This movie is a major success by all measures. It has already made back more than three and a half times it's budget, has been number three at the box office since it was released in the US, still has a 97% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and 98% Audience score weighed down mostly by troll reviews, like the one star review saying it is the worst movie ever.
This is one of my most anticipated films of the year, and it did not disappoint. This is probably the best storyline for any Godzilla film that I have seen.
I really enjoyed this review. I am not a Godzilla aficionado but now I definitely want to see this film. Thanks for your very perspective and in depth thoughts.
The scene you mention about the reporters on the building is very interesting. One of the hallmarks of Godzilla films, every time he goes to Tokyo he destroys the Tokyo Tower. The tower itself was not built until the mid 50s. So I thought that was a lovely effort to get the cityscape right for the setting.
I really enjoyed that scene. As the reporters fall during the collapse, they essentially fall to infinity. You never see them hit the ground or any blood etc. They just drop off until you can’t see them. That happens throughout the film. Lots of destruction but not really any blood.
Growing up. I have seen so many different spin-offs off of Godzilla. It will be interesting to see how this one holds up to what I grew up with as a child, as I am a big fan of the Godzilla films.
Having just seen GM1 this evening, my impression is because this movie is a Japanese production, it doesn't rely on the same old American tropes I've gotten bored with. It's not complicated with subplots, constant in-jokes, and other intrigues. It's a simple story, effectively told with characters I can feel for. Godzilla is scary as hell because people are visibly dying underfoot and he's deliberately causing destruction rather than collateral damage from him mindlessly strolling through Tokyo. The way Godzilla is framed from a worms-eye view looking upward is effective too.
It is kind of a simple story, but the characters are interesting, and some quite funny. I don’t know why so many modern films seem to struggle to make characters you actually like or relate to, but that is not a problem here. Even the neighbor who resents him when he comes back, softens. The movie has heart. I also really like how scary Godzilla is, especially in the first island attack, but also in the water. There are so many things to like about this film.
@@postpublishing6377 Upon further thought, this Japanese Godzilla feels sincere, whereas American cinema tries too hard to impress, oftentimes not living up to its hype. In Hollywood, $15M would cover a low-budget comedy, drama or slasher flick; Japanese cinema produces a blockbuster for the same price. Because America is so politically divided, the inclusion I saw in GM1 was a breath of fresh air to me. GM1 is about acceptance, redemption, people coming together as family, community and city in the face of adversity.
@@hendrsb33 yeah, this movie didn’t seem to be politically motivated other than to show how bad war, and especially post war is. It is much more about trying to rebuild a life after devastation.
I really enjoyed this film. I appreciated the authenticity of it, coming out of Japan - the native language and landscape. I didn’t mind the subtitles at all. I feel they added to the cinematic experience.
I didn’t mind the subtitles either. My challenge was listening closely enough to how they pronounced the names so I wouldn’t butcher them too much in the video. I think I failed, but they also switch between first and last names a lot which adds to the challenge.
Horrible movie. Massively overrated and totally ridiculous. I love the Godzilla films but have no idea why they decided to make this one non-American speaking, I'm guessing they decided on foreigns because their limitations probably make them cheaper or what. But I do know totally race swapping the cast with non-American speakers made in not only 💯 unrealistic but also impossible to follow. I have no idea how this connects to the previous movies or why it was in the past. I only hope next year's film gets a bigger budget and cast actors who actually speak American
@@BarryBerryBarry The film was made in Japan by Japanese companies with local actors, etc. That was their #1 market. It was released there first. Legendary is the company that makes the US films. A different company.
I like the fact that there is a bunch references to GMK (Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All Out Attack 2001), because in GMK Godzilla’s heart was at the bottom of the ocean still beating, which is similar to the part of Godzilla regenerating as it sinks to the depths in Minus One. Hopefully they do something with this since there wasn’t a sequel to either GMK or Shin Godzilla.
@@CinemaTechnicawe also get to see Godzilla on Odo Island before his mutation from the H-bomb, a clear reference to the Godzillasaurus from Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991)!
It finished third behind Beyoncé’s new “film”, and the new Hunger Games movie. But ahead of Trolls, Wish, and Napoleon. Hopefully that will warrant extending the release.
The best special effect and most awe inspiring scene of the movie for me was when Godzilla did his atomic blast breadth on the Ginza district. The after effects of the blast was just like a true atomic blast.
It succeeds based on the classic principles of Greek tragedy like Oedipus Rex where the world conflict exactly reflects the conflict within the protagonist. Layered deep complex, passionate and human
The fact that Japan is reeling from their WWII loss is a great setting for this film as it reflects the anger and desperation survivors are faced with. It also connects with how the lead character gets a job and ultimately comes in contact with Godzilla again.
There was definitely the intention to mirror the horror of war, and the lasting damage to the psyche of both those in the war and those touched by the war. I think it is also intended to remind people of the horrors of war. For most people war is something that happens in far away countries, but this shows how wars, especially world wars, are incredibly destructive, and takes any glamor away from the idea of it. I think Godzilla in films like this represents that same kind of destruction that war can bring. Sometimes war is necessary, but it comes at an incredible cost.
I agree that it is layered, complex, passionate, and human. I certainly connected with the characters and cared about them. That wasn’t something I was expecting.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen Shin, but my son and I are renting it later today to watch sometime in the next couple of days. I remember all of the meetings, which I believe was a commentary on the inefficiency of bureaucracy, as it relates to Fukushima. I also admit that Shin is one of the creepiest looking Godzillas when he is metamorphosing, with the buggy eyes.
I think you are probably right. I don’t think I have seen a Godzilla movie I enjoyed as much, and it definitely has the best storyline I’ve seen in a Godzilla movie.
Funny about the ratings. I literally watched Godzilla minus one 3 times (yes i loved it that much). I watched it in 3 different theaters and apparently it was rated R in one of the theaters where they asked us for our ID's which i found kinda funny.
@@diannezarlengo4145yeah, this is definitely best experienced in the encompassing environment of a good theater. It funny, because tv’s are so big now, and have great sound, but there is still something special about sitting in a theater with a huge screen and great surround sound, but there is also the aspect of sharing the energy of the audience who is watching it with you.
Yeah, I was curious, but I’m not sure I would have seen it in the theater, except that my son is such a big fan that I wanted to see it in the theater with him. He also got me pretty excited to see it. I’m really glad I did!
They could have removed Godzilla entirely from the film and I would still have been enthralled. I am a sucker for "coward at war gets a chance at redemption" stories.
Ha. That’s a good point. I love seeing stories about foreign cultures, so I could appreciate imagery of the people and cities. I also like the WWII timeframe.
Dang it you guys!! Now I have another "must see" added to my growing list of new movies. Love the way you both bring unique views about different aspects of the film (cinematography, plot, character development and so on). All of that creates a very well thought out and balanced review. Keep up the great work!
Thanks! It’s been fun just talking about films. Marc and I end up talking about films anyway, and I always enjoy the conversations a lot, so it just made sense to capture some of them and share them with other movie lovers.
This was a great review, and definitely will have me catching the movie in a theater. TBH, I’ve never liked most of the Japanese Godzilla movies, and probably would’ve skipped this one entirely. Now I want to go see it. Good job, guys!!
Thanks for the comment. This film will be a hit with Godzilla fans and is appealing to casual fans too. Worth seeing in the cinema as opposed to streaming.
Definitely go see it. If enough people see it, maybe they will extend the theatrical release enough for the hype to build so a larger audience can be exposed to it in a theatrical environment.
I really didn't have an interest in seeing this film. The last time I saw a Godzilla movie was when my nephew was about 7 (he's 28 now) , and he loved Godzilla v. Mothra . I saw THAT movie more times than I can count. I thought I was done with Godzilla after he grew up, but now, after this review, I want to see the movie!
@@postpublishing6377the story is good, and the movie is enjoyable. But I’m not sure I would call the story fun. It’s kind of dark, but it has great payoff.
Godzilla Minus One still has a 97% Critic Score and 98% Audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with over 2500 reviews. It would be even higher if not for troll reviews like the one star reviews that say it is the worst movie ever, which no one would actually believe. It really is that good of a movie. It's not perfect, but highly enjoyable. Makes you wonder how such an enjoyable and highly rated movie, isn't listed in any category as Variety's predictions for Oscar Nominations. Yet disappointing movies like Napoleon, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Poor Things are predicted in many categories. It seems like something is broken in Hollywood.
Thanks for the compliment and for tuning in. We are hoping to do more reviews going forward. And check out some of our recent commentary on Napoleon, The Creator and Killers of the Flower Moon.
Thanks! We are trying to give some insight into details of the making of the movies, not just our opinions. Some of our other videos we talk about things we discovered talking to the directors, editors, vfx supervisors and other people involved in actually making the movies.
I was being a bit provocative with the comment. I think not only is the best Godzilla film ever, it might be one of the greatest moving pictures I’ve ever seen. I saw it on the 5th December at the BFI IMAX in London and my goodness it was a magical experience. I laid off watching any reviews till I saw it myself and since then I’ve done a bit of review binge and I am surprised that no one seems to be talking about the possibility I raised. It’s an interesting talking point about cinematic gold. 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵
Thank you for your sincere and thorough review of “Godzilla Minus One.” I apologize for the comments I made in other review videos. However, there are some new additions to this comment. I'm 55 years old Japanese. My friend's father (age 66) (who passed away a few years ago at the age of 90) told me about his war experience. Near the end of the war, the area near Ginza, where this movie is set, was bombed. . My friend's father had come to Tokyo to take his university entrance exams, and just then, he was involved in an accident that caused the Yurakucho Station (which was located behind the theater that Godzilla destroyed with his tail in the movie) to collapse. Ta. Most of the people who had been around him just a moment ago died in an instant. One of the Japanese officers nearby was still saluting, his body torn in two, upper and lower body. His mother, who was nearby with her baby in her arms, had disappeared. Several students nearby survived in the rubble. But even decades after going through that hellish scene, my friend's father said, ``I never once thought to myself that I was lucky to have survived that place.'' I watched this movie thinking about how much hell there was. It's true that it's a movie, so there are a lot of convenient scenes. However, when a disaster actually occurs, the obvious does not always come true. Although the building was located at ground zero in Hiroshima and was not very sturdy, some people said they survived unscathed because they were in the shadow of it. According to the survivor, the person across the street was instantly reduced to a charred corpse. Some people reportedly went missing. And while there have been many tragedies in wars and disasters, there have also been some miracles. Interesting details about this movie. The hospital that appears at the end is a Christian hospital because the nurses' clothes and the interior of the hospital rooms are unique. Godzilla uses his atomic breath to blow away the National Diet Building, which was the place where the tanks were firing, and then blows up Ginza with the blast wave reflected from there. People near Nichigeki were blown down Harumi-dori toward Kachidoki Bridge. In fact, in that direction, a little further away from Kachidoki Bridge, is St. Luke's Hospital, which was established in 1901. This hospital is known as the place where many people were taken during the Aum Shinrikyo subway sarin attack. It's a very realistic setting. I would like to add one more piece of information that I just remembered. My friend's father was from Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, and his classmate at the same elementary school was Haruo Nakajima, who served as the suit actor for the first Godzilla in 1954. A few years before the war began, when the two were in elementary school, Nakajima ate his friend's father's bento without permission, and they got into a big fight. His friend's father remembers the story well. ``Mr. Nakajima was an unusual person,'' said his friends, but in his later years his Alzheimer's disease progressed, and while hospitalized he was often plagued by hallucinations of being engulfed in air raid flames. I was horrified that even though more than half a century had passed, my war experiences would not disappear until I died. Sorry for the long post. I hope Google Translate reflects it correctly.
Please do not misunderstand this as a story of resentment towards the United States. I have no such petty malice. However, this is just a side note about the film's direction and setting, and is meant to explain that it faithfully recreates the tragic conditions of an atomic bombed city. Also, I don't need any "sorry" comments. lol
@@tedkurokawa4161 Thanks for watching and for the detailed comments. It’s interesting to hear how the film tried to stay true to the actual time period directly after the war. The US audience might not pick up on that, but I’m sure the viewers in Japan will appreciate it. I personally enjoy hearing about WWII history. I’m glad the filmmakers accurately portrayed what was happening in Japan in the early/mid 1940s.
In the beginning, the protagonist isn't freezing up, but deliberately evading doing what was seen his "duty" as a kamikaze pilot to die honorably for a cause they all knew was lost. He only freezes once Godzilla shows up.
That's a valid point, but I think they are both driven by his fear. I don't think he was logically thinking, "Hey, we've already lost, it doesn't make sense that I die too, how do I get out of this?" I think he just couldn't will himself to do it. We see him at other times, where his fear takes over, preventing him from acting, but in the scene before he attacks Godzilla at the end, he looks down at his shaking hand, but he is able to stabilize it and actually go out to fight Godzilla, and likely die.
I am not sure if her really froze up when Godzilla appeared. Personally, I thought he was aware of his .22 caliber gun’s ineffectiveness and thought firing at him might have only drawn attention to him. I saw it more as self preservation.
I don't think masterpiece is overstating it. It truly is 👏 I was fortunate enough to take my son and grandson and I think it will be a good lifetime memory for all of us.
@postpublishing6377 I agree. I've always been a fan of Godzilla movies ever since I saw them growing up in the 70's. Gonna take all my grandkids to this next one in the IMAX theater, and they're all excited to go. Should be a fun trip.
I have never had an issue with a foreign film where I have to read subtitles but, then again, I am literate. In almost every case when I have heard someone complain about having to read subtitles it is because they "hate" to read and are funciionally illiterate. They did it to themselves because of their own laziness.
I don’t have an issue with it either. I actually kind of enjoy it at times, particularly Japanese films. In our Napoleon podcast, I mentioned that I might have preferred French dialogue with subtitles. That might have been too much to ask for more of a mainstream release. Audiences can be fickle. I hope it doesn’t deter people from seeing this film.
I wasn’t concerned about it having subtitles because of illiteracy ;) I was just worried that if there was a lot of fast, overlapping dialogue, while I was trying to pay attention to the visual effects, I might miss something. As it turns out it was a non-issue.
Like many film works created by Japan, (Spirited Away, Akira, etc) this movie is also a Masterpiece of filmmaking and storytelling. Its the best film I have seen in American theaters in the last 8-9 years given the nonsense Hollywood likes to produce these days (with some exceptions). For some reason American studios tend to produce more cheap cash grab, hip hop, Fast and Furious kind of product or feminist driven content.
I kind of feel like Hollywood primarily produces movies that prioritize things other than what the audience wants. This movie seemed to know who its audience is, and what they want to see.
I agree that the Marvel movies and Fast and Furious movies tend to dominate here in the US. I think that’s why studios always seem to go for these over the top releases. I actually prefer a story-driven film myself.
I saw the “American” films in recent years, and I enjoyed them to an extent, but I felt that they lacked a certain amount of that Japanese aesthetic that the films I grew up watching had to them. Even the English dubbing added a fun element to it that I enjoyed back in the day.
This is definitely going to appeal to classic Toho Godzilla fans, especially those who are fans of Gojira 1954 and GMK 2001, which I has a bunch of references to. But where it departs from most of Toho’s movies, is that it isn’t campy. It’s more serious and scary, with a compelling plot and characters. I really believe that even non Godzilla fans can enjoy it for the story.
You can read my review on Metacritic same name. As a Godzilla movie it's decent. Let's be honest, none of the Godzilla movies were amazing "films"... We just love Godzilla doing his thing! I like that they tried to make the human elements the focus, it's the execution of it that is the problem for me. I'm expected to take this human story seriously and there's glaring script issues right in the first 10 minutes of the movie and it continues throughout. I was expecting so much more because of everyone saying this is the best movie of 2023, etc. and ultimately it's just your typical Japanese Godzilla movie with all the expected eye-rolling script/dialogue problems and plot holes with just a nicer coat of paint. I would still rather watch the latest King of Monsters for a modern Godzilla or what I feel is the best modern giant monster movie of all time, King Kong Skull Island. That movie is just perfect in my opinion. Make a Godzilla movie with a pace and script as exciting as that movie then we are talking. The best part of Godzilla -1 is the boat chase segment. The effects overall range from very good (the opening scene) to jarringly bad (the first appearance in the city). Unfortunately, once I noticed the bad, I couldn't move past it and it was hard to take the movie's serious parts "seriously". It's just another Godzilla movie... Which is fine. I feel like the movie is over hyped, and that certainly set my expectations high. I was so excited to go see this. Angry Joe, Chris Stuckman and dozens of other big reviewers I follow were all saying this was not just the best Godzilla movie ever, but possibly the best movie of the year. It ended up just a decent Godzilla movie. I saw it Saturday night in a half full theater, and there were 2 moments in the movie where many people, including myself, just laughed out loud and it certainly wasn't a part of the movie intended to get a laugh. Quite the opposite in fact. I literally got a case of the giggles from that point because I was really trying to love this movie but the script and dialogue just kept hammering away at my suspension of disbelief until the drama was just not hitting for me anymore. For act three I just rolled with the glaring, yet typical, Godzilla movie plot problems and tried to enjoy the movie for what it was... a Japanese Godzilla movie.
@@warlok9 I am by no means claiming that this is the best film of the year. I just shared that it was well received in Japan and that if you are a Godzilla fan, you are more than likely to enjoy it. I did get a laugh at a few points. And I think the acting was a bit much in a few scenes, like where Kiochi repeatedly bangs his head against the table. But I thought the VFX were great. I prefer this Godzilla over the past 2 US releases.
@warlok9 You make great points. I don't think it is the best movie of the year, but I found it to be really enjoyable, and like I said in the video, it was a lot better than I was expecting it to be. I guess it wasn't over hyped for me because I wanted to go into it without expectations. So I guess I was expecting a Godzilla film with a silly, or undeveloped plot. I got something much more, and I still think the first attack on the island was reminiscent of Jurassic Park, and the boat scenes reminded me of the feeling of Jaws. I also liked the characters, which I can't say of the characters in Killers of the Flower Moon or Napoleon.
no reference in Minus One to any attack on San Francisco. That's Legendary's narrative. There is a montage that shows US military ships sunk by an unknown creature but that's about it. This all happens in the South Pacific though. Edit- main character name is KO-ichi.. Not Kyochi.
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts. I thought for sure there was a reference to SF, and Godzilla, but it may have just been a “monster”. It leads the audience to believe it was him.
I also didn’t remember it saying anything about an attack on San Francisco, but Monarch: Legacy of Monsters came out around the same time, and it did have references to the attack on San Francisco, so it would be easy to accidentally mix up that detail. I do remember them saying something about ships being attacked by a monster, and obviously they come across the destroyed ship. Also the islanders have legends about a monster they call Godzilla, or Gojira. I was avoiding saying the names because I didn’t want to say them wrong. I was trying to pay attention to enunciation while watching, but it is hard to read subtitles and listen to a foreign language and make out the pronunciation. I also noticed that they more often referred to him by his last name, or called him Mr. Shikishima.
I have yet to see this movie, but I love movies in original language with subtitles. Shin Godzilla I have both the dubbed and subtitles and Japanese versions.
I think I have only seen the dubbed version of Shin Godzilla. I don’t mind either way, except when I am watching it while doing something else, because I have to actively be watching with subtitles.
Overhyped - Godzilla is a 7,5 but only if you enjoy Japanese War movies like Kaiten, Yamato etc. The story is lacking, the ending demands suspension of disbelief. However the scenes with G. are looking nice and the water action is plainly beatuiful. No match with Mechagodzilal smashing G´s face into skyscrapers again and again.
Ha! I liked it better than the 2014 and 2019 films. It reminded me more of the classics from the 60s. I think some of the acting was a bit over the top but I am ok with that considering it’s a Godzilla movie.
It wasn’t overhyped for me, I really didn’t know what to expect. As it was, I was expecting something more on the level of Shin Godzilla, but ended up with an actual story and interesting characters. As far as suspension of disbelief… I guess I agree, but 50 Meter monsters destroying Tokyo requires quite a bit of suspension of disbelief, as does the super fast regeneration after his head blows up from the mine. So seeing what remains of Godzilla regenerating seemed in keeping with what was set up. But I do appreciate your perspective. 7.5 isn’t a bad score. I too love seeing MechaGodzilla smashing Godzilla’s face into skyscrapers!
Godzilla is at $52.2M worldwide so far, and $25.5M here in the US.
This movie is a major success by all measures. It has already made back more than three and a half times it's budget, has been number three at the box office since it was released in the US, still has a 97% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and 98% Audience score weighed down mostly by troll reviews, like the one star review saying it is the worst movie ever.
This is one of my most anticipated films of the year, and it did not disappoint. This is probably the best storyline for any Godzilla film that I have seen.
Yes, we were both pretty excited to see this film! Thanks for inviting me to be a part of this podcast.
I am glad to hear it. I have been worried about how Godzilla has been doing, but it sounds like he is crushing it.
@@davidcapps4897I see what you did there… that’s pretty good. Made me laugh.
I really enjoyed this review. I am not a Godzilla aficionado but now I definitely want to see this film. Thanks for your very perspective and in depth thoughts.
@@user-fc7vn1bl5t Thanks for listening the Heath and my comments. We love discussing filmmaking and how it all comes together.
The scene you mention about the reporters on the building is very interesting. One of the hallmarks of Godzilla films, every time he goes to Tokyo he destroys the Tokyo Tower. The tower itself was not built until the mid 50s. So I thought that was a lovely effort to get the cityscape right for the setting.
I really enjoyed that scene. As the reporters fall during the collapse, they essentially fall to infinity. You never see them hit the ground or any blood etc. They just drop off until you can’t see them. That happens throughout the film. Lots of destruction but not really any blood.
Thanks for pointing that out. I think a lot of thought went into how this story was told. I think they really wanted to do things right.
こちら日本！
観に行って下さってありがとうございます！
ありがとうございました😊
Growing up. I have seen so many different spin-offs off of Godzilla. It will be interesting to see how this one holds up to what I grew up with as a child, as I am a big fan of the Godzilla films.
@@stevenhartshorn9133 you’ll have to see it soon, it may only be in theaters for a week.
@@stevenhartshorn9133
この感動を共有でき、大変うれしく思っております！
ありがとうございます！！
この感動を共有でき、大変嬉しく思うと共に、幸福です！
有難うございます！！
Having just seen GM1 this evening, my impression is because this movie is a Japanese production, it doesn't rely on the same old American tropes I've gotten bored with. It's not complicated with subplots, constant in-jokes, and other intrigues. It's a simple story, effectively told with characters I can feel for. Godzilla is scary as hell because people are visibly dying underfoot and he's deliberately causing destruction rather than collateral damage from him mindlessly strolling through Tokyo. The way Godzilla is framed from a worms-eye view looking upward is effective too.
Good points. I agree with the American version being somewhat lacking. I really enjoyed this version, including the Japanese dialogue.
It is kind of a simple story, but the characters are interesting, and some quite funny. I don’t know why so many modern films seem to struggle to make characters you actually like or relate to, but that is not a problem here. Even the neighbor who resents him when he comes back, softens. The movie has heart. I also really like how scary Godzilla is, especially in the first island attack, but also in the water. There are so many things to like about this film.
@@postpublishing6377 Upon further thought, this Japanese Godzilla feels sincere, whereas American cinema tries too hard to impress, oftentimes not living up to its hype. In Hollywood, $15M would cover a low-budget comedy, drama or slasher flick; Japanese cinema produces a blockbuster for the same price.
Because America is so politically divided, the inclusion I saw in GM1 was a breath of fresh air to me. GM1 is about acceptance, redemption, people coming together as family, community and city in the face of adversity.
@@hendrsb33 yeah, this movie didn’t seem to be politically motivated other than to show how bad war, and especially post war is. It is much more about trying to rebuild a life after devastation.
I really enjoyed this film. I appreciated the authenticity of it, coming out of Japan - the native language and landscape. I didn’t mind the subtitles at all. I feel they added to the cinematic experience.
I didn’t mind the subtitles either. My challenge was listening closely enough to how they pronounced the names so I wouldn’t butcher them too much in the video. I think I failed, but they also switch between first and last names a lot which adds to the challenge.
@@CinemaTechnicaYes, the names were a bit of a challenge to get a handle on.
Horrible movie. Massively overrated and totally ridiculous. I love the Godzilla films but have no idea why they decided to make this one non-American speaking, I'm guessing they decided on foreigns because their limitations probably make them cheaper or what. But I do know totally race swapping the cast with non-American speakers made in not only 💯 unrealistic but also impossible to follow. I have no idea how this connects to the previous movies or why it was in the past. I only hope next year's film gets a bigger budget and cast actors who actually speak American
@@BarryBerryBarry The film was made in Japan by Japanese companies with local actors, etc. That was their #1 market. It was released there first. Legendary is the company that makes the US films. A different company.
@@postpublishing6377I think this is meant as a joke.
I like the fact that there is a bunch references to GMK (Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All Out Attack 2001), because in GMK Godzilla’s heart was at the bottom of the ocean still beating, which is similar to the part of Godzilla regenerating as it sinks to the depths in Minus One. Hopefully they do something with this since there wasn’t a sequel to either GMK or Shin Godzilla.
Thanks for watching. I am also hoping that there is a follow up to this film, presented in an equally cinematic format.
Yeah, there were a lot of GMK references. It and Gojira 1954 were the two biggest influences on the film.
@@CinemaTechnicawe also get to see Godzilla on Odo Island before his mutation from the H-bomb, a clear reference to the Godzillasaurus from Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991)!
@@postpublishing6377 director Yamazaki is already considering a sequel!
@@christiandenault7606 That is great to hear! Having the same director would keep the quality consistent.
Godzilla made $11M here in the US, and $34M worldwide this weekend.
It finished third behind Beyoncé’s new “film”, and the new Hunger Games movie. But ahead of Trolls, Wish, and Napoleon. Hopefully that will warrant extending the release.
The best special effect and most awe inspiring scene of the movie for me was when Godzilla did his atomic blast breadth on the Ginza district. The after effects of the blast was just like a true atomic blast.
Absolutely! That was a highlight for me too. The sound was incredible, and the fact that the wind came back to knock down the buildings was awesome!
It was definitely a great effect!
It succeeds based on the classic principles of Greek tragedy like Oedipus Rex where the world conflict exactly reflects the conflict within the protagonist. Layered deep complex, passionate and human
The fact that Japan is reeling from their WWII loss is a great setting for this film as it reflects the anger and desperation survivors are faced with. It also connects with how the lead character gets a job and ultimately comes in contact with Godzilla again.
There was definitely the intention to mirror the horror of war, and the lasting damage to the psyche of both those in the war and those touched by the war. I think it is also intended to remind people of the horrors of war. For most people war is something that happens in far away countries, but this shows how wars, especially world wars, are incredibly destructive, and takes any glamor away from the idea of it. I think Godzilla in films like this represents that same kind of destruction that war can bring. Sometimes war is necessary, but it comes at an incredible cost.
I agree that it is layered, complex, passionate, and human. I certainly connected with the characters and cared about them. That wasn’t something I was expecting.
Who wouldn't like a movie about a gigantic beast looking to wreak havoc on mankind!
Absolutely! As a kid, I fantasized about being able to pick up a bus or step on a building.
I don’t know how you couldn’t.
The King has never been better!!
I really liked the film and the way Godzilla looked. His death ray was very cool and the sound was huge!
I think he looked great!
I saw Minus 1 Sunday, and I loved it.
Cool! Yes, there was a lot to enjoy!!
Me too. Good movie.
I would recommend you guys to watch the Japanese Shin Godzilla. This version of Godzilla is tragic and scary.
I would like to check it out some time. Thanks for the recommendation.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen Shin, but my son and I are renting it later today to watch sometime in the next couple of days. I remember all of the meetings, which I believe was a commentary on the inefficiency of bureaucracy, as it relates to Fukushima. I also admit that Shin is one of the creepiest looking Godzillas when he is metamorphosing, with the buggy eyes.
Best Godzilla movie ever 😍❤❤❤❤
It really was enjoyable! Godzilla, and the film as a whole, looked great!
I think you are probably right. I don’t think I have seen a Godzilla movie I enjoyed as much, and it definitely has the best storyline I’ve seen in a Godzilla movie.
Funny about the ratings. I literally watched Godzilla minus one 3 times (yes i loved it that much). I watched it in 3 different theaters and apparently it was rated R in one of the theaters where they asked us for our ID's which i found kinda funny.
That is weird that it got an R rating? It was clearly labeled PG-13. There really isn’t much blood, just destruction.
I think someone was confused.
I’m really excited this movie finally came out. Can’t wait to see it. Thanks for the insight.
I’d recommend seeing it soon while it is still in theaters.
If you are a Godzilla fan, you will really like this movie.
I would think a movie like this is definitely best seen on a big screen to get the full effect of being immersed into this world. @@CinemaTechnica
@@diannezarlengo4145yeah, this is definitely best experienced in the encompassing environment of a good theater. It funny, because tv’s are so big now, and have great sound, but there is still something special about sitting in a theater with a huge screen and great surround sound, but there is also the aspect of sharing the energy of the audience who is watching it with you.
I would not have even thought about seeing since it’s been redone so many times. Thanks for sharing how much you were looking forward to it.
I enjoyed it. It brought me back to my youth and the great times I had watching the older films on TV as a kid.
Yeah, I was curious, but I’m not sure I would have seen it in the theater, except that my son is such a big fan that I wanted to see it in the theater with him. He also got me pretty excited to see it. I’m really glad I did!
They could have removed Godzilla entirely from the film and I would still have been enthralled. I am a sucker for "coward at war gets a chance at redemption" stories.
Ha. That’s a good point. I love seeing stories about foreign cultures, so I could appreciate imagery of the people and cities. I also like the WWII timeframe.
I may be a sucker for that kind of story too. The narrative story does stand on its own, though Godzilla gives him his opportunity for redemption.
Great review! Enjoy your commentary as always.
Thanks for tuning in!
Thanks for always watching!
Looking forward to seeing this! Loving the look on things with this show.
Thanks for tuning in David! We appreciate it. Definitely go see the film!
Awesome! Let me know what you think when you do.
Dang it you guys!! Now I have another "must see" added to my growing list of new movies. Love the way you both bring unique views about different aspects of the film (cinematography, plot, character development and so on). All of that creates a very well thought out and balanced review. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for watching and the feedback! We love doing these breakdowns. There’s a lot to appreciate from a filmmaking standpoint.
Thanks! It’s been fun just talking about films. Marc and I end up talking about films anyway, and I always enjoy the conversations a lot, so it just made sense to capture some of them and share them with other movie lovers.
This was a great review, and definitely will have me catching the movie in a theater. TBH, I’ve never liked most of the Japanese Godzilla movies, and probably would’ve skipped this one entirely. Now I want to go see it. Good job, guys!!
Thanks for the comment. This film will be a hit with Godzilla fans and is appealing to casual fans too. Worth seeing in the cinema as opposed to streaming.
Definitely go see it. If enough people see it, maybe they will extend the theatrical release enough for the hype to build so a larger audience can be exposed to it in a theatrical environment.
I agree. I want to see it too after this review!
@@diannezarlengo4145yeah, I didn’t think I’d be recommending this to people who aren’t Godzilla fans.
I would see it, but temper your expectations. If you go in expecting just another Japanese Godzilla movie and not " movie of the year" you'll enjoy it
I really didn't have an interest in seeing this film. The last time I saw a Godzilla movie was when my nephew was about 7 (he's 28 now) , and he loved Godzilla v. Mothra . I saw THAT movie more times than I can count. I thought I was done with Godzilla after he grew up, but now, after this review, I want to see the movie!
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed our evaluation. I think you will genuinely enjoy this film. Godzilla looks great and the story is fun!!
@@postpublishing6377the story is good, and the movie is enjoyable. But I’m not sure I would call the story fun. It’s kind of dark, but it has great payoff.
With so many Godzilla movies, it’s easy to assume this will be just another cheesy low budget monster movie, but that is definitely not what this is.
Godzilla Minus One still has a 97% Critic Score and 98% Audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with over 2500 reviews. It would be even higher if not for troll reviews like the one star reviews that say it is the worst movie ever, which no one would actually believe. It really is that good of a movie. It's not perfect, but highly enjoyable. Makes you wonder how such an enjoyable and highly rated movie, isn't listed in any category as Variety's predictions for Oscar Nominations. Yet disappointing movies like Napoleon, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Poor Things are predicted in many categories. It seems like something is broken in Hollywood.
Hollywood is probably broken because Godzilla crushed it.😂
I am not sure why anyone would criticize this film or give it less than a top rating. I am excited to see the US film this spring.
Loved this movie!! Personally, i dont think this movie needs a sequal.
It doesn’t need a sequel, but I think when people really enjoy a film they want more.
That was a great review!
Thanks for the compliment and for tuning in. We are hoping to do more reviews going forward. And check out some of our recent commentary on Napoleon, The Creator and Killers of the Flower Moon.
Thanks! We are trying to give some insight into details of the making of the movies, not just our opinions. Some of our other videos we talk about things we discovered talking to the directors, editors, vfx supervisors and other people involved in actually making the movies.
Godzilla Minus One is now available on Netflix!
He caused it, he could have killed Goijira in his Godzillasaurus form on Odo Island but chickened out.
True! But, could he have actually killed him? Or, would his fighter plane’s machine gun only anger him and accelerate his growth?
I don’t think it would have killed him, if he regenerates when his head explodes, large bullets are just going to make him mad.
I was being a bit provocative with the comment. I think not only is the best Godzilla film ever, it might be one of the greatest moving pictures I’ve ever seen. I saw it on the 5th December at the BFI IMAX in London and my goodness it was a magical experience. I laid off watching any reviews till I saw it myself and since then I’ve done a bit of review binge and I am surprised that no one seems to be talking about the possibility I raised. It’s an interesting talking point about cinematic gold. 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵
@@postpublishing6377see new comment. 👍
@@CinemaTechnicasee new comment 👍
Thank you for your sincere and thorough review of “Godzilla Minus One.”
I apologize for the comments I made in other review videos. However, there are some new additions to this comment.
I'm 55 years old Japanese. My friend's father (age 66) (who passed away a few years ago at the age of 90) told me about his war experience. Near the end of the war, the area near Ginza, where this movie is set, was bombed. . My friend's father had come to Tokyo to take his university entrance exams, and just then, he was involved in an accident that caused the Yurakucho Station (which was located behind the theater that Godzilla destroyed with his tail in the movie) to collapse. Ta. Most of the people who had been around him just a moment ago died in an instant. One of the Japanese officers nearby was still saluting, his body torn in two, upper and lower body. His mother, who was nearby with her baby in her arms, had disappeared. Several students nearby survived in the rubble. But even decades after going through that hellish scene, my friend's father said, ``I never once thought to myself that I was lucky to have survived that place.''
I watched this movie thinking about how much hell there was.
It's true that it's a movie, so there are a lot of convenient scenes.
However, when a disaster actually occurs, the obvious does not always come true. Although the building was located at ground zero in Hiroshima and was not very sturdy, some people said they survived unscathed because they were in the shadow of it. According to the survivor, the person across the street was instantly reduced to a charred corpse. Some people reportedly went missing.
And while there have been many tragedies in wars and disasters, there have also been some miracles.
Interesting details about this movie. The hospital that appears at the end is a Christian hospital because the nurses' clothes and the interior of the hospital rooms are unique. Godzilla uses his atomic breath to blow away the National Diet Building, which was the place where the tanks were firing, and then blows up Ginza with the blast wave reflected from there. People near Nichigeki were blown down Harumi-dori toward Kachidoki Bridge. In fact, in that direction, a little further away from Kachidoki Bridge, is St. Luke's Hospital, which was established in 1901. This hospital is known as the place where many people were taken during the Aum Shinrikyo subway sarin attack. It's a very realistic setting.
I would like to add one more piece of information that I just remembered.
My friend's father was from Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, and his classmate at the same elementary school was Haruo Nakajima, who served as the suit actor for the first Godzilla in 1954.
A few years before the war began, when the two were in elementary school, Nakajima ate his friend's father's bento without permission, and they got into a big fight. His friend's father remembers the story well. ``Mr. Nakajima was an unusual person,'' said his friends, but in his later years his Alzheimer's disease progressed, and while hospitalized he was often plagued by hallucinations of being engulfed in air raid flames. I was horrified that even though more than half a century had passed, my war experiences would not disappear until I died.
Sorry for the long post.
I hope Google Translate reflects it correctly.
Please do not misunderstand this as a story of resentment towards the United States. I have no such petty malice. However, this is just a side note about the film's direction and setting, and is meant to explain that it faithfully recreates the tragic conditions of an atomic bombed city. Also, I don't need any "sorry" comments. lol
@@tedkurokawa4161 Thanks for watching and for the detailed comments. It’s interesting to hear how the film tried to stay true to the actual time period directly after the war. The US audience might not pick up on that, but I’m sure the viewers in Japan will appreciate it. I personally enjoy hearing about WWII history. I’m glad the filmmakers accurately portrayed what was happening in Japan in the early/mid 1940s.
Thanks for sharing all of that really interesting information and stories. It’s cool to hear about those specific details.
@@CinemaTechnica Thanks!
In the beginning, the protagonist isn't freezing up, but deliberately evading doing what was seen his "duty" as a kamikaze pilot to die honorably for a cause they all knew was lost. He only freezes once Godzilla shows up.
That's a valid point, but I think they are both driven by his fear. I don't think he was logically thinking, "Hey, we've already lost, it doesn't make sense that I die too, how do I get out of this?" I think he just couldn't will himself to do it. We see him at other times, where his fear takes over, preventing him from acting, but in the scene before he attacks Godzilla at the end, he looks down at his shaking hand, but he is able to stabilize it and actually go out to fight Godzilla, and likely die.
I am not sure if her really froze up when Godzilla appeared. Personally, I thought he was aware of his .22 caliber gun’s ineffectiveness and thought firing at him might have only drawn attention to him. I saw it more as self preservation.
I don't think masterpiece is overstating it. It truly is 👏 I was fortunate enough to take my son and grandson and I think it will be a good lifetime memory for all of us.
I saw it with my son, and it was also a great memory we have of it together. It is a really good movie!
That is great to hear. The films I saw as a kid definitely stuck with me, and they were by no means as sophisticated as this film.
@postpublishing6377 I agree. I've always been a fan of Godzilla movies ever since I saw them growing up in the 70's. Gonna take all my grandkids to this next one in the IMAX theater, and they're all excited to go. Should be a fun trip.
Check out ANIMAL released this week.
Best R rated film this year
I didn’t know about that film. I’ll have to look into it. Thanks.
Looks interesting, and really violent.
I have never had an issue with a foreign film where I have to read subtitles but, then again, I am literate. In almost every case when I have heard someone complain about having to read subtitles it is because they "hate" to read and are funciionally illiterate.
They did it to themselves because of their own laziness.
I don’t have an issue with it either. I actually kind of enjoy it at times, particularly Japanese films. In our Napoleon podcast, I mentioned that I might have preferred French dialogue with subtitles. That might have been too much to ask for more of a mainstream release. Audiences can be fickle. I hope it doesn’t deter people from seeing this film.
I wasn’t concerned about it having subtitles because of illiteracy ;) I was just worried that if there was a lot of fast, overlapping dialogue, while I was trying to pay attention to the visual effects, I might miss something. As it turns out it was a non-issue.
@@CinemaTechnica I agree. This was well paced and it never felt like the dialogue was running too quickly to keep up.
Like many film works created by Japan, (Spirited Away, Akira, etc) this movie is also a Masterpiece of filmmaking and storytelling. Its the best film I have seen in American theaters in the last 8-9 years given the nonsense Hollywood likes to produce these days (with some exceptions). For some reason American studios tend to produce more cheap cash grab, hip hop, Fast and Furious kind of product or feminist driven content.
I kind of feel like Hollywood primarily produces movies that prioritize things other than what the audience wants. This movie seemed to know who its audience is, and what they want to see.
I agree that the Marvel movies and Fast and Furious movies tend to dominate here in the US. I think that’s why studios always seem to go for these over the top releases. I actually prefer a story-driven film myself.
The recent American Godzilla movies have been horrid. I can't wait to see a good one. Without this review I would not have known it existed.
I saw the “American” films in recent years, and I enjoyed them to an extent, but I felt that they lacked a certain amount of that Japanese aesthetic that the films I grew up watching had to them. Even the English dubbing added a fun element to it that I enjoyed back in the day.
This is definitely going to appeal to classic Toho Godzilla fans, especially those who are fans of Gojira 1954 and GMK 2001, which I has a bunch of references to. But where it departs from most of Toho’s movies, is that it isn’t campy. It’s more serious and scary, with a compelling plot and characters. I really believe that even non Godzilla fans can enjoy it for the story.
I've been a Godzilla fan for 50 years and this was just ok. 6 out of 10.
Interesting. I wonder what you didn’t like about it compared to past films?
Was it that there was too much focus on the characters and their story and not enough Godzilla? Which are your top Godzilla films?
You can read my review on Metacritic same name. As a Godzilla movie it's decent. Let's be honest, none of the Godzilla movies were amazing "films"... We just love Godzilla doing his thing! I like that they tried to make the human elements the focus, it's the execution of it that is the problem for me. I'm expected to take this human story seriously and there's glaring script issues right in the first 10 minutes of the movie and it continues throughout.
I was expecting so much more because of everyone saying this is the best movie of 2023, etc. and ultimately it's just your typical Japanese Godzilla movie with all the expected eye-rolling script/dialogue problems and plot holes with just a nicer coat of paint.
I would still rather watch the latest King of Monsters for a modern Godzilla or what I feel is the best modern giant monster movie of all time, King Kong Skull Island. That movie is just perfect in my opinion. Make a Godzilla movie with a pace and script as exciting as that movie then we are talking.
The best part of Godzilla -1 is the boat chase segment. The effects overall range from very good (the opening scene) to jarringly bad (the first appearance in the city). Unfortunately, once I noticed the bad, I couldn't move past it and it was hard to take the movie's serious parts "seriously". It's just another Godzilla movie... Which is fine.
I feel like the movie is over hyped, and that certainly set my expectations high. I was so excited to go see this. Angry Joe, Chris Stuckman and dozens of other big reviewers I follow were all saying this was not just the best Godzilla movie ever, but possibly the best movie of the year.
It ended up just a decent Godzilla movie. I saw it Saturday night in a half full theater, and there were 2 moments in the movie where many people, including myself, just laughed out loud and it certainly wasn't a part of the movie intended to get a laugh. Quite the opposite in fact.
I literally got a case of the giggles from that point because I was really trying to love this movie but the script and dialogue just kept hammering away at my suspension of disbelief until the drama was just not hitting for me anymore.
For act three I just rolled with the glaring, yet typical, Godzilla movie plot problems and tried to enjoy the movie for what it was... a Japanese Godzilla movie.
@@warlok9 I am by no means claiming that this is the best film of the year. I just shared that it was well received in Japan and that if you are a Godzilla fan, you are more than likely to enjoy it. I did get a laugh at a few points. And I think the acting was a bit much in a few scenes, like where Kiochi repeatedly bangs his head against the table. But I thought the VFX were great. I prefer this Godzilla over the past 2 US releases.
@warlok9 You make great points. I don't think it is the best movie of the year, but I found it to be really enjoyable, and like I said in the video, it was a lot better than I was expecting it to be. I guess it wasn't over hyped for me because I wanted to go into it without expectations. So I guess I was expecting a Godzilla film with a silly, or undeveloped plot. I got something much more, and I still think the first attack on the island was reminiscent of Jurassic Park, and the boat scenes reminded me of the feeling of Jaws. I also liked the characters, which I can't say of the characters in Killers of the Flower Moon or Napoleon.
no reference in Minus One to any attack on San Francisco. That's Legendary's narrative. There is a montage that shows US military ships sunk by an unknown creature but that's about it. This all happens in the South Pacific though. Edit- main character name is KO-ichi.. Not Kyochi.
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts. I thought for sure there was a reference to SF, and Godzilla, but it may have just been a “monster”. It leads the audience to believe it was him.
I also didn’t remember it saying anything about an attack on San Francisco, but Monarch: Legacy of Monsters came out around the same time, and it did have references to the attack on San Francisco, so it would be easy to accidentally mix up that detail. I do remember them saying something about ships being attacked by a monster, and obviously they come across the destroyed ship. Also the islanders have legends about a monster they call Godzilla, or Gojira. I was avoiding saying the names because I didn’t want to say them wrong. I was trying to pay attention to enunciation while watching, but it is hard to read subtitles and listen to a foreign language and make out the pronunciation. I also noticed that they more often referred to him by his last name, or called him Mr. Shikishima.
I have yet to see this movie, but I love movies in original language with subtitles. Shin Godzilla I have both the dubbed and subtitles and Japanese versions.
I think you will enjoy this in Japanese with English subtitles. It really becomes pretty part of the experience and invisible pretty quickly.
I think I have only seen the dubbed version of Shin Godzilla. I don’t mind either way, except when I am watching it while doing something else, because I have to actively be watching with subtitles.
Cool Godzilla is nice. . But scary godzilla is even nicer
I agree!
Ha ha!! I agree!! Can never be too big, too scary or too destructive!
Overhyped - Godzilla is a 7,5 but only if you enjoy Japanese War movies like Kaiten, Yamato etc. The story is lacking, the ending demands suspension of disbelief. However the scenes with G. are looking nice and the water action is plainly beatuiful. No match with Mechagodzilal smashing G´s face into skyscrapers again and again.
Ha! I liked it better than the 2014 and 2019 films. It reminded me more of the classics from the 60s. I think some of the acting was a bit over the top but I am ok with that considering it’s a Godzilla movie.
It wasn’t overhyped for me, I really didn’t know what to expect. As it was, I was expecting something more on the level of Shin Godzilla, but ended up with an actual story and interesting characters. As far as suspension of disbelief… I guess I agree, but 50 Meter monsters destroying Tokyo requires quite a bit of suspension of disbelief, as does the super fast regeneration after his head blows up from the mine. So seeing what remains of Godzilla regenerating seemed in keeping with what was set up. But I do appreciate your perspective. 7.5 isn’t a bad score. I too love seeing MechaGodzilla smashing Godzilla’s face into skyscrapers!
@@CinemaTechnica I think he means how is Godzilla standing and fighting waist-high in 15000 meter deep water for the final act.
That was pretty ridiculous.