Get ready for the powerful lizard returning to attack Tokyo in Shin Godzilla or as he’s loving called by the monster’s fans, Gojira. It’s been awhile since the huge prehistoric dinosaur, a cross between a Stegosaurus and a Tyrannosaurus, has starred in a movie. The last one to my knowledge, that was Japanese made like this one, served up Godzilla vs Biollante where the huge reptile fought against a mutated rose bush.
There’s something about made in Japan that makes the famous monster a winner for the Gojira connoisseur. The cast has to be speaking the language throughout with quick flashing subtitles that one can hardly read or care about as to what they are really saying. After all what makes this film fun to watch is their expressions, the actors all wearing freshly pressed suits, the scientists wearing lab coats, military in spiffy uniforms and there’s usually one well-groomed lady who has most of the answers to what went wrong. I love it!
If there are Americans in the film as there is in this one, they are the allies who will help destroy the huge creature from beneath the sea, or so they think. They of course speak English while conversing with Japan’s military and scientists who reply in Japanese. As for Gojila itself, the reptile is always nearly impossible to bring down as he walks through Tokyo knocking down huge skyscrapers and destroying railways as it seems to be looking for something. I just think the huge reptile just likes picking fights with whomever tries to get in his way using his big feet and long strapping tail. Oh, in this film he also spouts long gushers of radioactive sputum that covers most of downtown Tokyo.
Now, there is a story to this one like most others, but it seems to elude me. I think it has to do with the huge monster’s last attack on Japan. Directors Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi do a good job of using CGI mixed with a guy in a Godzilla suit to keep the absurd in the forefront. They turn the focus onto a young group of actors who are the scientists that are trying to find a way to kill the monster and save Tokyo. Joining them is a female researcher who helps to take the guessing out of taking the monster down. In the meantime there’s explosions galore that light up the film in an attempt to destroy the aggressive beast.
Shin Godzilla, also known as “Shin Gojira” and originally titled “Godzilla Resurgence (2016)” has not been rated by the MPAA. It does contain monster violence, but nothing more than what movies that are made in the same ilk have to offer. I’m not saying it is a family film, but if you have preteens that play a lot of video games, they are the prime target audience.
FINAL ANALYSIS: Godzilla is back! (B-)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Hiroki Hasegawa, Satomi Ishihara, Yatuka Takenouchi, Mikako Ichikawa
Directed By: Hideaki Anno, Shinji Higuchi
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, Contains monster violence
Running Time: 2 hours
Release Date: October 11, 2016
Distributed by: Funimation Films
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
