Shocktober 2024: Godzilla Minus One (Takashi Yamazaki, 2023)

It feels good to watch a proper Godzilla movie during Shocktober — and one of the most lauded in years to boot. This is a prequel of sorts to the original from 1954 (hence the clever title), and starts at the end of WWII, when a cowardly kamikaze pilot witnesses Godzilla wipe out an entire Japanese base in the Pacific Ocean. A couple of years later, Japan is getting back on its feet when once again the big kaiju appears and starts to wreak havoc. The pilot, suffering from PTSD, sees an opportunity to redeem himself.

I liked this, with some reservations. Visually it’s very impressive, the special effects and the design and movement of Godzilla in particular. The way they tease out the beast’s powers is great. Tonally it’s initially a somber affair, then bombastic and heroic, with not much time for wit or fun. It’s very much a film of its time, with clear influences from similarly fun-averse filmmakers like Christopher Nolan. To be fair, director Takashi Yamazaki also cites Spielberg as an influence, especially Jaws.

What I disliked was the almost jingoistic territory the film ended up in, the stereotypical heroism and the predictable story beats. Plus it takes its sweet time to get going. It’s interesting reading reviews of it — in Japan the reception was lukewarm, with some critics even mocking the acting, while in America and the UK critics were extremely positive. I have to believe something went missing in translation. Or maybe the flagwaving translated extra well for an American audience.

I did a deep dive on the Godzilla franchise a couple of years ago and watched everything from the first few decades, the Shōwa era, which ended with Terror of Mechagodzilla (1975). Of the post-2000 output, I haven’t seen that many of the Millennium or Reiwa eras, only (shamefully) the American-produced titles, from the Gareth Edwards-directed 2014 effort on. None of them come close to the design, inventiveness and sheer entertainment of the Ishirō Honda-directed titles of the earlier years. Dr. Runtime does not approve, and reminds us that none of the Shōwa era Godzilla movies were longer than 97 mins (125 mins).