10/10
I should start by saying that this isn’t tied into the current WB/Legendary pictures Godzilla movies that started with 2014’s Godzilla. Rather this is a retelling by Toho of the original 1957 Godzilla movie, but from a different perspective & with a few tweaks. I don’t want to give too much away so I’m going to be sparse on the details. I should add that it was filmed in Japanese and is subtitled in English
I absolutely loved this film. It was an unflinching look at post-war Japan that forms the backdrop of a really well done kaiju movie. Writer/Director Takashi Yamazaki crafted a story that threads the needle between showing enough of the monster everyone came to see and giving enough time to get to know the human characters so they aren’t just set dressing.
Ryunosuke Kamiki is the main audience POV character (Koichi Shikishima) and he does a masterful job of showing us a man desperately trying to rebuild his life while grappling with his role in the war. Minami Hamabe and Sakura Ando both deliver excellent supporting performances.
The effects are really well done. The CG and practical effects are woven together seamlessly. Godzilla is modeled after the original suit. The sound design and effects will be familiar to fans of the original films.
It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I had a fantastic time. If you like kaiju films, I highly recommend it.
