Netflix’s anime feature, GODZILLA: Planet of the Monsters, is a mixture of fantasy and science fiction elements with some play at political intrigue, which makes this familiar tale somewhat fresh and enjoyable, but it doesn’t exactly push past limits we’ve seen before. The animation aspect is fun, but outside of neat tech and clothing rendering, the visuals are a bit generic. ‘Some promise but generic’ might be the summation of the film.
GODZILLA: Planet of the Monsters
Directors: Hiroyuki Seshita, Kôbun Shizuno
Rated: TV-14
Release Date: January 17, 2018
GODZILLA takes us to the future and beyond as humankind is temporarily forced to leave the Earth. We follow a few members from last cluster of survivors as they try and take out the monster once and for all. When nuclear weapons have failed in the past, clearly hover bikes are the answer!
Characters. The movie has them: they’re a little flat and their critical decisions do not always impress (especially some of their strategic military choices, both in preparation and during conflict). None of the characters go anywhere unexpected or truly subversive; the man you expect to make the sacrifice play does; the double-crosser leers and double-crosses at just the right moment; The Chick chicks and says the male character’s name way too often while offering little else; and the scrappy, emotional male protagonist gets his heroic charge.
As with most giant monster flicks, allow some room here for improbable physics, although it is clear the writers have fun with some of the film’s different locations and make what nods they can afford to a more realistic scientific portrayal.
Godzilla the monster – I don’t know. I think there have been more impressive kaiju in other films – even more impressive kaiju in other Godzilla films . A few new angles are introduced with this Godzilla, but the most successful to me is the monster morphing the environment to be more similar in nature to its own biology. That was probably the best aspect of the story. However, there is some notation after this title suggesting this is P1:E1, so I will hold out further judgment until Part II or Episode II of this potential series arrives.
If you’re looking for a kaiju movie to watch, just watch Pacific Rim 2 when it premieres in March. If you’re looking for something more urban fantasy already on Netflix, you’d be better served (and protected) with Bright.
