4/5
Gods and Monsters.
13 Episodes. Director: Atsushi Takahashi.
Cue Jeff Goldblum tapping the television screen in 'Jurassic Park' and putting it only how he could. "N-Now, eventually you do plan to have (Godzilla) on your-on your (Godzilla TV show), right? The 'Godzilla Singular Point' anime on Netflix proves once again that no one does Godzilla quite like the Japanese in the kaijus home of the land of the rising sun, Far East. See the superior 'Shin Godzilla' vs 'Godzilla' (90's fun favourite or Cranston cranked up reboot). Even if it does takes even longer to establish the classic cinematic career than the breaking lizard movie of 2014...but that's what makes both work so well. Show don't tell...but take your time in doing so, building up hype like a slow but sure stride of Schwarzenegger's Terminator before all hell breaks loose, killing everything like 'Judgement Day' (even though the twist in said movie told us everything else and how much we miss post viral social media spoiler territory). This is why the Arnie and Sly Stallone like brute battle of two of Hollywood's biggest stars, 'Godzilla vs Kong' didn't quite strike gold or the podium in Japan's Olympic year like the fact that the games shouldn't begin either, even after all the postponement. Besides this 'King Of The Monsters' had many more heads like Ghidorah or moths before his powerful prophecy breathed new life into Japanese cinema, baptising the city of Tokyo in a whole new neon light. And as a flock of pterosaurs flock this way flanked by more Top Guns than Tom Cruise for a set-piece even more scary than the high flying birds out the cage in 'Jurassic World' (but NOTHING beats that old man trying to save his two margeritas as death descends from above in a scythe like swoop), you know the latest Godzilla adaptation and anime from Netflix (how about that trilogy movie with CGI graphics you could 'Blame' on the new generation of anime like the 'SAC_2045' of a 'Ghost In The Shell'?) is anything but a singular point.
DUN-DUN-DUN-DUN! 'Simon Says', they use the iconic string section of the classic Godzilla theme so much for other monsters in this mash that by episode six if we hear it one more time we will demand a 16 from Pharoahe Monch. "Get the f### up"! There's blood in the water like Jaws, but you're going to need more than a bigger boat for this red mist. How about a Jet Jaguar for your ultra, man as this thing attacks New York like Jean Reno's impression of Elvis in the mid-90's? Thank you very much! And how about some eight-legged freaks straight out of Season 2, Episode II of 'The Mandalorian' for your arachnophobia (no, thanks)? But when his theme finally brings him in with the rising tide, hold your breath. Godzilla is a straight skyscraper shooter. Laser pointer armed and blowing smoke rings that look like Mysterons, surrounded by scarlet dust and high rise ashes. A stomping upgrade from the 'SAC_2045' like animation of Netflix's own great 'Godzilla' trilogy that began with 'Planet Of The Monsters', this is work building and beating in all it's glory to God and this epic earth core of goliaths. There's more monsters here mashing skyscrapers than their have been Godzilla incarnations in the last dominant decades. The only thing that could outpace this beast that moves like the polar opposite of a bullet train and shoot it in the foot is the iconic Japanese Hollywood beating 'Shin Godzilla' that still has tourists flocking this way to the beaches of Kamakura (hands up, no shame) to get a shot they'll later photoshop like the iconic water emerging landing of the kaiju creature. Just like sacred text, there are many versions of this God and King, but this one deserves the deepest of bows.
Woodblock art inspired. Scientifically sound. Traditonal and modern. So old and new like Tokyo. From the new city that doesn't sleep to the peaceful cicada rhythms of Chiba prefecture's Nighashio City in the year 2030, ten years from now, this 'Singular Point' leads you to one core belief. The power of humanity in a time were we are devoid of it. It's a moving message amongst all the equations and evoking imagery of this animation that will take you to a point were you want more than merely a singular season. And believe me the post-credit, wait for it like Marvel seven will do anything but sting your hope with its hype machine. That's the future, right now we already have a best of a series with more characters than the big one that fly like Rodans. Lucky for us in Atsushi Takahashi's 13 episodes of around 23 minutes as per anime. An engineering young genius in Yun Arikawa and his quarterback big best friend in some cool coats that are about to cosplay become as popular as varsity jackets. And his mind-for-mind equal in Mei Kamino, a graduate student, as cool as they geek and nerd come and already one of the smartest brains around. Getting more than her unlaced sneakers in the door, the fate of the word depends on her and a two-fingers together "KAWAII", emoji operating system Shiba turned robot, Pelops. Bolt for bolt matched by the massive scythe wielding Jet Jaguar, clawing away at the T-Rex arms of 'Godzilla' and making us forgive the fact that the credits appearance of 'Ultraman' next to all the other cult characters in Japanese monster mythology never makes it to the main event. Add even more cool characters to his cast and some vivid visuals that will dye your smartphone screen in more light than taking a picture of the Shibuya neons at night and you just have to cross this one. Hypnotic like the Indian lullaby that draws everyone in. When it comes to this point, in a year were the King of the Monsters finally takes on Kong under his own Shinjuku cinema with his likeness roaring out the top of the skyscraper above the city. This Godzilla is the singular king. Hear him roar. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Roaring: 'Godzilla vs Kong', 'Shun Godzilla', 'Godzilla-Planet Of The Monsters'.
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