31 Days of Horror 2016/Hoop-Tober 3.0

I saw the original Godzilla in a theater a few years back and I have seen both American Godzilla movies in their original runs. However, this is the first time I've gotten to see a new Japanese Godzilla movie in the theater. That alone made this an awesome experience. There is nothing quite like watching Godzilla tear up Tokyo on the big screen.

This is a lot closer to the original Godzilla movie than most of the sequels, but it falls short of being as good as that one. You aren't going to see Godzilla fighting any other monsters here. You are going to see him tearing through the city, destroying everything in its wake. Also, like the original, this one is trying to have something to say. I don't know a lot about Japanese politics, but this movie seems to be more about the ineptitude of the Japanese Government to get anything actually done in a crisis.

While Godzilla is a major presence in the film, a lot of the movie takes place in boardrooms and government offices. If it weren't for the number of people dying, the total inability of the government to act here would be comical. There are long scenes of watching the government trying to figure out what to do, only for it to be too late once they finally do act. Don't take that to mean that the movie is at all boring, because it isn't. Though, I think it could have lost about 15 minutes or so to tighten things up.

As for Godzilla himself. He's still awesome and as destructive as ever. HI really like his new look, though the CG looks a little stiff for a lot of the movie. I am thinking they were intentionally trying to make him look like a guy in a suit. I have mixed feelings about that. On one hand, I love suitmation. On the other hand, if you want a guy in a suit, use a guy in a suit.

The scene where Godzilla finally, really, goes all out destroying the city is really well done. It is also done in a way that is different than they way it has been done before. Godzilla has a few more things going for him than just his atomic breath in this one. When that scene finally happened, everyone in the audience clapped cheered.

So overall, one of the better entries in the Godzilla franchise. In spite of the few flaws I mentioned, I really enjoyed it.