With Godzilla turning 70 years old next year, Toho sent the Atomic Lizard back to his roots in Godzilla Minus One: the best Godzilla film to come out since Shin Godzilla in 2016.
Toho’s latest outing with Godzilla, who was first introduced to the world in 1954, strips the iconic kaiju all the way back to his roots, sending him back to just after World War II, throwing in some social messages alongside generous helpings of Godzilla himself.
The movie does so with no hiding or slow reveals at all and, in doing so, filmmakers have created a thoroughly entertaining, thought provoking blockbuster at a fraction of the cost of the current Monsterverse films by Legendary, having been made to a $15 million budget. Written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki, Godzilla Minus One brings large amounts of flair, mixed with a beautifully realised period setting and a realistic emotional depth. Plus, Godzilla’s newest iteration is just gorgeous to look at as he smashes buildings and eats train carriages.
The film’s title, Godzilla Minus One, is a reference to post war Japan having been reduced to zero after the war, just to have Godzilla show up, plunging the country into a “negative state”. With Japan on it’s knees, how will they handle a threat like Godzilla? Well, for starters, the film quickly makes it clear that there’s no point in looking towards the Japanese government, with a clear anti politics/politicians message running throughout the film. One character quips, “This country has treated life far too cheaply,” which leaves Japan’s citizens to band together instead, come up with a plan to combat Godzilla, and somehow defeat the unstoppable, relentless lizard.
At the heart of the blockbuster is Koichi, played by Ryunosuke Kamiki, a pilot wracked with guilt after he ignored his kamikaze orders during WWII. Instead, Koichi lands on an island with a group of engineers and mechanics, which is quickly attacked by Godzilla, who kills everyone except Koichi and the head mechanic, who blames Koichi for freezing up and not firing upon Godzilla with the heavy machine guns on his jet. Back on the mainland, trying to cope with the dishonour he feels over not carrying out his mission, as well as the guilt of surviving Godzilla, he meets Noriko, played by Minami Hamabe, who is looking after an orphan baby whose parents died during the war.
The relationship blossoms between Koichi and Noriko and the pair end up making a misfit family. Their happiness is rather shortlived due to Godzilla’s appearance on the mainland, destroying anything standing in his way, but a plan is formed and Koichi sees a chance at redemption for his past.
Godzilla Minus One obviously had a deep love for all things Godzilla and his illustrious history, and the camera makes sure to show us as much of the kaiju as is possible, giving the audience what it wants in great detail, especially given the films rather small budget. Whether it be up close, from far away, or even underwater, the atomic kaiju is gloriously and faithfully recreated, but it also has an emotional story with characters audiences can connect to. The core of the movie is about rebuilding from nothing, as well as about friends, families, and communities coming together to face impossible odds, and all about second chances.
In my opinion, Godzilla Minus One is the best Godzilla film Toho has released in decades. They take the titular kaiju and take him right back to the beginning. But, the fact it’s set a decade before 1954’s Godzilla has given me the theory that Minus One could be a prequel, especially given the ending. All in all, if you get a chance to watch it, I suggest you do as the film is incredible and highly worthy of many film awards in my humble opinion.
Have you seen Godzilla Minus One? What did you think of the film, characters, and our titular kaiju? Let us know in the comments below!
