Godzilla Minus One Review
Godzilla Minus One is an impressive iteration on the iconic monster that couldn’t have been released at a better time.
In a world that is just clearing their history from endless atomic bomb searches after Oppenheimer, a new kaiju flick set at the end of World War II with characters that give the film its heart hits theaters.
Takashi Yamazaki has created something truly unique with TOHO's next episode of the renowned kaiju film franchise starring cinema's King of Monsters, Godzilla Minus One. Yamazaki gives one of cinema's most iconic personalities a much-needed reboot, but he also accomplishes something few filmmakers have done since Ishiro Honda. Yamazaki is successful in recasting Godzilla as a fearsome monster.
In the final days of WWII, Japanese military airman Koichi Shikishima commits the most heinous sin: he fails to carry out his duties as a kamikaze pilot. After pretending a mechanical problem during his sortie, Koichi returns to the airstrip, but the lead mechanic at the Odo Island base, Sosaku Tachibana (Aoki), is astute enough to spot the ploy. Their base is assaulted by a weird, ferocious, predatory prehistoric creature named Godzilla by one of the workers. Only Koichi and Tachibana survive the creature's devastation, leaving both men horribly scarred.
With his family gone, Koichi has no actual life to return to in the sacked post-World War II Tokyo. The city is in ruins. Koichi's family died during the bombing raids. The people's morale is in shambles. Everyone is defeated, disenfranchised, and depressed, left shattered by the horrors of war, which has taken a toll on Japan's civilians.
Koichi eventually befriends Noriko (Hamabe), a young woman who lost her family during the war and became the inadvertent caregiver for an infant war orphan. They bond and form a temporary family unit as they try to rebuild from the tragedy of World War II. Koichi returns to work soon after, joining the crew of a minesweeper vessel. While the war is done, a piece of Koichi's soul never returns, and the guilt of his failed time as a pilot and failure to combat Godzilla on Odo Island continues to weigh heavily on him, preventing him from finding peace and happiness.
Godzilla becomes bigger and angrier as a result of the United States' recent nuclear weapons test, moves closer to Tokyo, and declares Japan his territory. And now, the people of Japan are forced to face even more hardship as a giant monster manifests itself, causing enormous devastation. With the US hesitant to help due to rising tensions with the Soviet Union, it is now up to the civilian population and Koichi to repel Godzilla and battle for what remains of their country.
Godzilla Minus One is the most authentic and spectacular version of the iconic monster to hit the big screen since the original picture was released over 70 years ago. This is Godzilla in his purest, rawest form. He isn't a hero. He's not a villain. He isn't cute. He is neither a protector nor a defender. Godzilla is a living natural disaster. He is chaos manifested, sheer anger, and instinct made flesh. In this flick, he is the sole monster. As a result, Yamazaki accomplishes what few filmmakers have: resurrecting Godzilla as a scary force of devastation. In Minus One, Godzilla is a terrifying and suspenseful sight. Yamazaki is never too worried with the truth about Godzilla's beginnings.
The story's post-war context adds a sad, tragic depth. All of the characters are suffering or have been severely harmed by the war as they seek purpose in their losses or forgiveness for their sin. Yamazaki captures the depiction of a fascinating, human drama in Godzilla Minus One. Human characters are often the least intriguing component of the storyline in most Godzilla films, and fans are sometimes left waiting or restless to return to the monster-crushing action. Godzilla Minus One's human characters are actually appealing and relatable. They are the heart and soul of the plot in this film. Ryunosuke Kamiki's portrayal of Koichi's post-war trauma and emotional turmoil is flawless, and it lends the film a powerful human element.
While Godzilla Minus One portrays the battle and its aftermath as tragic, it is ultimately an uplifting and surprisingly cheerful film. The story provides relief as war survivors band together, finding strength in one another and working together to fight back against a seemingly overwhelming threat.
Godzilla Minus One looks spectacular and immersive, with a budget of around $15 million. The computer-generated creature effects aren't always up to the level of a Legendary Entertainment Monsterverse movie, but Yamazaki never fails to portray Godzilla as a pure, scary predatorial force.
Naoki Sato's score is excellent, capturing the iconography of Akira Ifukube's legendary music from the 1954 film, which makes a welcome reappearance here. Bear McCreary is the only composer that grasped the strength behind the music in the modern Hollywood versions of Godzilla, so it's wonderful to see the Minus One production team haven't forgotten the King of the Monsters' roots.
Godzilla Minus One hits cinemas and IMAX screens in the United States on December 1. Seeing Godzilla Minus One on the large screen is the greatest way to understand the genuine terror of Godzilla as a rampaging force of nature.