Overview
Postwar Japan. From zero to minus.
Postwar Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.
Review
One of the first Godzilla films I ever watched was in elementary school. A comical-looking rubbery lizard wreaking havoc on the population. And what ten-year-old boy didn’t like seeing what appeared to be a mega T-Rex destroying things? With all the Godzilla movies and crossovers it was really difficult to ever take them too seriously. Most lacked heart. Humanity was there for the spoils or as villains. But Godzilla Minus One changed all of this. There is real human heart in this film. It combines nicely with a meaner, more destructive Godzilla that far better symbolizes a central beast from beyond (or beneath) that overshadows humanity’s control.
What I really enjoyed most was that the movie served as a throwback to the Godzilla of old. But this one was not a bit comical or rubbery. Godzilla Minus One captured its Japanese characters as imperfect, beaten down, yet heroically defiant against all odds. There is empathy for mankind and awe for the monster. It’s by far the best Godzilla movie to date.
Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)
