Review: Shin Godzilla (2016)

[Mark R. Leeper]

SHIN GODZILLA (GODZILLA RESURGENCE)
(a film review by Mark R. Leeper)

CAPSULE: Japan assesses its relation to the rest of
the world and its relation to itself and its culture
in a reboot of the classic Japanese series. This is
the most serious Godzilla film since the first, and
except for the novelty the first film had, this would
probably be the best Godzilla film ever made. It also
has the best special effects. Hideaki Anno writes and
co-directs with Shinji Higuchi. Rating:
high +2 (-4 to +4) or 8/10

It starts with what sounds like a drum booming three times. Then
comes a roar that sounds like steel girders collapsing under huge
pressure. In 1954 this was the opening of the film GOJIRA, the
film that introduced to the world the creature called Gojira or
Godzilla. And that is just the sound that starts SHIN GODZILLA,
the reboot of the Godzilla series.

That 1954 film was much more than just a special effects outing not
being about much. It was about something. It asked the question
more relevant today than it was in 1954 of whether scientists are
responsible for the uses to which their discoveries are applied.
It was the subsequent Godzilla films that got to be silly fun.
Until now, none but the first Godzilla film had serious purpose.
In SHIN GODZILLA once people realize that something grim is
happening the film turns into a seemingly endless string of
discussions, debates, and power struggles among government
agencies. Some of the politicians definitely are more responsible
than others, though American audience may have trouble keeping
straight the very large set of characters and agencies. Soon the
Americans are bulling their way into the war against the
prehistoric titan Godzilla. For some the American aid is a welcome
presence and for others it is a theft of power.

When it appears that the Japanese islands may have to be evacuated
the issue becomes how the Japanese love their home and culture,
similar to the theme of THE SUBMERSION OF JAPAN (1973). SHIN
GODZILLA even works in a small tribute to Japanese origami. This
is all very serious in intent though the various agencies in-
fighting at times humorous. The film also serves as a tour of
Japanese government agencies and of Tokyo districts.

At the beginning of the story, there are strange things happening
in Tokyo Bay. There are people disappearing and the underwater
tunnel is flooded. A strange geyser comes spraying out of the
water. Soon there is a gargantuan amphibian creature crawling
ashore, knocking over buildings and at the same time metamorphosing
into the Godzilla shape we are used to seeing. While all this is
happening the civil government is having an endless string of
meetings trying to decide how to handle these catastrophes. This
combines with special effects of urban destruction. The images are
more realistic than in most Godzilla films but with still much less
immediacy than we might have expected after seeing genuine building
destruction on 9/11.

Much of the danger from Godzilla comes from his being much bigger
in SHIN GODZILLA than he has been portrayed before. He is powered,
it seems, by a nuclear reactor in his body. Visually this is one
of the most awesome-looking renditions of the creature. The
special effects people at Toho often tamper with his looks
depending on the intended audience. He is much rounder and more
pleasant looking in the episodes aimed at a younger audience. In
this film he looks as tall as a mountain.

Fans of the series will be pleased that the films reuse sound
effects taken directly from the first film. Also, the film makes
generous use of Akira Ifukube's music from the early films. What
is missing is the man in the monster suit. Some of the effects are
obviously digital. This is Toho's foray into having Godzilla be an
animated digital figure rather than a man in a suit.

Some of the film will be difficult to follow for American fans.
There are two sets of subtitles on top of each other, the location
(e.g. "Prime Minister's Headquarters") or character's name and
title in Japanese, and then the dialogue in English on top of them.
(The English for the location or character is shown at the top of
the screen.) Even speed readers will have trouble keeping up.
American viewers would have been a better served with a film at 2/3
the length and with half the number of characters. This might be a
better film to see on video. I rate the SHIN GODZILLA a high +2 on
the -4 to +4 scale or 8/10.


Film Credits:
<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4262980/combined>

What others are saying:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shin_Godzilla>

Mark R. Leeper
Copyright 2016 Mark R. Leeper