Godzilla Minus One: A Spectacle that Surpasses Hollywood's Expectations
Godzilla Minus One: A captivating blend of classic and contemporary, Toho's latest kaiju blockbuster revitalizes the iconic monster genre With a thought-provoking narrative, this human-centric monster movie astounds, leaving Hollywood in awe Review score: 4/5
If you're a die-hard Godzilla fan, you've likely been eagerly anticipating Godzilla Minus One - and for good reason. This is the 33rd film in the Toho Studios series and the first new Godzilla movie in seven years, separate from the MonsterVerse. It's a big deal.
And let's not forget the significance of the "70th anniversary." Despite contractual limitations preventing its release on Godzilla's actual 70th birthday in 2024, Godzilla Minus One is a clear homage to the original 1954 film, serving as both a remake and a reboot.
It is a heavy load to place on a film, especially one with such an enthusiastic fanbase as the Godzilla franchise. However, writer-director Takashi Yamazaki does not appear to have struggled with this weight while making Godzilla Minus One, as it is not evident in the final product.
There is a sense of calm and confidence throughout the film, showing a willingness to take risks with the franchise's traditional formula that more hesitant filmmakers may have avoided. The outcome is a Godzilla film unlike any seen in recent times, and, with only minor criticisms, it is surely among the best appearances of the giant lizard on the big screen. Warning: minor spoilers for Godzilla Minus One ahead.
A very human monster movie
Yamazaki takes a major risk with the ground-level perspective of Godzilla Minus One's story. While previous Godzilla films and shows have also shown events from the point of view of human characters, there is always no doubt that the main focus is on the big green monster himself.
In Godzilla Minus One, however, it's a different story. Protagonist Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) and his close friends take the spotlight, and the film often feels more like a traditional period drama for extended periods of time.
Godzilla serves as more of a MacGuffin in Godzilla Minus One, setting up Shikishima’s survivor’s guilt character arc upon its arrival and shaping choices throughout postwar Tokyo. This risky move by Yamazaki ultimately pays off.
Old meets new in Godzilla Minus One
I say “largely” because Godzilla Minus One is very deliberately a modern spin on a classic movie – with all the good and the not-so-good that entails.
Yamazaki’s commitment to traditional filmmaking techniques in Godzilla Minus One ensures a well-structured plot. New elements, such as Shikishima’s background as a disgraced kamikaze pilot and his developing relationship with Minami Hamabe’s Noriko, add depth to the story and seamlessly complement elements from the original Godzilla film.
Additionally, the film maintains a brisk pace, preventing the lengthy, monster-free scenes from becoming dull. The subtle humor woven throughout the story also adds to the charm of Shikishima, Noriko, and their friends.
And that’s crucial, because the effectiveness of Godzilla Minus One relies on your desire for its core roster to survive – and chances are, they will. Indeed, at times Godzilla Minus One is surprisingly moving, especially during its exhilarating (if unlikely) third act.
TOHORyunosuke Kamiki as Kōichi Shikishima in Godzilla Minus One
Kōzō Shibasaki's beautiful cinematography and the use of real locations and practical sets, rather than soundstages and green screens, make Godzilla Minus One visually stunning. This gives the story an authentic sense of place, so when Godzilla destroys Tokyo, you truly feel the impact of the devastation.
The visual effects created by Shirogumi Inc. under Yamazaki's supervision are incredibly polished, making it hard to believe that it's all happening. While some shots may be more convincing than others, the overall consistency of Godzilla Minus One's CGI far surpasses that of most recent Hollywood releases. The film is genuinely dazzling, and Naoki Sato's haunting score elevates many of its most striking moments to an almost operatic level.
The big problem with Minus One? Godzilla
Despite everything it has in its favor, Godzilla Minus One may initially seem like the perfect popcorn movie. However, it falls short, and surprisingly, most of the blame falls on Godzilla himself. In summary, he isn't as terrifying, except for a few scattered moments in the film – especially when Yamazaki channels Jaws.
Similar to many live performers, this updated version of Godzilla, which pays homage to the monster's original design, has both impressive and unimpressive aspects. He is most frightening when only partially visible, as a clear view of his bug eyes, pug snout, and chicken arms (as well as his stiff posture and awkward movements) can make him appear comical.
However, Yamazaki's decision to obscure or disregard Godzilla Minus One's main character has both positive and negative implications.
Godzilla's terrifying roar fills the air as he rampages through the city in Godzilla Minus One. While the film does allow us to connect with the human characters and offers plausible explanations for Godzilla's absences, the periodic disappearance of the main source of peril only serves to diminish the tension for the audience.
Despite its lack of terror or tension, Godzilla makes up for it with sheer implacability when he returns to the screen. The heightened performances of the actors, including Kamiki, Hamabe, and their co-stars, imitate the melodramatic acting style of the original Godzilla, but somehow this doesn't sink the film, even when it undercuts the more poignant scenes.
A monster movie with something to say
The ability of Godzilla Minus One to overcome these and other, less important flaws is mainly due to the thematic weight of the production. Similar to the 1954 original, it's a monster movie with a message - a refreshing departure from the mindlessness of some of the more recent MonsterVerse films.
TOHOGodzilla wreaks havoc on the open seas in Godzilla Minus One, with the usual “horrors of the atomic age” subtext present and accounted for. However, Yamazaki’s take on the mythos weaves in criticism of both Imperial Japan and Cold War America. Both are tainted by an original sin – waging a war that cost countless lives and unleashed nuclear atrocities on the world – that Godzilla both represents and demands they pay for.
However, it is not the postwar Japanese government or those in the White House who ultimately have to deal with the consequences of Godzilla's retribution. It is the ordinary people of Tokyo who must bear the burden, just as they did during wartime. A frustrated ex-soldier questions why they always seem to suffer the most, with no one able to provide an answer.
Despite the grim situation, Godzilla Minus One believes in the resilience of ordinary people to save themselves when those in power let them down. The underlying message is clear: we will be alright if we stick together. While not subtle in its theme or execution, it is a positive one. After all, this is a film about a giant lizard with atomic breath; subtlety was never the intention.
Godzilla Minus One review score: 4/5
Godzilla Minus One: A carefully constructed and thought-provoking blockbuster that will resonate with both die-hard fans and casual moviegoers. While it may not reach the status of an unequivocal masterpiece, Godzilla Minus One undeniably enriches the franchise canon.
Godzilla Minus One arrives in US cinemas on December 1. For all the latest Godzilla content, be sure to check out Dexerto’s full coverage here.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the new Godzilla movie, "Godzilla Minus One." On the one hand, I appreciate the film's attempt to provide a fresh perspective on the franchise by focusing on the human characters and their struggles. The film's visuals are stunning, and the action sequences are thrilling.
On the other hand, I feel that the film's focus on the human characters comes at the expense of the Godzilla character himself. Godzilla is often relegated to the background, and when he does appear, he is often overshadowed by the human characters. I also feel that the film's plot is too predictable, and the ending is anticlimactic.
Overall, I think "Godzilla Minus One" is a solid film, but it is not the best Godzilla movie I've ever seen. I would recommend it to fans of the franchise, but I would also caution them that it is not the Godzilla movie they may be expecting.
