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Japan's military are the heroes in new Godzilla film

Humans in the Self-Defense Force take on Godzilla and look cool doing it in the latest kaiju film, "Godzilla Resurgence," from Toho.

Bonnie Burton
Journalist Bonnie Burton writes about movies, TV shows, comics, science and robots. She is the author of the books Live or Die: Survival Hacks, Wizarding World: Movie Magic Amazing Artifacts, The Star Wars Craft Book, Girls Against Girls, Draw Star Wars, Planets in Peril and more! E-mail Bonnie.
Bonnie Burton
2 min read
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Godzilla looks happy to stomp around Japan again in the new movie "Godzilla Resurgence."

Video screenshot by Bonnie Burton/CNET

Cinema's most infamous giant monster is invading theaters again with the film "Godzilla Resurgence" ("Shin Godzilla" in Japan). But our favorite giant green menace won't be battling his usual fellow kaiju creatures like Mothra, Gigan, Hedorah, King Ghidorah or Rodan.

In "Godzilla Resurgence" -- which has already made box office records this year in Japan -- it's the military that proves to be Godzilla's biggest enemy. Oh, and American armed forces are a meddlesome bunch too.

In the English movie trailer, posted on YouTube on September 9, both the Japanese government and its military called "Self-Defense Force" (SDF) attempt to keep Godzilla in check. The trailer shows exactly what happens when humans think they can control a huge monster -- complete chaos.

Even though the SDF may have its work cut out, the new movie depicts it in a favorable light, which is a new approach for Godzilla films.

"In previous 'Godzilla' movies, the SDF was not exactly effective against its fire-breathing foe, with its bullets and shells only annoying the beast," Japan Times film critic Mark Schilling told USA Today. "The SDF ends up looking like heroes (in the new movie), while their aircraft and other (technology and weaponry) never fail to look cool."

For those keeping score, "Godzilla Resurgence" is the 31st Godzilla film in the successful monster franchise that was first launched way back in 1954.

For better footage of the roaring Godzilla and the SDF in action, the earlier-released Japanese trailer has some explosive monster moments.

"Godzilla Resurgence" will have a limited release in Australia on September 15 and the US on October 11-18.