Shin Godzilla, Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying & Love The Atomic Monster

Shin Godzilla, the first Toho Godzilla production since 2004, debuted in Japan back in the summer and much like the titular monster, it left a trail of destruction in its wake. By which I mean that it absolutely KILLED at the box office. It was hailed by critics and fans alike as a return to form for the franchise, returning it to its roots as a warning against the dangers of nuclear energy, and this time, of government hesitation and ineptitude.

Shin Godzilla( meaning "New" Godzilla in Japanese) was released stateside for a limited release(Which has been extended to Oct. 27th) under the title "Godzilla Resurgence". This is the last time I will be using that title to refer to the film, because its ridiculous. To give this movie the same subtitle as the latest Independence Day "film" is an affront by the U.S. against Japanese culture rivaling the firebombing of Tokyo in WWII.

Ironically, the U.S. Military in this film basically cause Tokyo to be firebombed yet again by Godzilla.

This movie does away with "Hero" Godzilla, featured in many of the Toho films and in Legendary Pictures 2014 venture. This is the original, menacing, destructive force of nature from the 1954 original, re-imagined for the modern era surprisingly well. When we first see the creature in full, it more closely resembles H.R. Giger's interpretation of an alien salamander than the Goji we all know and love. Over the course of the first act it evolves into something closely resembling the classic Godzilla design, though palpably more menacing and just down right evil in appearance.

One thing Shin Godzilla really gets across well to the viewer is the danger that humanity faces when forced against this nuclear powered God-monster. By the end of the second act I was left wondering if the film would end with Godzilla having destroyed the Earth, floating aimlessly through the solar system shrieking and cutting planets in half from light-years away gamma ray beams. The feeling of dread this movie is able to produce is truly incredible for a giant monster movie, a genre which over the decades has lost all possible respect and or sense of tension through repetitiveness and visual diarrhea.

Another way tension is built is the rapid fire camera work during the bureaucratic sequences. The way it constantly cuts seamlessly between "found footage" and traditional camera work really gives more of a sense of urgency to the viewer. The insanely slow and ineffective government response to the situation is brilliantly used as a mirror of the real life Japanese governments slow response during the tragic earthquake and tsunami disasters a few years ago. It becomes comical at times how ineffective the bureaucracy of government becomes when a character is asked who in the room they are addressing, even when the information being related pertains to all parties present.

There is a major character who is supposed to be a U.S. Gov. Liaison to Japan of Japanese decent and raised in the states(she even mentions at one point not being well aware of Japanese customs). Suspension of disbelief was thoroughly tested any time she "attempts" to speak English in the thickest Japanese accent I've ever heard. It becomes even more unbelievable when she speaks of her presidential aspirations. As in president of the United States. I understand the budget was restrictive, but could the production not afford like, a week of dialect coaching?

I won't spoil the ending, though I will say that I was left with a deeply unsettling feeling as the screen went black and the original 1954 main theme began playing over the credits. Speaking of that, the use of music from the original movie(and even the classic roar) along with the new score really added a great feeling of nostalgia for any fan of the series, and it was awesome to see the Japanese Toho logo on an American cinema screen.

All in all, Shin Godzilla was an extremely satisfying experience. If your a fan of Japanese cinema, Godzilla, or even just want to see something DIFFERENT(which this DEFINITELY is), then you owe it to yourself to see this on the big screen while you can. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

9/10

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