In the American Godzilla movies, the Lumbering Lizard is a sentimental creature. Even the good guy. But in the Japanese Godzilla Minus Zero, the monster is fucking terrifying, and if you watch it in a large theater with great sound, you’ll feel it in your bones.
I haven’t seen many of the Toho Godzilla movies, and so observing Godzilla not only as a creature that ravages cities but that goes out of its way to terrorize, kill, and obliterate anybody just for the thrill of it was a refreshing delight. This Godzilla is scary, menacing, and seemingly unstoppable, a true threat to all of Japan.
The film’s selling point is of course the Godzilla action. Every action sequence, under the direction of Takashi Yamazaki, is intense. You can feel the size of the creature and the dread the human protagonists suffer from as he turns his wicked, maniacal gaze on the ants before him. The visual effects, also managed by Yamazaki, are stellar.
The rest of the movie is… okay. Yamazaki, who also wrote the movie, delivers a mixed bag when Godzilla is not at the center of attention. The story itself, one that examines cowardice and redemption and cements a theme of desiring to live, is moving. Kōichi (Ryunosuke Kamiki) and Noriko (Minami Hamabe) make for a likable pair with a unique relationship dynamic.
However, the screenplay gets overly melodramatic at times, which results in occasions of over-acting and cheesiness. You sort of just want to shake Kōichi to tell him to fucking chill out and kiss the damn girl.
At nearly two hours long, Godzilla Minus One also feels a little too long for its britches. The story is solid, but Yamazaki could have shaved 10 – 15 minutes and everyone would have benefited. I won’t say I was bored, but I won’t say I was entranced either.
But as Godzilla movies go, Godzilla Minus One is a satisfyingly intense kaiju experience with great visual effects, thrilling action, and an effective story. See it on the big screen.
Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.