Film Alert: 'Godzilla Minus One' - Review
Engraved in the Original Masterpiece’s Themes.
In 1954, Japanese filmmaker Ishirō Honda created one of the most recognizable and classic figures ever conceived for the big screen, Godzilla. The classic roar of the mutant reptile has been heard through multiple generations, and, seven decades after its creation, its impact is ever strong. The first kaiju (a Japanese word that literally means “strange beast” and is associated with media involving giant monsters) paved the way for other creatures to be born, like Ultraman, Mothra, and King Ghidorah.
Now, thanks to Toho and director Takashi Yamazaki, we get Godzilla Minus One, a picture that departs from the blockbuster gloss of the big studios and feels more engraved in the original masterpiece’s themes. By stripping things back to get a throwback feeling yet with a fresh perspective, Yamazaki and Toho take things in a different direction that’s more character-focused and story-driven rather than a complete showcase of spectacle. All of these elements culminate into one of the best entries in the series of kaiju-related movies.
Here’s an excerpt from my review:
Yamazaki’s rendition of the classic monster goes further away from the original’s 1954 setting. Godzilla Minus One takes place immediately after World War II, in 1946. A prologue introduces it, set near the end of World War II on an island that contains a feeling of forthcoming damnation. There is something eerie within those surroundings; despair and melancholy ooze from the pores of everybody habituating in that encampment. On that island, we meet our hero, Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), a man assigned to be a kamikaze pilot. But after claiming to have had technical issues with his plane, he deserted his post.
Kōichi may not know it in that instance, but his decision not to fix the place has just saved his life. However, what happens next will leave a scar on his mind, body, and soul. During the night, a weaker (yet terrifying) version of Godzilla attacks them, unleashing a path of destruction and flames. Kōichi, fearing for his life, is frozen. He’s unable to pull the trigger on his aircraft’s gun to shoot the creature down or even move. The image of something indescribable destroying the land where you stand in a matter of seconds leaves him cold. He is left scarred not only because of his inability to act upon such a towering force but also due to being one of the few survivors of the attack.
This prologue helps us be deep in the mindset of the main character’s mental stability as he perceives the trigger of his trauma. The war isn’t even over, and Kōichi has to continue facing the horrors of WWII and the premonition of another attack by Godzilla. But at least something has helped him stay strong after those events. A few years later, Kōichi has started a family alongside a woman named Noriko Oishi (Minami Hamabe) and an orphaned baby. This is a grouping of people who have been left behind or separated from their past lives because of the war. While they might be isolated for different reasons, they all connect with the tragedy they have experienced and the grief each one holds.
Read my full review for Loud & Clear Reviews HERE.
Godzilla Minus One is now playing in theaters worldwide. The film hits Puerto Rican cinemas on December 7th, 2023.