(REVIEW) The King of Monsters is back in GODZILLA MINUS ONE (2023)
Godzilla hasn’t been scary since 1954. Despite over a dozen movies featuring the larger-than-life lizard monster, only the original Japanese film made the ritual character a force to reckon with that chilled viewers to the bone. Since then, he has become more of an anti-hero, fighting other monsters who come to disturb humanity and acting more as a defender rather than an aggressor. This shift makes sense, if Godzilla is to persist and fight other monsters he can’t be the bad guy all the time, but what got lost in those films was the raw power and destruction that Godzilla causes. Not just physical damage, but the emotional damage it has on those who survive and the guilt they feel for those who didn’t. Forgotten is the fact that Godzilla isn’t here to protect us, rather, he is the consequence of our actions. More directly, the actions of the United States to drop nuclear bombs on the Japanese in World War II. How the lasting impact of the nuclear fallout was personified in a mutant lizard that dishes out the same level of destruction that the nuclear bombs that created him deliver. In Godzilla Minus One, we are re-introduced to Godzilla and its origin but is this re-introduction a revelation or just a rehash?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
Post-war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.
HOW IS IT?
Let’s get straight to the point, this is the best Godzilla movie since the 1954 original. While there are many iconic entries in this long-standing series, Godzilla Minus One goes back to the basics. Godzilla isn’t our friend, it is a reaction to the hubris of our potential. It is a reminder that our actions have consequences, and in some cases, a “solution” does more harm than good. Godzilla Minus One makes Godzilla scary again, and it does it by remembering that what connects us to the story of Godzilla isn’t just the character, but how the character impacts the very real people in its way. This film doesn’t just manage to make Godzilla terrifying, it also touches upon the same societal critiques of the original cleverly adapted to have a timeless relevance even today. Godzilla Minus One is every bit as good as you’ve heard, and it is a reason to go back to the theaters.
The zeitgeist in genre films these days is all about remakes, but in a sea of soulless cash grabs, Godzilla Minus One stands out as one of the most authentic and effective remakes of all time. It may not even be fair to call this a remake so much as it is a retelling, but that may just be mincing words. Writer and Director Takashi Yamazaki uses the same period and themes of Ishirō Honda’s original film while focusing far more on a sub-set of the people impacted by Godzilla’s first attack on Japanese shores. These aren’t just everyday characters, these people are broken and scarred from a conflict they didn’t want to fight in and battling the expectation to defend their country at all costs. This movie is about how the choices we make may have their own set of adverse reactions, but our destiny is not set in stone because there are always more opportunities to make a different choice. This is all brought to life by some truly amazing and emotional performances from every single person involved. It isn’t just hyperbole to say that there isn’t one bad performance in the entire film, and they are all irreplaceable insofar as their contribution to the film. This is the first Godzilla film where you will cry, and not for the reasons we are so often convinced to in these films.
While the human drama elements are beyond expectation, so is Gozilla itself. From the very jump, the film wastes no time dropping you into the action and demonstrating that Godzilla isn’t just something to fear, it is downright terrifying in its capacity for destruction. In some ways, the opening is reminiscent of the first T-Rex scene in Jurassic Park in terms of the sense of awe on display when Godzilla is shown. The filmmakers do not show away from showing the monster, and they should be proud because this is hands down the best Godzilla has looked. The design honors the legacy of the monster’s look while also adhering to some of the aesthetic changes that have made it more menacing in more recent iterations. The pulse-pumping action is carefully interweaved throughout the film making the pacing damn near perfect. At no point will you be bored as the narrative, action, and storytelling all work in service of each other to keep you consistently engaged. The sheer scope and scale of Godzilla’s damage is complimented by some of the best sound design you could ask for with musical cues that directly reference the original’s iconic score. It is almost unfair to continue going on about how much Godzilla Minus One gets right because it is easily the best cinematic experience of the year, maybe of the last 10.
LAST RITES
Godzilla Minus One is a triumphant film and one of the best monster movies ever made. Delicately balancing callbacks to the original while carving out a destiny all of its own, Godzilla Minus One deserves to be seen on the biggest screen with the best sound system you can.
THE GORY DETAILS
Directed By
Written By
Starring
Where can you watch it?
“Godzilla Minus One” is in theaters nationwide across North America and select IMAX locations.
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