This was a book that I really wanted to read, but after doing so I can't say that I learned anything. This is a great book for beginners, but for those that know Kaiju films, it was a bit of a letdown.

Jason Barr takes delves into the genre of Kaiju films and looks at why they resound with viewer both in the US and abroad.
This critical study looks at a variety of psychological and sociological explanation on why viewers are drawn to the films. Barr discusses political, cultural, and environmental influences with out becoming stiff. In other words, this is easy to read and not just made for scholars.
I grew up B movies and Kaiju films. I knew all of Godzilla's nemesis and allies by heart. So I enjoyed looking back on these films as well as discussion on modern films and how Hollywood continues to try and capitalize on the idea. The book is pretty up to date except for Kong: skull Island and a possible revival of the traditional kaiju film to American audiences.
A deep look at a genre that doesn't get a lot of main stream love, The Kaiju Film: A Critical Study of Cinema's Biggest Monsters is a nerd's dream look into the concepts of their favorite monsters.

I read about 20% of the book but could not continue. The content of the book is a lot more analytical than I expected. I enjoyed watching Pacific Rim and am interested in the background of how King Kong and Godzilla became so prevalent but this book was a bit too dry for me. I think I'm just not the target audience.

Open the pages of this book if you are a serious fan of this genre of film. The book is a master thesis of serious research on Kaiju film. Casual lovers of Godzilla and Creature of the Black Lagoon films will be overwhelmed by the amount of in-depth knowledge that is shared. An extensive knowledge and viewing of films in this genre will also be necessary to enjoy this book.. It is an impressive endeavor and I applaud the author for his work.. I love the films but the book was overwhelming. It would probably be a five star book for the avid fan..