Day 30: Godzilla Minus One (2023)

So, we have reached the final Japanese live-action Godzilla film. What a ride it has been. And we are ending with a film that I actually reviewed just over a year and a half ago, that being Godzilla Minus One (2023). I have no idea how much this review will match up with that one so let’s get on with it and see. The film opens in 1945 with a kamikaze pilot, Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), landing on Odo Island to get his plane fixed, although the mechanics find nothing wrong with his plane. Then the island is attacked by a small Godzilla, killing all but Shikishima and one mechanic. He returns to a post-war Tokyo devastated by air raids, struggling with guilt and shame. Several years later when he has started to rebuild his life Godzilla returns to bring both him and Japan to their knees.

One thing that became noticeable while watching the entire series of films is that the human narratives quite often were there to facilitate the kaiju action. In this one, the narrative and human characters are what make the film. Godzilla is here and plays a huge role (obviously), but he is not the focus. We instead focus on the characters, their motivations, their growth. And the film is so much better for it. The film can be both heart-breaking and inspirational in equal measure. Every character is fleshed out enough that we know what their personality is much more than in previous films, and it allows the relationships within the film to feel more real and that makes you buy into it more. You like these characters, you want to watch their stories, and you want them to succeed in their actions. It may sound obvious to say, but it is not something that is often in these Godzilla films as he is the focus. And even when it is it is never done this well. I also really love the setting of Tokyo immediately post-war. The visual of a destroyed Tokyo with people living there is a new one for the series, and it makes it even more brutal when you see it rebuilt only to be destroyed again. Also, the themes of this film are really interesting narratively. You have the critique of government which was present in Shin Godzilla (2016) although here it is specifically critical of the government post war. But you also have a genuine look at the idea of shame and honour that is prevalent in Japanese culture, and how this inspires our main character in his actions. In terms of a narrative it is the strongest of any film in the series.

Now, I have mentioned that Godzilla is not the focus here, but that does not mean I am going to pend a whole paragraph talking about him. Firstly, the design is brilliant. He is bac to looking more like the classic design, with huge legs and a stocky chest, although I am not as keen on the look of his skin which looks more like rocks than flesh. It is a brilliant design overall, but I have others that I prefer. However, this Godzilla is quite possibly the most aggressive and menacing in the entire series. We first see him when he is quite small, but the first view of him in his final huge stage is incredible. Our heroes are out on a boat to search for him, and he appears from out the sea and grabs another boat in his mouth before submerging again. It shows off both the size of him but is also visually brilliant and a great way to show off what this guy can do. Also, his atomic breath is the best in any of these films. The build up to it is wonderful as well. We first see it while he is under the water so only get a glimpse, but when he does it on land for the first time it is incredible. Visually impactful of course, but the way it builds with the slow glow of bule building up his body while the music swells behind him, leading to an atomic breath that is more devastating than any other previously seen. And speaking of music, the score in this film is also incredible. The Godzilla main theme is one of my favourites in film history regardless, but the way it is used in this film is spinetingling, and the rest of the score is just as beautiful and works so well within the film.

If you couldn’t tell form this review, I really love this film. It has brilliant action, a superb Godzilla, but more than both of that it is emotionally impactful in a way that not many of the other films in this series can replicate. I implore everyone who hasn’t seen it to seek it out, and it is currently on Netflix so it is not as hard as fining the others. My final blog of this series will be tomorrow where I rank all of these films, and as you can imagine this will be landing pretty high.