Finished this a couple days ago and it's everything you would expect and well worth the 10+ year wait (I first heard about it way back on the Classic Media commentaries). It probably has the single greatest account on the making of the original Godzilla, and I imagine we here have read many a great article on how that film came about. Pair this with the accompanying chapter from August Ragone's Tsuburaya book, covering the more technical details on the film, and you've practically got everything you need to know about it. But the real meat of the book covers Honda's calmer, dramatic output. If that Criterion Godzilla set ever
does happen, hopefully some of those non-genre films will follow too.
My only real nerdy nitpick is that the authors come across as 'Very Serious' in spots lamenting Godzilla's turn as a superhero in the 70s, the quality of later Godzilla films (although Honda didn't seem too impressed by them either), and there are digs at G2014 and Shin at the end of the book for (as they see it) not following Honda's worldview 100%. I knew about those going in which I thought was a bit funny considering they write about Honda's genre films being perceived as militaristic and nationalistic upon release, so certain viewpoints on Shin is just history repeating itself I guess.
There are a few spots like this in the book but this part in the introduction sums it up best -
The uneasy postwar Japan-US alliance underlies many of Honda's science fiction films, and while Godzilla and especially Mothra might be interpreted as somewhat anti-American, Honda was increasingly optimistic about the relationship. In his idealized world, America and the "new Switzerland" of Japan are leaders of a broad, United Nations-based coalition reliant on science and technology to protect mankind. Scientists are highly influential, while politicians are ineffective or invisible. The Japan Self-Defense Forces bravely defend the homeland and employ glorified, high-tech hardware; but military operations often fail, and force alone rarely repels the threat. Assistance often comes from monsters, a deus ex machine, or human ingenuity. Honda was also frequently concerned with the dehumanizing effects of technology, greed, or totalitarianism.
All that said though, I can't wait to see what Ed G and Ryfle have in store next. Ryfle has talked about updating Japan's Favorite Mon-Star, which would be great to see in a clean, simple layout like the Honda book.
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Or if you want a proper review...
http://www.scifijapan.com/articles/2018 ... wa-review/