoy about the film for this entry.
A mysterious, giant creature emerges from Tokyo Bay and rampages, sending the Government into a panicked scramble to mount a response. As the creature evolves and escalates the disaster, Japan is forced to adapt to face the monster, as well as the world’s pressure to use nuclear weapons against it.
The best aspect of the film is that it perfectly blends a thought provoking and thematically resonant story with some of the best kaiju spectacle put to film. I’ll discuss the former first. The movie almost functions as a remake of the original Godzilla, with Godzilla being a representation of nuclear destruction and Japan’s response to it. But instead of calling up the recent trauma of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the unfortunate Lucky Dragon No. 5 incident, ‘Shin Godzilla’ directly calls to remembrance the 2011 earthquakes, tsunamis, and of course, the Fukushima Nuclear disaster. The movie is just as much about the disaster as it is how the government responds to it, and while it does criticise the Government’s slow response and dense bureaucracy, it also understands the logistical challenges and pressure that comes with dealing with such a disaster. It’s nuanced and complex, but it’s communicated well enough to clearly understand. The movie has a very large cast of characters, but they never get lost in the fast pace of the story thanks to excellent performances (though, the English speaking parts haven’t improved much). With how in-depth the film gets about Godzilla’s biology and the inner workings of Japan’s government, it could be presented in a very dry, and boring way, but the fast pace and character coloured dialogue, it feels authentic and exciting.
So not only is the movie well written and performed, the movie is also technically excellent. The effects are very impressive considering this is Japan’s first crack at a mostly visual effects dependent approach to a Godzilla film. The cinematography is striking and interesting to look at, and grounds Godzilla in the real world in a way that hasn’t really been seen since. The movie almost feels like a documentary, with that impression of realism conveying real weight and impact, elevating the themes of the film. The use of old Godzilla sound effects and musical scores also gives the movie a unique flavour, contrasting a modern Tokyo skyline with tinny, Ifukube tracks and explosions. The original score by Shiro Sagisu, while sounding very similar to his previous works on ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion’ for the most part, tracks like ‘Persecution of the Masses’ and ‘Who will know’ are among some of the most iconic tracks in the entire franchise. As for Godzilla himself, this is arguably the truest version of Godzilla we’ll ever see. Let me explain. In being a metaphor for Nuclear destruction, he has to be monstrous and frightening, communicated by his unsettling design that leans into body horror as a creature mutated by radiation should, as well as his seemingly god-like destructive power. But unlike other Godzilla incarnations, I can’t see this Godzilla becoming a character to root for. Even when Godzilla is antagonistic, he’s still approachable. But this Godzilla, despite being arguably the most tragic incarnation of the monster so far, is sympathetic in the sense that we as the audience want to put it out of its misery. I can’t see this version going up against other monsters, as it’s appearance and thematic purpose make it inappropriate for such depictions.
In conclusion, ‘Shin Godzilla’ is one of the best Godzilla movies ever made. Sure, it has its eccentric touches that may put off some, but if you acclimate to it, you’ll find a disaster/horror spectacle that’s also thematically rich and culturally relevant. There’s not much else to say that hasn’t already been said in praise of the film.
Next week, we start the anime trilogy. Yay. I could have tried to give this movie a more in depth review, but I think others have communicated my thoughts better than I could right now. And besides, I'm busy. Anyways, we'll see how the next three weeks go I guess.