Shin Ultraman (2022)
Director: Shinji Higuchi
Starring: Takumi Saitoh, Masami Nagasawa, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Daiki Arioka, Akari Hayami, Koji Yamamoto
When giant creatures begin attacking Japan mysteriously, the nation’s military might is unable to continually deal with the monsters’ increasing strength in successive battles. Hoping to more effectively deal with the looming threat, the SSSP is formed. Made up of experts and tacticians, the SSSP begins to turn the tide with their analytical observations; finding weaknesses in the kaiju attacking the country. When a kaiju appears for which they have no conceivable plan of attack, all seems lost until a streak of light arrives on the scene carrying the mysterious Warrior of Light, Shin Ultraman. Defeating the creature, the world is in an uproar trying to discover all they can about the powerful new being and his motives, but none more so than Hiroko Asami (Nagasawa); an expert analyst and the newest member of the SSSP. However, none are aware that Shin Ultraman has been sharing the body of Shinji Kaminaga (Saitoh), an elite member of the SSSP.
After the huge success of Shin Godzilla, screenwriter Hideaki Anno and co-director Shinji Higuchi return for this latest theatrical film which promises a shared universe between two of Japan’s most famous fictional characters. Taking over as solo director for this outing, Higuchi shifts gears from the tense, satirical, and technical Shin Godzilla to deliver a much more fast paced and fun science fiction kaiju film. Drawing heavily on elements from the fabled Ultra Q as well as multiple previous series of Ultraman, the film handles multiple threats, not unlike a handful of episodes truthfully, but with a common thread of the identity of Shin Ultraman being in dispute and cause of conflict on Earth. It’s a smart choice that addresses a lot of the pacing criticisms from Shin Godzilla (I was very happy with that end product myself though) and it guarantees a wider audience as well as multiple viewings.
Takumi Saitoh is the lead as Kaminaga and though he plays a mostly mute character, he delivers a lot of introspective moments and shows a philosophical element to the idea of an alien inhabiting a human body and discovering what it is that makes humans worth saving. Indeed, this sentiment is perhaps the strongest theme of the film; such is most noticeable with the alien intelligence of the subsequent threats heightening beyond a purely physical confrontation and the conflict human characters feel with their fate being increasingly out of their control. It’s a quiet performance that most will never notice but that is what helps this storytelling element succeed.
Nagasawa has perhaps the most screen time of any human character and serves as our perspective as the newest member of the SSSP. She’s capable, logical, and astute, but isn’t above a bit of humor or embarrassment. These moments don’t come at her expense either but build the relationships between the SSSP members into that of a strong work family. The other members include; Hayami as a biologist who can study the makeup of creatures for a plan of attack, Arioka as the brilliant physicist Taki, Nishijima as Tamura the capable leader and lifeline to the government.
Gone are the helmets and jumpsuits of the past, earmarking Ultraman as a series for children, instead replaced with smart business attire and hazmat suits as the situation dictates. The film certainly aims for a bit more of a grounded reality for this entry but still contains a good bit of tongue in cheek goofiness to maintain the feel of the classic series. It’s the kind of bizarre SF that may put off those who are new to the franchise or looking for a straightforward and serious film, but it was a great bit of comfort that the tone was in line with this element of the franchise. Bad science aside, the effects of the film are an endearing mix of CG and physical suits. Stepping into the suit (virtually) of Shin Ultraman is legendary toku actor Bin Furuya as well as a nice cameo by Shin Ultraman dynamo Hideaki Anno who provides motion capture in a scene reminiscent of a fan film he himself produced in his early days as a film and animation student. You can tell this is a labor of love for him, more so than even with Shin Godzilla. The score by veteran composer Shiro Sagisu is expansive and varied with motifs from classic themes reimagined as well as some more rock oriented BGM for certain action scenes.
Ultimately, Shin Ultraman is a wildly entertaining entry in the storied franchise. It’s exciting, reverent, modern, and just a lot of fun. Among some of the complex ideas of mankind and our potential, there lies an excellent Japanese kaiju film with a lot of heart and love. While it may not contain the gravitas or breadth of commentary in Shin Godzilla, this film does make for a more popcorn-y experience which means I’ll certainly be watching this quite a bit more down the line than SG. With the future bright for this entry and the collaboration which will include Shin Kamen Rider in 2023, it’s an exciting time for fans of classic tokusatsu.
