Netflix’s Godzilla, Part 2: City on the Edge of Battle (2018) – Series Review
So, like…where the fuck is Mechagodzilla?
Yea, I cussed in one of my reviews, but I’m genuinely peeved right now. Like, color me irked…
The whole marketing around this second installment in Netflix’s joint venture with Toho Animation was bringing in Mechagodzilla—whether it was finding it in an abandoned arms facility or whatever. I wanted—nay, expected—in the final scene, there to be a giant brawl between these two titans, perhaps even with Mechagodzilla undersized (considering how big this new Godzilla is), or outgunned, heightening the tension of the fight. But, noooo… Even though what we get—the Vultures—are a cool concept, this is the same stupid Godzilla with the same stupid weaknesses, just with a little Shin Gojira thrown in to see if anyone’s actually paying attention.
I know I wasn’t; half-way point rolls around, and there’s still no giant monster action? I checked out, mentally, right then.
And don’t even get me started on the characters…
I watched the English dub, which wasn’t bad, but I wouldn’t go nominating it for an Emmy anytime soon. If the characters weren’t being over-acted (which I can let go, since this is a Toho thing), they were reading the script, line-by-line. I’m not even going to name names this time, because that would require looking up stuff I’m starting to not care about. I still have a hard time believing any of these “aliens” to be anything but human, too, when all their motivations are purely human, selfish or not.
The plot is convoluted (as ever), and “philosophical” questions are asked which have no place in an action-adventure cartoon. I can’t even say how good the animation is, because—half the time—it’s too dark or fast-moving to catch a glimpse of what’s actually going on. There’s weird science, and too much tries to be explained or exposited away—quick tip, for any future filmmakers reading this or watching: Keep it low-key, like Planet of the Apes, the pay-off is better. It gets preachy—claiming, once again, humanity ruined the Earth and that’s why Godzilla came. Whine, whine, whine—heard it before. Move on!
We do get some cool nods and call-aheads to the third (and final, hopefully) installment, where we may be introduced to Mothra, and a monster more terrifying—hinted at here in a post-credits scene (I know, right? how gutsy…)—than even this behemoth Godzilla Earth. The score is pleasant and evocative, elegant in the slower scenes and tension-heightening in others. On the other hand, some of the sound effects seem janky—I’ve used a few of them, in the past, during edits, and others I can easily recognize as stock. Just seems cheap, in that regard…
Final ‘Risk Assessment: **/***.
Hammy, at times, with annoying side-characters—and even some main ones—this will go down, as many sequels have, as the middle movie that everyone loathes, skips over, and promptly forgets about. Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle (because we, Toho Co., could not for the life of us come up with a shorter title) is, unfortunately, meh. The upcoming third installment could, actually, redeem it all, but I’m not holding out hope. The aforementioned monster(s) could be a further bastardization o the source material, and then we’re right back at square one.
Next review: The Spy Who Dumped Me (Aug. 3rd)
