Godzilla Minus One is a Plus a Million
The hype is real. While American audiences are still haunted by the specter of Roland Emmerich’s Godzilla 98, we’ve been gifted with a new take on the classic kaiju that we certainly don’t deserve. Godzilla Minus One is glorious. A Hollywood blockbuster better than anything Hollywood had given us in ages. A film that is deeply rooted in the classic monster movies that came before it but carefully crafted as a serious well well-made drama.
A period piece set in post-war 1940’s Japan, Godzilla Minus One looks fantastic. The color pallet, the set pieces, and the machines of war all look incredible. Unlike the more recent American Monsterverse movies with their heavy-handed CGI and unremarkable stories, Minus One is a monster movie that matters.
At its heart, Godzilla Minus One is a family story told among the horrors of World War II and well the post war emergence of the nuclear-powered monster known as Godzilla. Koichi, played by Ryunosuke Kamiki, is a dishonored and disgraced kamikaze pilot who chose to ditch his suicide mission and land on Odo Island. The mechanics on the island quickly discern his treason but allow him to stay, one mechanic is even sympathetic to his decision. Godzilla soon appears, his herald a group of deep see floating fish who appear on the surface before Godzilla. Godzilla wreaks havoc on the island, killing everyone, while Koichi freezes up when he had this chance to kill the monster.
Koichi suffering from crippling PTSD and mental anguish, returns home to find his parents dead and his home destroyed but standing. A neighbor recognizes his treason by the fact he’s alive and shuns him.
Soon, Koichi meets Noriko (Minami Hamabe) and the infant Akiko (Saki Nakatani). Noriko agreed to take Akiko from her dying mother, and soon the trio form an unlikely and uneasy family. While the relationship between Koichi and Noriko always remains platonic, there is clearly love there and this is a family you’re ready to root for.
Koichi lands work as a minesweeper off the coast of Japan, which soon puts him and his crew face to face with a now fully grown Godzilla. They are given instructions to slow Godzilla’s approach to Japan and succeed for a bit.
The glory of this film is that while it is definitely a monster movie, you care about these characters. You invested in the family and were concerned for the crew. Major Jaws vibes as they hunt and fight Big G for the first time.
Everyone here puts on a good performance. Whereas the original Godzilla was an allegory on the terrors of the nuclear age, Godzilla Minus One is a treatise on the modern family and the global mental health crisis. Kamiki’s performance is nuanced and brilliant. He expresses the anguish, grief, and emotion befitting his character’s experiences.
Eventually, Godzilla reaches Tokyo, and all hell breaks loose. This scene is no extended CGI nonsense. It’s short, terrifying, and tense. Director Takashi Yamazaki does an amazing job of presenting horror and tension while still showing us the shock and awe of a monster attacking and destroying the city. There’s a key moment here I won’t ruin but it’s shot expertly and the emotional pay off hits like a ton of bricks.
From here plans are made to go after and kill Godzilla. There’s lots of nerdy science talk as they prepare for battle and it’s just too fun. The final battle is thrilling the only negative at all to this movie is Godzilla looks a little stiff and fake during the scenes on land here. It’s not enough to distract from how fantastic the movie is otherwise.
Godzilla Minus One is a great movie. It’s well written, expertly directed, and the acting is top notch. The movie looks fantastic more like a classic movie from the 70’s and less like a bloated modern Hollywood mess. It’s engaging, emotional, and entertaining. Koichi’s hero arc is outstanding. This is a monster movie for everyone. Don’t miss out.
