It was my best theater experience that I can remember. I actually liked hearing the audiences reaction to things, especially at the ending when everyone was dead quiet. It was so immersive for all of us despite it being a subtitled film. It's the most immersive and engaging film I've seen in the past decade easily. I only wished I saw it more at the theater instead of just two times.
This was up there with Avengers Endgame as far as theater experiences go, but for different reasons. I used to mash all of my action figures together playing Infinity Gauntlet ALL THE TIME when I was a kid. But I felt like it was "mine" since I read the story in comics on my own. But Godzilla was my father's OG too, and all the feelings I had as a kid watching all those movies with him for the first time came rushing back. It was nostalgic without being a retread. It was the perfect movie going experience.
I’m glad you liked it. I took my wife and daughter to see it in December (re: dragged them more correctly) and they loved it! My wife is not a real Godzilla fan and doesn’t care at all about the genre and she and my daughter cried during the movie. We all came away with a new favorite film. I hope Toho studios continues on this winning streak with this and “Shin Godzilla” which I like quite a bit. Good review. Thanks.
This was the first time watching a Godzilla film I felt any connection. Often times, including with the original films, I felt a disconnect. I loved this one, and I’m so happy my roommates urged me to seek this one out.
Apparently the creators of Minus One went and made every scene Black and White and will re-release it again in 2024. I truly hope it comes to South Africa. My local cinema didn't show the color version and I just didn't have the time to drive the 2 hours to the nearest cinema that actually showed it.
As of right now the B&W version will only be shown in Japan which is unfortunate. Hopefully it’ll be released via streaming, blu ray or both. Look up “Godzilla Minus One Minus Color” for the B&W version trailer. It’s short but impressive.
Thanks for a thoughtful and interesting review. To me, Noriko's survival serves in a sort of meta way as the movie, or the filmmakers, fulfilling the life affirming theme. Noriko doesn't need to die for the film, in the same way the protagonist doesn't need to die to defeat the monster. It's a rejection of the idea of the necessary mortal sacrifice.
Godzilla Minus One is sort of a spiritual remake of the original 1954 classic. Similar themes and moments, but the original is more darker and melancholy in tone. Shin Godzilla is also well regarded and can be seen as another modern remake of sorts, but with Godzilla being a metaphor for the 2011 earthquake that caused the Fukushima nuclear accident rather than a metaphor for the atom bomb. I would also recommend "The Return of Godzilla" and "Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-out Attack." These two are straight sequels to the original; the former has another Godzilla appear in then-contemporary Cold War Japan, while the latter is another independent sequel to the OG with the original Godzilla being reborn as a wrathful wraith by the forgotten spirits of WW2. It's more fantastical and features brawls with some of Godzilla's Kaiju cast. It's also a major inspiration for Minus One. There's a Godzilla film for any kind of genre. From satirical comedies to sci-fi thrillers to kiddy superhero films to psychedelic horror films disguised as children's films. Good or bad, they're always a wild ride, that's for sure!
The emotional weight of this film really does shine through! The moments where Shikshima breaks down, and there are at least 2 or 3 such scenes, are powerful! The scene where he lets out that guttural scream honestly disturbed me and shook me. The scene at the end when he breaks down in the hospital is gut wrenching.
The final scene works for me as the black mark moves on her neck suggesting to me, that Noriko has regenerated just like Godzilla did. That was my take on it anyway. Great review!
There are theories, the black splotch the camera lingered on on Norikos neck at the end, she's been infected by Godzilla who has the ability to regenerate and heal himself. Which is how she survived and isn't mangled! Some of the campy Godzilla flicks toyed with the idea of mortals having a supernatural connection with the monsters. I'm on the fence about them exploring those past notions, but if they're gonna do something as good as GM1, I look forward to the next.
So glad you loved this one! The film is heavily influenced by Japanese melodramas made by Ozu - look up that directors’ work. Excellent take and always love your insightful commentaries.
I haven't seen all of the Godzilla movies, but I have seen the most celebrated ones. I must say, "Godzilla: Minus One" is the first time I've ever questioned if the original Japanese "Gojira" was topped. This is a great blockbuster film, and I hope future filmmakers across all countries (but especially in Hollywood) take notes.
I think Shin Godzilla is on par. But that movie is political satire and more like Dr. Strangelove than the it is the original Godzilla so it is a bit hard to compare.
Second only to "When Evil Lurks," this film had the biggest emotional impact on me this year. And it was a total surprise! I'm gratified to know we shared a common experience at the cinema.
At the very end of the movie i couldnt help but notice a weird growth on her neck when he hugs her in the hospital. I wonder if she may have been infected by Godzilla in some weird way. Maybe she can regenerate like Godzilla. She was far too clean looking to have survived what she did, so i wonder if they have a bit of sequal bait in the last scene. I saw something crawling up her neck at the very last scene though, so I'm hoping that helps explain her return... at least i hope lol.
The reason I think the ending works is because the film never writes itself into any corners. It could have gone in the way you mentioned and it still would have worked terrifically. But when a you got that callback with the line and it comes full circle, I was left absolutely gobsmacked and ended up sobbing in my seat. I think this is easily the best film of the year and to an even further extent, the entire decade. Glad you loved the film as well!
A nice surprise! The film and your review. I agree that it really put American blockbusters to shame this year. I would recommend Shin Godzilla as well, from a few years ago, a different kind of disaster film but a great watch. Happy New Year!
I’ve seen every Godzilla film. This one, played wonderfully as the “monster” Godzilla is simultaneously close but yet, somehow extremely distant. It’s nice to hear that you get that and enjoyed it, best one I’ve seen lately. for sure.
Great review, I went with a friend who's a huge Godzilla fan and he cannot get enough of this movie. He put it This is how Godzilla should be done. And I got to admit to choking up a little bit when the original Godzilla theme came up in the movie I thought it was just perfect.
I loved the artistic choice in minus one where they kept the depiction of Godzilla old school. It seriously looks like, and indeed may have been, someone in a rubber suite lol. Godzilla’s movements are slow and awkward and not what you think of when you think of modern west CGI monster depictions. And yet the film does a wonderful job of modernizing the look and feel of everything around Godzilla. By which I don’t mean the era its set in, it’s set solidly in the 1940s, but the depiction of the 40s is clearly masterfully crafted using modern set design etc. There’s so much attention to detail and care in the sets, the clothing, the choices of technology they depict. It’s wonderfully period accurate looking. And then when Godzilla shows up he too is period accurate in the sense of him slightly campy appearance and robotic movements. Somehow it works perfectly even though it kind of shouldn’t.
Absolutely agree 100%! The overall effect was masterfully done! It doesn't even make sense to me how they could have intentionally pulled that off! It's almost like the budget didn't allow for the cutting-edge CGI that would have ultimately detracted from the overall look and feel of the film. The end result is flawless.
I think you may have misjudged the ending. The “end of the Japanese Godzilla films”? Yes, the ending where Noriko resurfaces miraculously alive in the hospital may seem a bit treacly but she now has Godzilla’s regenerative powers (did you notice her neck?). I could have done without any hints at a future sequel, (and make no mistake, there WILL be one now), but while the ending may be seen as a happy one it also has horrific implications and allusions to what Noriko will likely now have to face when Godzilla eventually returns.
Agreed! You summed up the movie perfectly. My wife rolled her eyes when I told her what we were going to see. Ten minutes into the film, she totally got it. She loved it. This is a Godzilla movie for people who don't like Godzilla movies. You're reviews are excellent and to the point. Well done..take care.
Thank you for your wonderful and in-depth review! I have been describing the film to others as a World war II era drama that just happens to have Godzilla in it. I've seen the original Godzilla film and maybe one other. In this one, Godzilla seems most fearsome of all. In the 1954 film Godzilla was causing destruction but almost somewhat unintentionally. However, in this one Godzilla comes across as vengeful, angry and vindictive. Those characteristics coupled with being on the losing end of a major war in the 1940s would have been a cataclysmic combination.
This is the best Godzilla film to date. Hands down! This movie knows how to incorporate the human element in a monster film. I don't know why it's so difficult to do here in America. I'll watch a Godzilla Legendary Pictures movie, and maybe a family member died as a result of Godzilla trampling the city. I'm supposed to feel something for the parents who lost their kid, but I don't. Why is this family special that I should feel something when it is likely that many other families lost loved ones too. That's the beauty of Minus One. The audience was actually invested with the human characters. For a Godzilla film, this was a powerful redemption story with a ton of heart. It also seemed more real when you attach actual past historical events. Post World War II. Japan, in a crippled state, is struggling to keep it together. The last thing they need is a monster to finish them off. This film had the right balance of everything. It just worked. I think Americans have been starving for good cinema for a while. Hollywood has been a joke for far too long. Thank you, Japan. We needed this! -OG
The ending was actually not a Happy ending but very dark . We see the radiation effect on Noriko's neck move and change shape. She has been affected by Godzilla's cells which are regenerative and radioactive . It saved her from immediate death however she will die from it as well as it mutates and consumes her body . The black rain also is radioactive poison which will kill anybody exposed to it. A very dark future for Shikishima indeed .
Happy new year happy to see you reviewing this new Godzilla movie. I am a massive Godzilla fan been that way since I was a kid. I really seriously need to check this Godzilla movie out. Facts at 2:01
Killing Godzilla by shooting him in the mouth was reminiscent (or perhaps derivative) of how Reptilicus (1961) was killed. The underlying theme of the Godzilla creature has always been that he is a symbol of WMD's which are a reflection of our own monstrous nature which humanity must fight.
The final scene contains Aline that only the survivor can say and it is a perfect distillation of the story. In Japanese it goes something like, “Do you still walk surrounded by the dead?” The future is better, but we have to fight dragons to get there.
Recommend: Shin Godzilla from 2016. A direct metaphor of the Fukushima disaster and bureaucratic incompetence. Also the 1954 original is an absolute classic.
@@RonaldoSanchez-g1y I watched the movie yesterday here in Japan (the black and white version) and they does say “…you are still fighting your war” phrase a couple of times, maybe the subtitles are ok and he is referring about another scene.
Great review and agree Hollywood blockbusters could learn a lot from Godzilla Minus One. I’ve seen the movie 5 times, my favorite movie of 2023 and one of my favorites of all time. Godzilla was a scary unstoppable force of nature like an earthquake and tsunami, something the Japanese have to deal with a lot unfortunately if you take in recent events. There is more to the ending than one might think and it is darker for the characters than it appears, something that may be explored in a sequel. Someone here said the acting was bad in a scene they saw without seeing the movie. The majority of the reviews have applauded the acting which they said was the reason the movie was so emotional for them and made them tear up in places. After watching it 5 times, I still get the emotions I felt seeing it the first time. Japanese acting can be unemotional because their society tells them to keep their feelings inside or it can be over the top melodramatic to show what the character is really going through and invoke the same emotions in the audience as a release. I viewed the smaller dialogue scenes in Godzilla Minus One not as a movie but as a play with the actors on a stage instead of a film set. It made me much more connected to the characters like there was no camera and I was seeing it live. Happy New Year!
Major Godzilla fan here: if you want to get more into the series, the run of movies from Mothra v Godzilla to Invasion of Astro Monster is a great start, as is the chronology of the Heisei era. As for any more recent stuff, Shusuke Kanneko’s GMK is great (and you should also watch his Gamera trilogy)!
Great, well thought out review as always :) I've tried for years to find a Godzilla movie I truly LOVE, and I'm so thankful Minus One finally did that for me! It's the first G-Film to make care about the main characters, which is the sole factor holding me back from loving any of the other movies. The original came close and makes me feel despair for the people of Japan as a whole. Due to the care I felt for the characters, I was genuinely sad when Noriko died in the second act and kind of torn at that moment how I felt about them killing her. I know it's not the same, since Noriko was foremost a well developed character with a recently completed arc, since the film posed her as the mother in the found family, her death being used to drive certain decisions for the male lead gave me minor fridging energy. It was the only thing in the whole movie slightly bothering me until the last scene. Having Shikishima push through the hardship and complete his arc before the reveal, then reuniting the made me cry. I didn't notice until my second viewing that Noriko is showing the onset signs of radiation poisoning during that scene, so even still the reuniting is bitter sweet since she will almost definitely pass for that soon.
I was happy they went with the ending they did. The movie did a great job of making you care about the main characters so even if it was a less realistic outcome it was still a very emotional and satisfying ending considering all they had been through.
I struggled with Noriko's survival at the movie's end, but after reflecting on the value of life theme, I realized that she had her journey and the will to live because of her parents' dying wishes. The only reason she survived the atomic blast from Godzilla's heat ray was because she somehow got infected with Godzilla's regeneration cells. She might not be the only one, as others were in the Ginza attack. If there is a sequel, this topic could be explored, and if there is no sequel, it fits perfectly in the central theme of the narrative of life. It completes Shikishima’s character arc that living is essential and that there is a happy ending.
Spoiler warning: Agree. There is no reason she should have survived. Except they do say earlier in the movie not to touch any of the debris and they did show a weird mark on her neck right in the hospital, right?
I haven’t seen Minus One yet, but all the positive reviews are encouraging. The WB Kaiju films have been pretty lackluster, but Shin Godzilla was epic, and Monarch on Apple got me hooked. Some amount of momentum in seeing this movie soon while the iron is hot, and still can see Godzilla 50’ tall
I love the way you refer to your patrons as the reason you watched the film, because their opinions matter.. like the rest of us subscribers are just here from the neck down
I know enough Japanese to know, and lived there long enough, to know this thing hits a Whole Other Level in that language. Translators did well, but there are sledgehammers in there that laid me in a puddle.
There's A LOT of hidden gems in the Tokusatsu genre. Mechanical Violator Hakkaider, Zeiram, Tokyo Gore Police, Meatball Machine, and Garo all come to mind. I'd love to see you review more media from this genre.
Shin Godzilla is worth watching too - it’s not as character driven, but it’s a fascinating critique of how the Fukushima meltdown was handled, and to my mind, is closer in spirit to the original Godzilla because of its direct ties to a modern nuclear disaster. Also, scariest Godzilla ever!
Shin Godzilla in my opinon has the most realistic anti-kaiju battle ever. The measured levels of force, the care taken to evacuate people before the fight and political considerations and military planning etc.
So far Toho is two for two when it comes to recent live action Godzilla movies. Both Shin Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One in their own right are fantastic films.
As a Japanese who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake, I witnessed in real time the bravery of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and civilians who formed a desperate force to fight the crisis in Fukushima, so Shin Godzilla reminds me of that and burn my heart.
I love Shin It's a realistic depiction of how a government would deal with a Godzilla. Minus One is almost the exact opposite. It's about how people would deal with a Godzilla. Both are the best Godzilla movies ever made. (Along with the original)
Thanks for the review Maggie! I strongly recommend Shin Godzilla in particular, it’s a very different take on Godzilla and it’s VERY reminiscent of the earthquakes in Japan that took place about ten years prior to its release.
Great review! Except, the ending really worked for me. That scene in the hospital, and the movie as a whole, taps into the hope that 'the war'---whatever that means for you---really might end. It's the seemingly impossible become possible...including receiving back from the dead someone you love. Somehow this felt truly 'earned' and not sentimental, though hard to say exactly why. Made me bawl my eyes out!
You should absolutely watch the original Japanese Gojira from 1954. It’s grin, dark, bleak, and even to this day very scary. I watched myriad Godzilla vs whichever monster movies as a kid and they were generally silly, but the 1954 original is a masterpiece and Godzilla Minus One is as well.
Beautiful masterpiece. 10/10 Perfect characters chemistry, plot, score, cinematography, VFX, and mind blowing Godzilla as an antagonist. A blend of Dunkirk and grave of fire flies. Beautiful Artwork and best Film of a monster verse.
Totally agree with you about the final scene. It took away a large chunk of emotional depth to he main characters' story, but I guess they were thinking towards a franchise? I don't know if you've seen it but another favourite Kaiju movie of mine is Collosal starring Anne hathaway. Not the comedy it was marketed as and quite dark in places.
As a Childhood Godzilla Fan. I Definitely was reviewing Your review to see if you got this one right or not. & You Nailed it!!!!!!! I have to admit, My love for Godzilla movies in general is not stemmed from quality. It's more of a nostalgia from childhood. When I saw This particular Godzilla movie I was So impressed and Proud for the Franchise. I truly think it was the BEST movie of the year, better than Oppenheimer. Maybe I'm biased. BUT I'm so Proud that Godzilla Minus One earned an Oscar because it definitely deserved it. You are 100% correct, this movie brought hollywood to shame. It showed the true potential of the Godzilla franchise. It showed that when a movie is driven more by it's characters, story and acting, said film is superior to any movie that is CGI driven and that you don't need to spend $250 million on mostly special effects to make a great movie. As a fan of the franchise, I'm saying it now, Godzilla Minus One IS an instant Classic! It is the One Godzilla movie I can recommend to Anyone & I know they will enjoy it. Finally, you are 100% correct, if we were to nit pick, the ending would have been that better if the girlfriend did not survive. Reading Your review of the monster I grew up to love, made me a fan of your work. I can definitely Trust your insight and opinions of other movies that I may not be as familiar with. You have gained a new fan!!! Have a nice day.
While I agree with you on most points I have to say that in order to be able to comment accurately and with confidence on certain aspects of this film, particularly where it might have gotten some of its inspiration, one needs to have at least seen the original.
Going to finally see it but disappointed my nearest theater has it on one of their smaller screens and Aquaman on their biggest screen which no one is seeing.
There is a spot where Yamazaki pays homage to the movie Black Rain/Kuroi Ame 1989 Shōhei Imamura. After Hiroshima, the intense fires produced so much ash that for 2 hours the rain came down in black droplets.
I wanted to love this but I am on the minuscule minority that did not respond to this film. There’s a very compelling story buried in there somewhere, namely the exploration of guilt in the face of duty, but, to my eyes, it was not only poorly articulated but further bogged down by the goofy melodrama permeating the entire film. And speaking of goofy, something that it feels like I’m even more alone in complaining about is Godzilla itself. They made a clear choice to honor and stay as close to their own classical representation of Godzilla as possible but forgot to not make it look ridiculous in the process. Even if the movie had been dramatically sound with an adequate payoff, the way Godzilla looks and behaves would have singlehandedly destroyed the experience for me - the way it walks is pathetically cartoonish and inorganic (made even more so when it contrasts with quick, fluid moves Godzilla makes when attacking), the way it doesn’t blind is ridiculous, and it’s very face looks like an AI rendering of a child’s drawing. I really can’t express how absurd Godzilla looks and how the fact that, apparently, everyone not only doesn’t see a problem with it but actually loves it leaves me very confused - it’s also noteworthy that the american version of Godzilla was widely and justifiably criticized by international media for being very thick but this Japanese version is even more so, made even worse by its awful proportions. The entire thing felt like a soap opera with a high budget.
Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster(1971) had a valid story. Chemicals from factories in Japan poisoned fish, cats and people. There's shocking 1950's footage of "dancing cat fever".
I found your channel after my divorce. I wanted some ideas about which movies to watch, to kill time. You have never let me down. I kinda hate monster movies, but I watched this based on your review. I loved this movie, Thanks👍
An international subtitled film had the ability to make the story of a 1940s kamikaze pilot make people in the audience cry. Hollywood hasn't something that grand in decades.
This is the movie that I most want to talk about, since it's great but also so missable--it really is deft and deeper than expectations and satisfying. I especially liked the conversations about the plans that seem to acknowledge the tones (from the genre and the many films) while delivering expected thrills. My own review probably diverges because, while not a huge Godzilla fan I love Japanese film and have seen a ton. I recognize what you call stacato striking as true for a movie like this, almost a melodrama, but so many Japanese films are so reserved as to be opaque and those are probably the ones I watch more. That the lead here has an arc that can be described as actualizing anything feels really modern. More than that, to me it's politics are on it's sleeve, and not recently related. WWII--especially for this series--is it's core. The interactions with Sakura Ando, the neighbor, or the mechanics--the way the gov't sold the war, the Japanese culture bought the war, and the aftermath. There are probably dozens of ways to interpret the title, but one I think is that this exploration of the war's aftermath is sort of a story about the feelings that created the Godzilla movies themselves, minus one because it goes to before the first. Those scenes of devastation reverberate with what we're seeing now on the news, but of course not all of this was in the news when they made it. If anyone decides to go back and watch the original one, like I plan to, I think it's worth pointing out that the first one has an original cut, and one made for the American audience that's different.
Other people's reviews for it popped up. Didn't see the kurt russell one yet either but Thanksgiving is one of my favorites from 2023 was ready to see it since Grindhouse.
Great review, thank you! I definitely recommend the 1954 Godzilla, Japanese version only (you can skip the American version); it's still the best Godzilla film ever made. Godzilla as embodied fear was never so affective as in that film. Don't expect as much emotional character drama as in Minus One, but Godzilla 1954 has something even more powerful than that -- the way Godzilla is used to express the themes is so mindblowing here and it brings about a feeling of intensity that none of the other Godzilla films have come close to matching. It's really something to see.
Others have stated that Noriko's return signifies that she's attained the same regenerative capabilities as Godzilla, which makes sense. However, in the theaters when I saw that I didn't see a happy ending. I read the Hiroshima book back in high school and they talked about how there were plenty of people who didn't sustain injuries like so many others, but died horrible deaths due to radiation poisoning. I saw that as an extremely bleak ending, that regardless of her return it will not lead to a happiness for either character. They will still suffer like so many in Japan did after the atomic bomb dropped and the war ended. I think without having that kind of context you might assume it's a good ending. My husband also felt the same way until I pointed this out and I think it totally changed his perspective on the end.
Oh hell yeah! The scene before was the captain and crew terrified after seeing what Godzilla can do. Nervous the captain still gives the order to attack. The two unarmed destroyers head straight towards Godzilla, music bumping and the theater shaking. That is a movie experience I will not forget!!!
I had the same opinion about the ending at first, until someone pointed out that, it is not such a happy ending after all. Do you remember that blackness growing on the girl’s neck right at the end? Apparently, it is radiation poisoning from Godzilla’s breath. So the film is telling you that the real ending of their story is going to be pretty damn painful and miserable before she has a horrible death… it is a reflection on nuclear fallout. All and all I loved the film. Thanks for the vid
I loved this movie. Saw it at the theatre with my 12 year old son two weeks after it came out. We both liked it so much we planed to go back and see it a week later again in an IMAX theatre but it had already stopped showing.
I loved GM1, I have been a Godzilla fan all my life, I grew up watching the big G. It is a big call back to the original Gojira from 1954. That one, Shin Godzilla and this one are all very different than every other Godzilla films out there. I do recommend seeing these other two as they are thematically very similar. But especially Gojira, I rate this latest up there as being as good as the first.
when watching a movie i wanna know 3 MAIN things.... Is the movie entertaining throughout.... is the acting effective..... does the storyline flow well. There are of course sub categories that will put it over the top. It checks all the boxes.
Great review! I COMPLETELY agree with you about the ending...to me, it was tough to believe, and didnt fit the whole idea of what the main character decided for himself and the future. Basically, the film throws some surprises and I feel like they should've kept one of them and not have both. Overall, I liked the film, but personally, wouldnt call it a masterpiece, or even have it be in my top 5 Godzilla films. However, I'm very happy with its success, and hope Hollywood is taking notes.
You found it tough to believe a Girl could survive what seemed to be an unsurvivable situation, yet you're fine with a 20 story high, mutant Lizard Monster who enjoys destroying cities?
Movies tend to hint at things. If you never saw a body but the characters in the film insist that character is dead, then we can look forward to a happy ending as that character will have survived. I don't necessarily believe that the movie loses anything by making the main character learn and go forward in life, having lost a loved one. Certainly, he could have. It's hinted that he can because he chose not to kill himself in the process of defeating Godzilla. I think the icing on the cake is that he is rewarded by having learned she survived. And now he can fully give her his heart as he has finally found redemption from the tragedies of World War II. Thanks, in part, to Godzilla. -OG
I took my 14 & 16 year old boys last Sunday to see the film and we all loved it. The one complaint was that we did not know it wasn’t in English but got used to subtitles.
I loved this movie so much. Easily one of the best of the year. Totally made me cry, and laugh, and actually kinda rattled me! They did a fantastic job making Godzilla actually tangible and so tactile, for only $15 million or less. Hollywood spends 10x that and it usually looks like shit.
The final scene you mentioned having trouble with is lore known as Godzilla Cells (G-Cells) even I forgot about. I struggled with the ending myself and did some research. I found it was best explained it two short videos by a channel called Japan Sci-Fi Breakdowns. See “Ending BREAKDOWN… Darkest ending ever” and “Every Godzilla Easter Egg” Takashi Yamazaki is a very, very clever director. Also great video. Thanks for uploading this review.
Good review. I'm a long time fan of Godzilla and it's up there as one of my favourites. It's definitely the most violent Godzilla Movie from Toho or the American Films for that matter that I've watched and it's superseded Shin for that. I'm happy with the ending and that Godzilla will return if they do a sequel. Long live the King of the Monsters!!
@@KardboardKenny you should be grateful that we have the Monsterverse Godzilla. If it wasn’t for the Monsterverse, we wouldn’t have Shin Godzilla or Godzilla Minus One. Both of those movies exist because of the success of the Monsterverse, which is much more faithful to the source material than the 1998 imposter. And on top of that, we have other Toho monsters as well. And if we have monsters like Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah and MechaGodzilla in the movies then I count the MV as official Godzilla (the real thing).
This Godzilla minus one movie is the best Godzilla since Godzilla King of the Monsters 1954 version. ( the Japanese version is better than the American version) I saw this movie three times. Because I’m a huge Godzilla fan. Of course. Great Review. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I liked the movie but I couldnt help noticing a few plot holes and moments. For example, we're never told how Godzilla grew in size that much except a little clip about the nuclear tests at the Bikini Atoll. Also Noriko's scene on the train then running away from Godzilla after surviving the first encounter seemed a bit too much for her somehow. Also how in blazes the hero find her in the streets with all the chaos and destruction ensuing? And the final but not least, when the boats arrive to aid the brigade to help them to bring Godzilla up. Imagine the time spent tying the boats to the larger ones. What was Godzilla doing in the meantime? Peacefully waiting? Fell asleep? All in all is a well done movie with compelling characters and a wholesome story. Low in Godzilla exposition, as Gareth Edward's Godzilla, but fun.
Actually, the ending is open to interpretation. Yeah the girl may have survived the Godzilla attack, but if you look closely at her neck you can see a black spot on her implying that something is not right.
The 1954 original is a must. Shin Godzilla is great though you could say it's kind of heavy handed with the bureaucracy aspect (in it Godzilla is a metaphor for the 2011 tsunami and Government's response), also Godzilla against Mechagodzilla (2002), Godzilla vs Destoroyah (1995) and the movie that along with the 1954 film most influenced the director of Minus One, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah Giant Monsters all out attack (GMK for short). Minus One director, Takashi Yamazaki said it was his favorite Godzilla movie. So you should definitely watch the original Godzilla, GMK and Shin Godzilla as these are the 3 main influences for this film (along with Jaws you are absolutely right).
Have you ever watched the Laurence Olivier version of Pride and prejudice? The version of a midsummer nights dream from 1935 and a British film called Hobsons choice
One of the best theater experiences I’ve had as an adult. I felt hopeless and hopeful. I cried and laughed. 10/10 amazing movie
It was my best theater experience that I can remember. I actually liked hearing the audiences reaction to things, especially at the ending when everyone was dead quiet. It was so immersive for all of us despite it being a subtitled film. It's the most immersive and engaging film I've seen in the past decade easily.
I only wished I saw it more at the theater instead of just two times.
This was up there with Avengers Endgame as far as theater experiences go, but for different reasons. I used to mash all of my action figures together playing Infinity Gauntlet ALL THE TIME when I was a kid. But I felt like it was "mine" since I read the story in comics on my own. But Godzilla was my father's OG too, and all the feelings I had as a kid watching all those movies with him for the first time came rushing back. It was nostalgic without being a retread. It was the perfect movie going experience.
I’m glad you liked it. I took my wife and daughter to see it in December (re: dragged them more correctly) and they loved it! My wife is not a real Godzilla fan and doesn’t care at all about the genre and she and my daughter cried during the movie. We all came away with a new favorite film. I hope Toho studios continues on this winning streak with this and “Shin Godzilla” which I like quite a bit. Good review. Thanks.
This was the first time watching a Godzilla film I felt any connection. Often times, including with the original films, I felt a disconnect. I loved this one, and I’m so happy my roommates urged me to seek this one out.
The ending really works for me. The film is saying"weve lost enough, we deserve a win." Thoughy it was thematically sound.
Apparently the creators of Minus One went and made every scene Black and White and will re-release it again in 2024. I truly hope it comes to South Africa. My local cinema didn't show the color version and I just didn't have the time to drive the 2 hours to the nearest cinema that actually showed it.
The original version is already practically black and white, thats why I didnt like it.
@@punchforpound2808😆
@@punchforpound2808the original Minus One?
As of right now the B&W version will only be shown in Japan which is unfortunate. Hopefully it’ll be released via streaming, blu ray or both.
Look up “Godzilla Minus One Minus Color” for the B&W version trailer. It’s short but impressive.
Thank you for pointing that out! I haven’t heard that yet and that amazing news!!!
Gareth Edwards said something to the effect, that this is the Godzilla film he wished he would have made.
Thanks for a thoughtful and interesting review. To me, Noriko's survival serves in a sort of meta way as the movie, or the filmmakers, fulfilling the life affirming theme. Noriko doesn't need to die for the film, in the same way the protagonist doesn't need to die to defeat the monster. It's a rejection of the idea of the necessary mortal sacrifice.
Godzilla Minus One is sort of a spiritual remake of the original 1954 classic. Similar themes and moments, but the original is more darker and melancholy in tone. Shin Godzilla is also well regarded and can be seen as another modern remake of sorts, but with Godzilla being a metaphor for the 2011 earthquake that caused the Fukushima nuclear accident rather than a metaphor for the atom bomb. I would also recommend "The Return of Godzilla" and "Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-out Attack." These two are straight sequels to the original; the former has another Godzilla appear in then-contemporary Cold War Japan, while the latter is another independent sequel to the OG with the original Godzilla being reborn as a wrathful wraith by the forgotten spirits of WW2. It's more fantastical and features brawls with some of Godzilla's Kaiju cast. It's also a major inspiration for Minus One. There's a Godzilla film for any kind of genre. From satirical comedies to sci-fi thrillers to kiddy superhero films to psychedelic horror films disguised as children's films. Good or bad, they're always a wild ride, that's for sure!
The emotional weight of this film really does shine through! The moments where Shikshima breaks down, and there are at least 2 or 3 such scenes, are powerful! The scene where he lets out that guttural scream honestly disturbed me and shook me. The scene at the end when he breaks down in the hospital is gut wrenching.
The final scene works for me as the black mark moves on her neck suggesting to me, that Noriko has regenerated just like Godzilla did. That was my take on it anyway. Great review!
my favorite movie of the year. never in my life thought i would say that about a godzilla movie.
the most beautiful review of that movie on yt ... your channel is criminally underrated
There are theories, the black splotch the camera lingered on on Norikos neck at the end, she's been infected by Godzilla who has the ability to regenerate and heal himself. Which is how she survived and isn't mangled! Some of the campy Godzilla flicks toyed with the idea of mortals having a supernatural connection with the monsters. I'm on the fence about them exploring those past notions, but if they're gonna do something as good as GM1, I look forward to the next.
Yes, at first a happy ending, but on closer examination it's most certainly bittersweet. Koichi's war might be over...is Noriko's just beginning?
So glad you loved this one! The film is heavily influenced by Japanese melodramas made by Ozu - look up that directors’ work. Excellent take and always love your insightful commentaries.
I saw this on your and Alan's recommendation. Thank you!
I've never seen a Godzilla movie either, I can't wait to see this one... I'm glad you enjoyed it!
You're going to enjoy it.
I haven't seen all of the Godzilla movies, but I have seen the most celebrated ones. I must say, "Godzilla: Minus One" is the first time I've ever questioned if the original Japanese "Gojira" was topped. This is a great blockbuster film, and I hope future filmmakers across all countries (but especially in Hollywood) take notes.
I think Shin Godzilla is on par. But that movie is political satire and more like Dr. Strangelove than the it is the original Godzilla so it is a bit hard to compare.
Second only to "When Evil Lurks," this film had the biggest emotional impact on me this year. And it was a total surprise! I'm gratified to know we shared a common experience at the cinema.
At the very end of the movie i couldnt help but notice a weird growth on her neck when he hugs her in the hospital. I wonder if she may have been infected by Godzilla in some weird way. Maybe she can regenerate like Godzilla. She was far too clean looking to have survived what she did, so i wonder if they have a bit of sequal bait in the last scene.
I saw something crawling up her neck at the very last scene though, so I'm hoping that helps explain her return... at least i hope lol.
The reason I think the ending works is because the film never writes itself into any corners. It could have gone in the way you mentioned and it still would have worked terrifically. But when a you got that callback with the line and it comes full circle, I was left absolutely gobsmacked and ended up sobbing in my seat. I think this is easily the best film of the year and to an even further extent, the entire decade. Glad you loved the film as well!
A nice surprise! The film and your review. I agree that it really put American blockbusters to shame this year. I would recommend Shin Godzilla as well, from a few years ago, a different kind of disaster film but a great watch. Happy New Year!
I’ve seen every Godzilla film. This one, played wonderfully as the “monster” Godzilla is simultaneously close but yet, somehow extremely distant. It’s nice to hear that you get that and enjoyed it, best one I’ve seen lately. for sure.
Great review, I went with a friend who's a huge Godzilla fan and he cannot get enough of this movie. He put it This is how Godzilla should be done. And I got to admit to choking up a little bit when the original Godzilla theme came up in the movie I thought it was just perfect.
I mean, this is close to a masterpiece. I loved it. And I so agree with you on how Hollywood is put to shame by this movie.
I loved the artistic choice in minus one where they kept the depiction of Godzilla old school. It seriously looks like, and indeed may have been, someone in a rubber suite lol. Godzilla’s movements are slow and awkward and not what you think of when you think of modern west CGI monster depictions. And yet the film does a wonderful job of modernizing the look and feel of everything around Godzilla. By which I don’t mean the era its set in, it’s set solidly in the 1940s, but the depiction of the 40s is clearly masterfully crafted using modern set design etc. There’s so much attention to detail and care in the sets, the clothing, the choices of technology they depict. It’s wonderfully period accurate looking. And then when Godzilla shows up he too is period accurate in the sense of him slightly campy appearance and robotic movements. Somehow it works perfectly even though it kind of shouldn’t.
Absolutely agree 100%! The overall effect was masterfully done! It doesn't even make sense to me how they could have intentionally pulled that off! It's almost like the budget didn't allow for the cutting-edge CGI that would have ultimately detracted from the overall look and feel of the film. The end result is flawless.
Well, I wonder what you'll say about the upcoming Godzilla-KingKong movie where the two turned into joggers as they rush to battle the antagonist.
I'm glad Godzilla moved slowly. He weighs 20,000 tons after all.
My great-nephew, great-niece, and my brother and myself went to see it a couple days before Christmas, we all loved it.
You sold me on the movie! I'm watching it at the theatre this week.
Last week in theaters is the 4th! Hurry!
I think you may have misjudged the ending. The “end of the Japanese Godzilla films”? Yes, the ending where Noriko resurfaces miraculously alive in the hospital may seem a bit treacly but she now has Godzilla’s regenerative powers (did you notice her neck?). I could have done without any hints at a future sequel, (and make no mistake, there WILL be one now), but while the ending may be seen as a happy one it also has horrific implications and allusions to what Noriko will likely now have to face when Godzilla eventually returns.
Agreed! You summed up the movie perfectly. My wife rolled her eyes when I told her what we were going to see. Ten minutes into the film, she totally got it. She loved it. This is a Godzilla movie for people who don't like Godzilla movies. You're reviews are excellent and to the point. Well done..take care.
Thank you for your wonderful and in-depth review!
I have been describing the film to others as a World war II era drama that just happens to have Godzilla in it.
I've seen the original Godzilla film and maybe one other. In this one, Godzilla seems most fearsome of all. In the 1954 film Godzilla was causing destruction but almost somewhat unintentionally.
However, in this one Godzilla comes across as vengeful, angry and vindictive. Those characteristics coupled with being on the losing end of a major war in the 1940s would have been a cataclysmic combination.
This is the best Godzilla film to date. Hands down! This movie knows how to incorporate the human element in a monster film.
I don't know why it's so difficult to do here in America. I'll watch a Godzilla Legendary Pictures movie, and maybe a family member died as a result of Godzilla trampling the city. I'm supposed to feel something for the parents who lost their kid, but I don't.
Why is this family special that I should feel something when it is likely that many other families lost loved ones too. That's the beauty of Minus One. The audience was actually invested with the human characters.
For a Godzilla film, this was a powerful redemption story with a ton of heart. It also seemed more real when you attach actual past historical events. Post World War II. Japan, in a crippled state, is struggling to keep it together. The last thing they need is a monster to finish them off.
This film had the right balance of everything. It just worked. I think Americans have been starving for good cinema for a while. Hollywood has been a joke for far too long. Thank you, Japan. We needed this! -OG
There is a bit more to the final scene. Look at the individual in the hospital bed. Look at her neck.
The ending was actually not a Happy ending but very dark . We see the radiation effect on Noriko's neck move and change shape. She has been affected by Godzilla's cells which are regenerative and radioactive . It saved her from immediate death however she will die from it as well as it mutates and consumes her body . The black rain also is radioactive poison which will kill anybody exposed to it. A very dark future for Shikishima indeed .
Happy new year happy to see you reviewing this new Godzilla movie. I am a massive Godzilla fan been that way since I was a kid. I really seriously need to check this Godzilla movie out. Facts at 2:01
Killing Godzilla by shooting him in the mouth was reminiscent (or perhaps derivative) of how Reptilicus (1961) was killed. The underlying theme of the Godzilla creature has always been that he is a symbol of WMD's which are a reflection of our own monstrous nature which humanity must fight.
The final scene contains Aline that only the survivor can say and it is a perfect distillation of the story. In Japanese it goes something like, “Do you still walk surrounded by the dead?”
The future is better, but we have to fight dragons to get there.
Recommend: Shin Godzilla from 2016. A direct metaphor of the Fukushima disaster and bureaucratic incompetence. Also the 1954 original is an absolute classic.
yeah the subtitle said "are you still fighting your war" and I wonder about the bad translation
@@RonaldoSanchez-g1y I watched the movie yesterday here in Japan (the black and white version) and they does say “…you are still fighting your war” phrase a couple of times, maybe the subtitles are ok and he is referring about another scene.
Great review and agree Hollywood blockbusters could learn a lot from Godzilla Minus One. I’ve seen the movie 5 times, my favorite movie of 2023 and one of my favorites of all time. Godzilla was a scary unstoppable force of nature like an earthquake and tsunami, something the Japanese have to deal with a lot unfortunately if you take in recent events. There is more to the ending than one might think and it is darker for the characters than it appears, something that may be explored in a sequel. Someone here said the acting was bad in a scene they saw without seeing the movie. The majority of the reviews have applauded the acting which they said was the reason the movie was so emotional for them and made them tear up in places. After watching it 5 times, I still get the emotions I felt seeing it the first time. Japanese acting can be unemotional because their society tells them to keep their feelings inside or it can be over the top melodramatic to show what the character is really going through and invoke the same emotions in the audience as a release. I viewed the smaller dialogue scenes in Godzilla Minus One not as a movie but as a play with the actors on a stage instead of a film set. It made me much more connected to the characters like there was no camera and I was seeing it live. Happy New Year!
Major Godzilla fan here: if you want to get more into the series, the run of movies from Mothra v Godzilla to Invasion of Astro Monster is a great start, as is the chronology of the Heisei era. As for any more recent stuff, Shusuke Kanneko’s GMK is great (and you should also watch his Gamera trilogy)!
Great, well thought out review as always :) I've tried for years to find a Godzilla movie I truly LOVE, and I'm so thankful Minus One finally did that for me! It's the first G-Film to make care about the main characters, which is the sole factor holding me back from loving any of the other movies. The original came close and makes me feel despair for the people of Japan as a whole. Due to the care I felt for the characters, I was genuinely sad when Noriko died in the second act and kind of torn at that moment how I felt about them killing her. I know it's not the same, since Noriko was foremost a well developed character with a recently completed arc, since the film posed her as the mother in the found family, her death being used to drive certain decisions for the male lead gave me minor fridging energy. It was the only thing in the whole movie slightly bothering me until the last scene. Having Shikishima push through the hardship and complete his arc before the reveal, then reuniting the made me cry. I didn't notice until my second viewing that Noriko is showing the onset signs of radiation poisoning during that scene, so even still the reuniting is bitter sweet since she will almost definitely pass for that soon.
I was happy they went with the ending they did. The movie did a great job of making you care about the main characters so even if it was a less realistic outcome it was still a very emotional and satisfying ending considering all they had been through.
Emotional yes....yes.
I struggled with Noriko's survival at the movie's end, but after reflecting on the value of life theme, I realized that she had her journey and the will to live because of her parents' dying wishes. The only reason she survived the atomic blast from Godzilla's heat ray was because she somehow got infected with Godzilla's regeneration cells. She might not be the only one, as others were in the Ginza attack. If there is a sequel, this topic could be explored, and if there is no sequel, it fits perfectly in the central theme of the narrative of life. It completes Shikishima’s character arc that living is essential and that there is a happy ending.
Spoiler warning:
Agree. There is no reason she should have survived. Except they do say earlier in the movie not to touch any of the debris and they did show a weird mark on her neck right in the hospital, right?
You forgot spoiler warning.
@@punchforpound2808 Really? In the video review, she may not have named the character; she had practically spoiled the ending, but I got called out.
No ur right. I didnt watch her full video. Sounds like u both put spoilers without a warning.@@Mangolite
But ya its confusing for u if u hear her do it. She deserve 90% the blame then@@Mangolite
Happy new year great review ❤
I haven’t seen Minus One yet, but all the positive reviews are encouraging. The WB Kaiju films have been pretty lackluster, but Shin Godzilla was epic, and Monarch on Apple got me hooked. Some amount of momentum in seeing this movie soon while the iron is hot, and still can see Godzilla 50’ tall
I love the way you refer to your patrons as the reason you watched the film, because their opinions matter.. like the rest of us subscribers are just here from the neck down
I know enough Japanese to know, and lived there long enough, to know this thing hits a Whole Other Level in that language. Translators did well, but there are sledgehammers in there that laid me in a puddle.
There's A LOT of hidden gems in the Tokusatsu genre. Mechanical Violator Hakkaider, Zeiram, Tokyo Gore Police, Meatball Machine, and Garo all come to mind. I'd love to see you review more media from this genre.
I've been waiting for this review! thank you so much.
Shin Godzilla is worth watching too - it’s not as character driven, but it’s a fascinating critique of how the Fukushima meltdown was handled, and to my mind, is closer in spirit to the original Godzilla because of its direct ties to a modern nuclear disaster. Also, scariest Godzilla ever!
Shin Godzilla in my opinon has the most realistic anti-kaiju battle ever. The measured levels of force, the care taken to evacuate people before the fight and political considerations and military planning etc.
So far Toho is two for two when it comes to recent live action Godzilla movies. Both Shin Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One in their own right are fantastic films.
As a Japanese who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake, I witnessed in real time the bravery of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and civilians who formed a desperate force to fight the crisis in Fukushima, so Shin Godzilla reminds me of that and burn my heart.
I love Shin It's a realistic depiction of how a government would deal with a Godzilla. Minus One is almost the exact opposite. It's about how people would deal with a Godzilla. Both are the best Godzilla movies ever made. (Along with the original)
Thanks for the review Maggie! I strongly recommend Shin Godzilla in particular, it’s a very different take on Godzilla and it’s VERY reminiscent of the earthquakes in Japan that took place about ten years prior to its release.
Great review! Except, the ending really worked for me. That scene in the hospital, and the movie as a whole, taps into the hope that 'the war'---whatever that means for you---really might end. It's the seemingly impossible become possible...including receiving back from the dead someone you love. Somehow this felt truly 'earned' and not sentimental, though hard to say exactly why. Made me bawl my eyes out!
You should absolutely watch the original Japanese Gojira from 1954. It’s grin, dark, bleak, and even to this day very scary. I watched myriad Godzilla vs whichever monster movies as a kid and they were generally silly, but the 1954 original is a masterpiece and Godzilla Minus One is as well.
Beautiful masterpiece.
10/10
Perfect characters chemistry, plot, score, cinematography, VFX, and mind blowing Godzilla as an antagonist.
A blend of Dunkirk and grave of fire flies.
Beautiful Artwork and best Film of a monster verse.
Totally agree with you about the final scene. It took away a large chunk of emotional depth to he main characters' story, but I guess they were thinking towards a franchise? I don't know if you've seen it but another favourite Kaiju movie of mine is Collosal starring Anne hathaway. Not the comedy it was marketed as and quite dark in places.
about that "happy ending" take another look at Noriko's neck just before the final cut
As a Childhood Godzilla Fan. I Definitely was reviewing Your review to see if you got this one right or not. & You Nailed it!!!!!!! I have to admit, My love for Godzilla movies in general is not stemmed from quality. It's more of a nostalgia from childhood. When I saw This particular Godzilla movie I was So impressed and Proud for the Franchise. I truly think it was the BEST movie of the year, better than Oppenheimer. Maybe I'm biased. BUT I'm so Proud that Godzilla Minus One earned an Oscar because it definitely deserved it. You are 100% correct, this movie brought hollywood to shame. It showed the true potential of the Godzilla franchise. It showed that when a movie is driven more by it's characters, story and acting, said film is superior to any movie that is CGI driven and that you don't need to spend $250 million on mostly special effects to make a great movie. As a fan of the franchise, I'm saying it now, Godzilla Minus One IS an instant Classic! It is the One Godzilla movie I can recommend to Anyone & I know they will enjoy it. Finally, you are 100% correct, if we were to nit pick, the ending would have been that better if the girlfriend did not survive. Reading Your review of the monster I grew up to love, made me a fan of your work. I can definitely Trust your insight and opinions of other movies that I may not be as familiar with. You have gained a new fan!!! Have a nice day.
Absolutely Loved this movie!! Amazing visual effects and just a $15M budget!!
While I agree with you on most points I have to say that in order to be able to comment accurately and with confidence on certain aspects of this film, particularly where it might have gotten some of its inspiration, one needs to have at least seen the original.
Going to finally see it but disappointed my nearest theater has it on one of their smaller screens and Aquaman on their biggest screen which no one is seeing.
There is a spot where Yamazaki pays homage to the movie Black Rain/Kuroi Ame 1989 Shōhei Imamura.
After Hiroshima, the intense fires produced so much ash that for 2 hours the rain came down in black droplets.
I wanted to love this but I am on the minuscule minority that did not respond to this film. There’s a very compelling story buried in there somewhere, namely the exploration of guilt in the face of duty, but, to my eyes, it was not only poorly articulated but further bogged down by the goofy melodrama permeating the entire film. And speaking of goofy, something that it feels like I’m even more alone in complaining about is Godzilla itself. They made a clear choice to honor and stay as close to their own classical representation of Godzilla as possible but forgot to not make it look ridiculous in the process. Even if the movie had been dramatically sound with an adequate payoff, the way Godzilla looks and behaves would have singlehandedly destroyed the experience for me - the way it walks is pathetically cartoonish and inorganic (made even more so when it contrasts with quick, fluid moves Godzilla makes when attacking), the way it doesn’t blind is ridiculous, and it’s very face looks like an AI rendering of a child’s drawing. I really can’t express how absurd Godzilla looks and how the fact that, apparently, everyone not only doesn’t see a problem with it but actually loves it leaves me very confused - it’s also noteworthy that the american version of Godzilla was widely and justifiably criticized by international media for being very thick but this Japanese version is even more so, made even worse by its awful proportions. The entire thing felt like a soap opera with a high budget.
Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster(1971) had a valid story. Chemicals from factories in Japan poisoned fish, cats and people. There's shocking 1950's footage of "dancing cat fever".
Happy new year Maggie.
I found your channel after my divorce. I wanted some ideas about which movies to watch, to kill time. You have never let me down. I kinda hate monster movies, but I watched this based on your review. I loved this movie, Thanks👍
An international subtitled film had the ability to make the story of a 1940s kamikaze pilot make people in the audience cry. Hollywood hasn't something that grand in decades.
This is the movie that I most want to talk about, since it's great but also so missable--it really is deft and deeper than expectations and satisfying. I especially liked the conversations about the plans that seem to acknowledge the tones (from the genre and the many films) while delivering expected thrills. My own review probably diverges because, while not a huge Godzilla fan I love Japanese film and have seen a ton. I recognize what you call stacato striking as true for a movie like this, almost a melodrama, but so many Japanese films are so reserved as to be opaque and those are probably the ones I watch more. That the lead here has an arc that can be described as actualizing anything feels really modern. More than that, to me it's politics are on it's sleeve, and not recently related. WWII--especially for this series--is it's core. The interactions with Sakura Ando, the neighbor, or the mechanics--the way the gov't sold the war, the Japanese culture bought the war, and the aftermath. There are probably dozens of ways to interpret the title, but one I think is that this exploration of the war's aftermath is sort of a story about the feelings that created the Godzilla movies themselves, minus one because it goes to before the first. Those scenes of devastation reverberate with what we're seeing now on the news, but of course not all of this was in the news when they made it.
If anyone decides to go back and watch the original one, like I plan to, I think it's worth pointing out that the first one has an original cut, and one made for the American audience that's different.
Other people's reviews for it popped up. Didn't see the kurt russell one yet either but Thanksgiving is one of my favorites from 2023 was ready to see it since Grindhouse.
Monarch is surprisingly good too but Godzilla Minus One is in a whole different class.
Great review, thank you! I definitely recommend the 1954 Godzilla, Japanese version only (you can skip the American version); it's still the best Godzilla film ever made. Godzilla as embodied fear was never so affective as in that film. Don't expect as much emotional character drama as in Minus One, but Godzilla 1954 has something even more powerful than that -- the way Godzilla is used to express the themes is so mindblowing here and it brings about a feeling of intensity that none of the other Godzilla films have come close to matching. It's really something to see.
Godzilla Minus One was a nice palette cleanser for much of the over spiced films in 2023. Well done review as always.
Others have stated that Noriko's return signifies that she's attained the same regenerative capabilities as Godzilla, which makes sense. However, in the theaters when I saw that I didn't see a happy ending. I read the Hiroshima book back in high school and they talked about how there were plenty of people who didn't sustain injuries like so many others, but died horrible deaths due to radiation poisoning. I saw that as an extremely bleak ending, that regardless of her return it will not lead to a happiness for either character. They will still suffer like so many in Japan did after the atomic bomb dropped and the war ended. I think without having that kind of context you might assume it's a good ending. My husband also felt the same way until I pointed this out and I think it totally changed his perspective on the end.
the moment the theme hits when the boats first charge forward is peak
Oh hell yeah! The scene before was the captain and crew terrified after seeing what Godzilla can do. Nervous the captain still gives the order to attack. The two unarmed destroyers head straight towards Godzilla, music bumping and the theater shaking. That is a movie experience I will not forget!!!
I had the same opinion about the ending at first, until someone pointed out that, it is not such a happy ending after all. Do you remember that blackness growing on the girl’s neck right at the end? Apparently, it is radiation poisoning from Godzilla’s breath. So the film is telling you that the real ending of their story is going to be pretty damn painful and miserable before she has a horrible death… it is a reflection on nuclear fallout. All and all I loved the film. Thanks for the vid
I loved this movie. Saw it at the theatre with my 12 year old son two weeks after it came out. We both liked it so much we planed to go back and see it a week later again in an IMAX theatre but it had already stopped showing.
Awesome review can't wait to see this movie really value your opinion on movies. Keep it going. I think you have a long future.❤
I loved GM1, I have been a Godzilla fan all my life, I grew up watching the big G. It is a big call back to the original Gojira from 1954. That one, Shin Godzilla and this one are all very different than every other Godzilla films out there. I do recommend seeing these other two as they are thematically very similar. But especially Gojira, I rate this latest up there as being as good as the first.
when watching a movie i wanna know 3 MAIN things.... Is the movie entertaining throughout.... is the acting effective..... does the storyline flow well. There are of course sub categories that will put it over the top. It checks all the boxes.
Ring in the New Year with Godzilla!
Thanks for helping spread the word!
Great review!
I COMPLETELY agree with you about the ending...to me, it was tough to believe, and didnt fit the whole idea of what the main character decided for himself and the future.
Basically, the film throws some surprises and I feel like they should've kept one of them and not have both.
Overall, I liked the film, but personally, wouldnt call it a masterpiece, or even have it be in my top 5 Godzilla films.
However, I'm very happy with its success, and hope Hollywood is taking notes.
You found it tough to believe a Girl could survive what seemed to be an unsurvivable situation, yet you're fine with a 20 story high, mutant Lizard Monster who enjoys destroying cities?
Movies tend to hint at things. If you never saw a body but the characters in the film insist that character is dead, then we can look forward to a happy ending as that character will have survived.
I don't necessarily believe that the movie loses anything by making the main character learn and go forward in life, having lost a loved one. Certainly, he could have. It's hinted that he can because he chose not to kill himself in the process of defeating Godzilla.
I think the icing on the cake is that he is rewarded by having learned she survived. And now he can fully give her his heart as he has finally found redemption from the tragedies of World War II. Thanks, in part, to Godzilla. -OG
a good vertical slice is: first godzilla movie, emerich, edwards movies, shin godzilla and godzilla -1
Endless praise for this movie from everywhere.
I took my 14 & 16 year old boys last Sunday to see the film and we all loved it. The one complaint was that we did not know it wasn’t in English but got used to subtitles.
A good lesson for your boys. Maybe they will now realise they can enjoy subtitled films!
Some of the best films I've ever seen have been subtitled, specifically Scandinavian cinema, if you've never watched any, 100% recommended.
@@daveharris6611 Would be interested in your recommendations. I loved Headhunters but haven’t seen much else.
@@RustieMcHogg The 12th Man, is a good start, if you don't feel cold while watching it I'll be amazed 😂 if you enjoy it, dig deeper.
An awesome surprise to start the new year!
You explained everything I was feeling. It was perfect!❤
Godzilla Minus One was up there in my top 10 of the year. Have you seen or will you see The Holdovers or American Fiction?
I loved this movie so much. Easily one of the best of the year. Totally made me cry, and laugh, and actually kinda rattled me! They did a fantastic job making Godzilla actually tangible and so tactile, for only $15 million or less. Hollywood spends 10x that and it usually looks like shit.
First Godzilla (Goijira) 1954 film is brilliant too. Shin Godzilla is also good.
The final scene you mentioned having trouble with is lore known as Godzilla Cells (G-Cells) even I forgot about. I struggled with the ending myself and did some research. I found it was best explained it two short videos by a channel called Japan Sci-Fi Breakdowns. See “Ending BREAKDOWN… Darkest ending ever” and “Every Godzilla Easter Egg” Takashi Yamazaki is a very, very clever director.
Also great video. Thanks for uploading this review.
Good review. I'm a long time fan of Godzilla and it's up there as one of my favourites. It's definitely the most violent Godzilla Movie from Toho or the American Films for that matter that I've watched and it's superseded Shin for that. I'm happy with the ending and that Godzilla will return if they do a sequel. Long live the King of the Monsters!!
The 1998 Roland Emmerich film is the only film I don’t count as a Godzilla movie.
i don't count any of those 'murican bootlegs as legit Gojira films.
@@KardboardKenny you should be grateful that we have the Monsterverse Godzilla. If it wasn’t for the Monsterverse, we wouldn’t have Shin Godzilla or Godzilla Minus One. Both of those movies exist because of the success of the Monsterverse, which is much more faithful to the source material than the 1998 imposter. And on top of that, we have other Toho monsters as well. And if we have monsters like Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah and MechaGodzilla in the movies then I count the MV as official Godzilla (the real thing).
@newmanproductionentertainm5127 grateful? Let me guess, you thank Chad for stretching out your old lady?
@@KardboardKenny yes grateful. It’s not rocket science you creepy perv.
@@KardboardKenny yes grateful. It’s not rocket science. And don’t use roasts that aren’t clever, you nasty weirdo.
Shin Godzilla is essential viewing for anyone who liked this film. It's the hardest any of the Godzilla movies lean on pure horror
This Godzilla minus one movie is the best Godzilla since Godzilla King of the Monsters 1954 version. ( the Japanese version is better than the American version) I saw this movie three times. Because I’m a huge Godzilla fan. Of course. Great Review. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I liked the movie but I couldnt help noticing a few plot holes and moments.
For example, we're never told how Godzilla grew in size that much except a little clip about the nuclear tests at the Bikini Atoll.
Also Noriko's scene on the train then running away from Godzilla after surviving the first encounter seemed a bit too much for her somehow.
Also how in blazes the hero find her in the streets with all the chaos and destruction ensuing?
And the final but not least, when the boats arrive to aid the brigade to help them to bring Godzilla up. Imagine the time spent tying the boats to the larger ones.
What was Godzilla doing in the meantime?
Peacefully waiting? Fell asleep?
All in all is a well done movie with compelling characters and a wholesome story.
Low in Godzilla exposition, as Gareth Edward's Godzilla, but fun.
What do you mean by “barcode ridden”? Sounds cool would just like to know the meaning
Actually, the ending is open to interpretation. Yeah the girl may have survived the Godzilla attack, but if you look closely at her neck you can see a black spot on her implying that something is not right.
The 1954 original is a must.
Shin Godzilla is great though you could say it's kind of heavy handed with the bureaucracy aspect (in it Godzilla is a metaphor for the 2011 tsunami and Government's response), also Godzilla against Mechagodzilla (2002), Godzilla vs Destoroyah (1995) and the movie that along with the 1954 film most influenced the director of Minus One, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah Giant Monsters all out attack (GMK for short). Minus One director, Takashi Yamazaki said it was his favorite Godzilla movie.
So you should definitely watch the original Godzilla, GMK and Shin Godzilla as these are the 3 main influences for this film (along with Jaws you are absolutely right).
Have you ever watched the Laurence Olivier version of Pride and prejudice? The version of a midsummer nights dream from 1935 and a British film called Hobsons choice
See GMK, another great (and dark) Godzilla flick.
I was feeling Spielberg for sure! One of the best blockbusters I’ve seen in a while
My favorite movie of last year. Maybe of the last five years.
Enjoyed your review, have subbed, was the $15 million budget mentioned ?