Godzilla Minus One is a monster movie of singular power, using horror-infused kaiju spectacle to deliver an emotionally compelling story of grief, wartime trauma, and hope. Most importantly, its genre-leading visual effects scenes are complemented by richly soulful performances and humane themes of reconciliation and redemption.
The Japanese reboot of the kaju king snagged a surprise Oscar nomination for visual effects. It deserves the win, whether you see it in color or glorious black-and-white. For once, the 70-year-old series finds a human depth to match its dazzle. A star is reborn.
Godzilla never before felt this threatening.
The movie has fantastic set of well if not amazingly played characters.
The story is lovely and heartfelt. It pulls just the right strings to not only make you care, but also put you at the edge of your seat when it's necessary.
Then there is a spectacle. What they pulled on this compared to hollywood negligible budget is some black magic. It looks amazing and sure there are couple shots when you can tell it's cgi but at other times it's jaw-dropping.
I would never think that a Godzilla movie would amaze me and stay with me for some time. But Minus One did exactly that.
Highly recommend.
The monster mayhem scenes are obviously the main draw, and they’re terrifically staged, with clean visual effects that look anchored to the real world. And a careful balance is struck between spectacle and horror.
The main effect this film’s commitment to emotional intelligence has is to show us what has been missing from the franchise all along. That, and to deliver a climax that will bring tears to your eyes — unless you’re some sort of beast.
For long stretches, Godzilla Minus One concentrates on relationships and conversations, which despite their intent, do little to advance the plot or illuminate simply-drawn characters.
I approached this movie with trepidation as someone who has long avoided Godzilla films, mainly because I remembered the ludicrous monster in 1980s Chewits adverts. To my surprise and delight, it completely exceeded my expectations.
The special effects were undeniably impressive, bringing Godzilla to life in an awe-inspiring and terrifying way. Yet, what truly resonated with me was the unexpected depth of the human element. These films are not about the monster but about people, their struggles, and their resilience. This added layer of emotion transformed the film from a mere creature feature to a compelling human drama.
Act Two’s scenes were a visual feast, with striking and evocative cinematography. The camera angles, reminiscent of Yasujiro Ozu, brought a sense of calm and stillness that contrasted beautifully with the impending monster’s attack. This artistic touch elevated the film, providing a unique and engaging viewing experience.
Whilst there are nationalistic tendencies littered throughout the film, there is also evidence of regret and remorse. A wounded nation healing from not only Hiroshima and Nagasaki but also the leadership of Imperial Japan, which failed to recognise the value of human life.
Overall, this Godzilla film was a revelation, blending stunning visual effects with a poignant human story. It has completely changed my perspective on the franchise, and I look forward to exploring more of these films. I highly recommend it!
This is a decent entry in the Godzilla franchise and is novel because it takes place immediately after the end of WWII. There is much more human drama and internal conflict than actual scenes with Godzilla, but the latter do pay off. Recommended for true fans; others might find it overly sentimental.
Somehow I noticed many bad things about this movie: The beginning is boring, especially because the actors are not convincing and the characters are not remarkable. The action part comes late and is ok, but far away from USA standard. The story is a typical AAA action thing, forget it.
So what is good? The movie takes place in Japan and in the history.
I’m not quite understanding of the overwhelming praise for this movie. I understand the limited budget to what Legendary is making in the States but this movie was way too heavy handed with the guilt for the main character and the rigidity of Captain G on land was pathetic.
To me, Shin was better in that it brought an entirely different idea of Godzilla to the tablE.
Truly one of the worst movies I’ve seen in years. You have to wonder if the reviews are fake.
The acting is absolutely atrocious. The lead actor has the acting range of an old shoe. Absolutely zero personality.
Even the extra were terribly overreacting - they had everyone in the cinema laughing uncontrollably.
And the chemistry between him and the female lead - which is supposed to be the heart of the movie - is completely non existent.
The movie quickly settles into a boring and repetitive rhythm of pointless chats between the two leads at home. And then cuts to a Godzilla fight scene at sea. And then back home for more pointless chit chat.
And the ending, which I think was supposed to be emotional, had everyone laughing uncontrollably again.
Seriously if this is the best Godzilla movie ever, I need to make a Godzilla film as the bar is LOW.