This straight-faced emphasis on heroic scientists and slow government responses might well have pleased domestic crowds, but with the titular beast onscreen for just a fraction of the two-hour runtime, those outside Japan may feel that this latest incarnation of Godzilla is a lot less fun than it should be.
The gigantic sea creature returns to terrify humanity, destroy buildings and give the bureaucrats something to deliberate.
Coming off like a peculiar mash-up of The Host and Dr Strangelove, Shin Godzilla is weirdly paced but does add a new twist to the old formula.
Toho's reboot of the franchise acts as a reminder of the creature's fascinating historical origins.
The latest addition to the venerable lizard-attack franchise is let down by its rather clunky big beast.
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