I saw this one in the theatre when it came out, and I can’t believe I didn’t write about it then. But that gave me an excuse (like I needed one) to rewatch it for the blog. And damn, if it isn’t better than I remember it.

Wow.

It opens in the final days of World War II, with a kamikaze pilot, Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki). He struggles with the idea of killing himself for the war, and while waiting on a remote island, has an encounter with a kaiju… Godzilla!

We travel through the next couple of years, seeing the end of the war, nuclear detonations which have an effect on Godzilla, including increasing its size and regenerative abilities, and it seems to be heading towards the Japanese coastline.

Following the war, Koichi returns home to find it all destroyed from American bombing; he connects with a homeless woman, Noriko (Minami Hamabe) and a little girl Akiko. They form a unique family, forming connections formed through the horrors of war.

They begin to live, thrive and flourish, as Koichi finds work, and life goes on. But Godzilla is drawing closer.

With Oscar-winning visual effects, which still remain absolutely stunning, the film is gorgeous, and the story is fantastic, giving us massive destruction, which is expected in a Godzilla film, and great characters and narrative, which are occasionally missed in Godzilla films.

This is a top-notch Kaiju film. Not the Americanization of the world’s most famous Kaiju as seen in the King kong/Godzilla films, but a smart, well-crafted and beautifully made film that ties in directly with the original film (Including roars, themes, and musical motifs).

This film is an absolute winner; everything works. The story is filled with engaging characters, incredible sequences, a brilliant and enjoyable narrative, and damn, those visual effects are simply jaw-dropping.

I loved seeing this on the big screen when it came out, but it also delights on the home theatre. I own it on 4K, and the image is brilliant, clear, and is an absolute must for collectors. I have a number of Godzilla films, but after the original classic I can easily say that this one is my favourite.

And having said that, I don’t think I’m going to wait three years before watching it again, this is a brilliant film, and it should be on everyone’s watch list. Rewatching it now has also got me jazzed up for Godzilla Minus Zero!

See it for the first time, or rewatch it now. This one is a winner through and through.