Godzilla Minus One

Traditional, nostalgic, and uncomplicated, that’s Godzilla Minus One in three words. Those qualities elevate this saga of the kaiju that debuted in an eponymous 1954 picture. There have been 33 Japanese films produced and distributed by Toho Co., Ltd. What separates the good from the great in these phantasmic monster movies is the characters. Sure, we want to see a giant reptile causing havoc and destruction. That part is an absolute blast, but the human drama raises the chronicle beyond just a simple creature feature.

This one is set In 1945, just after World War II. Kōichi (Ryunosuke Kamiki) is a kamikaze pilot who feels shame because he didn’t fulfill his mission. Later on, he freezes up and fails to shoot Godzilla when given the opportunity. Kōichi is wrestling with multiple levels of guilt. Now he’s living with Noriko (Minami Hamabe), a woman whose parents died in the bombing of Tokyo, and an orphaned baby daughter Akiko (Sae Nagatani), whom she rescued. They form a family of sorts even though they aren’t romantically involved. Godzilla reappears when he attacks mainland Japan. Thankfully, there is no complicated backstory to this creature. He’s simply a terrifying beast that exists to destroy. That spectacle is breathtaking.

The narrative depicts a post-war existence that seemingly couldn’t get worse. That’s the meaning behind the title. The despair is palpable, but so is hope. To defeat Godzilla, a rag-tag group of sailors must band together to fight him. Koichi joins a crew that includes Doc (Hidetaka Yoshioka), The Captain (Kuranosuke Sasaki), and The Kid (Yuki Yamada). This crew of eccentrics emanate a warm camaraderie. There’s also an underlying commentary that the military has failed the population. Nevertheless, people can unite and succeed together not for the sake of the government but for the good of humanity. In one episode, they ship out on a naval minesweeper, which is basically just a tiny, rickety wooden boat. The scene is evocative of Jaws. The movie often pays homage to the cinema of the past. I enjoyed the sentiment.

This is one of the most thrilling surprises of the year. The fact that it cost less than $15 million is a testament to Toho Studios and director Takashi Yamazaki (Stand by Me Doraemon). Most importantly, the music, special effects, and exciting drama combine to support a thoroughly satisfying story. I’ve seen a smattering of Godzilla films over the years. This is the best since the original. No, scratch that; it’s even better. Godzilla Minus One crushes it.

12-05-23