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Washington Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
There's a Godzilla movie you probably haven't seen. Fix that.
What's a summer without a Godzilla movie? Luckily, this isn't the year to find out because the giant, city-stomping reptile is back in 'Shin Godzilla' — a welcome rerelease of a film that you may have missed on its first run almost a decade ago. This time, serious and not-so-serious monster-movie fans alike should seek out the 4K restoration, with screenings beginning in Washington-area theaters Aug. 14. Originally released in 2016, 'Shin Godzilla' is co-directed by Shinji Higuchi and Hideaki Anno, the latter the visionary auteur behind 1995's 'Neon Genesis Evangelion.' Together with cinematographer Kosuke Yamada, they work to totally reinvent the cinematic language of the famous kaiju. The result is a story that closely resembles that of Godzillas of yore but with a visual language, style and rhythm that is dynamic and wholly original. Set in 2016 Japan, the film begins with a mysterious atomic lizard crawling out of the ocean. Yes, this has been done before — as recently as 2023's 'Godzilla Minus One' — but never with this style and rarely this well. Godzilla's opening rampage, which runs for about 20 minutes, is the film's high-water mark in terms of visual effects and set piece construction. In the aftermath of this destruction, the Japanese government scrambles to understand what is happening and protect its citizens. The government — and, it's revealed later, all governments — has absolutely no idea what it's doing. How do officials orchestrate the immediate evacuation of entire cities? Schedule a board meeting. How do they organize an effort to study the creature? More board meetings. Should they drop a nuclear weapon on this beast that gained its powers from nuclear debris? Maybe. But first let's have a few more board meetings to debate it. 'Shin Godzilla' is a political thriller about the gears of bureaucracy. They are difficult to move, but once their intense inertia is in motion, they are unbelievably powerful. Sounds like a certain kaiju. This is what makes 'Shin Godzilla' so special. For the entirety of Godzilla's life, even through qualitative ebbs and flows, he has been a political character. With 'Shin Godzilla,' this creature feature series evolves to capture the present moment perfectly. Higuchi, Anno and Yamada shoot the majority of this movie like a mixture of 'Veep,' late-period Steven Soderbergh and the first 'Cloverfield' flick. Handheld camerawork, extreme framing and POV shots combine to create a sense of true terror rarely achieved in the world of disaster movies. The framing also centers the smallness of human beings in relation to structures and the eponymous beast, pressing the issue of just how powerless we would be up against a walking nuclear reactor. The film's editing style also adds to the chaotic experience. From the opening shot, things unfold mostly at a breakneck pace that conveys the difficulty of trying to maintain order during a crisis. When the film slows, it's noticeable, forcing the viewer to focus on the story and thematic beats being highlighted. In a gripping scene just before the start of the third act, the film's ostensible lead, Hiroki Hasegawa, reflects on American hegemonic power after World War II: 'Postwar extends forever.' As the plot continues to play out, the pressure and anxiety build on the faces of the movie's expansive cast. One standout performance comes from Mikako Ichikawa as a government official thrust into this high-pressure situation. Her dead-eyed intensity reveals the physical and emotional burden of taking down the monster. When a solution finally presents itself (in the world of Godzilla, it's usually driven by brain, not brawn), the relief is as cathartic as any action sequence. When originally released, 'Shin Godzilla' was the start of a new Godzilla era. The world of Gojira (the Japanese name for the character) started with the Showa Era, which ran from 1954 till 1975 and encompassed 15 films, including the first 'Godzilla' in 1954, the original 'King Kong vs. Godzilla' in 1963 and 1968's 'Destroy All Monsters' (a personal favorite). These are the classic Zilla flicks, wherein characters such as Mothra and King Ghidorah were introduced, and Godzilla evolved from anarchic force of destruction to omnipotent protector of humanity. (The films are collected in a $225 box set, courtesy of the Criterion Collection.) Next came the Heisei Era, which began with 'The Return of Godzilla' in 1984 and ran until 1995, followed by the Millennium Era, from 1999 to the mid-2000s. The final film in the Millennium Era, 'Godzilla: Final Wars,' was released in 2004. Fifty years after Ishiro Honda's original, 'Final Wars' featured monsters from throughout Godzilla's history (including Roland Emmerich's 1998 folly). After that, Toho, the production company behind the Japanese films, did not release a new Japanese-language entry for 12 years. Into this absence came 'Shin Godzilla' and the Reiwa Era. Instead of working to build one continuous story — carrying over characters and plotlines from film to film — the Reiwa Era features separate storylines and continuities. 'Shin Godzilla' exists in one continuity, while 'Godzilla Minus One' is completely disconnected. Simultaneously, there are three animated Godzilla features on Netflix set in Earth's distant future and the U.S.-based Monsterverse that include King Kong. All of these films exist on their own and provide a different flavor of the classic monster. As with TV news, or a car accident, it's difficult to look away from 'Shin Godzilla.' Because of its style and subject matter, at times it feels as if you're watching a snuff film: massive crowds of people unable to move fast enough to outrun certain death. It's overwhelming in a way that feels immense and essential, like the monster it worships and the facades he tears down.
The Mainichi
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
US team clad in game characters wins World Cosplay Summit in Japan
NAGOYA (Kyodo) -- A team representing the United States clad in popular game characters won the championship of the World Cosplay Summit 2025 in central Japan's Nagoya on Sunday. "I have no words. We've been working for this for so many years, so many keep working and dreams can come true," said a U.S. team member dressed as a character from "Fire Emblem Engage" after bagging the first prize at the city's Aichi Arts Center. The event wrapped up the three-day festival that gathered cosplayers from 41 countries and regions. The representatives, in pairs, were judged for the level of precision in the costumes and for their stage performance within a given time of 2 minutes and 30 seconds, during which they recreated scenes from anime or games by using props. The event, held for the 23rd time, kicked off on Friday with a parade by costume role players, or "cosplayers" on a red carpet, dressed as characters from Studio Ghibli's animation movie "Howl's Moving Castle" and animation series "Neon Genesis Evangelion." On the second day, the delegates and cosplayers from the public marched around the Osu shopping street in Nagoya, around where the inaugural event was held in 2003.
Japan Today
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
U.S. team wins World Cosplay Summit championship in Japan
Representatives from the United States rejoice after winning the championship at the World Cosplay Summit 2025 at Aichi Arts Center in Nagoya on Sunday. A team representing the United States clad in popular game characters won the championship of the World Cosplay Summit 2025 in central Japan's Nagoya on Sunday. "I have no words. We've been working for this for so many years, so many keep working and dreams can come true," said a U.S. team member dressed as a character from "Fire Emblem Engage" after bagging the first prize at the city's Aichi Arts Center. The event wrapped up the three-day festival that gathered cosplayers from 41 countries and regions. The representatives, in pairs, were judged for the level of precision in the costumes and for their stage performance within a given time of 2 minutes and 30 seconds, during which they recreated scenes from anime or games by using props. The event, held for the 23rd time, kicked off on Friday with a parade by costume role players, or "cosplayers" on a red carpet, dressed as characters from Studio Ghibli's animation movie "Howl's Moving Castle" and animation series "Neon Genesis Evangelion." On the second day, the delegates and cosplayers from the public marched around the Osu shopping street in Nagoya, around where the inaugural event was held in 2003. © KYODO
Kyodo News
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Kyodo News
U.S. team clad in game characters wins World Cosplay Summit in Japan
NAGOYA - A team representing the United States clad in popular game characters won the championship of the World Cosplay Summit 2025 in central Japan's Nagoya on Sunday. "I have no words. We've been working for this for so many years, so many keep working and dreams can come true," said a U.S. team member dressed as a character from "Fire Emblem Engage" after bagging the first prize at the city's Aichi Arts Center. The event wrapped up the three-day festival that gathered cosplayers from 41 countries and regions. The representatives, in pairs, were judged for the level of precision in the costumes and for their stage performance within a given time of 2 minutes and 30 seconds, during which they recreated scenes from anime or games by using props. The event, held for the 23rd time, kicked off on Friday with a parade by costume role players, or "cosplayers" on a red carpet, dressed as characters from Studio Ghibli's animation movie "Howl's Moving Castle" and animation series "Neon Genesis Evangelion." On the second day, the delegates and cosplayers from the public marched around the Osu shopping street in Nagoya, around where the inaugural event was held in 2003.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
5 deep psychological anime that blur the line between real and imagined
Source: IMDb Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the surface of the human mind? Psychological anime delve into the complexities of the human mind, weaving intricate narratives that challenge conventional perceptions of reality. These series explore profound themes such as identity, consciousness, time, and the fragile boundary between truth and illusion. Each title featured here offers a thought-provoking experience that engages viewers intellectually and emotionally. From the intricate consequences of time manipulation in Steins;Gate to the existential inquiries posed by Neon Genesis Evangelion, these anime exemplify storytelling that goes beyond entertainment to provoke reflection on the nature of reality, the self, and the human psyche. 5 Psychological anime that will mess with your mind Steins;Gate Source: Crunchyroll Steins;Gate centers on Rintarou Okabe and his group of friends who accidentally invent a time machine and begin sending messages to the past. What starts as a fun experiment quickly spirals into chaos, as they realize the horrifying consequences of altering time. As Okabe tries to undo the damage, he's forced to grapple with the psychological toll that time manipulation takes on him and those around him. The mind-bending concept lies in the intricacies of time travel, the butterfly effect, and how small changes to the past can dramatically alter the future. The show delves deep into the tension between fate, free will, and the heavy price of tampering with reality. Paranoia Agent (Mousou Dairinin) Paranoia Agent follows a mysterious figure known as "Lil' Slugger," who attacks random people, causing them to spiral into madness. As the story unfolds, a detective investigates these bizarre events, but the deeper he dives, the more the lines between reality and delusion blur. The mind-bending theme of Paranoia Agent challenges the viewer's understanding of reality, as the series explores how paranoia and societal pressure can distort perception. As the characters' mental states unravel, the audience is forced to question what is real and what is merely a manifestation of their subconscious fears. The Tatami Galaxy (Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei) Source: Crunchyroll The Tatami Galaxy follows an unnamed college student who repeatedly relives his university years, each time making different choices in an attempt to find the "perfect" college life. With each reset, he experiences the consequences of his decisions, offering a new perspective on the same events. The mind-bending concept here revolves around parallel universes where each choice leads to vastly different outcomes, forcing both the protagonist and the viewer to confront the consequences of every small decision. The anime plays with the idea of fate versus free will, questioning whether one can ever truly find fulfillment or if we're always chasing something elusive. Serial Experiments Lain Source: Crunchyroll Serial Experiments Lain is a psychological thriller that follows Lain Iwakura, a shy high school girl who gets pulled into the virtual world of "The Wired" after the death of a classmate. As Lain dives deeper into the digital realm, she starts questioning her own identity and the very nature of reality. The mind-bending theme of Lain revolves around the merging of physical and virtual spaces, exploring what it means to be truly 'real' in a world dominated by technology. The anime blurs the boundaries between consciousness and the digital world, leaving viewers to question whether our understanding of self and reality is entirely shaped by the systems we create. Neon Genesis Evangelion Source: Crunchyroll Neon Genesis Evangelion follows 14-year-old Shinji Ikari, who is recruited to pilot a giant bio-mechanical robot to fight mysterious beings called Angels in a post-apocalyptic world. However, the show quickly transcends typical mecha action, diving deep into the psychological struggles of its characters. The mind-bending concept of Evangelion lies in its exploration of existential themes, depression, and the human psyche. The series uses abstract imagery and philosophical dialogue to tackle deep questions about identity, self-worth, and the meaning of existence, leaving viewers questioning the nature of reality and the human condition itself. Also Read: Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie ending explained: Who lives, who dies and what's next
