Godzilla Minus One (2023)

**Go watch as soon as it releases in your country!** I was privileged enough to be in Tokyo the day they released this movie with English subtitles and I have to say that if you enjoy "monster" movies there is no way you won't like this Godzilla. The movie is set from the last days of WW2 to the early post-war. The nuclear bombs used in the Pacific gave Godzilla its super powers, and in the post war it decides to swim towards Tokyo, which of course results in a desperate attempt of stopping the monster. A former kamikaze pilot that had a previous traumatic encounter with Godzilla sees this as an opportunity to get revenge. Apart from a few dialogs and actions from the authors that are more suitable to the Japanese than the American audience, this movie has it all, romance, drama, loss, existencial crisis, and a gory and unstoppable monster. Whether you are an old Godzilla fan or a curious newcomer to this type of movie, Godzilla is one of the best movies released this year.

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/godzilla-minus-one-review/ "Godzilla Minus One strikes an outstanding balance between compelling character building, a thematically rich narrative, and two hours of gargantuan entertainment, ultimately becoming a noteworthy addition to the monster film subgenre. It breaks the formulaic barriers of generic creature flicks by delivering a layered story that explores themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the aftermath of war. The memorable score, powerful sound design, and exquisite visuals contribute to a cinematic experience that is both thrilling and emotionally resonant. While the lead acting occasionally falters into melodrama, it does little to diminish the overall impact of a movie that has undoubtedly earned its place among the top-tier entries in the Godzilla franchise." Rating: A-

_Godzilla Minus One_ is not only one of the best films out of the 30-plus in the series, but also one of the best films of the year. The acting is superb, the destruction is immense and incredible, and the gnarly Godzilla design is fantastic. It’s ridiculous, if true, that this film only has a budget of $15 million because it looks better than most Hollywood blockbusters. Full review: bit.ly/kamikaiju

"Shikishima" (Ryunosuke Kamiki) is a man with some guilt. He was a kamikaze pilot towards the end of WWII who feigned some technical problems with his plane and so landed and survived! Now, Japan is defeated and in ruins and he is feels a deep sense if shame. He manages to find a job in a wooden-hulled boat trying to collect up from the sea all the mines laid by the Allies and the Japanese alike, and it's whilst they are at sea they discover a toxic creature that has been born out of the ashes of the atom bomb. This creature is bent on destruction and nothing mankind has in it's arsenal can even dent this leviathan that possesses a deadly blue ray than can obliterate all in it's path. It heads to the land wreaking devastation and so the scientists must come up with a plan before the country is laid waste. It's really two stories. One of the man with all of his demons, his burgeoning romance with a homeless girl and her child and of his gradual realisation that maybe his life isn't quite over yet. The remainder is the standard "Godzilla" style special effects fest that I must admit to preferring to the more recent Hollywood versions. The style of animation here is grittier, the monster knobblier and angrier and the immediately post-war timeframe allows the photography to present us with a more attractively bleak film to look at. The ending is predictable, sure, but at least it tries to solve the problem of this marauding beastie in a little more of an innovatory fashion. Not much original here, but I still quite enjoyed it.

**So good!** I have been watching Godzilla movies as long as I can remember. Most are enjoyable and enteretaining except the 1998 American made one. It's one of the worse movies I have ever seen. This movie has no right to be as good as it is! But it is good. Very good and a great movie to celebrate the 70th anniversay of the most well known kaiju in the world. Must be seen on the big screen. I didn't know a Godzilla movie could pack an emotional punch the way this film did. It's a testament to the writing and acting in this film. Kamiki Ryunosuke, Hamabe Minami, Yamada Yuki, Aoki Munetaka, Yoshioka Hidetaka, Ando Sakura and Sasaki Kuranosuke. I'm listing all the actotrs here b/c everyone played their roles well. I also, must shout out the little girl actress. I don't know her name but she was magnificent and I think she was only 3 or 4 years old. I can't give much away but the film explores survivors guilt, shame and forgiveness.

This is one of the very best Godzilla movies ever made. There's a really good human story and every moment that Godzilla is on-screen is great. The post-WWII setting absolutely adds to the desperation of the main characters and the dread of having to once again survive an attacking force, this time in the form of a beast that isn't protecting the Earth or any such nonsense. Godzilla is a force of nature (or science) that doesn't care about anything or anyone. The only drawbacks of this movie are an irritatingly manipulative moment (tugboats) and a couple of unbelievably coincidental reunions.

Godzilla Minus One, is a poignant anti war film as much as it is a monster flick. I agree with other reviewers that this is by far and away the best Godzilla film I have seen, bar none. What makes it work is a genuinely moving back story of a man broken by war, redeemed through an act of courage in the service of love, the bonds of family and ultimately life itself. Acting is superb, with flawlessly honest, very human performances, from the entire cast. Godzilla effects are well done too. The destruction and the misery the monster brings to Japanese cities and their populace, is genuinely disturbing. In summary, I loved this film more for its back story than its monster tale. Indeed, in the context of this film, Godzilla feels like a metaphor of sorts, for the real monster, which is war and the destruction it brings both physical and psychological, to innocent lives.

The best Godzilla movie ever and one of the best movies of 2023? Eh, maybe. I don't have the long sordid history of watching every Godzilla movie to ever exist. My first exposure to Godzilla was Godzilla 1998. Yep, I loved watching that sleek reptilian dinosaur tear through Manhattan and to this day I am still envious of the cab driver with that 6 inch Godzilla action figure hanging from his rearview mirror. What can I say, I love dinosaurs! Compared to Godzilla 2014 and the sequels, this at least has a coherent plot with not that many stupid characters doing the stupid. It has some silly dialog and "the plan" is kinda dumb and requires Godzilla to lack any spatial awareness but OK, 2014 did more stupid with that nuclear warhead so, I'll give you that. We've got characters jumping to conclusions, overreacting and under-reacting, but overall this might be the best Godzilla movie ever however I feel like that a low bar considering the other Godzilla movies I've seen. Maybe with a bigger budget. Under 15M? Okay, yeah. It's the best Godzilla movie. The monster CGI is not good. For 15M it's good. Compared to other Godzilla movies, the Hollywood Godzilla movies, it ain't good. Compared to Pacific Rim, it ain't good. 7/10 from me. I quite enjoyed the very WOKE anti-authoritarianism themes. I suppose Go Woke, Go Broke don't always apply since everything I've heard about this movie is positive even though the very WOKE anti-authoritarianism is shoved in our faces multiple times, but who can really expect consistency from that lot.