Shin Ultraman
One of the things that is so endearing about Japanese kaiju films is how the visuals- typically done practically- have a tangible quality to them. Yes, the stories, and situations, can be goofy, but we are so engaged with the world that it adds to the entertainment value. It’s amazing that this genre started with a film that is fairly bleak and harrowing in 1954’s “Gojira,” and has become known for its absurdity because people think the monsters performed by people in rubber suits look silly. But compare that to some of the Hollywood attempts at kaiju movies- everything from Legendary’s Monsterverse to “Pacific Rim” to even the live-action “Transformers” films- and very few are as lovingly composed for our entertainment, and willing to embrace the goofy. Give me something like “Shin Ultraman” over the last few Michael Bay “Transformer” films any day.
I’ve heard about 2016’s “Shin Godzilla”- the first in a series of four movies looking to update classic Japanese creations- for many years, but had not taken the chance to see it yet. Don’t be surprised if you see a review of it in the future, because this third film has me excited to watch all of the films in the “Shin” series. “Shin Ultraman” is an update of the iconic “Ultraman” franchise, which revolves around an alien race of superheroes whom battle kaiju and other aliens. Even though I know nothing about the series, I was involved with this movie from minute one, and as it progressed I found myself entertained by both the silliness of the film, but the beauty of the visual effects. It’s hard to imagine we’ll see an American-produced live-action sci-fi film that looks this good, and entertains so thoroughly. This feels like it was made with its tongue in its cheek, and its heart on its sleeve.
The film begins with a prologue that sets up the S-Class Species Suppression Protocol, a special unit the Japanese Ministry sets up to eliminate kaiju when they attack. The montage will have some familiar faces for not only those familiar with Japanese kaiju cinema, but those with only a passing awareness. We will not see Godzilla or Mothra or Gamera in this film, however, but that does not mean that the SSSP won’t have their hands full. When a new kaiju attacks, however, a giant, silver extraterrestrial comes from the sky and defeats the kaiju. In the melee, however, Shinji Kaminaga (Takumi Saitoh), one of the leaders of the SSSP, is injured, and he’s assigned a partner, Hiroko Asami (Masami Nagasawa). In the next kaiju attack, Kaminaga- whose injuries have healed- is at the center of the action, leading Asami to a potential realization. In addition, another alien- named Zarab- makes contact with the SSSP, but they might have an ulterior motive in coming in peace.
“Shin Ultraman” moves along in a very familiar structure if you have seen the Japanese kaiju genre before, and God bless it for being written- Hideaki Anno- in a straightforward manner that not only keeps the plot simple, but the characters fun to watch. Director Shinji Higuchi has created a film that is honestly beautiful and imaginative to look at- the film looks very old-fashioned in the tradition of the “Godzilla” franchise, and the visual effects (however low-tech they may be) actually pop and are made to last. I enjoyed every second of this movie, and even if you know nothing about the “Ultraman” series, you can get in to it and just appreciate the craftsmanship at work. It doesn’t have any of the heavy connotations of the film that kicked off the kaiju genre- or at least, none we haven’t seen before- but it lands on pure entertainment, and I’m fine with that.
