It's okay book if you go into it realizing it'snot very factually and a highly opinionated take on what these films mean and stand for. Honestly, if it's your second book about the franchise it's not something I really recommend for the sake of preconcieved notions.
Tsutsui and for all his love for th Godzilla series, he still doesn't take it as seriously or research the facts as well as Ragone, Ryfle and Kalat. Even though Ryfle's book is dated, it's still far more factually and reliable of a resource than anything Tsutsui's writtern.
For example, he compares the Mothra larva to a form of sexual symbolism due to the fact they spray silk. The comparison is odd and really doesn't have anything to do with Mothra. The most glaring aspect is how he calls the military mobilization in these films "military porn"and how it gave Japan the opportunity to feel nationalistic about their arms force. This makes little sense because Japan AND Ishiro Honda resented the military at the time of Godzilla's conception. Honda himself was a pacifist and always made the military look inept in the face of kaiju despite being a part of it for years and knowing what they were capable of. Nothing he did with the military in these films was to make them look good.
Anyway, I'd recommend getting Ryfle's book first. Save Tsutsui for anorther day. If it's free? Pick it up. But still save it for after you've read better material.
"'Nostalgic' does not equal 'good,' and 'standards' does not equal 'elitism.'" "Being offended is inevitable. Living offended is your choice."
