I'm not going to re-review SHIN GODZILLA now that there is a black and white version. I still think it's one of the best films in the series.
That said I am not going to lie and say that the film doesn't play differently. The film seems more firmly on the humans and less on the monster. The film also feels like an old school drama from 60 years ago. It feels like a another version of the same story even though it is exactly the same.
For me the biggest difference between the two versions is how the lack of color mutes some of the reactions we have to things. When the early form of the monster begins to dump the blood like substance from its gills it doesn't look like anything. When I saw the film in color in theaters the audience audibly was grossed out. Here it was just a dark liquid. Additionally when in the color version when Godzilla let loose with a purple ray it was arresting, it black and white it's less so. It's the result of the image loosing color differences in monochrome -certain shades all look the same as white.
To be honest the only really complaint I can level at this version is that shifting to black and white made it possible to see the compositing of the effects into the film. And it is the black and white that's doing it since I rechecked some sequences and they look good in color.
Minor quibbles aside I really like this version of the film. and if you love it as much as I do, you must give this version a try. If you've never seen it, go see it because this is a great film.
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