Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex Review: One of Godzilla’s Finest Recent Outings

Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex review

Godzilla fans will be delighted to learn that an official new short film called Godzilla vs Gigan Rex has been released by Toho on the official Godzilla YouTube channel, and it is every bit as entertaining as you would expect. Directed by Takuya Uenishi, who previously directed the acclaimed fan film G vs. G before being hired by Toho to work on official Godzilla productions, the short depicts an epic showdown between Godzilla and a new kaiju called Gigan Rex within the heart of a major Japanese city. Because at this point, fans really would expect nothing less from our favourite giant radioactive lizard.

One of the key criticisms of the 2014 Godzilla movie was that it placed too much emphasis on its human characters, with Godzilla being regulated to a supporting role at best. So fans will not be disappointed to know that Godzilla vs Gigan Rex focuses almost exclusively on the two titular monsters, without a single human in sight. With a running time of just over six minutes, there clearly would have been no room for human characters or even a fully developed plot, so instead, we get a short film consisting entirely of epic kaiju battles. You certainly will not be able to accuse Toho of false advertising in this regard, because Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex lives up to its title.

However, many dedicated fans will never truly get used to seeing a CGI Godzilla appearing in Toho productions, as the studio has a long history of depicting Godzilla through the use of actors in suits. But regardless of how you feel about the transition from suitmation to digital effects, the visuals in Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex were still no doubt impressive, and you will almost feel like you are watching a major blockbuster at times. From the harrowing shots of the city being demolished by the titular monsters to the stunning aerial imagery of Gigan Rex soaring through the skies, this is a short film that will no doubt impress its viewers in the visual department. Godzilla himself looked both slick and rugged throughout the short, as the animators were determined to capture his familiar bulky physique while also allowing him to perform graceful movements which would not have been possible had he been portrayed by a man in a suit. Toho will clearly never settle for second best when it comes to Godzilla, as evidenced by how they were willing to pay for Hollywood-level effects to be featured in a six-minute short film.

The soundtrack throughout the piece also needs to be commended, as we were treated to a rendition of the familiar Godzilla theme in addition to a haunting piano melody that played over the scene of Gigan Rex’s apparent rebirth into a more powerful kaiju towards the end of the piece. In addition to its stunning visuals, the music of Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex will no doubt provide audiences with plenty of material for their senses to wallow in.

Since it offers very little in terms of story, viewers will probably need to interpret the circumstances surrounding Godzilla’s encounter with Gigan Rex. But the story is clearly immaterial in a short which offers viewers just about everything else they could possibly want from a Godzilla production. Without any pesky humans getting in the way, this is a short film where Godzilla was truly allowed to dominate the spotlight. And needless to say, along with its spectacular visuals and its incredible soundtrack, viewers will be utterly captivated by everything this has to offer. Even without much of an actual plot, Godzilla vs. Gigan Rex was still an utter delight for fans.