It would seem that I’m the target market for Godzilla films. I love old school Sentai (Power Rangers), Kamen Rider and Big Robo Anime. While I’ve tried various films, I’ve just never really been into Godzilla (or Godzooki,) though I’m familiar with the character and his adversaries.
Then I started to hear the rumblings all over the internet – there was a new Godzilla movie. More importantly, it was apparently amazing. With the aftertaste from the most recent American Gozilla movie with Bryan Cranston, and with a skepticism akin to just seeing the 90s Godzilla movie, I sat down for a trailer.
With the first screen I was instantly sold – Directed by: Hideki Anno. SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!
It felt like it was a match made in heaven. Those unfamiliar with director Hideki Anno should watch some Neon Genesis Evangelion, one of the most epic examples of big robo anime. Just a warning: it’s quite a mind eff of a series.
Story:
Now I’m not going to go into to much depth on the story. (I don’t want to spoil any of the fun.) What I will say is that it was nice to see Godzilla return to its roots, being more of a metaphor for war and politics. This one didn’t shy away from any of those topics, and it choose a very real event that sadly happened pretty recently in Japan: The Fukushima Reactor leak, which happened after the Tsunamis hit Japan.
We find our characters in a very similar situation. While this is certainly a Godzilla movie, the human characters took this movie to a whole other level, and you are left with some very tough situations. You want to serve and protect your country and people, but you don’t want to cause chaos. Then comes the next question: how much force do you use? Along with the harder question: what is an acceptable amount of collateral damage, if any. I was very impressed with the inclusion of the global powers and how would they also react with a Godzilla level situation.
Presentation:
What really makes this movie shine is the visuals. It was nice to see a mostly non-CG Godzilla, but what really made it unique was the ability to show the overall scale of Godzilla. There were plenty of shots to give you an idea of his size, along with the level of destruction he is capable of. The soundtrack is also a must, and truly helps immerse you in the world of Godzilla.
Overall
This is by far the best Godzilla movie I’ve ever seen. While it’s rumored that Hideaki won’t be returning to the franchise, I can’t help but hope that he’ll change his mind, especially if there is a Mecha Godzilla involved. If you are a fan of Evangelion, Godzilla, or even just a fan of Japanese films, this movie is certainly up your alley.