TK User Shin Godzilla Review and Question Thread (Spoilers)

[GigaBowserG]

Is it true that this film is overly nationalistic and anti-foreigner?

If for some reason you're super patriotic, maybe it could rub you the wrong way. I've seen it brought up by others, but it never bothered me any. It's a film made primarily for the Japanese.

[Castellan Zilla]

Is it true that this film is overly nationalistic and anti-foreigner?

Seeing it on the 19th with a friend, and this will be his first Japanese Godzilla movie. I'm just hoping this doesn't rub him the wrong way.

It shows what the US is. And that we are incredibly intrusive, which isn't a lie. I could see how that could upset a 'Murrican.

[Spuro]

Is it true that this film is overly nationalistic and anti-foreigner?

Seeing it on the 19th with a friend, and this will be his first Japanese Godzilla movie. I'm just hoping this doesn't rub him the wrong way.

It shows what the US is. And that we are incredibly intrusive, which isn't a lie. I could see how that could upset a 'Murrican.

Ah. Well as a Canadian there shouldn't be a problem then. I was worried that the film would be anti-foreigner in the "We are the superior nation," sort of sense.

[Castellan Zilla]

Well, Canada does nothing wrong, so I think you guys are good! LOL

I honestly loved how the movie showcased my country. It was refreshing to see. Neither the heroes or villains, just the US being the US.

[InstinctiveGigan]

I liked this film, I actually have better first impressions of it than 2014 Godzilla. The CGI only took me out of the film twice, none would be better but eh, Japan's getting there.

Probably my most hated aspect of the film was the ending. I wanted a sad, everyone dies ending. The rest of the film did a great job at establishing a somewhat realistic setting with real consequences and the ending went all Hollywood where a stupid, nonsensical plan just works out perfectly, PIS was everywhere and everyone lives happily ever after. Fuck all the casualties, property damage, look how quirky the characters are now, hear that happy music? Falalala! For fucks sake Shin Goji took dozens of tank shells to the knee caps with no reaction but trains full of explosives trip his shit and cause him to roar in pain? Gimme a break.

They should've just ended the film with the nuke, leave it to audience interpretation if it even killed Godzilla, just end on a blinding white screen after the blast. Would've been much more impactful of an ending that fits the film's tone and would've coincided with the theme pretty perfectly if they just nuked Japan. The ending just felt so out of place compared to everything else and, in my opinion, it just plain sucked.

[Spuro]

They should've just ended the film with the nuke.

No.

Back during those fake Judus "leaks", the one thing - the ONLY thing - that actually pissed me off was that a nuke was used as a solution to solve the problem in the climax. Had the leaks been true, that would have went against what the entire series stood for. Even in the more fun and lighthearted GTTHM, they make a point to refuse to resort to nuclear weapons.

Nothing else that was revealed, be they fake Judus stuff or real leaks like the tail beam, actually made me angry. The nuke idea did.

[M.U.T.O.]

They should've just ended the film with the nuke.

No.

Back during those fake Judus "leaks", the one thing - the ONLY thing - that actually pissed me off was that a nuke was used as a solution to solve the problem in the climax. Had the leaks been true, that would have went against what the entire series stood for. Even in the more fun and lighthearted GTTHM, they make a point to refuse to resort to nuclear weapons.

Nothing else that was revealed, be they fake Judus stuff or real leaks like the tail beam, actually made me angry. The nuke idea did.

Seconded. Using a nuke would actually mean Japan willingly let its capital city get blown up by the US. The closest I can remember a nuke came to detonating in a city in a Godzilla movie is G84, and that didn't even detonate in the city itself.

It would've gone against the message of the film too; Japan is generally depicted as more capable of holding its own. But letting its biggest city get nuked by the US for a third time? No, that would be more Hollywood-y. One big explosion and it might be dead. #USA! #USA!
No.

[BlankAccount]

Is it true that this film is overly nationalistic and anti-foreigner?

Seeing it on the 19th with a friend, and this will be his first Japanese Godzilla movie. I'm just hoping this doesn't rub him the wrong way.

Let me just say this.

The U.S. military does more in this Japanese film than they do in the U.S. film and actually don't come off as fucking morons but competent. Scared shitless and willing do anything, but still competent.

There's even a scene at the white house where they talk about how they really DON'T want to use nukes but they will if they feel it's the only way. And unlike most Hollywood flicks, it actually has weight when they say they don't want to.

Added in 8 minutes 2 seconds:

I actually have better first impressions of it than 2014 Godzilla.

Oh my god THIS. And I didn't hate G'2014, I was just needing time to figure out why I wasn't really all that impressed. Here, I like the film but I'm needing time to absorb all the weird things I saw LOL!

[tbeasley]

Is it true that this film is overly nationalistic and anti-foreigner?

No.

Some are taking it that way though and are acting as reactionary as they think the movie is. It's really weird.

[MechaGoji Bro7503]

I just saw the movie last night. It was awesome. I may post a review sometime but im just to tired.

Did anyone else feel like the final battle was like a Lego game boss battle? Like how you have to hold down or knock down the boss in order to inflict damage? Now about the trains i felt like it was karma for Godzilla, after all those years of killing trains they ambush him.

[ToxicLove]

The "anti-American" (or whatever nonsense we can call it now) got a huge amount of laughs, especially when the newly acting PM said something along the lines of "Leave it to the US to do what it does."

Loud laughs and chants of U!S!A! followed.

[GodzillaXGomoraFight]

To address people's concerns of this film being anti-foreigner, I would not say it is like that. I argued in my review that there was a love/hate relationship between Japan and the U.S.. While I think an American audience will take note of it, I did not think that the film came across as a "screw America" by the filmmakers. I think the film goes above and beyond in showing that Godzilla is a global issue with numerous nationalities taking part in the effort to stop the monster. I think ideas of Japan being anti-foreigner in this film come from the great amount of pressure Japan has in dealing with Godzilla and how the Japanese are ultimately the ones who stop Godzilla in the end. It is seen numerous times during the film that Japanese politicians feel pressured by the United Nations into using a nuclear weapon and how foreign influence may be a bit unfair. I would argue that Japanese Godzilla films are very much a part of the culture and the film does portray this too. Godzilla is on their land and they are the ones who ultimately have to learn to coexist with him for the time being. Perhaps this film tries to establish Godzilla as a concept inherently Japanese to contrast from the West's big blockbuster version of the Big G. That is my opinion and I am sure you all have different interpretations of this.

As for ending the movie with the bomb, I am not sure if I would like that. Sounds a lot like Cloverfield to me and we know how that worked out for mankind in that series. I highly doubt it would have worked and if anything, Godzilla would have been even stronger. All that energy hopefully would have ended the need for him to recharge his inner reactor haha.

[LSD Jellyfish]

The "anti-American" (or whatever nonsense we can call it now) got a huge amount of laughs, especially when the newly acting PM said something along the lines of "Leave it to the US to do what it does."

Loud laughs and chants of U!S!A! followed.

I actually never took the message as anti USA, just a Japanese aversion to foreign influence which given the history of Japan and American America is the private target. Don't forget a large focal point of the film was an an exchange of info between different companies and ultimately working together. It was also directly stated that the US being involved is way more preferable than Russia or China.

I'm not saying the movie was worshipping America, no quite the opposite, it was definitely critical, but it's such a sharp contrast to the patriotism of the 2014 film which is hilarious. Note how also critical it was of the Japanese government and inner workings. I think a lot of Americans are also used to American patriot porn, which the film had none of cause ya know its a Japanese film.

[ToxicLove]

I actually never took the message as anti USA, just a Japanese aversion to foreign influence which given the history of Japan and American America is the private target. Don't forget a large focal point of the film was an an exchange of info between different companies and ultimately working together. It was also directly stated that the US being involved is way more preferable than Russia or China.

I'm not saying the movie was worshipping America, no quite the opposite, it was definitely critical, but it's such a sharp contrast to the patriotism of the 2014 film which is hilarious. Note how also critical it was of the Japanese government and inner workings. I think a lot of Americans are also used to American patriot porn, which the film had none of cause ya know its a Japanese film.

Oh I definitely agree. It's good to get that little bit of healthy reality from other films, lest we become too satisfied in ourselves as a country.

[BlankAccount]

The "anti-American" (or whatever nonsense we can call it now) got a huge amount of laughs, especially when the newly acting PM said something along the lines of "Leave it to the US to do what it does."

Loud laughs and chants of U!S!A! followed.

See, people at my theater were laughing when Japan was cheering on the stealth bombers and saying Go USA!

[GodzillaXGomoraFight]

The "anti-American" (or whatever nonsense we can call it now) got a huge amount of laughs, especially when the newly acting PM said something along the lines of "Leave it to the US to do what it does."

Loud laughs and chants of U!S!A! followed.

See, people at my theater were laughing when Japan was cheering on the stealth bombers and saying Go USA!

Same at my theater, but I would be lying if I didn't say that I wasn't cheering too. Pretty satisfying seeing the U.S. bombs making Godzilla's back explode compared to all of the weapons earlier in the film.

[Desghidorah]

The reports of anti-americanism was pretty overblown in my opinion. Yah some grating stuff was there, but it was more on the level of harmless stereotyping (almost all of it aimed at the Japanese-"American" character being sexualized to a degree and running for president in the future) than anything condemning. Worst part of it seemed to be the Americans wanting to cover up the monster, dumping the nuclear waste, and being a bit trigger happy with the nukes; but it's balanced out by them honestly wanting to help save Japan and being seen as preferable to other foreign aid. Plus most of their faults the Japanese government was also seen as guilty of. It's a mixed bag.

Really I half expected it to be much worse, but the stuff we did get is expected in the cultural context. Japanese as a whole do not personally encounter foreigners more than a few tourists so their perception of other nations tends to often come from media. And media is obviously a well of accurate, non-exaggerated information; right? One thing to definitely take note of is the diplomat character suddenly acting much more rational and level headed at the "plight of her countrymen". This may seem grating or even a bit racist since they seem to imply this is because she's half Japanese and someone who wasn't wouldn't feel like that; but Eastern Asia as a whole tends to view race and national ethnicity differently than the West. In the West, especially very diverse places like the USA, you're encouraged to adopt a national identity to your home nation first and then see your ethnicity or race. Differences and aversions exist of course, but that's the jist of it. Japan on the other hand is a very monoracial and ethnic country. Minority groups exist, but until recently the Japanese government didn't even recognize them. So to a Japanese perspective, some one who is racially Japanese IS nationally Japanese on some level and expected to harbor some facet of Japanese culture. Same goes for Chinese and other groups. To that perspective, it's like this

To an American, a state born Japanese-American is a person of Japanese descent born in America who is an American with Japanese genetics. They may or may not follow Japanese culture.

To a Japanese, a state born Japanese-American is a Japanese person in race and identity who is living in America or acts American. They belong to Japanese culture whether they act it or not.

I apologize for the ramble but I saw this topic pop up a few times here and on other sites and I wanted to use my Anthropology major to weigh in.

[LSD Jellyfish]

Pretty much agreed with the statements above. But, it's almost like a country isn't one entity! And is comprised with many different individuals with completely different goals and aspirations.,

One thing I'd like to talk about is the tough decisions. If the PM had authorized the choppers to shoot form 2 would it have killed it and ended the problem there? Would you make the same decision? Even though the PM was goofy, I can see why he would be hesitant to do things, and it's what adds a lot of extra humanity and thought to the film.

[ToxicLove]

I love reading all these posts guys. Seriously.

This was the first time EVER in a Godzilla movie where I felt it was a team effort to take him down. No legendary one man hero. Just a rag-tag group of nerds, pain-in-the-asses, lone wolfs from all fields banding together and taking down a massive threat. First Godzilla movie that really drove home the point of united we stand, divided we fall.

[GodzillaXGomoraFight]

The reports of anti-americanism was pretty overblown in my opinion. Yah some grating stuff was there, but it was more on the level of harmless stereotyping (almost all of it aimed at the Japanese-"American" character being sexualized to a degree and running for president in the future) than anything condemning. Worst part of it seemed to be the Americans wanting to cover up the monster, dumping the nuclear waste, and being a bit trigger happy with the nukes; but it's balanced out by them honestly wanting to help save Japan and being seen as preferable to other foreign aid. Plus most of their faults the Japanese government was also seen as guilty of. It's a mixed bag.

Really I half expected it to be much worse, but the stuff we did get is expected in the cultural context. Japanese as a whole do not personally encounter foreigners more than a few tourists so their perception of other nations tends to often come from media. And media is obviously a well of accurate, non-exaggerated information; right? One thing to definitely take note of is the diplomat character suddenly acting much more rational and level headed at the "plight of her countrymen". This may seem grating or even a bit racist since they seem to imply this is because she's half Japanese and someone who wasn't wouldn't feel like that; but Eastern Asia as a whole tends to view race and national ethnicity differently than the West. In the West, especially very diverse places like the USA, you're encouraged to adopt a national identity to your home nation first and then see your ethnicity or race. Differences and aversions exist of course, but that's the jist of it. Japan on the other hand is a very monoracial and ethnic country. Minority groups exist, but until recently the Japanese government didn't even recognize them. So to a Japanese perspective, some one who is racially Japanese IS nationally Japanese on some level and expected to harbor some facet of Japanese culture. Same goes for Chinese and other groups. To that perspective, it's like this

To an American, a state born Japanese-American is a person of Japanese descent born in America who is an American with Japanese genetics. They may or may not follow Japanese culture.

To a Japanese, a state born Japanese-American is a Japanese person in race and identity who is living in America or acts American. They belong to Japanese culture whether they act it or not.

I apologize for the ramble but I saw this topic pop up a few times here and on other sites and I wanted to use my Anthropology major to weigh in.

This is very true. I went to a study abroad program in Japan this past winter and the Japanese people's view on foreigners and their identity. Had a lecture where a Japanese professor went on about how Japan has a strong "group culture". In a nation where more than 90% of the people are Japanese or of Japanese descent, the people definitely identify strongly with their nation. The lecture also pointed out a lack of individualism in the group culture, which you can see when many of Japan's most popular music artists are groups like AKB48. You can definitely see this in Shin Godzilla where the Japanese as a nation come together to find their own solution against Godzilla rather than succumb to foreign pressure and drop the bomb. Outside of foreign districts like Roppongi in Tokyo, there are not a lot of foreigners around. People for the most part were fine with foreigners but there were some instances where some restaurant owners or by-passers were not as warm. My girlfriend who knows Japanese, for instance, overheard a mother in toy store comment that us foreigners were "scary". I came to the conclusion that prejudices exist all over the world and it is not exclusive to the United States where racial tensions have been high lately. People are human after all and culture plays a huge role in how you or I view the world.