PG-13 2023 Action/Sci-Fi 2h 5m
Who would have guessed that the Godzilla franchise would get a period piece? Godzilla Minus One is set during and immediately after WWII in Japan (similar to the setting of the original Godzilla movies). Godzilla Minus One seems to set out to be the answer to “what if the original Godzilla movies were made today?” The phony rubber monster suit is replaced with CGI but the basic set pieces remain the same: a giant monster rises from the deep to terrorize the people of Japan by smashing ships and tromping over buildings.
The protagonist is a Japanese fighter pilot who seized up with fear and pulled out of his kamikaze mission feigning mechanical difficulty. Landing on a remote island for repairs, he first encounters Godzilla. Godzilla is big enough to wipe out this camp of mechanics but not gargantuan. It is indicated that Godzilla becomes large and radioactive following the events of Bikini Atoll. Does the pilot have what it takes to live down his cowardly past and save Japan from Godzilla? I’ll let you guess.
The movie is in Japanese with English subtitles. Because of this. the dialogue can come across as wooden and the acting can seem melodramatic. The film’s score is no less subtle as it cues emotions or impending action. Instead of working against it, these traits add to the throwback feel of the experience. The filmmakers made a near-perfect update of the old cheesy black and white Godzilla movies. Chef’s kiss to them. This wasn’t a “great” movie, but it held my attention and felt like a film meant to be seen on a large screen with a crowd of people.
BTW, despite being called "Godzilla Minus One," there is no math in the movie.
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