Shin Ultraman - A Review

Featuring the big U in all his glory, Shin Ultraman is a high-concept science fiction kaiju film from Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi. It's a frantic, action-packed film that's a lot of fun.

The film reimagines Ultraman as an alien who has "fused" with humanity to help us survive in the universe. However, he may face some serious consequences for his actions.

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Whether you are a die-hard Ultraman fan or just a newcomer to the world of kaiju, Shin Ultraman is a must watch. This reimagining of the iconic superhero franchise is set in the same universe as Shin Godzilla and features some of the best action and special effects in the series' history.

The film follows Japan's S-Class Species Suppression Protocol (SSSP), a team of elite scientists who battle the kaiju — giant monstrous lifeforms that attack Japan indiscriminately. It's their job to keep these creatures at bay, but every day they come up against a new one.

After a particularly intense encounter, the SSSP team is surprised when a silver robot emerges from the sky and attacks the enemy. It's then dubbed "Ultraman."

As he battles the monster, the robot fuses with Shinji Kaminaga (Takumi Saitoh) to take on his human form. Afterward, they form a bond that keeps them safe and helps them battle the next wave of kaiju.

The film also stars Masami Nagasawa as Hiroko Asami, a member of the SSSP who is perceptive and compassionate. Her wit and humor help the team navigate their missions and the daily threats they face.

It's a fun, quirky kaiju movie that is full of cosmic twists and campy villains. It also manages to poke fun at bureaucracy and the perils of red tape in a way that was both refreshing and hilariously original.

While it's difficult to compare the kaiju movies of this era to each other, Shin Ultraman is easily among the best in the series. The special effects are fantastic, the characters and their relationship with each other are captivating, and the plot is incredibly tense.

A reimagining of the Ultraman series, Shin Ultraman is a delightfully odd and entertaining kaiju film that combines sci-fi, superheroes, and giants to create a unique brand of fable. It also manages to poke fun at Japan's government and the perils of red tape in witty fashion.

The first 10 minutes of the film have been released online in a special limited engagement release, and if you're a fan of the Ultraman series or Japanese films, it's a must-watch. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, you have just 48 hours to do so!

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A sequel to Shin Godzilla, this movie takes a comical approach to the classic Japanese monster franchise. It centers on a newly established SSSP Kaiju defense task force, led by Kimio Tamura (Hidetoshi Nishijima).

On their latest mission to contain an energy-zapping kaiju attacking a power plant in a rural area of Japan, the SSSP is suddenly interrupted by a giant alien that crashes in front of them. Its intrepid team names him Ultraman and soon the giant Silver Giant battles the kaiju before disappearing.

In addition to the original movie, there are also several sequels in the series, most notably Ultraman Ginga. Its main protagonist, Ginga's daughter Misuzu Isurugi (Jiu Ye Qian Cao, Kuno Chigusa), was corrupted by Alien Nackle Gray and turned into a dark version of Ultraman known as Ultraman Dark. She was rescued by Ultraman Ginga, who later used her original Spark Doll to help fight the evil doppelganger of her father.

The film's production was handled by Toho Studios, the same company behind the previous films in the series. It was directed by Yuki Higuchi and written by Neon Genesis Evangelion creator Masamichi Anno.

It is a fan favorite, and one of the most visually stunning and action-packed movies in the series. It stars Tom Cruise as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a Navy pilot with over thirty years of flying experience.

When a powerful, new type of Kaiju begins to appear on Earth, the SSSP sends in an expert aviator to deal with the threat. But when a powerful silver giant appears in the sky, the SSSP aren't sure if it's real or just another monster threatening their world.

The resulting fight between the silver giant and the kaiju is one of the most iconic moments in anime history, and it still holds up today. The movie is full of amazing '80s music and fantastic aerial sequences.

In the midst of a whirlwind of backroom deals and thinly veiled threats, a lone pilot finds himself in possession of an ancient weapon that's capable of transforming him into Ultraman. But he must decide whether to accept the challenge or risk his life to protect those he loves.

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If you're an Ultraman fan, you're in luck. The latest incarnation of the beloved Japanese superhero will be hitting theaters soon. The movie, directed by Shinji Higuchi and written by Hideaki Anno, is based on the original 1966 TV series.

The slapstick action in Shin Ultraman is as over-the-top as you'd expect from a film that draws its influence from one of the most popular tokusatsu series in history, and it's all done with a style that feels both familiar and bold. Like the original, it pinballs between conventional shot-framing and scenes that are obstructed by characters' heads or furniture, or entirely shot from the ground up.

There's a lot of joy to be had from this style, which makes you want to cheer for the zany, sometimes ill-judged situations that unfold in the film. But if the film's style isn't your thing, you might find yourself wondering where it all went wrong.

In the beginning, the SSSP's Kimio Tamura (DRIVE MY CAR's Hidetoshi Nishijima) is having a particularly difficult time dealing with an energy-zapping kaiju that has come to town. He and his team are about to dispatch this giant monster when a silver robot emerges from the sky, dubbed Ultraman.

But what does this mean for Kimio and his relationship with Ultraman's son, Shinjiro? This version of the superhero is more distant and alien than the comics' Lois and Clark, and his relationships with other heroes, such as Hiroko Asami's Shin-Ridolf, aren't nearly as strong.

Nonetheless, the movie's sense of adventure remains strong and there are moments of genuine laugh-out-loud comedy, especially when it's fighting off a horde of giant monsters. But it's also full of emotional beats that feel a bit hollow, and the film lacks the heart and satirical spirit of its predecessor.

It's a shame, too, because Shin Ultraman rekindles some of the fun of watching this character as a child -- it's just that he's not quite as lovable as his predecessor was. And while the movie does a good job of setting up a solid cast, it ultimately falls short of the promise it had during its festival run.

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If you’re a fan of tokusatsu and have always wanted to see Ultraman on the big screen, then you should definitely check out Shin Ultraman. It’s an action-packed movie that follows the titular hero as he battles giant creatures known as kaiju that have started to appear all over Japan.

The film is directed by Shinji Higushi, who also co-directed Shin Godzilla alongside Hideaki Anno. The story is set several years after an indiscriminate number of kaiju invaded Japan, threatening it with energy-zapping attacks that left the country in ruins. The government has established a special task force called the S-Class Species Suppression Protocol (SSSP) to combat them.

On a mission to stop an energy-zapping kaiju from destroying a power plant in the countryside, SSSP agents find themselves interrupted by a silver humanoid that transforms into Ultraman. He attacks the kaiju, killing it before it can destroy anything.

This is a big deal, as Ultraman is one of the most popular and iconic heroes from tokusatsu history. His arrival in the film echoes the way the original series introduced him to fans.

After the death of SSSP agent Shinji Kaminaga, Ultraman takes over his body and uses it to fight monsters that attack. He eventually meets his counterpart, SSSP agent Hiroko Asami, who is fascinated by Ultraman’s selflessness. She tries to understand his mysterious powers and the reasons why he became Ultraman.

As they become close, she starts to see Ultraman as more than just a hero and a friend, but as a powerful tool for humanity. It’s this relationship that becomes the focus of the rest of the film, as it reveals how the world reacts to Ultraman and his powers.

In the meantime, the SSSP members start to become more receptive to Ultraman’s messages. They are also encouraged to learn more about his powers, and this is where they meet their ultimate enemy, Zetton, a monster that’s able to destroy all life on earth with its power.

Thankfully, the film is not just an action-packed drama; it’s also a bit of a social commentary on the way we view military power and how far we’ll go to protect our planet. In a time where humans seem fixated on war readiness, it’s refreshing to see a film like this turn the ethical lens on the way we approach our most dangerous enemies.