SHIN GOJIRA シンゴジラ SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT Attended one of the first showings on opening day 9am in Osaka. I am a GOJIRA otaku and was seriously pleased to be in Japan for the release of this long overdue Toho production.... The 29th in the GOJIRA franchise (not including the us made films ). It was always going to be interesting to see what tact this release would take. In the history of the films, there have been various themes and moods in each..often quite a contrast to each other. I had heard rumors that ShinGojia would be a more serious and less "camp" affair, and containing a certain amount of social and political commentary.
It turns out that this is certainly the case, along with a new style GOJIRA that focuses much less on realism, with quite a retro appearance.
To the first aspect. .The artistic commentary and social observation is provided by rather extensive dialogue and script writing, the common theme being about Japan,s position in the world as a nation who should be making its own decisions free from US, UN and other countries influence and direction. (I am all for that! ). Most of the dialogue. ..bearing in mind my inferior Japanese... is rather formal and direct. .. With little comic relief or deep emotional content. I guess the writers felt there was a lot to say. ... (and ill have to wait for the subtitled version to get it all. )..but I feel it went on for far too long. In addition to the overly long dialogue. ..it was very one dimensional. ..and exclusively deals with the politicians, senior public servants and some scientific leaders. We never see much character development in these either. .. and and embarrassingly concocted story about the US presidents daughter being a precocious, kowaii girl diplomat, who seems to have all the answers. Nor do we see any of the millions of other members of society. .. The common man..apart from the fact their lives are being torn asunder by GOJIRA. ... and possibly what the government will do about it. Really contrasts with many previous films where we see some insight into the plight of families and various individuals. ..With a certain amount of dialogue and focus. Yeah...A few scenes of people running away. .being taken away in buses..or trying to escape the carnage. .but not even a close up. (Where was the obasan dropping her eggs in the supermarket? ) Okay. .so the other major aspect of note is that of the king himself. The opening appearance is confusing. .as I'm not sure if anyone is supposed to realize this is Godzilla. I did expect a bit of old school artistic representation. .but the first form is kind of lame! I was hoping that this would be a kaiju that GOJIRA would come to fight. ...but this turns out to be a slug like pre-GOJIRA form..that gives rise to the final form...which I think is how he should have been in the first place. Those crappy eyes on the slug form - not a great look! However. .Once he's up and fully ambulant, the new GOJIRA is pretty cool. Paying homage to the 54 form...With elements of GMK and other later forms thrown in. The effects look good. .and his arsenal is cool. .. combining the lazer breath and one out the tail. ... (and the disco ones out his back! ). Especially like the open mouth. ...With a hinged jaw. Might have come in handy had another kaiju appeared. But. .This film is not about him, now is it. The scenes featuring GOJIRA are seemingly long enough. .But you get the feeling that he's not a personality that other godzis have had. That might seem strange. .but I've always felt that he has taken center stage. ..whereas here. .The action returns to the boardrooms and coordination centers very quickly, and in fact. .GOJIRA actually stops for a rest on three occasion's. ..While the politicians and boffins can all get their opinions in....as if he says. ."okay. .I'll give you time to waft hot air around, while I take a rest! I am not important! " Finally. .and that's used ironically. . There is no comeback? It's pretty much a case of once the humans workout a plan. .. (which is the serious issue of does Japan get the right to decide. .and is nuclear weapons an option. ) then, that's it. It pretty much works and shows over. Hmmmm. Not how I would have written it! Certainly there is room for a comeback in a sequel. I don't mind change of stereotypical story telling..but was it necessary to make this departure from classic kaiju eiga story lines on, what is Toho Cinemas "comeback " GOJIRA film? All in all. .It did not suck. .. and I give it 7/10. Again. .I am probably going to review once a subtitled version appears. .. but wonder how hard a job it will be with such extensive and dry dialogue.
It turns out that this is certainly the case, along with a new style GOJIRA that focuses much less on realism, with quite a retro appearance.
To the first aspect. .The artistic commentary and social observation is provided by rather extensive dialogue and script writing, the common theme being about Japan,s position in the world as a nation who should be making its own decisions free from US, UN and other countries influence and direction. (I am all for that! ). Most of the dialogue. ..bearing in mind my inferior Japanese... is rather formal and direct. .. With little comic relief or deep emotional content. I guess the writers felt there was a lot to say. ... (and ill have to wait for the subtitled version to get it all. )..but I feel it went on for far too long. In addition to the overly long dialogue. ..it was very one dimensional. ..and exclusively deals with the politicians, senior public servants and some scientific leaders. We never see much character development in these either. .. and and embarrassingly concocted story about the US presidents daughter being a precocious, kowaii girl diplomat, who seems to have all the answers. Nor do we see any of the millions of other members of society. .. The common man..apart from the fact their lives are being torn asunder by GOJIRA. ... and possibly what the government will do about it. Really contrasts with many previous films where we see some insight into the plight of families and various individuals. ..With a certain amount of dialogue and focus. Yeah...A few scenes of people running away. .being taken away in buses..or trying to escape the carnage. .but not even a close up. (Where was the obasan dropping her eggs in the supermarket? ) Okay. .so the other major aspect of note is that of the king himself. The opening appearance is confusing. .as I'm not sure if anyone is supposed to realize this is Godzilla. I did expect a bit of old school artistic representation. .but the first form is kind of lame! I was hoping that this would be a kaiju that GOJIRA would come to fight. ...but this turns out to be a slug like pre-GOJIRA form..that gives rise to the final form...which I think is how he should have been in the first place. Those crappy eyes on the slug form - not a great look! However. .Once he's up and fully ambulant, the new GOJIRA is pretty cool. Paying homage to the 54 form...With elements of GMK and other later forms thrown in. The effects look good. .and his arsenal is cool. .. combining the lazer breath and one out the tail. ... (and the disco ones out his back! ). Especially like the open mouth. ...With a hinged jaw. Might have come in handy had another kaiju appeared. But. .This film is not about him, now is it. The scenes featuring GOJIRA are seemingly long enough. .But you get the feeling that he's not a personality that other godzis have had. That might seem strange. .but I've always felt that he has taken center stage. ..whereas here. .The action returns to the boardrooms and coordination centers very quickly, and in fact. .GOJIRA actually stops for a rest on three occasion's. ..While the politicians and boffins can all get their opinions in....as if he says. ."okay. .I'll give you time to waft hot air around, while I take a rest! I am not important! " Finally. .and that's used ironically. . There is no comeback? It's pretty much a case of once the humans workout a plan. .. (which is the serious issue of does Japan get the right to decide. .and is nuclear weapons an option. ) then, that's it. It pretty much works and shows over. Hmmmm. Not how I would have written it! Certainly there is room for a comeback in a sequel. I don't mind change of stereotypical story telling..but was it necessary to make this departure from classic kaiju eiga story lines on, what is Toho Cinemas "comeback " GOJIRA film? All in all. .It did not suck. .. and I give it 7/10. Again. .I am probably going to review once a subtitled version appears. .. but wonder how hard a job it will be with such extensive and dry dialogue.