I’m going to start this one off with a message to Hollywood: Stop trying to make Godzilla movies. You can’t do it and you DEFINITELY can’t compete with Toho after this one.
This has an (unfortunately) extremely limited release in Canada but hopefully this will change with the overwhelming success that Godzilla Minus One has been so far. For those of you unaware, Godzilla was originally released in 1954 and was created as a representation of nuclear devastation from the Japanese perspective. Since then, Toho has released 33 movies themselves, and Hollywood has produced 5 (including the soon to be released Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire). Of the 5 American films, I would say that maybe one of them is alright. The American versions mostly view Godzilla itself as a force for good and the modern run of movies in particular are more akin to a superhero movie than a more traditional kaiju/destruction movie.
Godzilla Minus One is more of a reboot of things and takes place in the years following 1945 and the end of World War Two. It stars Ryunosuke Kamiki as Kōichi Shikishima and was written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki. Yamazaki also did the visual effects on this one and on a budget of just $15 million dollars, this puts modern blockbusters to shame.
So does Godzilla Minus One rise to the top of the kaiju’s cannon or does it sink to the bottom? Let’s talk about it!
My Thoughts
I’ve been a fan of Godzilla movies since I was a little kid. I have a distinct memory of watching Godzilla: 2000 at the local drive in with my Dad. I also remember distinctly that the version I watched was dubbed over in english. At just four or five years old that was probably for the best at the time, but I do always recommend you watch foreign language content with the original performances and just use subtitles! Dubbing always feels so noticeable as the lips don’t match what you hear and there was always something weird to me about ignoring an actor’s full performance to instead listen to someone’s voice over that was done later.
Anyway, I’ve seen pretty much every Godzilla movie at this point and if you would’ve said to me ever that I would be so moved by a Godzilla movie that I would nearly cry, I would’ve called you a liar. Alas, here we are with Godzilla Minus One.
Not only is this my favourite Godzilla movie, it’s one of my favourite movies this year. There is just so much to talk about with this one, but I’ll do my best to avoid any plot details beyond what I’ve said already and I definitely encourage you to see this if you get the chance. If you want to check out the trailer too, I think you’re safe to do so without giving away too much.
If I had to talk about what works for me the least in the American versions of Godzilla, it’s always the human characters and plots that I find lacking. Thankfully, in Godzilla Minus One, it’s one of the biggest strengths of the movie. Given the time it takes place, there’s some really interesting themes explored about Japan and their attitudes and decisions during the war. The arc of the main character is particularly impactful and Hidetaka Yoshioka’s character Kenji Noda also has a few moments to shine here as well. Bottom line though, if for some reason Godzilla isn’t enough for you, this story certainly will be.
So let’s talk about the big boy himself! Thankfully, another thing that makes this movie work so well is that Godzilla is no longer a hero to be cheered on but is a force of nature to be reckoned with. Early on the movie establishes how devastating Godzilla can be and that really is only a taste of what’s to come. The movie doesn’t get bogged down in explanations and try to over explain things either, which is a trap that a lot of other movies fall into.
Also, the effects work in this movie is fantastic and Godzilla looks and sounds great. The big set pieces with Godzilla are incredibly tense and give you a feeling of genuine fear. This permeates throughout the movie and you’re always worried about the characters when you’re supposed to be.
All of these different aspects come together to deliver an incredible movie. The story, the performances, the direction, the monster, and the mayhem all deliver across the board. There’s no fat to be trimmed off of this one and by the end you’ll be left wanting more.
Verdict
Ultimately, this movie can check a lot of boxes. You want a top shelf monster movie? Here it is. Looking for a deeper character drama? We’ve got that too. Want to explore some Japanese history that’s unique and gripping? Well don’t miss this one.
I genuinely believe that Godzilla Minus One is the absolute pinnacle of what a kaiju movie can aspire to be. Gripping sequences tied together with a deeply moving story about honour, history, and sacrifice make Godzilla Minus One a truly can’t miss movie that I can’t wait to see again and again.
Be sure to check this one out and see it on the biggest screen you can!
Adriana Wiszniewska