It turns out growing up on the Raymond Burr version spoils you for the most important kaiju film ever made. The familiar iconography sans re-editing is still impactful, but dulled by the intended love triangle. Time spent with cyphers for humanity rather than the abundant victims of Godzilla wrenches away much of the emotion. I can’t believe how much screen time is given to these nothing characters even as I appreciate future generations are more likely to visit this version first. 

I do love the implication that Serizawa developed weapons with the Nazis, though.