It's easy to remember those old Saturday afternoons, watching classic Japanese monster movies with double creature features airing weekly on television. We felt fortunate when a showing included Mothera battling Gamera, followed by the excitement of Rodan facing off against his latest enemy. Despite how well-known these giant Asian screen beasts were, in all their destructive glory, no one caused as much havoc—heroically or disastrously—as the King of Carnage from the celebrated _Godzilla_. The massive reptile makes a return thanks to Toho Studios reviving the catastrophic creature in writer/co-director Hideaki Anno’s and Shinji Higuchi’s monster mash offering **Godzilla Resurgence** (a.k.a.”Shin Godzilla”). It had been over ten years since the last _Godzilla_ film from Toho Studios, released in 2004. Japanese audiences were initially privileged to see the large lizard's antics when **Godzilla Resurgence** premiered earlier this year. Fortunately, Anno’s and Higuchi’s inventive creature creation is now appearing in limited release elsewhere as _Godzilla_ shakes off his cinematic cobwebs and returns for baby-boomers hoping to relive childhood memories of the spiky rampaging menace doing what he does best: stomping through Japanese streets for some high-octane popcorn entertainment. There's a warm welcome awaiting this familiar, feisty monster, though previous _Godzilla_ installments haven’t always been so well-received (yes, Roland Emmerich—we're referring to your 1998 take on _Godzilla_). Still, **Godzilla Resurgence** manages the remarkable feat of staying true to its humble 1954 origins while adding some fresh humor and clever mayhem. Watching _Godzilla_ is a striking and surreal experience because the filmmakers create tension as the predator crashes into miniature obstacles—people, buildings, bridges, power lines—with devastating force. The details on the _Godzilla_ monster are wonderfully grotesque, and every drop of blood from his jagged mouth and ominous scaly skin feels deeply unsettling. The thought of Godzilla’s two-ton tail swinging with destructive defiance adds to the mystique of this Asian destroyer. For those unfamiliar with the _Godzilla_ mythology, it's quite simple: a classic creature was born in 1954 at Toho Studios, where filmmaker Ishiro Honda presented a movie that would become a cult favorite for decades. While various _Godzilla_ films (excluding the American versions) were sometimes characterized by cheesy special effects—the infamous “man-in-a-monster suit”—and cheap model sets portraying a deteriorating Japanese backdrop, the message was clear: _Godzilla_ and his monstrous companions symbolized Japan’s disillusionment with its atomic bombing past. These creatures reflected the devastation that haunted a region targeted for annihilation and humiliation. While _Godzilla_ provided escapist thrills and chills for Japanese audiences in the 50s and 60s, Honda's frightening predator also served as a reminder of the country’s political, societal, and technological struggles for survival. Thus, _Godzilla_ is a representation of the immense and ugly chapter that remains in humanity’s history—the nuclear blast. **Godzilla Resurgence** (_Shin Godzilla_) introduces Godzilla as an unknown destructive force, baffling Tokyo officials who have no idea how to contain the boisterous beast as he tears through Japan like a sledgehammer through a light bulb factory. Once his return is confirmed, authorities must figure out how to eliminate the enormous creature without endangering citizens. As the Japanese government grapples with what to do about Godzilla’s presence—as he systematically destroys everything in his path—cynicism grows. Why is Godzilla's existence disrupting their way of life? Is this a plot by other countries to dump unrest and chaos on Japan? Could foreign superpowers like the United States, China, or Russia collaborate to terminate the monster? Will Godzilla cause global concerns, and if so, how will military thinking play out in Japan’s backyard? **Godzilla Resurgence** aims for more than just a typical giant monster movie filled with flashy CGI effects and explosions. Anno (“Evangelion”) and Higuchi (“Attack on Titan”) offer a sophisticated and thought-provoking story that goes beyond the surface entertainment. The nostalgic elements are carefully maintained, and viewers get their share of Godzilla’s manic antics. Importantly, Anno and Higuchi elevate their brand of disguised political commentary in the form of a sci-fi monster B movie that effectively mirrors current chaos and conflicts affecting modern Japan—or any nation for that matter. Whether it's highlighting international trust or examining "kaiju" (big, brutal monsters) terrorism as an allegory for Japan’s inevitable national fallout from an unstoppable disaster, **Godzilla Resurgence** goes beyond its cartoonish destruction. Regardless of how one interprets **Godzilla Resurgence**, the verdict is clear: Toho Studios delivers a lively and message-driven exploration of uncontrollable forces and critical decisions facing a country undergoing intense self-scrutiny. Simply put, **Godzilla Resurgence** is surprisingly well-done despite its sometimes campy qualities. It’s certainly strong enough to uphold the legacy of the G-man in the kaiju genre. **Godzilla Resurgence (Shin Godzilla)** 2016 Toho Studios 2 hrs. Starring: Hiroki Hasegawa, Satomi Ishihara, Yutaka Takenouchi, Ren Ohsugi, Akira Emoto Directed by: Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi Written by: Hideaki Anno MPAA Rating: NR Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy/Action & Adventure/Drama Critic’s rating: *** stars (out of 4 stars) (c) **Frank Ochieng** 2016

Source on TMDB