Shin Godzilla Breakdown

Shin Godzilla Breakdown

Length 118 minutes or 1 hour 58 minutes 

Director Hideaki Anno 

Writer Hideaki Anno

Effects Shinji Higuchi

Music Shiro Sagisu

Godzilla Breakdown and Screen Time

1st Form Aquatic 

Total Time in Film  10:20

Total Screen Time   0:57

Tease Appearance   3:52

First Appearance     7:54 

Percent                     1%

2nd Form aka Kamata-kun 

Total Time in Film   9:24

Total Screen Time    2:09

First Appearance      15:00

Percent                      2%

3rd Form aka Shinagawa-kun

Total Time in Film   3:06

Total Screen Time    1:15

First Appearance     24:20

Percent                    1%

4th Form aka Kamakura-san 

Total Time in Film  38:03

Total Screen Time  12:25

First Appearance    47:19

Percent                   10%

5th Form Frozen and Tail Humanoids

Total Time in Film  2:20

Total Screen Time   0:37

First Appearance    51:20

Percent                   1%

Total Time in Film         1:03:13

Total Screen Time          17:23

Precent of Screen Time 15%

A lot of screen time for Godzilla 8th highest in the franchise history, 11th if we looked at precent of the film. Most of the shots of Godzilla is very short, under 30 seconds, often under 10. I think the reason for limited time in each shot is due to the mankind vs Godzilla nature of the film. The shots are cutting between Godzilla, the results of his actions, and the reaction to the characters to what Godzilla is doing.  Operation Yashiori takes 8:09 of time, starting when they send the trains, till Godzilla is frozen. Even though 70% of the shots are 10 seconds or less, he is still in the scene for 4:04 of 8:09 which is pretty much 50%.

Once the 4th form aka Kamakura-san shows up he is the center of attention, till he goes into his dormant state to heal. Then the center again during Operation Yashiori. 

4th Form aka Kamakura-san Scene Breakdown

Breakdown Scene Time Screen Time

Bay                     5:39         2:19

JSDF                   5:01         2:19

Into Tokyo          4:56         1:12

US Bombing      3:38         1:58

Yashiori              8:09             4:04

The movie does not follow the 3 act structure like most Godzilla films, taking more of a 5 Act structure with an epilogue at the end. As each encounter with Godzilla becomes it’s own act, as well as the planning stages in-between. Act IV the Dormant State is the longest and doesn’t feature many shots of Godzilla, only 5 shots under 10 seconds spread out through out. However the story keeps a good pace as the character race against time to get their own plan in action and stop the countdown of the nuclear option, literarily. 

Act I         27:26  Initial Event

Act II        19:51 Misfits Taskforce 

Act III      20:02 Godzilla Reappears 

Act IV      33:04 Dormant State

Act V         8:09  Operation Yashiori

Epilogue    4:43   Epilogue

Plot 23

We have seen the political angle before, but usually as the B-plot with the main characters separated from the politics. This time we are watching front and center as they try to comprehend what Godzilla is and how to deal with him. They make many mistakes, and don’t know what to do. But at the same time you can’t blame them, they are dealing with something completely unknown. I do like how it is the misfits that team up and become the ones to figure out away to deal with Godzilla. Protocol and rank mean nothing, only results, and working as a team. I did take away a few points due to some short cuts the plot takes near the end. 

Directing 22

Hideaki Anno is mostly know as a animation director, but he is no slouch when it comes to directing people, and does a fine job with a big cast. Many times in a Godzilla movie we see the main characters only interacting with a small number of other people. This time we start with large committee rooms with so many people, we need name and position titles. Later when the plot concentrates on the misfits we have less people to keep track of, but there a still many side characters that make their way into the story. The pacing is pretty fast throughout the story, only settling down after a Godzilla attack, but pick back up quickly. 

Effects 20

Shinji Higuchi did the effects and while the original plan was to use a mix of practical effects and CGI, it ended up that Godzilla ended up being completely CGI using motion capture. We get a new take on Godzilla with multi forms, and strange new abilities. Personally I like the new take, I am never scared of new concepts, just poorly executed concepts. I also love how after the military fails, it is the things that Godzilla usually destroys; trains, buildings, trucks, and people that help stop him.  

Music 23

Music was a great mix of new and classic themes. Shiro Sagisu does have a few themes that does sound like scores he has done before for other films, but then again Akira Ifukube did the same thing in many of his soundtracks. 

Total 88

Full Discloser 

I got to see the film in the theaters in the US during it’s release by Funimation. Later I got to see it again on my flight over to the Philippines since it was available to watch on the 14 hour flight. It wasn’t till I got the Blu Ray release that I was able to do the timing. While I am not the biggest fan of Hideaki Anno I really enjoyed his take on Godzilla. 

This review was done with the Blu-ray of “Shin Godzilla” released by Funimation. The times maybe off a second plus or minus, I used my Sony Blu Ray player to check the time code at any visual part of a godzilla on screen, full body, tail, foot, fin, head, etc… It maybe off by a few seconds but should be fairly accurate. If anyone else wishes to check their accuracy I would like to compare figures.