Okay Review time
Shin Godzilla
(Godzilla Resurgent)
120 Minutes in Theaters US October 11-18 Importer Funimation Japanese language English subtitles
8.7/10 Watch it
First This is not a Romp Godzilla movie, If you want a Fun Godzilla vs movie watch the 2014 movie. This is a great movie but It's not suitmation Camp movie. this is a deep Scifi film with a message. Godzilla in this film is not Godzilla, Godzilla is an allusion he is the Earthquake Tsunami and Fukushima disaster of March 11, 2011 But he is not just that He is also an allusion To the Geopolitical position of Japan and the US and China and Russia.
The Story is told not from the Past Godzilla movie, in fact this movie was written in a verse where there was never a kaiju before furthermore the hero is not of the traditional hero figure from past Godzilla movies like a scientist, military officer, Pilot, Adventurer or Journalist This is A movie where the Hero is... A Politician.
If you love Conference rooms You will love this movie. Half the settings are board rooms. This is important as this is a very dramatic based movie with a lot of exposition. What the makers are doing is recreating the events of March 11 2011. the disfunction and disconnect between what is happening at the event and what the leadership thinks is happening and it quickly points out a major problem in the reaction to events. The yes men. at critical moments of the Film you see what we here in the US call the Yes men people who got there job and position by playing it safe and knowing how to keep there nose clean. This quickly becomes a clog in reaction as critical time is lost because " That cannot be.", " We need more information", And "Are we sure these are not faked?" is tossed around and the few who point out what is happening or what needs doing or how things could be done are held back, told to shut up or that they are not in the proper place to speak.
This leads us to our Hero Rando Yaguchi He's a Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, not a high high office but a real gogetter type a functionary but with a critical aspect to his personality. He's bold. Where others hold back he speaks he's not afraid to say what is happening and is quite aggressive and will not stand for the yes men. though his actions he quickly cuts though the red tape and finds people who will get things done. He assembles a team of Whiners, complainers, Troublemakers and misfits... The guys who will tell you when you stink. The people who do not wait for the approved report.
And Partnering with him is Our Heroin Kayoko Ann Patterson, second generation Japanese American serving as Special Envoy for the President of the United States, She is a Woman aiming big Actually She is the American version of Rando's Character, She is a go getter type who is not afraid to walk her own path. Both Rondo and Kayoko plan for big next steps As they both intend to be leading there respective nations before the next decade. neither is afraid of Cowboy Diplomacy in fact throughout the movie the two are key players in driving Japanese US Actions against Godzilla.
Some could try and construe there relations as a Love story, It's not It's like Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. Neither is afraid to Change the rules when needed. Through there actions they establish a unique reaction and drama as they find an alternative to the Solution that would seem the most effective but would render the most lost A Nuclear strike on Godzilla.
Speaking of which here is the biggest player on the screen G himself. This is a very different G then any that have come before It is actively changing throughout the film This keeps the situation fluid as the Rules are always changing as this Godzilla is always evolving.
This Film had fairly good cinematography, there were some times where it was like " Obvious CG", Acting was strong, Writing was strong. This was a serious film this was a movie about a natural disaster without the usual tropes " The War room" super weapons and mecha. this is a cold real world take on G.