Film Review: "Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle" ("ゴジラ: 決戦機動増殖都市") (2018).

"The last hope of mankind <Mechagodzilla>, is activated" in Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle. This Japanese computer-animated science fiction kaiju film directed by Kōbun Shizuno and Hiroyuki Seshita, written by Gen Urobuchi, produced by Toho Animation, and animated by Polygon Pictures. This is the 33rd film in the Godzilla franchise, the 31st Godzilla film produced by Toho, and the second entry in the anime trilogy. It is the sequel to Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters (2017). Haruo and his allies encounter a mysterious aboriginal tribe descended from the humans left behind on Earth 20,000 years ago, and they uncover a mechanized city-sized fortress formed from the long-lost anti-Godzilla weapon called Mechagodzilla.

The second installment in the anime trilogy was announced in a second post-credits scene in the theatrical release of the film revealing the film's Japanese title, poster featuring Mechagodzilla and the film's 2018 release date. The film's Japanese title was revealed as Gojira: Kessen Kidō Zōshoku Toshi (translations varied from Godzilla: Battle Mobile Breeding City to Godzilla: The City Mechanized for the Final Battle), while the English title was later revealed as Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle. In March 2018, the film's official website revealed a new poster, plot details, and that singer XAI will return to perform the film's theme song The Sky Falls. The English dub was produced by Post Haste Digital. Takayuki Hattori will return to compose the soundtrack, marking it his fourth Godzilla film score.

This film features Mechagodzilla, Godzilla's mechanical doppelganger that was first introduced in Gojira tai Mekagojira (1974), and made its most recent appearance in Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003). Mechagodzilla was originally a weapon constructed by alien invaders, but in subsequent films has typically been portrayed as a human-built weapon created to defend the human race from Godzilla and other monsters. This version of Mechagodzilla combines both portrayals, with it being built by the Bilusaludo aliens but with the purpose of defending the Earth from Godzilla. This will be the first Godzilla film to be a sequel to a prior film in the franchise since Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S. (2003), which was a direct sequel to Gojira X Mekagojira (2002). All films released since then have been set in brand-new continuities and disregard all previous entries in the franchise.

Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle is a dub, empty popcorn movie that delivers on some of its promises, while boasting the best computer-generated animation of any Polygon Pictures movie made up to that point. There are some problems, such as an uninspired script, underdeveloped ideas, a fairly simplistic plot, and character relationships painted in broad strokes. But when all is said and done, I enjoyed it. It's well-made enough that makes for an entertaining hundred minutes. While this movie seems to be aimed at a younger audience, it was still fun. The fight scenes were exciting and though they took up most of the movie, they never dragged on or got boring. A fun enough action film with enough explosions and destruction to satisfy die-hards and casual fans alike.

Simon says Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle (ゴジラ: 決戦機動増殖都市) receives:

Also, see my review for Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters (ゴジラ: 怪獣惑星).