Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!
Plot Summary: Following Japan's surrender in WWII, an angry Godzilla arises to threaten what is left of the wary, Japanese survivors.
Review: I idiotically slept on this film at first, but I would rank this as a contender for best movie of the 2020s. Yes, it's that good! There are supposedly 38 Godzilla movies--of these, I've probably watched more than half and mostly all the pre-2000s entries; sure, they're entertaining enough films in a cheesy-fun way. So, when word had spread about how "Godzilla Minus One" was putting Hollywood to shame, I had to see it for myself. Low and behold, not only did this film live up to my expectations, but it raised the bar of how to create a blockbuster action movie for a significantly smaller budget. It's to the point that I've heard many people use this as a metric when comparing bloated Hollywood slop...saying things like, "You could have made 5 'Godzilla Minus Ones' for that money." Truly, this is a game-changer to say the least.
First off, there are different ways to watch this: dubbed or subbed. In color or no color? I hate to sound like a pretentious critic, but the optimal viewing is subtitled and in black and white. The sets and props just look more authentic in this manner, and, outside of some shoddy CGI, this could easily pass for an old film under these conditions. While we are on the subject, the post-WWII aesthetic looks awesome and true to life. I'm in disbelief sometimes at how impressive everything looks for the budget especially when factoring in the many, large set pieces when going up against Godzilla. The Academy Award win was most certainly earned; should have been nominated for more though.
But the true aspect that allows this film to shine is the story and its characters. The actors do a commendable job as people struggling to get back on their feet just as Godzilla shows up to pull the rug right out from under them. This is a classic story of people coming together against overwhelming odds and combining their abilities in order to succeed. That kind of heroism and determination is something sorely lacking in most stories these days. More so, that triumphant feeling of victory by the end is palpable--a crowd-pleaser without a doubt. I also want to acknowledge the ballsy death of Noriko (we'll get back to her). On the first viewing, I was completely shocked, and this moment marked a major turning point for the story and characters. That's how you build stakes!
As for the big boy himself, Godzilla is an absolute menace! Continuity is all over the place with this franchise, however, Godzilla has spent more times as a defender of Earth than not by my estimate. Here, Godzilla is back to his original form of being a pure monster of chaos, wreaking havoc at every step. Hell, his eyes make him look nuts half the time especially when he first attacks the makeshift mine-sweepers. He has the iconic roar, the atomic breath is city-destroying, his regenerative abilities are Wolverine-esque, and he simply plows his way through anything with almost complete hate. Establishing Godzilla at this level ups the tension since the audience cannot possibly imagine the characters having the means to take him down. Of course, this only heightens how adrenaline-pumping and awesome it is when the big boy does finally go down...for now, at least.
Now, while I do love this movie, I have to admit it has a couple of glaring flaws that stop it from being a 10/10. Getting back to Noriko...just let her be dead. Yes, a happy ending is great, but her death was startling and it takes away from the impact to say she survived. Sure, Godzilla skin or something has passed on the regeneration to her or whatever...but did we need that? Godzilla regenerating his body was already sequel-bait enough for an ending. By the way, Noriko's actress, Minami Hamabe, is cute, but, man, oh man, does she look better in the 1940's fashion and styling. Anyway, the other aspect that hurts is the initial CGI on--what I'll call--baby Godzilla. I know, I know, I'm both praising the effects for a low-budget movie while also bitching about it! But baby Godzilla legitimately looks like shit. I actually don't like this entire scene in the first place.
Other than these tiny grievances, which I'm sure others will see as nitpicking, "Godzilla Minus One" is on point in every conceivable aspect to film-making. From the cinematography to the set designs, and everything in between, "Godzilla Minus One" delivers and then some. Considering the direction these films have been going for years, it was actually a welcomed surprise anyone would want to reset the whole franchise AND it manages to turn out this remarkable to boot! The gauntlet has been thrown: Hollywood responded to Japan's mishandling of Godzilla, and Japan responded accordingly. Will the Americanized Godzilla be able to keep up? Regardless, check this movie out in any shape or form of your choosing--you will NOT be disappointed! Now, we will have to see if "Godzilla Minus Zero" can deliver following in this colossal shadow.
Notable Moment: There are numerous standout moments, but when the Godzilla theme kicks in during the final fight you know things are about to get serious. You can't help but smile as the events unfold.
Final Rating: 8/10
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