The Hidden Terror of Shin Godzilla

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We're smoking sequoia banshee boogers.

0:00 - Intro
2:28 - Origins
12:06 - The Film
23:58 - The Unknown
34:35 - Conclusion

Copyrighted footage and images featured in the video are used for the purposes of criticism, commentary, and parody, which are protected under the Fair Use laws of the United States Copyright act of 1976.

Thank you for watching and I'll see you in the next one!
- Cynical Justin

[Aldgri]

I love the idea of Godzilla being in constant pain, and his skin in his final form in the movie just gives viewers the impression that he’s really been through it. Like his skin is just a shit ton of scabs or something

[TheUnofficialHunterChannel]

My favorite take on the story of this masterpiece is that godzilla isn't doing all of that for the sake of revenge or that it is angry, but instead, because its an animal, subject to excruciating pain and anguish, and it's confused, scared and is just acting on instincts.
If you look at the movie with the vision that godzilla is an scared animal that just wants to end that pain and anguish, it becomes a tragedy instead of horror, a tragedy where the victim is blamed and punish for lashing out in pain and confusion by the very beings who put it in pain.

That first time it uses its laser becomes so different if you see it with this mentality, imagine just how painful curving forwards must be after having your back blown half to oblivion, when it starts spewing the black smog it seems to not be able to stop it, and it just recoils and thrases around uncontrollably.

[insanitypepper]

Shin is my favorite Godzilla. A wandering, mindless, immortal automaton who doesn't understand what's happening to itself.

[gorrazin]

Shin Godzilla is also a criticism on Japanese politics and culture. I wouldn't call the government officials in the film "incompetent" but I would say that they were definitely more concerned with honorifics and seniority more so than being able to prepare a proper response, hence why ANY response took so long. That's why they created a team that had no true leader because that way they were all equals and able to formulate plans much more efficiently. Really interesting movie.

[t_hetty]

The scary part about the 5th form is what it represents. This Godzilla evolves to overcome the challenges it faces in the film. So in the end what is the last challenge it must overcome? Society and humanity.

Also there is the theory that Maki is absorbed into the monster before he died. Him being partially in there with it evolving into humanoid creatures is terrifying with him in a way returning but now corrupted.

[diojoubu]

The fact that Bandai was like “ nah, let them cook”.

[scottkelly]

Shin Godzilla was the first version on the monster that truly frightened me at a base level. I love the Monsterverse, but in those films, Godzilla's a superhero, like in many of the classic films. Shin G, however, is an Eldridge Abomination - scary in such a way not seen since his first rampage in 1954 - and a true god of annihilation.

Highly excited for Minus One.

[solidgoomba]

Shin Godzilla is one of my favorite movies period. Watched it recently with my wife and her sympathy for what she called "an animal just walking" was a perspective I hadn't previously thought of.

It's a rare movie I enjoy rewatching and actively do so any chance I get to introduce it to someone who hasn't seen it before.

In a weird way I also consider it the closest to a live action NGE we can hope for.

[momsaccount]

Shin Godzilla has to be the most creative and different, yet also the most faithful movie to the original concept ever put to screen. Not only is the message poignant and truly a fair criticism of the Japanese government’s response to the triple disaster, but the film’s aesthetic, imagery, and visuals are some of the most terrifying yet awe-inspiring Godzilla media that I have ever seen.

[JordanVanRyn]

As a lifelong Godzilla fan, one of the things that made him truly scary as a character was that he was a product of the Nuclear trauma many Japanese people felt. He was a force of mass destruction that should be feared and rightfully so. Hence why the original stood the test of time. Then Shin Godzilla was a whole other level because it portrayed Godzilla as this manifesting being that is in constant pain, even when he's wreaking havoc. When he's breathes his laser breath, it looks like he's vomiting and has no control over it and every shot of him shows how he feels bad at what he's done. Shin Godzilla is a movie that accurately portrays how disasters whether they're nuclear or not, there's no repairing the trauma it has caused its citizens. This is what I look forward to seeing in "Minus One". Chances are, it's going to be terrifying and amazing all at once.

[Monkey_Boy]

This is the only "Godzilla" where I had a great time watching the humans in the film. The incompetence of the government was absolutely hilarious! At the same time, the "Geek Squad" were fantastic to watch as they figured out what they were dealing with and how to stop it. How I wish we got more of these characters (and evolutions of Godzilla) in a proper sequel!

[ihaveaholeinmyshoe]

Godzilla: **scared and confused, suffering excrutiating mental and physical pain, screaming in pure agony**

People: awwwnn he's so adowable :3

[_GeneralMechanics_]

The scariest part about the fifth form creatures is they started spawning *AFTER* Godzilla was frozen.

[adeadphish]

Quick side note, can we take a moment to appreciate Moyoko Anno? Hideki has fought a long and now well established battle with his mental health that Shin Godzilla is absolutely a stage in the narrative of and she has been by his side for over 20 years through it all while being a Mangaka herself

[skullzyvr]

Shin is my favorite incarnation of Gojira, but it saddens me to know that he is in constant agony, even evolving his pain never stops, wreaking havoc upon humanity for what they did to him; They turned him into a monster.

[KasirRham]

I liked Shin Godzilla right off the rip. There was something about his sick ass powers, evolutions, and the government's failure to help it's citizens that just hit different. All of the procedures and norms getting in the way of people finding a solution really spoke to me. Not to mention the pain of the monster and the "you ruined the environment" aspect.

[SuperPuzzler]

I think it's worth noting that the nuclear waste dumped into the ocean which mutated Shin Godzilla were put there by America, and that it was America who pushed hard for the nuclear bomb to be dropped on Godzilla (specifically to cover up their involvement in the beast's creation).

One theory I've heard regarding Godzilla's evolution and the human-like jowls in its tail is that Goro Maki was absorbed into the creature when he attempted to commit suicide out on the water. This may have even been what gave Godzilla some degree of control over its own evolution and perhaps even its higher-than-expected intelligence (remember in the final confrontation where it revealed it kept some energy in reserve when it blasted some of the trucks feeding the blood coagulant into it).

[arenkai]

Shin Godzilla is also a scathing criticism of Japanese culture and its over-reliance on tradition and strict respect of norms.
One scene that stuck with me is the one where the new Prime Minister is revealed, and it's a slow old man closer to death than retirement.

In this scene he has a noodle bowl, and by the time he's done giving answers about this urgent matter, the bowl is cold. Showing this country's slowness to react and adapt.
And the bowl of noodle itself is the blandest most boring bowl of noodle you can imagine, once again showing that Japan as a country lacks "spice".


It's also not a coincidence that the ones who manage to save the day are the relatively young people in the administration. They aren't scared to take initiatives, to move fast and take risks, which in the end pays off.


This movie has a lot of layers once you start learning about how Japanese society works and see the social criticisms all throughout its runtime.

[mrchili]

The reason why godzilla started to make humanoid forms in the end is because they stated that godzilla noticed the committee working together to defeat him and since godzilla evolves to overcome anything he decided to become the committee… it’s scary to think abt it all

[Danboo]

Rewatching Shin Godzilla after the pandemic feels very different, as the same kind of government incompetence against a “godzilla” was felt across the world, including where you live and affecting your family.