Directed by: Hideaki Anno & Shinji Higuchi
Distributed by: Toho Co., Ltd.
Written by Nick McCann
96/100
In 2014, America got a second chance. Legendary Pictures’ reboot of Godzilla had drawn immense success and forged a newfound, dedicated crowd. With international interest resurging again, Toho took the opportunity to drum up their first homegrown production in 12 years. And much like French champagne, the Japanese prove again their kaiju films are the defining experience.
“Shin Godzilla” is a reboot in every sense of the word. Director Hideaki Anno takes a completely new approach starting from the ground up. Parallels to the Fukushima meltdown and Tohoku earthquake make for a distinctly modern allegory, as opposed to the character’s radioactive origins (of which are still present). Fear completely looms over a hyper-methodical political thriller, involving just as much bureaucracy as there are missile barrages. Not to mention a ton of location cards that will go as far as naming where a flying train car lands! Although it makes for a more talky monster movie, its rapid-fire direction packs heaps of urgency while having a lot to say about the state of the world.
That gives way to a gigantic character roster! To put it in perspective, even characters with one line in a scene have the potential to have their full name and rank of authority displayed on screen. On that note, it is understandable if it seems like there isn’t much character development on offer. However, standouts do show themselves often and performances are all-around excellent. My personal favorites are Hiroki Hasegawa, working intensely to overexhaustion in the name of fast action, and Satomi Ishihara’s coy professionalism. Also shout out to the towel professor and laptop guy, you know who you are.
As for Godzilla, he is on a new level of menace. His design is nothing short of intimidating and intentionally leaves nothing up for endearment. Visual effects across the board look great, still incorporating plenty of practical models among decent CGI. Godzilla is also mechanically altered into a mutated mess of a creature, easily becoming his most scary outing since the original movie.
It makes the action scenes a lot more gripping, with his constant evolutions raising the stakes and firepower. One particular set piece is as devastating as it is euphoric. Something has to be said for the cinematography. Shots feature a ton of oddly specific angles that only add to the frenzy. The many boardroom meetings have some tight editing, chaotic as a military battle but still in control of the direction.
Audio work still keeps the uniqueness going! The film makes liberal use of classic Toho sound effects and music cues from older films. There’s a good mix throughout and some of the sounds still work under modern filmmaking. A lot of the music is used extremely well, showing how well Akira Ifukube’s style transcends the decades. A new score by Shiro Sagisu further piles on the desperation.
“Shin Godzilla” is a triumph! The freshest approach to the series in quite a while. It says quite a lot while using the kaiju destruction as a harsh reinforcement. On that note, a perfectly firm reminder of the character’s intent initially. Not to say this will immediately be embraced by those looking for more traditional monster action, but the ride is quite the rewarding one if you delve in. Either way, a big stand out in a big legacy.
“Shin Godzilla” Trailer
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