Godzilla has been a cultural property of Japan for years. Even people not immersed into Japanese culture or Otaku subculture can recognize the Monster. Godzilla has fought humanity and worked together against even more terrible monsters. It is a constant reminder about the radiation of the Nuclear bombs tests of the 20 century. All around the Globe fans of the franchise worship the king of Kaiju, Japanese for “Strange Monster”. They call Godzylla “Original Radioactive Superhero” predating Spiderman origins.
Shin Godzilla by Anno Hideaki
It was a challenge from day one for the production company to follow Shin Godzilla. The movie directed by the legendary mind behind the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion received critical acclaim. Anno even teamed with Higuchi Shinji, a legend himself in the Tokusatsu genre and co founder of Gainax. And the grossed U$D78 millions worldwide made it the highest grossing Japanese produced film in the franchise.
The film released on July 25, 2016 took a new turn on the origin of the loved Beast. Originally created as an analogy of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings, Shin makes use of that Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear disaster following the 2011 Touhoku earthquake and tsunami. And the movie was not short criticizing the bureaucratic Japanese politics. But talking high of the Japan Self Defense Force. Even former Prime Minister Abe Shinzou stated “Seems to me the popularity of the film is rooted in the support and pride that the Japanese have for the Self Defense Force”.
Roots back to World War II
The beloved monster went back to its origins after the Nuclear Bombings in Bikini. Not created by but receiving the radioactive powers. In Minus One Godzilla is a Folk Monster. Natives from a tiny Island knows the legend from centuries. And the island is where the protagonist meets Godzilla for the first time. A dramatic film that builds protagonists escaping the horrors of war. The mean one being a Kamikaze pilot who escaped his fate aborting the suicide mission.
Godzilla is back to the 2001 version seen in the film Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah. A fan favorite and one that positively inspired the new film. The editor of Hobby Japan, Itou Katsuhito even called it “the best Godzilla film ever since the Original”. And fans were pleasured from day one to see the influence over Minus One.
It is a movie worth watching even for a non Godzilla fan. And someone who has never been into Kaiju films could enjoy it. WWII aficionados have talked highly about the film in the use of real aircrafts and ships from the era. It is a movie worth watching out of doubt. And a great way to start your journey in a franchise that seems to be in a Golden age once again.