Entertainment Blog #192 | Shin Godzilla [2016] - A Meaningful Godzilla Movie...

What we usually see in Warner Bro's Godzilla is chaos. Godzilla is intentionally banging buildings and Forces trying different types of explosives on Godzilla to attack him. I know now the English Godzilla Universe is going somewhere else but under the radar, the Japanese Godzilla Universe has been able to keep the reality in the movie. Recently, a new Japanese Godzilla movie was released. But before that, let's talk about the predecessor of it...

Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi directed "Shin Godzilla," which was released in 2016. It was produced by Toho Pictures and Cine Bazar as the 31st film in the Godzilla franchise and the first in the Reiwa era. The film, which starred Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, and Satomi Ishihara, was inspired by real-life events such as the Fukushima nuclear disaster and the 2011 Thoku earthquake and tsunami. Its focus on a bureaucratic response to the appearance of a monstrous creature captivated audiences, earning it critical acclaim in Japan but a mixed reception in Western countries.

In "Shin Godzilla," a mysterious creature emerges from Tokyo Bay and destroys the area with its tail. Rando Yaguchi, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, suspects it is a living creature, which is confirmed as it crawls inland, leaving tracks of destruction. The government focuses on military strategies as the creature evolves into a walking form, while Yaguchi leads a research task force to understand and combat the monster. The team struggles to contain the creature, which is energised by nuclear fission and is named "Godzilla," but the Japan Self-Defense Forces' efforts are futile. The United States steps in with an aggressive airstrike plan, causing widespread devastation in Tokyo and forcing evacuations. Godzilla responds with powerful atomic rays, wreaking even more havoc.

Yaguchi's team discovers Godzilla's vulnerability in its cooling system - its plates and blood - as it enters an inactive state and becomes immobile. They discover Godzilla is an ever-evolving creature capable of asexual reproduction after analysing tissue samples. The United Nations threatens Japan with thermonuclear weapons if Godzilla is not defeated, forcing the team to act quickly. With international assistance, they devise a plan to freeze the monster using a coagulating agent. Despite casualties, the team follows through on the plan, freezing Godzilla solid. The radiative substance released by Godzilla has a short half-life, allowing Tokyo to rebuild, but the presence of humanoid creatures frozen on Godzilla's tail foreshadows potential future events.

"Shin Godzilla" differs from other Godzilla films in several ways. Unlike previous films, which primarily focused on Godzilla as a well-established monster, this one focused on the creature's evolution, depicting its growth and adaptation in response to attacks. Furthermore, the film took a unique approach by focusing its narrative on political and bureaucratic struggles in dealing with the monster's appearance, offering a unique perspective on the chaos and decision-making surrounding such a disaster. Furthermore, whereas previous films frequently highlighted Godzilla's battles with other monsters or forces, "Shin Godzilla" focused on the monster's destructive impact and the challenges faced in neutralising its threat, emphasising human response rather than inter-monster confrontations. These distinguishing features set "Shin Godzilla" apart from the rest of the franchise.

Critics' reactions to "Shin Godzilla" were mixed. It received a lot of love in Japan for its fresh take on the Godzilla story, especially for its political significance and amazing visual effects. However, Western critics were divided, applauding the film's dedication to Godzilla's original themes while criticising its pacing, convoluted narrative, and overabundance of characters. While some praised the film's return to classic creature-feature roots and praised the low-fi approach, others found the film's lengthy scenes and jumbled subplots difficult to follow. Overall, the film was praised for its reimagining of Godzilla, creative approach to disaster storytelling, and impactful resonance with real-life disasters, but it received criticism for its execution in some areas, leading to a mixed critical reception across the globe.

"Shin Godzilla" resurrected the iconic monster in an original and stimulating way. Instead of traditional monster-versus-monster battles, the film delves into the bureaucratic and political challenges that come with a disaster, intertwining themes of disaster response, government inefficiencies, and scientific quandaries. Its emphasis on Godzilla's evolution and the struggle to contain its threat gave the franchise a new perspective. Despite mixed international reviews, it received praise in Japan for its fresh take on the Godzilla story, visuals, and references to real-life events. Finally, "Shin Godzilla" stands out as a distinct entry in the franchise, introducing a new dimension to the classic monster's saga while resonating with audiences with its deeper exploration of human response in the face of a calamitous force.