Review of 'Godzilla Minus One': Another Round of Giant Chaos
Japan's renowned monster series is back, showcasing a desire for chaos but also presenting a distinctly serious perspective.
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Rating: PG-13
Duration: 2 hours and 5 minutes
You've got to admire Godzilla's demeanor. He exudes confidence, moving with an almost regal swagger — and why not? In "Godzilla Minus One," the colossal prehistoric lizard is approaching the 70th anniversary of his iconic Toho studio franchise. Once again, Japan, having emerged from the aftermath of World War II, finds itself confronting this atomic behemoth, whose destructive tendencies persist as an enduring and anticipated spectacle.
In a preliminary scene, Godzilla makes a dramatic entrance during the war on an island where Koichi (Ryunosuke Kamiki), a kamikaze pilot, has just taken a detour to escape. Miraculously surviving the monster's attacks, Koichi becomes a bundle of guilt and shame. He later resettles in the rubble of Tokyo, sharing space with a stranger, Noriko (Minami Hamabe), who is looking after someone else's baby.
They form a nuclear family, in a sense, yet they remain unmarried, simply coexisting as survivors. Koichi's camaraderie with crew members on a mine cleanup ship adds a lighter touch to the atmosphere, but soon Godzilla makes a return with attacks on ships, streets, and the unfortunate people caught in the chaos.
Rather than driven by vengeance or boredom, Godzilla appears more as a natural phenomenon, stomping and chomping away, spiky and dead-eyed, with a hide rough as cooled magma. His signature moves include the snap-and-toss, grabbing and flinging a human or train-car aside, and his blue ray, an explosive thermonuclear beam. The writer-director, Takashi Yamazaki, skillfully integrates crowds and effects, imparting a somber tone to the violence.
The mood fits well as citizens unite, condemning Japan's wartime disregard for life. The heroic narrative may feel a bit worn, but despite the common clichés associated with Godzilla movies, this one consistently infuses blockbuster energy with a sometimes weighty heart.
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
Writer: Takashi Yamazaki
Stars: Minami Hamabe, Sakura Ando, Ryunosuke Kamiki, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours and 5 minutes
Genres: Action, Adventure, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Film information sourced from IMDb.com
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