The Great War of Archimedes (2019)

Less action than expected, more courtroom drama

The Great War of Archimedes is Takashi Yamazaki's second stab at similar themes he would later refine further in the glorious Godzilla Minus One, yet he handles said themes in a way more cynical approach than what we saw with the Big Lizard. With The Great War of Archimedes, Yamazaki explores all the political and personal ramifications of building what would become the Yamato would cause Japan, inevitable war. In a way, it feels extremely derivative of Yamazaki's earlier The Eternal Zero, acting as a self-aware commentary on Japan's militarism and contemporary national ethos. Much of the film is a courtroom drama, but Yamazaki does manage to sneak in a lot of fabulously executed action, he's one of the best Japanese filmmakers when it comes to utilising CGI to augment his set pieces. Combine this with some stirring performances from its cast and a gorgeous score by Naoki Satō leaves The Great War of Archimedes as another underseen gem in Yamazaki's extensive filmography.

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