Godzilla Minus One: film review (video format).
Get ready to stomp your way into theaters because Godzilla Minus One is here to shake things up in the kaiju genre. Directed by the multi-talented Takashi Yamazaki, this latest installment in the Godzilla franchise, hailed as the 37th film, takes a deep dive into postwar Japan, where our favorite giant monster makes a grand, and rather unsettling, comeback.
The film, starring Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe, opens in 1945 with a kamikaze pilot, Kōichi Shikishima, played by Kamiki, landing on Odo Island due to “technical issues.” But the real trouble begins when Godzilla decides to crash the party, leaving only Shikishima and a mechanic, Sōsaku Tachibana, as survivors. Fast forward two years, and our big, scaly friend has been juiced up by U.S. nuclear tests, leading to a rampage that makes typical Godzilla destruction look like child’s play.
Yamazaki, having previously dabbled in Godzilla lore with Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 and Godzilla the Ride, goes all out with this one. The script, which he cooked up over three years, draws inspiration from the 1954 classic and Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. And let’s not forget the visual effects – they’re so good you might just believe Godzilla is real.
So, what’s the plan to stop this nuclear-powered beast? Shikishima comes up with a daring strategy involving a prototype fighter plane, while another character, Kenji, dreams up a scheme involving Freon tanks to sink Godzilla. Spoiler alert: things don’t go as planned. Godzilla survives both attempts and, in a fit of rage, prepares to unleash its heat ray on everything in sight.
In a heroic last stand, Shikishima sacrifices himself, or so it seems, to stop Godzilla’s heat ray, earning a salute from the crew. But wait, there’s more! Shikishima miraculously survives, and there’s a bittersweet reunion with Noriko, his partner, who’s now suffering from what looks like radiation sickness.
The film ends on a cliffhanger, with a piece of Godzilla starting to regenerate at the bottom of the ocean. Could this be a setup for a sequel? Only time will tell.
Godzilla Minus One doesn’t just deliver on epic kaiju battles; it also offers a poignant look at survivor’s guilt and the scars of war. The film has been a hit at the box office and with critics, drawing praise for its compelling storyline, characters, and, of course, those top-notch visual effects.
So, if you’re in the mood for a film that’s part monster mayhem, part historical drama, and all parts awesome, then Godzilla Minus One is a must-see. Just remember, when you’re watching cities crumble under Godzilla’s might, it’s all just movie magic… or is it?
