Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle is Merely a Tease: An Animated Film Review

Directors: Hiroyuki Seshita, Kôbun Shizuno/

Writers: Ishirô Honda, Yusuke Kozaki and Gen Urobuchi.

Cast: Lucien Dodge, Kana Hanazawa, Ken'yû Horiuchi, Yûki Kaji and Mamoru Miyano.

Fans of Toho's Godzilla franchise are better off watching Planet of the Monsters (2017) and City on the Edge of Battle together, rather than apart. This animated trilogy will conclude in November (in Japan), and the Netflix release will most likely follow after. City on the Edge is self-contained. But, the tease for what's next is worse than waiting for Marvel's Avengers: Infinity War Part 2!

With this film, a huge battle royale is coming. The first film had Godzilla facing Mecha Godzilla in a quick flashback. Other creatures had quick cameos, but to not have the King of Monsters have more face-offs against other kaijus is a letdown. He still has to fight those nuisance humans on the planet they once called home. They find the remains of Mecha Godzilla and occupy it (hence this film's title) to fight the mighty beast in round two. While this work has all the hallmarks of a science fiction monster film, the screenplay places more emphasis on the science, than the terror. It also begins to show the Bilusaludo's, once seemingly cordial allies for humanity, true colours.

A Recognizable Monster that Refuses to Die.

Mulu-elu Galu-gu (the Bilusaludo scientist) hail the evolution of their creation, Mecha Godzilla, and want to meld with it. Haruo Sakaki (the human), who is leading this mission to reclaim their home, is surprised. Metphies (an Exif scientist) rolls with it and is worried about another threat. While this drama makes up two-thirds of the film, the wanton destruction I was waiting for is short. This movie delivers standard giant robot style aesthetics.

This expedition team's attempt to rebuild Mecha Godzilla is amusing, but if I was to remember the past films, it will not defeat the real creature. The "offspring" is nicknamed The Vulture, and this mech looks formidable. However, the fight I was craving feels not as developed. I wanted two creatures slugging it out. When this film heavily hints at the coming of Mothra because of the twins, I was watching in bated breath for her emergence. Even the theology behind her arrival delves into deeper mysteries with this new species of humanity occupying the planet.

Surely Godzilla is not alone. Part of this film revealed how he came to rule the planet. These human survivors went underground and evolved. The creatures on the surface, most of them assumed to be creatures evolved out of being near the beast's radiation, were left to slug it out. This story suggests Mothra will emerge to heal the planet. None of this will happen until Godzilla takes on a certain cosmic threat (which is easy to figure out before Metphies even utters a word) to wrap this animated trilogy up!

Overall: 7 out of 10.

Ed Sum has his own Blog here: Sum at Otakunoculture


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