Godzilla Minus One (2023)
BEWARE! SPOILERS BELOW! You have been warned.
Godzilla Minus One is a visually stunning, action-packed joyride that is not only an enjoyable watch but presents a compelling narrative that connects so well to its stunning visual effects that the film feels very refreshing, especially since this time around he is not in an active beef with a gargantuan, enraged gorilla.
The director and writer Takashi Yamazaki situates the film in a Japanese post-war context. Through our protagonist, Koichi Shikishima, we can feel the emotions and conflicts that plague the Japanese who are just beginning to recover from the fallout of the Second World War. Feelings such as survivors ' guilt and loneliness forge a connection between the audience and the characters on screen, as we can empathize with their struggles and humanity through such a difficult historical period. It is through this connection with the audience that the film can begin a thematic dialogue that centers around the true meaning of sacrifice and heroism. These themes become especially relevant when Godzilla coughs up a couple of city-destroying, laser beams whenever he’s feeling overstimulated. Overall, the movie discusses the importance of community and family regardless of who that may include. For Koichi, his family includes a couple of strays he picked up off the street and a baby who basically does not age a single day over two full years.
Strong performances from the main cast help bring this feeling of desolation, abandonment, and hopelessness to life while also maintaining a sense of humour due to the sheer ridiculousness of the concept. The performances do not take themselves too seriously, nor do they lean too far into the over-exaggeration usually found in such movies. An overall balanced performance adds to the film's commitment to some semblance of normalcy they are attempting to find an otherwise unrealistic story.
Of course, we cannot talk about Godzilla Minus One without discussing the jaw-dropping visuals that blow a lot of modern action films out of the water. Takashi Yamazaki and the modest team of just 35 artists managed to create an experience that both looks and feels so genuine that for a moment the audience may even forget that they're watching a giant monster somehow stand up in the middle of the ocean (literally what is he standing on?). But in most cases, the attention to detail is beyond impressive. Everything from the design of Godzilla himself to the execution of the action scenes are so entertaining that it seems impossible that such a feat was accomplished with a budget of only 15 million dollars. Now it may seem obvious not to consider realism when discussing a film about a gigantic, immortal, sea monster, but that being said there are many times when I looked at my screen utterly confused by the absurdity of what I am witnessing. This ranges from walls that usually disintegrate as soon as they are touched by Godzilla suddenly becoming as strong as vibranium when the main characters find themselves in trouble, to Koichi constantly being saved by the power of friendship. The absurdity never reaches Sharknado levels, but definitely has its fair share of head-scratching moments.
Nevertheless, Godzilla Minus One is a great film to watch with a group of friends on a casual night-in or watch solo when you are in the mood for something light-hearted with cool visual effects, a decent story, and a couple of explosions here and there.
Overall: Godzilla Minus One: 4.5 / 5
