Rodan (1956)

Turn the events of Rodan into a simple flowchart and it’ll read like many of the less inventive kaijū eiga: Human story | Creature(s) awaken(s) | Atomic power is mentioned | Creature(s) rampage during last 30 mins | JSDF shoot monster repeatedly to no avail | Quick fix | End. What sets Rodan apart is that the human story it offers up is better than most. There’s a feeling of genuine concern between the folks of the small mining village. The terror they experience is shared among the workers and the decision makers.
The film's end leaves the viewer with more than just a feeling that the job was adequately done; there’s a lingering sadness.

2½ bug snacks out of 5