Review of Shin Godzilla (2016) by J W — 14 Aug 2017

A fantastic modern take on Godzilla, fitting in with modern day Japan and playing off their fears. It reinvented Godzilla, just like Toho has done in the past and just like Legendary did in 2014.

I did not mind Godzilla's design. Godzilla looks good, deformed like he was meant to be since the very first film. He was meant to invoke a feeling of wrongness in the original film, and this one certainly does a good job at that. Sure, his first form looks a little goofy, but that's offset by the blood that's constantly pouring from his gills. This is not a natural creature, not anymore.

I also liked the characters. They felt real, and weren't the campy, over-the-top characters that we used to have in every Toho film but the original. I also enjoyed the political aspects of the film, as it gave a good insight to how Japan's bureaucracy works.

Unlike Godzilla 2014, this film provides both a view of the destruction actually happening AND the aftermath, and it's presented in a serious tone.

I didn't like how static Godzilla was in the film though. A bit more lively movement from him would have been nice.

Over all, Shin Godzilla is a solid modern retelling of a 60+ year old icon that has been sorely needed after decades of the same old "Godzilla vs monster" formula that we've been getting back to back.