NZIFF Film Review: "Shin Ultraman" ("シン・ウルトラマン") (2022).

"Have you become so fond of humans, Ultraman?" This is Shin Ultraman (シン・ウルトラマン). This Japanese superhero film directed by Shinji Higuchi, written by Hideaki Anno and based on the character of the same name created by Eiji Tsuburaya. It is a reimagining of Ultraman and the 37th film in the Ultraman franchise. The continued appearance of giant unidentified lifeforms known as "S-Class Species" has become commonplace in Japan. Conventional weapons have no effect on them. Having exhausted all other options, the Japanese Government issued the S-Class Species Suppression Protocol and formed an enforcement unit, known as the SSSP. The members chosen for the unit are: Leader Fumio Tamura, Executive Strategist Shinji Kaminaga, Unparticle Physicist Taki Akihisa, and Universal Biologist Yume Funaberi. As the threat of S-Class Species worsens, a silver giant appears from beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Analyst Hiroko Asami is newly appointed to the SSSP to deal with this giant and is partnered with Shinji Kaminaga.

In late December 2013, Anno completed the draft for a reboot of the Ultraman franchise entitled Return of Ultraman Plot Memo (帰ってきたウルトラマンプロットメモ) and submitted it to Tsuburaya Productions in late March 2014. In Summer 2017, Takayuki Tsukagoshi - who would later be appointed chairman of Tsuburaya Productions on November 16, 2017 - commissioned Anno to direct an Ultraman production and its two sequels, set to be released in 2020. A few months later, Anno submitted a recreation of Return of Ultraman Plot Memo, to Tsukagoshi. In mid January 2018, Anno finished the proposal for the trilogy of Ultraman productions. By early February 2019, a first draft of the script for the film was completed by Anno, however, his involvement in the film was put on hold for another year while he worked on Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time. In early March, the project was unofficially announced by Nikkan Taishu, followed by an official announcement by Tsuburaya Productions in early August, with the latter revealing Higuchi as the director and Anno as the screenwriter. The film would be co-produced between Toho Pictures and Cine Bazar and presented by Tsuburaya, Toho and Khara, with an aim for a 2021 release. By late August, Takumi Saitoh, Masami Nagasawa, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Akari Hayami, and Yutaka Takenouchi. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late November. Filming took place throughout Ibaraki Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture, Yamanashi Prefecture, and Chiba Prefecture. The film was originally scheduled for an early 2021 summer release date, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The film stars Saitoh, Nagasawa, Nishijima, Hayami, and Takenouchi. Despite the best efforts of Anno's script and the cast's performances, the human characters fall flat.

With its satirical and topical humour, glorious scenes of destruction and a fresh coat of paint, the film lived up to the buzz and met my expectations in every single way.

Simon says Shin Ultraman (シン・ウルトラマン) receives:

Also, see my review for Shin Godzilla (シン・ゴジラ).