Go Beyond the Atomic Bomb: Review of Godzilla Minus One
Director: Takashi Yamazaki
Writer: Takashi Yamazaki (Screenplay)
Cast
- Minami Hamabe (Let Me Eat Your Pancreas)
- Ryunosuke Kamiki (Your Name)
- Sakura Ando (Shoplifters)
- Kuranosuke Sasaki (Mission Impossible Samurai)
- Munetaka Aoki (Silence)
Plot: Post war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.
Runtime: 2 Hours 4 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Godzilla Minus One starts when kamikaze pilot Koichi (Kamiki) lands on a remote island during World War II. He brings shame to his family with this action and when the base gets attacked by an unknown monster, he is one of the few survivors. Once he returns to Tokyo, he discovers his loved ones have died in the air raids.
As Koichi starts trying to adapt to life, he meets Noriko (Hamabe) who has a baby. They are both alone too and slowly the three become a family. However, as the years roll past the monster returns and now Koichi has a chance to redeem himself and end the war he has been battling.
Verdict on Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla Minus One is an action movie following the legendary monster attacking Japan. We get to focus on a fighter pilot who clashed with the monster and has continued to be haunted by what happened in the war. As Japan is rebuilding in the aftermath of the war, it faces a new threat that should bring them closer than ever.
This is one of the biggest and best versions of a Godzilla movie. It brings a human story that could easily be a dramatic story without needing a giant monster battle. However, it does bring us amazing battle sequences with the ‘Heat Ray’ bringing devastation to anything in its path. Filled with raw emotion, this is an excellent movie that battles for the best of the year.
Final Thoughts – Godzilla Minus One is an outstanding addition to the iconic collection.