Japan is already devastated by the end of World War II when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster.
Listen to Mike’s review of Godzilla Minus One with Ari Hoffman here:
By Mike “Big Mike” Seibert, Ari Hoffman’s Afternoon Show Producer:
At a time when Hollywood blockbusters are over-bloated with message, agenda and virtue signaling – along with swollen budgets, it was refreshing to watch a movie that emphasized story and heart, while also delivering on scope and spectacle.
Godzilla Minus One kicks off the 70th anniversary celebration of the franchise and is the first live-action Godzilla film to be made in Japan since 2016.
The story is somewhat of a “reimagining” or retelling of the original Godzilla movie from 1954 – it’s not specifically a remake or a reboot, even as it also follows some of the same story beats as that iconic classic, as well as drawing inspiration from other entries in the series.
Much of the storytelling and themes are original and unique to Godzilla Minus One, focusing primarily on the human characters, specifically a group of misfits charged with disposing of naval mines after the end of World War II. The cast is terrific, breathing vivid life into what are traditionally one-dimensional characters in these kinds of movies. I was not expecting to so invested in their struggles, nor was I prepared for the depth of the themes presented through the character’s humanity – Honor, cowardice and redemption, existential dread juxtaposed with fading national pride, along with found family and what you will sacrifice for your friends are all given rich consideration…in a movie about a giant radio active lizard that terrorizes Japan.
I was surprised by how engrossed I was by this movie, so much so that I forgot that I was reading English subtitles and listened to the movie with dialogue entirely in Japanese.
Godzilla Minus One also does something I don’t know if I’ve ever seen in a movie before – it made Godzilla actually SCARY! The creature character design is terrifyingly realistic, presenting Godzilla as a towering beast with piercing eyes and a thick, radiation-scorched hide. Far removed from the friendly, more heroic Godzilla of the 70s, this iteration is driven by ferocious rage and he is MEAN and angry.
There’s a sense of genuine dread whenever Godzilla is on screen, building on atmosphere and tension. The attacks are terrifying, but there’s also deftness in the tone of the movie that keeps it from being dour and joyless. The movie is actually quite a lot of fun with moments of levity and humor, primarily from the human characters. For example, one of my favorite moments in the movie was when the classic Godzilla theme music played just as Godzilla was about to wreck havoc on a city. It was a bit of fan service that was completely earned, without feeling cheap or gratuitous. The score is incredible too!
The special effects are stupendous, especially given the $15 million budget. While there are times that the computer graphics could be better, I also think that the movie looks better than a lot of Marvel TV shows with far larger budgets. The sense of scale, scope, and spectacle is all conveyed through creative filmmaking without simply “throwing money” at the screen.
Godzilla Minus One is a surprising masterpiece that is not just one of the very best Godzilla movies ever, it’s also one of my favorite movies of the year!
Go see it on the biggest screen you can, (it is playing in IMAX at several theatres) and bring a group of friends!
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