Still from the movie “Godzilla Minus One” | Photo source: TOHO
Takashi Yamazaki’s latest Oscar-winning film Godzilla The series brings back the roots of the beloved kaiju, combining awe-inspiring spectacle with a powerful exploration of survivor’s guilt. It’s a historical reckoning that will make even the most jaded kaiju cynic sit up and take notice. This is his glory. It’s finally here.
Godzilla has had quite the career since its debut in 1954 with Ishiro Honda’s first-of-its-kind monster film, transforming itself from a symbol of nuclear horror into a sometimes hero, sometimes villain, but always a box office success. But in Minus one, Yamazaki strips away the past “iguanification” of dear “venerable Gojira” and subsequent rose-washing, returning our favorite radioactive reptile to ground zero: mired in the turmoil of post-war Japan and scathing criticism of American imperialism. If we were fooled into believing that the atomic dinosaur couldn’t get any scarier, here, for the first time in 70 years, Gojira serves as a sort of colossal, flaky therapist, forcing Japan to confront its darkest hours and some uncomfortable situations. questions (a real nightmare of the 21st century).
Godzilla: Minus One (Japanese)
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
To throw: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando
Execution time: 125 minutes
Plot: Japan had barely recovered from World War II when a gigantic danger appeared off the coast of Tokyo
The action of the film begins immediately after World War II, when Japan counts its losses and struggles with the consequences of the war. The story follows Kōichi Shikishima (played with terrible sensitivity by Ryunosuke Kamiki), a man tormented by survivor’s guilt, wandering the ruins of his homeland and haunted by the specter of his past deeds… or misdeeds. His journey, which could well continue as a solo, tearful story, instead intertwines with Noriko (Minami Hamabe) and an orphaned child. This extraordinary trio creates a makeshift family, symbolizing the breakable hope of a nation trying to rebuild itself from scratch.
Yamazaki uses this human drama to anchor the film’s central themes – a historically tried and proven recipe for success when crafting compelling kaiju films. Kōichi fights not only against the monstrous Godzilla, but also against the remnants of a militant nationalist ideology that glorified sacrifice and heroism at the expense of individual lives. While the iconic monster previously served as a acute allegory for the devastating consequences of nuclear war, Minus one he mixes it up a bit as a metaphor for the destructive power of chauvinism and the massive burden of survivor’s guilt. The film’s genius lies in its ability to weave psychological themes into the fabric of a blockbuster, resulting in characters that are as compelling as the monster that threatens them.
Still from the movie “Godzilla Minus One” | Photo source: TOHO
The narrative isn’t afraid to fire a few rounds of atomic breath at Truman – they’re also related to nuclear proliferation. Godzilla’s reawakening, fueled by the infamous Bikini Atoll nuclear tests, is a not-so-subtle jab at the continued presence of American military power and its disastrous consequences. However, Yamazaki is too shrewd to fall into didacticism. Instead, he uses the giant lizard to explore Japan’s fraught relationship with its own history, presenting a revisionist approach that is provocative, insightful and poignant.
But let’s not get too caught up in the demanding stuff. This is a Godzilla movie, after all, and Yamazaki delivers the goods spectacularly. The kaiju itself is a marvel, rendered using an incredible combination of CGI and practical effects that pay homage to the creature’s Tokusatsu incarnation.
When Godzilla emerges from the depths, his glowing spikes slashing across the ocean’s surface, it’s a sight to behold – both terrifying and pretty. As Godzilla makes his way through the city, the ground shakes, buildings collapse, and the camera captures it all with a mix of fluid dynamics and brutal clarity. It’s as if the screen could barely contain the unwavering intensity of the kaiju. This fresh Godzilla may be dwarfed in size compared to the Legendary version of the King of the Monsters, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in a terrifying force of nature with nothing but malice in its eyes; his looming presence depicted with tactile realism makes Godzilla more menacing than ever before.
But not only vital moments make an impression. The attention to detail in the film is extraordinary, from the way the kaiju’s skin reflects airy and texture, to the intricate design of the decimated cityscape, which doesn’t neglect the hundreds of rag doll bodies thrown around like puppets. The destruction is seen through the eyes of characters who seem real and close. Whether it’s the desperate scramble of civilians or the determined faces of bandits trying to stop the beast, the visuals add to the emotional tension.
Still from the movie “Godzilla Minus One” | Photo source: TOHO
With the moment before the expected atomic breath, each jagged, protruding scale approaches its impending doom in the form of a familiar, buzzing hum. The brilliant, rising shockwave of the explosion, with its devastating effect, is simply breathtaking: a perfect encapsulation of the film’s ability to combine awe with horror, and an appropriate response to the convenient catharsis of a certain recent Oscar-winning Trinity Test sequence.
In the midst of this second-tier Tokyo, we are constantly reminded of the human cost, of lives disrupted and dreams shattered. A reminder that behind every monster movie trope lies a grain of truth about our own fears and failures. Kōichi and his makeshift squadron of scientists and sailors provide much-needed freedom through their banter and camaraderie. Far from undermining the film’s seriousness, these moments reinforce it, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit even in the face of unimaginable horror.
Minus one is a film that manages to bake a radioactive cake and eat it too. It’s a raucous action adventure that never loses sight of its deeper themes, a uncommon quality of a creature with a soul. Combining historical criticism with personal redemption, Yamazaki creates the 33rd installment of the longest-running film series in history that is epic and intimate. Minus one is not only the greatest Godzilla film since the 1954 original – it has undeniably left a crater-sized mark in its wake that confirms Gojira’s status as the undisputed king of the monsters and makes compelling evidence of his status as a contemporary monster creation.
Godzilla Minus One is now available on Netflix.
