“Godzilla Minus One” was released on Nov. 3 in Japan and Dec. 1 in the US. It was produced by Toho Studios and Robot Communications. Godzilla is part of the Kaiju genre, a subgenre of science fiction involving giant monsters. There are over 35 Godzilla movies; the first was released in 1954. However, “Godzilla Minus One” is a standalone.
After World War II ended, Japan faced the destruction and devastation of the war. Psychologically traumatized kamikaze pilot Koichi Shikishima returns to the Japanese mainland, burdened by guilt.
Just as they’re beginning to rebuild, the monster known as Godzilla casts a looming shadow on the island nation. Post-war Japan was forced to demilitarize. With an already heavily weakened military and populace, the country must find a way to deal with the threat of Godzilla. The stakes couldn’t be higher as the fate of Japan’s future is on the line.
Its budget was only $15 million, compared to the last movie, “Godzilla vs. Kong”, which had a budget between $155 to $200 million. However the quality of “Godzilla Minus One” surpasses it, raising the standard for future Godzilla movies. This showcases the growing competition between Hollywood and foreign film companies.
There isn’t just pointless destruction to show Godzilla’s strength. Past Godzilla movies focus more on Godzilla rather than the human characters. However, this movie focuses more on how the protagonists and other humans react and endure the hardship. This allows the viewer to understand the scale of the wreckage, making the story more impactful.
The movie is incredible. You can truly feel the emotion of the actors. The music is climactic. While the dialogue is in Japanese, there are English subtitles. However, there is never an instance where the language barrier poses a problem.
This movie is a must-see. “Godzilla Minus One” is undoubtedly one of the best movies of 2023.
