Godzilla Minus One

Community Rating

Director: Takashi Yamazaki

Writer: Takashi Yamazaki

Stars: Minami Hamabe, Sakura Ando, Ryunosuke Kamiki

Runtime: 2h 4m

MPAA: PG-13

Released: December 1, 2023

As the Godzilla franchise nears its seventieth anniversary, Toho has released its thirty-third film of the series with Godzilla Minus One. When including American made films the total now stands at thirty-eight. With this immense back catalogue of features, it is impressive how Takashi Yamazaki has managed to helm what could arguably be considered the best Godzilla film of the entire run.

Yamazaki is hands on with Godzilla Minus One as he wrote, directed, and even lead visual effects work. His passion for this project is easy to see as great care has been taken in each of these phases of production. He has crafted a Godzilla that has more in common with its 1954 version than any since. This Godzilla is no friend or anti-hero. It is a terrifying monster that epitomizes fear and destruction.

The script does what few Godzilla films can accomplish by providing human characters that the audience actually cares about. The movie follows a veteran living in the remains of post World War II Japan. He meets, and eventually lives with, a young woman caring for a child she adopted during the war. The dramas this unlikely family must face, whether kaiju related or not, feel consequential for the audience. Only a couple of convenient plot points slightly hinder what is an otherwise excellent story and grounded plot.

Takashi Yamazaki’s directing of both his characters and the action is great. Ryunosuke Kamiki is Koichi Shikishima, the veteran struggling with his past service. Minami Hamabe plays Noriko Oishi, the woman and adoptive mother he meets. Both actors do well and have strong interactions with a supporting cast that brings true heart into the film. There is a bit of overacting sprinkled throughout, but generally this is pushed just far enough without crossing a line that would ruin the serious subject matter underlining the film.

It’s incredible that Godzilla Minus One was created with a budget of only $15 million when the visual effects look as good as they do. There are some questionable looking shots, but also many terrifying looks at Godzilla that are stunning. This is the scariest Godzilla since the original 1954 film, now shown to us with modern visual effects. Strong sets also do a great deal to show the world of a rebuilding Japan, which makes it all the more tragic when Godzilla arrives.

The sound design is phenomenal as well. This film is loud exactly when it needs to be. This lets every smash, stomp, and roar be felt by the audience. Without using jump scares, the loudness brings more fear out from the visuals. Godzilla Minus One can also be deadly quiet, letting tension grow with the audience. Hearing Godzilla’s original roar played at full volume in a modern theater is perfection.

Also perfection is the usage of the Godzilla theme within the soundtrack. Excitement is hightened when then the bombastic suite begins playing at a few climactic moments. However, the rest of the soundtrack is mostly subdued and somber in comparison. It’s sometimes almost apocalyptic in tone, again bringing out feelings of the original classic film from 1954.

There will be discussion of whether or not this is better than the original. The classic 1954 film is likely the strongest competition for this new iteration. It’s hard to dethrone a classic and the one that started it all. Both contain strong messages within a serious movie that just happens to be a kaiju film. The character of Godzilla is the catalyst that drives this message home. To even be considered an equal with Godzilla (1954) is an accomplishment all of its own.

Godzilla Minus One is a film that should be experienced on the biggest screen with the best sound system you can find. Fans of the series should adore this excellent iteration of the monster. Even moviegoers who aren’t necessarily Godzilla fans will likely find enjoyment thanks to the well made human element and themes of redemption.

★★★★☆