Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Amazing movie with awesome soundtrack

I watched this movie with my parents on Netflix yesterday and it was really amazing, however, I wasn't a big fan of the English voice over of the movie since it made the film less emotional but soundtrack and effects with this movie was really, really good and would strongly recommend this movie, glad the wife survived at the end and can't wait for the second movie of Godzilla Minus one, definetly recommend it to everyone and this movie showed what Godzilla should actually be like instead of the American version where they make Godzilla friendly and save the world however this one makes Godzilla an evil one that destroys cities and kills people which is more of what I enjoy.

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A fantastic and well made prequel of the original 1954 film.

I never really liked or bothered to watch the countless films that followed the first Godzilla film because most of these sequels exploited the " bad monster destroys cities" theme again and again and again without having any serious plot or character development. Where the first film was all about how human actions affect our environment, the sequels were all about disaster entertainment based solely on the special effects and the scary monster that in the process wasn' t that scary after all.

I'm glad though that I've gave a chance and watched this prequel that has all the things that I enjoy watching. It is focusing on the characters, and it is a great commentary on the consequences of war and disasters on people and society, the survivors' guilt syndrome and the honnorable suicide that was and still is used as an "excuse" for the most horrendous crimes or the most stupid actions.

This prequel makes Godzilla a support character. The monster is still there but in the background and it is the actions and the reactions of the characters that make the monster actions get some meaningful and realistic impact.

The production is great, the special effects very realistic, the depiction of the era accurate and the music compliments nicely the scenes.
Overall is a great film to watch after watching the original 1954 one in order to get in the mood and see what Godzilla was actually all about. Kudos to the producers of this film that they managed to make Godzilla relevant again.

9.5 out of 10 from me as I reserve the perfect 10 for the original first film.

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A Godzilla story with humanity at its core

Having only previously watched the recent Hollywood films about Godzilla, this was a refreshing take which returns to the original Japanese conception of Godzilla. A metaphor for nuclear weapons, Godzilla is Japan's monster; an indiscriminate destroyer and a punishment for their actions in WW2. This metaphor is conveyed through the story of the main character, Koichi Shikishima, a kamikaze pilot who abandoned his duty. He is haunted by survivors guilt and views Godzilla as his punishment for what he failed to do.

For a film about Godzilla, he features very little. The human characters make up the core of the narrative and tell a story of learning to move on and build a life in the aftermath of a war. As a Japanese film, obviously the Japanese soldiers are painted in a more sympathetic light than other countries would perhaps do so, but at its heart is a criticism of the disregard for life that was central to Japanese wartime policy. There is an anger in the men who have to face Godzilla, arguing why do they have to continuously risk their lives over and over again. However, they recognise that by fighting Godzilla they are fighting for a chance to live and for a future, whereas with the war they didn't know what they were fighting for.

The importance of life is emphasis in the final fight scene where Shikishima once again fails his duty as a kamikaze pilot, but this time it is not out of cowardice but out of a desire to live and the acknowledgement that he has the right to do so. Though his survival is a bit 'luck of the main character' and other characters' survivals within the film seem a tad unlikely, the happy ending feels rewarding and is a final push of the message that life is something to be treasured.

In terms of production, this film was fantastically done. In spite of its shockingly low budget in contrast to the American films, the visual effects were pretty much flawless. The budget is probably why Godzilla doesn't appear too often, but his design is brilliant and his general absence from the film makes the moments in which he stars all the more affective. The film's setting in post-war Japan also likely reduced the need for a major budget but this made the film all the better as they had to come up with more innovative ways (even though they did fail) to defeat Godzilla which made the story more interesting and memorable. The use of music and silences was also done really well in this film that emphasised the emotions of the scenes perfectly.

Though this film doesn't need a sequel, the ending did suggest there might be one. If so, I would be really intrigued to see where this Godzilla story goes next.

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Intense monster scenes elevate a damn good looking package.

With stunning cinematography, hearty music and intense action scenes, the latest film in the Godzilla series delivers delights for almost all the senses.

Godzilla Minus One is film number 37 in the franchise, and the 5th film since the reboot. Does that mean you have to have seen a bunch of Godzilla movies to keep up with this? I don't think so. My own experience with the series is limited and I stuck with it. Necessary information still emerges, either in dialogue or by simply witnessing Godzilla's progress on the white screen.

It is a period film that takes place during and after the Second World War, and works in harmony with the very first Godzilla from 1954. Which certainly makes it easier.

It also helps that the monster itself isn't the focus of the film. He's there, absolutely, and of course it's Godzilla's rampage that drives the story. But the focus is very much on the people. Above all on the kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima.

Or the supposed kamikaze pilot. For Shikishima (Kōichi Shikishima) has second thoughts and fakes technical problems with his plane. Not long after he lands on an island, and the giant, God-like, monster attacks and the pilot is one of the few survivors. When he returns to Tokyo, it is with real feelings of guilt over what happened.

It is feelings of guilt that haunt Shikishima for a long time. They set it up in the relationship with Noriko Ōishi (Minami Hamabe), a young woman he meets and wants to help. They make themselves known in the relationship with the colleagues and later friends he meets in his new job. They guide his actions when Godzilla reappears and attacks Tokyo.

Kōichi Shikishima and his relationships are of course the heart and soul of the film. It elevates Godzilla Minus One to something more than just a monster movie, it gives the movie value beyond just seeing a cool monster destroy cities and boats. It also becomes a bit too much.

I struggled with the rating for this movie. Because at times the people's stories are drawn out for too long. The story is losing momentum and I'm starting to lose interest. Godzilla Minus One has the characteristics of melodrama, a genre that I personally have a hard time with. It was in these moments that I considered a low rating.

But then the monster makes an entrance again. The action scenes, Godzilla's attacks and the humans' fight against him, are genuinely exciting and at times gripping. The energy is back.

Also (and almost more importantly) this is a damn good looking movie. The photography is beautiful, the scenography places itself believably and perceptibly in the current period, and the special effects work. Godzilla himself is computer-animated, and looks good, but at the same time in a way that I couldn't help but wonder if there could still be a dude in a very well-made suit in there.

Not to mention the music. Composer Naoki Satō may well be the film's strongest card. Conveyor of emotions, underpinning of action sequences. It is an experience.

And thus I still end up in a reasonably strong 4 Star. Despite its flaws (and certainly not everyone will agree that melodramatics are a bad thing), Godzilla Minus One is an incredibly well-made film, an impressive piece of craftsmanship that doesn't always, but at least often enough, offer cinematic thrills.

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The Best Godzilla Movie Since The Original

I saw the theatrical version earlier this year but I waited to see the black and white version to write a film review, so this is technically a review of both versions. Godzilla Minus One is a cinematic achievement, especially since it was made with a meager budget at just under 15 million USD, but it made at least quadruple that worldwide. Many have praised it as the best Godzilla movie since the original 1954 version and I am inclined to agree as I've seen quite a few Godzilla movies that came after both made in Japan and Hollywood, and they simply don't measure up to this movie helmed by Yamazaki Takashi.

This Godzilla goes back to its 1950's roots and is set in a war-torn Japan, centering around a dishonored kamikaze pilot suffering from PTSD. The black and white version really brings you back to that era and I found that it gave everything a more sinister look to it, making it more frightening. The story deals with the horrors of war and how nations at war throw away the lives of their people as if they're trash that needs to be disposed. It also questions the need for people to sacrifice their lives for honor and country, and why honor means you must obey orders even though it is clearly wrong. It throws shade at how the Japanese government mishandled the war and treated its people poorly. It's a story of despair but it's also about hope and starting over. I was specifically moved by how two of the characters in this movie went from hating the central character because he failed to die to save his countrymen, to urging him to live and believing that he deserves a second chance at happiness. This movie doesn't lack heroism either. The valor shown by the Japanese people who just survived a disastrous war as they fight for their futures made me tear up a bit. As the Cap said, he doesn't like doing the dirty work but somebody's got to do it.

It's an almost perfect film from the moving story and well-written and relatable characters, to a beautifully designed and terrifying Godzilla that's just a force of nature. The visual effects could've been better but considering how much money they spent on creating them, they accomplished quite a feat. I especially loved the sequence where they were being chased by Godzilla in the water. That was definitely a nod to Steven Spielberg's Jaws. Sure, there are some suspend your disbelief type of stuff in this movie, but they're forgivable because the movie as a whole is a beautifully orchestrated symphony that can move you to tears, stir up anger in you, strike fear, and make you feel that there is good in humanity still. Amidst the darkness and ugliness of war, there is beauty in life and human connections. The greatest lesson that can be gleaned from this story is that as long as there is life, there is hope.

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Moins par Moins donne Plus

Son pas grondait au loin, mais de plus en plus fort. Son cri résonnait depuis les États-Unis, pays du Bikini, où il est en train de battre tous les records. Mais en France, pays de Mururoa, il n'avait droit qu'à deux jours d'exploitation avant de retourner au fond des océans. Aussi rapide donc que son apparition sur l'ile d'Odo dans les 5 premières minutes du film, Gozilla Minus One refait surface pour seulement 15 jours de plus dans nos cinémas. C'est toujours mieux que Shin Godzilla, qui comme souvent, a dû attendre d'être disponible sur les plateformes pour être vue légalement en France. C'était normalement le sort réservé par ce nouvel opus jusqu'à la pression grandissante d'une communauté tombé sur l'adorable charme de cette petite boule d'écaille. Mais ce buzz, qui ne cesse, de grandir est-il vraiment mérité ?

On l'aura attendu depuis sa sortie en novembre 2023 au Japon. Les trailers et le cast ne laissaient aucun doute sur une sortie mondiale, une traduction rapide et un grand succès. Tout du moins pour moi. Mais cela n'allait pas de soi pour les producteurs distributeurs. Peut-être à cause de ce tout petit budget pour un film catastrophe. 15 millions de dollars, une paille face aux Américains. Et pourtant, soyons clairs et au risque de répéter la plupart des critiques sur ce film, il est bien meilleur que les Godzi-Kong que l'oncle Sam nous sert depuis 3 décennies, maintenant.

L'allégorie d'un peuple résiliant face à des catastrophes naturelles ou provoquées est permanente mais jamais forcée. Pas de super-héros ou de super-armée ici. Les citoyens se battent avec ce qu'ils ont. C’est-à-dire pas grand-chose, vu qu'on se retrouve dès la première minute en mode survie. Un niveau -1 de la civilisation qui va tout de suite donner un vrai sens et une valeur réelle à la vie. Il n'y a qu'une chose à perdre, mais c'est la plus précieuse.

Les acteurs figurent parmi les meilleurs de leurs générations respectives, malgré la sous-exploitation évidente de Sakura Endo et Yuki Yamada. Mais c'est le jeu, des productions chorales. Les effets spéciaux, à part un matelas gonflable qui vous fera sursauter de rire font aussi partie de ce qu'on peut voir de mieux d'un film catastrophe.

Le contexte post WW2 est reproduit à la perfection et les attaques politiques, plus ou moins subtiles d'un peuple écrasé entre deux grandes puissances font du bien contre la pensée du moment. L'histoire (ou l'Histoire) est bien amenée, la re-construction des familles après la guerre vous fera verser un sacré torrent de larmes. Vous serez ému, voir choquer et il faudra rester bien accroché au fauteuil, même sans Imax 4D. Comme je le dis souvent en parlant de ce film, il est tellement bon, qu'on pourrait se passer de Godzilla. Minami Hanabe par exemple, me fascine une fois de plus, par son jeu (et un peu son sourire) et s'en sort à merveille dans les scènes catastrophes.

Mais Godzilla est bien présent et il va vous le faire comprendre. On poursuit l'hommage entamé par Shin Godzilla, aux films des années 50, en reprenant tous les codes. Graphique, sonore, même si la musique est moins datée que dans son illustre prédécesseur, elle fait quand même son job rétro. Clairement ce film peut encore prendre une nouvelle dimension en noir et blanc. Et un deuxième visionnage dans cette colorimétrie est essentiel pour le fan.

Certains pourront être déçus, d'autres enchantés par la fin. Qu'importe, il faut comprendre ce film comme le cri étouffé d'une nation qui vit depuis des 100aines d'année à l'ombre de puissances antagonistes, et qui n'a d'autre choix que d'avancer ou mourir. Ce film est rempli de messages politiques, écologiques et philosophiques et j'ose espérer que c'est pour cela qu'il a tant de succès.

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Como adrenalina pura.

No soy fan de Godzilla, anterior a esta película, vi la de 2016 (?) con Hasegawa Hiroki e Ishihara Satomi y a pesar de que HaseHiro es de mis actores favoritos, esa película me pareció muy aburrida porque careció de lo que tiene esta de la que vamos a hablar.

"Godzilla: Minus One" es una montaña rusa de emociones, aplaudo mucho el hecho que en esta peli le dieron el protagonismo y respeto que se merece la criatura, es decir, sí tenemos a un protagonista humano para que haya un hilo a seguir en el filme pero NO le roba el protagonismo a Godzilla, así como tampoco existen los diálogos sinfin que no llevan a nada, son directos y clave para que avace la historia y les den paso a las escenas de acción.

Con poco presupuesto, ganaron un Oscar (ya todos lo sabemos pero honor a quien honor merece) a mejores efectos visuales y de verdad son bastante buenos e increibles, tan así que esas escenas de acción (sobre todo las de la última hora) son tan disfrutables, todavía recuerdo la emoción (tan positiva!, me sentí como niña pequeña jajaja) que me dio verlas, hace tanto que no me pasaba eso con una serie o película... dificil de igualar o encontrar.

El cast es bueno, eligieron a actores reconocidos y muchos de ellos ya con una gran trayectoria, mi favorito fue el profesor sin lugar a dudas (interpretado por Yoshioka Hidetaka), además de ser pieza clave en la historia.

No tengo ninguna crítica negativa, creo que la película así como está es una joyita, todo está perfectamente equilibrado y ufff la emoción señores... que buena película.

Recomendadísima de principio a fin. 10/10.

La encuentran en Netflix :)

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