Godzilla is my favorite movie series, and own all 32 currently home-released Toho Godzilla films on DVD, plus I’ve seen the Netflix anime Godzilla S.P. and the the shitty American Godzilla movies. I’ve even reached out into the expanded franchise and seen all the Mothra movies and the original Rodan. It feels pretentious to call myself a Godzilla expert as there’s still always more to learn with a series as historically significant and long-running as Godzilla, but I am definitely a diehard fan of the series, and I agree - this is one of the best kaiju movies ever made. I was absolutely blown away by it.
@@kaijucobalt2064Can't truly call yourself a massive Godzilla fan and say that the Legendary Godzilla series is shitty with a straight face. That's your opinion of course, but is also ground for disqualification. Trust me, bro. I'm an expert on the internet. While the worst is certainly that 1998 Godzilla movie, there have been plenty of Toho Godzilla movies that are objectively far worst. Still, when it comes to the human element, Godzilla Minus One is certainly the best Godzilla movie ever. You can take Godzilla out and you still have one hell of a great historical war drama. No question about it. But when it comes to Godzilla itself, well, that all depends on what type of Godzilla you're in the mood for. For example. There have been plenty of Godzilla movies where the action and destruction feels better and far more brutal. Minus One was so minimal and derivative of the previous movies that it lacked uniqueness and impact. And I'm talking about the city sections. Apart from the Atomic Blast, the land sections were underwhelming. Shin, Legendary, 1985, and a few other look and feel so much better in this area. On the other hand. the water sections were a blast in Minus One and it definitely takes the crown for sure. Also, that Netflix Singular Point Anime was pure trash. Planet of the Monsters on the other hand, while excessive, was kinda cool. If you can get past the glacial pacing that is and some wonky logic as per usual. Regardless, Minus One is clearly a MASSIVE step up from Shin Godzilla and a direction I do hope they keep going in. Something that the first Legendary Godzilla almost had with Cranston's character before it got killed off and the movie went with "Nah! Fudge it. Let them Fight!" instead. Still, with all that said, Minus One, in general, certainly sits at the top of the Serious Godzilla versions for sure.
@@SimpleSlave I respect your opinions stated here and your right to have them, but we’ll have to agree to disagree on what’s “objectively” good and bad. To be fair, I do actually think G14 and Skull Island are pretty decent, but KOTM and GvK are just not what I want out of a Godzilla movie - in my opinion, the dialogue in them was pretty cringe and the human characters were mostly generic and insufferable, which is not the case with the overwhelming majority of Toho Godzilla movies. More importantly though, the thing about them that really aggravated me - KOTM especially - was how they, in my opinion, present a message that runs counter to the idea of what Godzilla is. While obviously as the Godzilla series went on it stopped being as dark as the original and created several more lighthearted movies that weren’t all about nuclear destruction, they at least still respected that idea - for example, in Godzilla Vs Megalon, for as goofy as it is, the Seatopians are portrayed as a society that was forced underground by nuclear testing and had to lash out using Megalon as their only resort. Godzilla vs Hedorah still puts the responsibility to take care of the Earth, like in Mothra Vs Godzilla before it, in the hands of the humans who live in it. Hell, even ones as obscure as like Godzilla vs Megaguirus still have some kind of thematic continuity with what the Godzilla series has historically stood for. Even the Anime Trilogy everyone loves to shit on does. And the ones that don’t really address those topics at least don’t contradict or disrespect them outright. Except the American ones. In KOTM the military using a nuke saves the day and radiation heals the environment, absolving humans of all responsibility, and the military “accidentally” kills Godzilla. It reminds me of a quote Shusuke Kaneko, the director of GMK said at the time Zilla 1998 came out - “Americans seem unable to accept a creature that cannot be put down by their arms.” Even though it was portrayed as an “accident” in KOTM, they didn’t accidentally write that plot point into the script. The military has successfully “killed” Godzilla in both American adaptations of the series. The use of radiation and nuclear bombs by the military in KOTM objectively has a positive outcome. You can’t get more anti-Godzilla then that, in my opinion. But even all that aside, as I understand that those things are not as important to some fans as they are to me - it’s not like the MV movies are some kind of masterpiece if you just overlook that. The dialogue and characters and general plots take a nose dive in quality after Skull Island. Gonorrhea? The constant jokes about the tap water being a conspiracy in GvK? Vera Farmiga’s whole ridiculous plan with the Orca? Really their only redeeming quality is that the action in them is decent enough as Hollywood CGI monster/disaster movies go, but plenty of Godzilla movies have great action. Yeah, Godzilla and Kong’s fight in GvK is admittedly super cool, but was it more thrilling than the final battle between Godzilla and Kiryu in Tokyo SOS? Or Godzilla’s duel with Biollante? To me, not really. So, while I see where you’re coming from and I’m glad the Legendary movies give you enjoyment, I stand my by opinion. They’re not for me, and that doesn’t make me “not a massive Godzilla fan.” I just care about and enjoy different aspects of the series than you, so I like ones you don’t like, and you like ones I don’t like, and that’s fine. We’re mostly on the same page about Minus One’s quality though, the human story in it was gripping all by itself. It’s truly a landmark entry in the series.
Me and my 5 year old saw it yesterday. Him squeezing my arm telling me it’s the best movie ever throughout the movie made it worth seeing it in theater.
How did a 5 year old do w/ the initial attack on the island? I warded a buddy off, b/c he's got an 8 year old and the movie is a lot heavier than what many people expect from a Kaiju film. My 10 year old enjoyed it, honestly it's a good family movie - everyone in the entire family found a lot to enjoy about it.
@@patron7906 we’ve watched a lot of movies together over the years so it was mild for what we’ve seen together. Not saying I watch horror movies with him but he loves big epic action movies. Especially Godzilla movies
@@HarrisaSports no he does not. He was able to watch and understand most of the human interaction based on emotions though. There were times he was completely lost in the sauce.
Just got back from seeing it a second time, this time on an IMAX screen. The friend I brought was in tears when the lights came back on. As someone who hated the American Godzilla movies, I am overjoyed to have actual real Toho kaiju back in theaters in the US. It’s so rare that Godzilla movies get general releases here that I’m gonna try to soak it up as much as I can. I might even go see it a third time because who knows how long it will be until we get another one. Glad to hear you enjoyed it too, it’s amazing what they were able to pull off on a budget smaller than what most Disney+ TV show episodes have. Great review! 🤘
I saw this movie last Wednesday. Godzilla Minus One is one of the best Godzilla movies since the original. Godzilla Minus One took the original and Shin Godzilla but making their own twist with creative characters, themes and visuals.
As someone who is currently going thru quite a bit of grief from losing my parents, Godzilla represented my own grief (plus, obviously, the main character) almost pefectly. Terrifying, overpowering, and making one feel completely helpless. I cried at the end because he was finally able to defeat it, and didn't have to kill himself (suicide) to do so. It was fucking beautiful.
I watched it yesterday and loved it. The human story was inanely emotional. I’m glad I saw it by myself because I’ve never shed so many tears watching a movie before. If you connect with the characters the way I did you’ll have the same experience. It’s all about love and loss.
That shot of Koichi looking at Noriko’s photo in the plane right before [you know- no spoilers here] just killed me. In fact all of their scenes together were brilliant. I respect that director Yamazaki didn’t feel the need for excessive cutaways and instead let shots linger on his actors. A sign of respect and trust in his leads.
I haven’t seen anyone else mention this (though surely someone has) but I believe that shot in the plane you mention is a reference to the first 1950s Godzilla sequel, Godzilla Raids Again (Gigantis The Fire Monster in US) which had almost the exact same shot at the same point in the film.
i think it’s more about purpose. riyuu reason anxiety and inability to move forward. this was the sentiment of japanese during this time. godzilla was created as a vessel for artist to convoy those emotions and movie forward and making a pretty penny off that pain:) it’s important cause it payed a massive role in japanese entertainment industry. closing the chapters of our own trauma and moving forward no matter how difficult is a theme in many japanese movies and media. mae mukou susume
I was fully invested in this film. I cried three times. First time I rooted for the people. Oscar for best international film. I am emotionally spent after viewing this film.
Why do you think the budget was only $15 mil? Do you think it was because people get paid a lot less over there to work? Maybe the SFX people only make like $400 a week. People are so hung up on the budget, but can't take 1 minute to think about why the budget was able to be so low
@@nebularain3338like going to a japanese sweat shop and getting Nike sneakers real cheap. As long as you don't look past the price tag, and figure out why, you will be happy.
As a lifelong Godzilla fan when he showed up in Tokyo and they started playing my favorite version of the Godzilla March I had tears in my eyes that was the moment when it really set in I'm actually in a theater watching a toho Godzilla movie something I wanted to experience my whole life
this movie was a complete joy to watch! I stayed through the credits just to hear the score and was rewarded with a LOUD Godzilla scream right at the end
Saw this yesterday. I’m a guy who likes monster movies but I didn’t realize how much I appreciate a well-written story. Most movies today, especially monster movies, are missing the real human element. And because the director also oversaw the visuals (and put love into it) it makes for a much better film. I have to say it’s my favorite Godzilla movie… And I didn’t realize they made it for just $15M !!! WOW. The Japanese filmmakers definitely know what they’re doing. If I was Hollywood, I’d be embarrassed for sure.
8:12 Yes, it’s a cultural thing. Many Japanese movies love to let the scenes play out gradually and make the emotional investment a slow burn to the point that if you didn’t pay attention to it, you might feel bored and asleep but the emotional payoff will make the slow build up worth it.
Hello, I'm Japanese, but I don't think it's a cultural thing. I still think the script is poor and boring. Many Japanese people feel the same way. There was nothing new in the movie. What you see somewhere happens one after the other. This movie needs a screenwriter doctor. but! The great thing about being a director is that he takes advantage of his directing ability and low budget. I can't believe how he was able to do that. That's because his DIY spirit made it happen. I watched it 3 times and enjoyed it every time!
@@kickhoppersthis. the script isn’t anything special. but he did a good job with the budget but also focusing on certain themes that emotionally hit. i think this movie might have more impact on americans than japanese since japanese are used to it but for americans, its been a very long time since they had a movie that was proud, nationalistic like, passionate vs lecturing preaching hollywood. that’s why americans like this movie alot . i’m happy to see kamiki on the big screen. 😊but i think there was a lot of over acting it felt like a play😅 still good tho.
The surprising thing for me was finding a lot of it predictable but at the same time I couldn't help but tear up at the emotional moments. The actors really put in the work when it counted. The effects felt practical even though you knew there was a lot of CG. You could tell they were trying to recreate that classic feel (which they did). Just like with Shin Godzilla I appreciated the film so much more afterwards, than while I was watching it. LOL, I saw Train to Busan on a flight somewhere and I remember sitting in this uncomfortable seat while fighting back tears thinking "OMG why is this movie so good?"
This was a VERY well done movie! I saw it today. The story was great. The acting was great. The special effects were great. Far better than Shin Godzilla. This movie conveyed fear, survivors guilt, tragedy, love, determination, and brokenness. Normally I don't like to watch movies that have closed captions, but the captions in this movie didn't get in the way of watching the movie AT ALL. It wasn't fast paced, but it was never boring. It did keep moving along. This movie was great on so many levels. And they presented Godzilla as absolutely vicious in his desire to kill and destroy. Such a good movie and done on a MUCH smaller budget than other movies.
Behold, the ACTUAL Oppenheimer double feature. For real though, I loved this movie. The only gripe I could have is the acting can get melodramatic... But then, the character's are recovering from a war and have survivor's guilt, so it's understandable.
PTSD, Guilt, extreme economic hardships, all mixed together and while some of the acting was a bit much I STILL loved it and didn't mind that the human story consumed most of the runtime.
@@erutherfordnono if you understand japanese it’s over actinng😂 i love kamiki and i know he could do better. but there was a lot of theatrical level acting. watch tv shows or other stuff with the other actors and you’ll see. these guys are good this was over acting aka melodramatic
@@erutherfordthere is this movie kamiki is in where he’s a local new cop and well he participates in a murder coverup and u see the guilt driving him insane but need to still be composed and keep order of the island. boring movie but his performance was reallllly good. he was nds up shooting himself. i would suggest looking that up and you’ll see why people say over acting. it’s still good acting but it’s tooo over the top for the tone.
@@npcimknot958 I’m curious, have you seen Hirokazu Kore-eda’s movies? The child actors seem really good in them but I’m not sure as I don’t understand the language
Just came back from the theater. Was tearing up less than 5 minutes into it and ugly crying by the time the movie ended. I am distraught. An Easy A for me.
Cannot wait to see this! And only $15M? There’s no excuse for the Hollywood bloat we’ve been witnessing. I’m okay with extended personal journeys, probably because I’ve been inundated with so much slapdash character development in the stuff I’ve been watching lately. Bring on the emo!
I don't really care how much a movie costs. It's not like the ticket prices go up because the budget is high... all that matters is if it's a good movie, no matter the cost.
@@antcantcook960you’re a weirdo. I don’t like seeing movies bomb because their production budgets and ad costs far exceed what’s brought in. It has the domino effect of making studios even more risk adverse to new things and helping cement the death of mid-budget cinema. A lot of people’s livelihoods are affected by this crap. Ticket prices might not rise, but streaming costs will and people tend to get fired
The hint of sadness to me was the whole time im thinking these poor people have been through so much death and suffering and now this destructive force of nature just drops like another bomb on all them. My eyes watered several times in this film. Godzilla was relentless, devastating and simply terrifying. These people have been through enough. This was crazy. Favorite film not only this year but in years.
My theater had 4 people in it and that includes me & my buddy. I'm going to try to talk the wife [Japanese girl] into seeing it with me this weekend as this movie REALLY needs more ticket sales + word-of-mouth!!
Movie was absolutely incredible. I’ve noticed foreign films take an emphasis on making sure you connect with characters or at least 1 character. The bonding and sense of community, Godzilla was so horrifying and menacing, I really imagined myself there 🥹
Just finished seeing it and definitely will be watching it plenty more because of how well it was made, especially for the budget of 15 million. From the first scene of the big G, it was phenomonal there on. Shin was the standard for a Godzilla movie, Minus One shattered that and more.
I didn't expect much from this movie. I was blown away. This was the best movie of the year. And probably of the last few years. It's a heavy drama, that just happens to have a monster.
I LOVE the monsterverse Godzilla, but this may very well be the BEST Godzilla movie, EVER. I watched it last night with all my siblings, their partners and their kids, and they all loved it, especially the kids.
In terms of human character in Godzilla movie Virgin Bryan Cranston in Godzilla 2014 vs Chad Ryunosuke Kamiki in Godzilla Minus One (And if anyone thinks that his face looks familiar, he played as Sojirou, a psychopath villain in Rurouni Kenshin movies)
Pretty damned honest! I saw it yesterday and had nearly the same response. It was a refreshing thing to watch after the "blockbuster" trash we've been fed the last few years. You just earned yourself a sub!
I saw this yesterday. What an absolutely amazing cinematic experience. It wasn't just a monster movie. It was a story of a family and their struggle to survive. Their ups and downs. Their journey in life. The movie had so much heart. I can't recommend this movie enough. Movies like this need to succeed. We need more movies like this.
I mean...is anyone talking about the two year old girl? She was one of the best actors! What did they do, poke her with needles to make her cry? This movie was just amazing
Two-year-old girls are fickle. She wants to sleep right away, and she wants to cry. She is in a good mood when she wakes up from sleep. They shot the film in a way that suited her mood at the time. There are interviews that actors and directors were controlled by the girl.
When I auditioned, all the other two-year-olds didn't listen to me. But only this child would draw a picture if I asked him to. He didn't cry when his parents left him. So he was really supposed to play the part of a boy, but they changed the setting to a girl.
Agree 100% with you on this film! Whether intentional or not there’s the scene just after Godzilla unleashes his heat ray and as the gigantic cloud of devastation billows into the sky he lets out an angry roar as he watches it almost like he’s angry and seeks revenge at the thing that made him. Later at home it made me think of the scene in the western Tombstone when Doc Holiday explains to Wyatt Earp that Johnny Ringo seeks revenge. Wyatt asks “Revenge for what?” and Doc says “For being born.”
Saw it in theaters last night. My and my kids are big Godzilla fans and loved it. Even my wife, who isn't a Godzilla fan, liked it. Yes, the score was amazing. I personally love Godzilla's design, since in my opinion his Heisei design is the most iconic.
This movie accomplished what no other Godzilla movie has done before. It got me to care about the characters. When Godzilla is destroying everything, you feel it. You care about the people. I have never gotten that before in a monster movie like this. I got teary eyed in parts. That was just so refreshing. I want more movies like this! And he did this with $15 million dollars? The man is genius. I would give it a solid B, myself.
Exactly! I felt so much for them, Koichi's breakdowns had me on the verge of tears and Akiko sobbing was so heartbreaking, it really shows how much of a horrible monster Godzilla was, it was everything I have ever wanted in a Godzilla film and it left me in awe, This was the best Godzilla movie I have ever seen!
Since Yamazaki didn't have a huge budget, he had to really focus on a good story and special effects that helped tell the story rather than distract from it. That aside, it's been a long time since I've really been excited about seeing a movie. You did that and thanks!
Great review! I just watched it in IMAX with my daughter and we had a blast. I didn't know the budget was so low until I got home and my god, that's amazing. I agree that the schmaltz was a bit heavy, but the pacing and tone keep things going in a way that kept it from being a notable hindrance. Bits like 'have you finished your war?' had me roll my eyes a little, but move on well enough. Really happy to support this over the bland and insanely expensive western takes on the subject!
I saw this last night with my son and it was awesome! I got on my son’s nerves bec I guessed the two big reveals early and kept whispering to him “oh…I’ll bet…” or “I know what that is about!” And then I had to whisper “aaah I told you! I knew there was…” or bouncing in my seat whispering “I knew it! I knew it!” 😂. Also, during the climax, when it was completely silent, I found myself holding my breath! This wasn’t just a great Godzilla movie…..it’s a great movie movie! Everyone will love it even if you don’t know anything about Godzilla.
Im a big Godzilla fan and this movie made me feel something that i havent felt in any other Godzilla. They made me be hella terrified of Godzilla. Holy Godzilla in this movie is really scary
Just saw this a few hours ago. Absolutely loved it! Characters you actually care about, plenty of Godzilla screen time. Really hope we see a sequel in a few years.
So happy to hear you mention the music and sound. SUCH a big part of what made this film so perfect. Great recap! Definitely THE best movie I have ever seen in the theater, possibly favorite movie ever.
Brilliant review! I want to see it, wow that’s every dollar on screen! Fantastic production value for the budget! I love Godzilla but only the Japanese movies. Excited to see it especially based on your review! Originally Godzilla was a metaphor for the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings… This sounds like a brilliant continuation of the themes.
After seeing the movie last night I wonder if Godzilla is a symbol for something else. I have an idea of "what" in my mind but I may need a home viewing and some thought before I make any bold claims. Still if you want to see a movie that is as thought provoking as the original Godzilla then "Minus 1" is the movie to go see.
I was going to see Napoleon tomorrow,but,now with all the positive and GREAT reviews,I'm now going to see-GODZILLA. Plus Alachia is giving this film a-RAVE-review,that settles it for me. LOL. GOOD review as usual Alachia.
He said he wishes to direct a SW film. Honestly, the type of SW film he can make would probably resemble the originals! Great and lovable characters, even with their flaws. And it goes big when it needs to and pulls back when it needs to. A great balance. Absolutely loved it!
Haven't seen this movie yet, but i'm surprised how much she is praising the human story. Usually in Godzilla movie's the human stories are always written bad.
Another great video! Don't ever feel the need to apologize for making lengthy videos. You don't waste any time getting into the details many reviewers gloss over, and you maintain a charming and jovial personality while doing it. I can't wait until I have the time to give Godzilla Minus One a watch. Keep on being you, and you are appreciated
Haha I didn't really think he was surfing... just being a cool-looking biomechanical organism :) Awesome! I will check it out. Very much appreciated!@@Alachia
Never thought I would be crying at the end of Godzilla movie. At the end when he is crying and finally letting go of all that guilt and pain was the prefect way to end the movie…..but seeing a piece of Godzilla come back to life. It is like saying is it really truly over. Yes ever one see it on the big screen.
This might be the best movie of the year. I absolutely loved it. The love story, one of the final scenes with the mechanic and the pilot, the final scene!! And YES the music!! It was SO SO good!!
The film I expect the most at the end of the year. Since Shin Godzilla who has regained the disturbing and unhealthy spirit of the original film, I can't wait to see this iteration. Long live the Japanese-style malaise 😆😆😆 Merci beaucoup Alachia! You are back on track! ❤️❤️❤️
What an experience. This film is what you call ABSOLUTE CINEMA. Gojira really is the king. "Hollywood doesn't have action movie fatigue. It has bad movie fatigue."
I saw this yesterday - and went in blind, thought I was seeing an American style Godzilla style disaster/action movie, LOVED IT, also a shout out to you for your take on this filmed, subscribed!
Great review! That was a good analogy with Train To Busan because I remember when I first saw that movie, I did not like zombie movies, but that movie made me really feel for the characters and I was crying at the end just like with Godzilla Minus One.
As I was watching this movie I was thinking that this is how Godzilla should be portrayed. He's a cosmic horror, something unreachable but at the same time immediate, pervasive, and unavoidable. (or "inevitable" as Thanos might say) In other movies he's sometimes portrayed as a heroic entity that comes around when the world needs some saving. And I get that and can appreciate it when it's not too cheesy. But really this is what Godzilla is. You don't want him anywhere near you or your world. I was also thinking it would be fun to watch Hulk be unleashed to deal with the monster. Not MCU Hulk; that's not Hulk. I don't know who or what that is. But I mean real Hulk. Comic book Hulk, like Worldbreaker Hulk. The one who cracked the earth's crust by stomping really hard, or who stood under Manhattan island and held it up for a long time while the heroes were doing other stuff to save the day. Or who held up an entire mountain range when the Beyonder threw it on top of a group of our heroes. The problem is that the entire nation would end up being wrecked instead of just a couple of cities. But it might be fun to watch anyway.
I was so excited when Monarch came out and a few episodes in, I’m not very impressed yet. I’ll bet, for a television show, it has a much larger budget. I saw -1 last night and it’s by far the best Godzilla has to offer. I felt the look of Godzilla was reminiscent of the original but yet updated enough to make her relevant. I thought the score was a throwback and fit perfectly. As for the characters taking too much time to really show the turmoil of war, it’s clear, you’ve never served during wartime. The nightmares, guilt, broken relationship and pain were far subdued compared to real life trauma suffered by those who served during war. I can only imagine how much worse it was in Japan where dying was expected to earn honor.
Excellent review Alachia, I absolutely agree with the review although I did score it a bit higher than you, it's B+ movie from my perspective. This is an absolutely amazing movie in the kaijuu genre!
I just watched the movie. I nearly cried at the end. I HAVE to see this most amazing film again and soon! Fun fact. Robert Downey Jr was paid 75 million dollars for Avengers Endgame alone! Please show some support for this film. And you are right Alachia. Hollywood should take notes on this film.
I've seen Minus 1 twice and while you are entitled to your opinion, I think it's a solid B+ or even perhaps A-. It's not Citizen Kane or Seven Samurai but offers much more depth than most A list films I've seen in 2023. I also think the design is pretty spot on. Odo Island Godzilla is perhaps the most terrifying incarnation of the character ever.
It was absolutely amazing! My gripe is similar to yours: the first appearance of Godzilla was terrifying! His smaller version was insanely scary. But then he became just a super slow giant object in the finale. I wanted more of that initial terror…
Glad to find this channel again! after changing my RUclips account. I’m a GenX who came up on Showa,and Heisei era’s in my younger years then later some of the Millennium releases so I was really looking forward to seeing Toho reclaim Godzilla
Grew up in the 70s watching Godzilla movies. Even the corny ones. Im excited to watch this one as I had ZERO idea it was coming out. And the reviews...wow. If I can find it in this small town, im IN there!
I think you nailed the review however I do have to disagree with the statement that they needed more money. More money doesn't make a better film. Minus One proves that you can do a lot with a little. Story is every thing and again more money cannot fix a terrible story. Hollywood should take note...$15M to make a monster film with a story full of heart and like you said tension. This film was perfect!
I appreciate your review and perspective. I will be curious to see what my wife thinks when she sees it (she’s Japanese). I get that some of the dramatic sequences are a bit excessive but I wonder if The director wanted it to be expressive for those foreign audiences who wouldn’t get the same nuance because of reading the sub titles? The aspect I really admired about the direction here was how Yamazaki locked his camera down and didn’t use cutaways as much as so many Hollywood films do… so we the audience can absorb the characters reaction to their dialogue with one another. It also shows the utmost respect for his actors that many scenes are wide shots with dialogue amongst characters rather than editing close ups (a crutch for pedestrian actors who can’t remember more than a few lines).
Yes, it's amazing they made such a great movie for 15 mil. It's way deeper than I expected, but it still delivered for the action, music and awesome Godzilla badassness.
I saw this last night and I loved it. My only concern going in was would they portray Japan as innocent victims in the aftermath of WWII and I was surprised at just how hard the characters put the blame on the predicament they were in (before Godzilla even showed up) on their own government and their war. There’s a line in the movie where the young man wants to join the crew at the end and they don’t let him. He wants to fight and one of the veterans makes a comment along the lines of “You should be proud that you didn’t have to go to war”. That hit hard. Historically I had to look past the fact that US forces occupied Japan pretty much during the entire time the movie took place, but I get why they wanted to keep the Americans out of the picture. Also, couldn’t disagree more that they spent too much time on the main protagonist- but to each his own.
This movie made me feel for the dude. He was battling his own demons and the moral of “his” story I understood was that he felt guilty that he was still alive even though he was never meant to die in the first place. The ending scene in the water and the cheering was very emotional. Fantastic reboot of the 54 movie. Automatic top 3 for me.
@@souous7700The name of the most famous "suicide notes" or diaries of Kamikaze attackers, is called "Listen to Wadatsumi Voices (Kike Wadatsumi no Koe". The final operation to kill Godzilla in this film was called "Wadatsumi Operation". Not a coincidence.
Then you obviously dont know what the Imperial government was like during the war nor about post war Japan. Survivor’s guilt, veterans and civilians volunteering for minesweeping, living in slums, black markets, orphans everywhere etc. these were all reality during that time. Its not about being a “victim” but a realistic setting of that particular era. Its not your typical Hollywood movie that glosses over these things, but a Japanese movie made by a Japanese company aimed towards Japanese audiences who knows what society was like during that time. If you want to add the occupying US forces into the movie, it would of been far uglier with scenes showing American soldiers mass looting and raping Japanese civilians.
I've always believed that the Japanese are exceptional storytellers. It's no surprise that anime has taken over the Western animation industry. They're experts in their field. Also love anything Godzilla, Kong, and Kaiju.
Growing up seeing Godzilla..I mean my dad intro'd me into Godzilla when I was a weee lad. I had only known the US version of Gojira and it was years before I actually saw the Japanese film not the "inserted american journalist" version. I didnt have a huge problem with the 2014 film , I really think Gareth Edwards is a great filmmaker but he didnt have the creative control. THIS damn film is right on with what I was expecting in 2014 from its initial teaser. This film was just amazing. Great scoring, great acting, great scenes, great direction..SOME of the visuals could've used more time but it was a perfect storm of everything. Really balanced.
Then he spent the final scene sobbing... So much sobbing. I get it.. I understand it.. I just had a hard time watching it. The only thing that saved that reveal was when Ando, neighbor started to hit him with frustration.. like you idiot, see!! Also apparently Oishi is clearly going to turn out to be a super human because how the hell....
Properly developed human characters is what makes this movies special for me. In most Godzilla films, I feel almost nothing for the human characters. In G-1 I felt a great sympathy, affection, and admiration for these people. That was the magic for me. It never felt like a low budget movie. A huge budget might have tempted them to ruin this movie. I hope that doesn’t happen with the sequel, which we all know will happen.
Holy shit 15 million? This is what I’ve been saying. The Wrath of Kahn, Aliens Minus One all movies with a fraction of the budget of modern movies and what made the difference? They wrote a fuqing story FIRST, and the effects were secondary. I loved this flick because it clearly shows the difference between a fan with a story to tell, and some flavor of the month studio hack. 1K% agree. This is a fantastic story from start to finish.
@@Alachia (spoilers fyi) I saw it with friends so we discussed it. There was so much going on in this movie. The values a sense of duty, community, respect for elders, family, second chances, redemption, survivors guilt, honoring those who gave their lives. It had great costumes for the period. And the female lead Niriko (Miname Hamabe) had black and white movie star looks! It is also Women friendly! There was a lotnof ladies at the movie, and a woman crying on my row at the end of the movie. I have to admit I teared up for two different reasons. First is when the guy asked the lead Koichi "why didn't you marry that woman?" And the second was when they refused to let the young man come to war. "To you we leave the future!" We had an argument about two of the scenes! 1. Should she have died? I think either way works. But with all the death in the war, I think it's an optimistic end and family and community is part of this story. 2. Would it have been better for the protagonist to know about the ejector seat (as in the movie) or have it be secretly installed by the mechanic to save the pilot. I argue the way the movie did it was better bc he chose it! He chose to not orphan that child! To me that goes with the theme of choosing to live! What are your thoughts on those two scenes or did you have other scenes you noticed? Loved this film! Btw this is the story we need now! These values I am sad to say, are seen as passé, corny or to be ridiculed in the US!
Saw it in RPX on Friday, it was one hell of an experience, I felt Godzilla's footsteps and roars, it was crazy and whenever he showed up, I felt his presence and it felt so intense and it gave me a huge adrenaline rush, Godzilla was actually scary and I haven't seen him that vicious since GMK. I actually loved the Godzilla design, it's very reminiscent to the 1990's Heisei era Godzilla which I have always loved, to me, it's just a scarier and more modernized version of the 90's Godzilla. Yamazaki really did the king of the monsters right, it was the solo horror film I have been wanting for so long, I liked it so much better than Shin Godzilla.
Meanwhile in Hollywood they`re spending 25M $ for a single She-Hulk episode.
Omg your kidding ?
@@gerardoaguilar4235nope. The budget is insane for the Disney+ shows lol
And a 100+ million dollars for a lousy marvel tv series
That is so sad
Not sure why a studio spending tons of money on an episode affects you.
I'm by no means a Godzilla expert, but this is the best Godzilla film I've seen.
...and that's all that matters!
Godzilla is my favorite movie series, and own all 32 currently home-released Toho Godzilla films on DVD, plus I’ve seen the Netflix anime Godzilla S.P. and the the shitty American Godzilla movies. I’ve even reached out into the expanded franchise and seen all the Mothra movies and the original Rodan. It feels pretentious to call myself a Godzilla expert as there’s still always more to learn with a series as historically significant and long-running as Godzilla, but I am definitely a diehard fan of the series, and I agree - this is one of the best kaiju movies ever made. I was absolutely blown away by it.
Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster is by far the best
@@kaijucobalt2064Can't truly call yourself a massive Godzilla fan and say that the Legendary Godzilla series is shitty with a straight face. That's your opinion of course, but is also ground for disqualification. Trust me, bro. I'm an expert on the internet.
While the worst is certainly that 1998 Godzilla movie, there have been plenty of Toho Godzilla movies that are objectively far worst.
Still, when it comes to the human element, Godzilla Minus One is certainly the best Godzilla movie ever. You can take Godzilla out and you still have one hell of a great historical war drama. No question about it.
But when it comes to Godzilla itself, well, that all depends on what type of Godzilla you're in the mood for.
For example. There have been plenty of Godzilla movies where the action and destruction feels better and far more brutal. Minus One was so minimal and derivative of the previous movies that it lacked uniqueness and impact. And I'm talking about the city sections. Apart from the Atomic Blast, the land sections were underwhelming. Shin, Legendary, 1985, and a few other look and feel so much better in this area.
On the other hand. the water sections were a blast in Minus One and it definitely takes the crown for sure.
Also, that Netflix Singular Point Anime was pure trash. Planet of the Monsters on the other hand, while excessive, was kinda cool. If you can get past the glacial pacing that is and some wonky logic as per usual.
Regardless, Minus One is clearly a MASSIVE step up from Shin Godzilla and a direction I do hope they keep going in. Something that the first Legendary Godzilla almost had with Cranston's character before it got killed off and the movie went with "Nah! Fudge it. Let them Fight!" instead.
Still, with all that said, Minus One, in general, certainly sits at the top of the Serious Godzilla versions for sure.
@@SimpleSlave I respect your opinions stated here and your right to have them, but we’ll have to agree to disagree on what’s “objectively” good and bad. To be fair, I do actually think G14 and Skull Island are pretty decent, but KOTM and GvK are just not what I want out of a Godzilla movie - in my opinion, the dialogue in them was pretty cringe and the human characters were mostly generic and insufferable, which is not the case with the overwhelming majority of Toho Godzilla movies.
More importantly though, the thing about them that really aggravated me - KOTM especially - was how they, in my opinion, present a message that runs counter to the idea of what Godzilla is. While obviously as the Godzilla series went on it stopped being as dark as the original and created several more lighthearted movies that weren’t all about nuclear destruction, they at least still respected that idea - for example, in Godzilla Vs Megalon, for as goofy as it is, the Seatopians are portrayed as a society that was forced underground by nuclear testing and had to lash out using Megalon as their only resort. Godzilla vs Hedorah still puts the responsibility to take care of the Earth, like in Mothra Vs Godzilla before it, in the hands of the humans who live in it.
Hell, even ones as obscure as like Godzilla vs Megaguirus still have some kind of thematic continuity with what the Godzilla series has historically stood for. Even the Anime Trilogy everyone loves to shit on does. And the ones that don’t really address those topics at least don’t contradict or disrespect them outright.
Except the American ones. In KOTM the military using a nuke saves the day and radiation heals the environment, absolving humans of all responsibility, and the military “accidentally” kills Godzilla. It reminds me of a quote Shusuke Kaneko, the director of GMK said at the time Zilla 1998 came out - “Americans seem unable to accept a creature that cannot be put down by their arms.” Even though it was portrayed as an “accident” in KOTM, they didn’t accidentally write that plot point into the script. The military has successfully “killed” Godzilla in both American adaptations of the series. The use of radiation and nuclear bombs by the military in KOTM objectively has a positive outcome. You can’t get more anti-Godzilla then that, in my opinion.
But even all that aside, as I understand that those things are not as important to some fans as they are to me - it’s not like the MV movies are some kind of masterpiece if you just overlook that. The dialogue and characters and general plots take a nose dive in quality after Skull Island. Gonorrhea? The constant jokes about the tap water being a conspiracy in GvK? Vera Farmiga’s whole ridiculous plan with the Orca? Really their only redeeming quality is that the action in them is decent enough as Hollywood CGI monster/disaster movies go, but plenty of Godzilla movies have great action. Yeah, Godzilla and Kong’s fight in GvK is admittedly super cool, but was it more thrilling than the final battle between Godzilla and Kiryu in Tokyo SOS? Or Godzilla’s duel with Biollante? To me, not really.
So, while I see where you’re coming from and I’m glad the Legendary movies give you enjoyment, I stand my by opinion. They’re not for me, and that doesn’t make me “not a massive Godzilla fan.” I just care about and enjoy different aspects of the series than you, so I like ones you don’t like, and you like ones I don’t like, and that’s fine. We’re mostly on the same page about Minus One’s quality though, the human story in it was gripping all by itself. It’s truly a landmark entry in the series.
Me and my 5 year old saw it yesterday. Him squeezing my arm telling me it’s the best movie ever throughout the movie made it worth seeing it in theater.
How did a 5 year old do w/ the initial attack on the island? I warded a buddy off, b/c he's got an 8 year old and the movie is a lot heavier than what many people expect from a Kaiju film. My 10 year old enjoyed it, honestly it's a good family movie - everyone in the entire family found a lot to enjoy about it.
@@patron7906 we’ve watched a lot of movies together over the years so it was mild for what we’ve seen together. Not saying I watch horror movies with him but he loves big epic action movies. Especially Godzilla movies
does your kid speak Japanese? I wouldn't have been able to read subtitles like that at age 5, zero chance.
@@HarrisaSports no he does not. He was able to watch and understand most of the human interaction based on emotions though. There were times he was completely lost in the sauce.
@@waverlyking6045 I was just wondering, I was going to be very impressed if they were able to read along. wasn't asking in any type of way.
Just got back from seeing it a second time, this time on an IMAX screen. The friend I brought was in tears when the lights came back on. As someone who hated the American Godzilla movies, I am overjoyed to have actual real Toho kaiju back in theaters in the US. It’s so rare that Godzilla movies get general releases here that I’m gonna try to soak it up as much as I can. I might even go see it a third time because who knows how long it will be until we get another one. Glad to hear you enjoyed it too, it’s amazing what they were able to pull off on a budget smaller than what most Disney+ TV show episodes have. Great review! 🤘
I only saw it in Imax (twice) and it was unbelievable. I want to see it again!
I saw this movie last Wednesday. Godzilla Minus One is one of the best Godzilla movies since the original.
Godzilla Minus One took the original and Shin Godzilla but making their own twist with creative characters, themes and visuals.
As someone who is currently going thru quite a bit of grief from losing my parents, Godzilla represented my own grief (plus, obviously, the main character) almost pefectly. Terrifying, overpowering, and making one feel completely helpless. I cried at the end because he was finally able to defeat it, and didn't have to kill himself (suicide) to do so. It was fucking beautiful.
Grief is truly painful, I am sorry for your loss.
I'm so sorry for your loss. This movie was very beautiful in allowing life to triumph in honor.
I watched it yesterday and loved it. The human story was inanely emotional. I’m glad I saw it by myself because I’ve never shed so many tears watching a movie before. If you connect with the characters the way I did you’ll have the same experience. It’s all about love and loss.
That shot of Koichi looking at Noriko’s photo in the plane right before [you know- no spoilers here] just killed me. In fact all of their scenes together were brilliant. I respect that director Yamazaki didn’t feel the need for excessive cutaways and instead let shots linger on his actors. A sign of respect and trust in his leads.
That's great and all but I go see Godzilla films to see Godzilla not the humans.
@@Guy-cb1oh There are plenty of other shitty monster movies still around for you, champ
I haven’t seen anyone else mention this (though surely someone has) but I believe that shot in the plane you mention is a reference to the first 1950s Godzilla sequel, Godzilla Raids Again (Gigantis The Fire Monster in US) which had almost the exact same shot at the same point in the film.
i think it’s more about purpose. riyuu reason anxiety and inability to move forward. this was the sentiment of japanese during this time.
godzilla was created as a vessel for artist to convoy those emotions and movie forward and making a pretty penny off that pain:)
it’s important cause it payed a massive role in japanese entertainment industry.
closing the chapters of our own trauma and moving forward no matter how difficult is a theme in many japanese movies and media.
mae mukou susume
I was fully invested in this film. I cried three times. First time I rooted for the people. Oscar for best international film. I am emotionally spent after viewing this film.
I do hope it gets an Oscar nom.. the Oscars usually ignores action films but this one had enough drama that it should get some recognition.
@Alachia if any consolation, have a strong chance to win the Japan Academy Film Prize (Japanese version of the Oscars)
The last time I was this much attached to characters in a blockbuster was while watching The Empire Strikes back.
Ugly crying while watching it
“It isn’t how much you have, it’s what you do with it”
At $15 million, this film is astonishing.
It truly is astonishing, that's what I've been saying.
Why do you think the budget was only $15 mil? Do you think it was because people get paid a lot less over there to work? Maybe the SFX people only make like $400 a week. People are so hung up on the budget, but can't take 1 minute to think about why the budget was able to be so low
The director confirmed it was even less than that. Somewhere in the region of $11-12 million.
@@nebularain3338like going to a japanese sweat shop and getting Nike sneakers real cheap. As long as you don't look past the price tag, and figure out why, you will be happy.
As a lifelong Godzilla fan when he showed up in Tokyo and they started playing my favorite version of the Godzilla March I had tears in my eyes that was the moment when it really set in I'm actually in a theater watching a toho Godzilla movie something I wanted to experience my whole life
That was an amazing scene! I literally shouted 'yeah!' 😂Such a brilliant homage to the original, it really connected the audience to the original.
this movie was a complete joy to watch! I stayed through the credits just to hear the score and was rewarded with a LOUD Godzilla scream right at the end
I stayed through the credits too. I loved that final roar
Oh man, I missed that! Guess I have to go back for a third time 😊
There was a final roar? Usually I Google if the movie has a post credit scene after it ends.
I will have to buy the soundtrack.
We were going through the exit when the credits were about to end. But we stopped and went back in, and the final roar came…
Saw this yesterday. I’m a guy who likes monster movies but I didn’t realize how much I appreciate a well-written story. Most movies today, especially monster movies, are missing the real human element. And because the director also oversaw the visuals (and put love into it) it makes for a much better film. I have to say it’s my favorite Godzilla movie… And I didn’t realize they made it for just $15M !!! WOW. The Japanese filmmakers definitely know what they’re doing. If I was Hollywood, I’d be embarrassed for sure.
You dont need a massive budget and 100 minutes plus of digital effects when you have a good story, good acting, good editing, and good direction.
8:12 Yes, it’s a cultural thing. Many Japanese movies love to let the scenes play out gradually and make the emotional investment a slow burn to the point that if you didn’t pay attention to it, you might feel bored and asleep but the emotional payoff will make the slow build up worth it.
Hello, I'm Japanese, but I don't think it's a cultural thing. I still think the script is poor and boring. Many Japanese people feel the same way. There was nothing new in the movie. What you see somewhere happens one after the other. This movie needs a screenwriter doctor. but! The great thing about being a director is that he takes advantage of his directing ability and low budget. I can't believe how he was able to do that. That's because his DIY spirit made it happen. I watched it 3 times and enjoyed it every time!
No it's not a culture thing. That's how movies use to be. Back when they were good.
There are plenty of American films that don't do this. Stop watching shitty movies. Challenge yourself
@@kickhoppersthis. the script isn’t anything special. but he did a good job with the budget but also focusing on certain themes that emotionally hit. i think this movie might have more impact on americans than japanese since japanese are used to it
but for americans, its been a very long time since they had a movie that was proud, nationalistic like, passionate vs lecturing preaching hollywood. that’s why americans like this movie alot .
i’m happy to see kamiki on the big screen. 😊but i think there was a lot of over acting it felt like a play😅 still good tho.
@@bombomoshollywood forgot what emotions mean because they been lecturing the past few years😂
The surprising thing for me was finding a lot of it predictable but at the same time I couldn't help but tear up at the emotional moments. The actors really put in the work when it counted. The effects felt practical even though you knew there was a lot of CG. You could tell they were trying to recreate that classic feel (which they did). Just like with Shin Godzilla I appreciated the film so much more afterwards, than while I was watching it. LOL, I saw Train to Busan on a flight somewhere and I remember sitting in this uncomfortable seat while fighting back tears thinking "OMG why is this movie so good?"
This was a VERY well done movie! I saw it today. The story was great. The acting was great. The special effects were great. Far better than Shin Godzilla. This movie conveyed fear, survivors guilt, tragedy, love, determination, and brokenness. Normally I don't like to watch movies that have closed captions, but the captions in this movie didn't get in the way of watching the movie AT ALL. It wasn't fast paced, but it was never boring. It did keep moving along. This movie was great on so many levels. And they presented Godzilla as absolutely vicious in his desire to kill and destroy. Such a good movie and done on a MUCH smaller budget than other movies.
Behold, the ACTUAL Oppenheimer double feature.
For real though, I loved this movie. The only gripe I could have is the acting can get melodramatic... But then, the character's are recovering from a war and have survivor's guilt, so it's understandable.
PTSD, Guilt, extreme economic hardships, all mixed together and while some of the acting was a bit much I STILL loved it and didn't mind that the human story consumed most of the runtime.
@@erutherfordnono if you understand japanese it’s over actinng😂 i love kamiki and i know he could do better. but there was a lot of theatrical level acting.
watch tv shows or other stuff with the other actors and you’ll see. these guys are good this was over acting aka melodramatic
@@erutherfordthere is this movie kamiki is in where he’s a local new cop and well he participates in a murder coverup and u see the guilt driving him insane but need to still be composed and keep order of the island. boring movie but his performance was reallllly good. he was nds up shooting himself. i would suggest looking that up and you’ll see why people say over acting.
it’s still good acting but it’s tooo over the top for the tone.
@@npcimknot958 I’m curious, have you seen Hirokazu Kore-eda’s movies? The child actors seem really good in them but I’m not sure as I don’t understand the language
Some of the acting is bad 😂 y’all don’t gotta sugar coat it
Just came back from the theater. Was tearing up less than 5 minutes into it and ugly crying by the time the movie ended. I am distraught. An Easy A for me.
Cannot wait to see this! And only $15M? There’s no excuse for the Hollywood bloat we’ve been witnessing.
I’m okay with extended personal journeys, probably because I’ve been inundated with so much slapdash character development in the stuff I’ve been watching lately. Bring on the emo!
Trust me, you'll get your fill of emo.
@@Alachia I was surprised how much of it reminded me of JAWS
I don't really care how much a movie costs. It's not like the ticket prices go up because the budget is high... all that matters is if it's a good movie, no matter the cost.
its not my money, why would i care? are you an investor or is this just the latest thing that doesnt affect you to whine about?
@@antcantcook960you’re a weirdo. I don’t like seeing movies bomb because their production budgets and ad costs far exceed what’s brought in. It has the domino effect of making studios even more risk adverse to new things and helping cement the death of mid-budget cinema. A lot of people’s livelihoods are affected by this crap. Ticket prices might not rise, but streaming costs will and people tend to get fired
The hint of sadness to me was the whole time im thinking these poor people have been through so much death and suffering and now this destructive force of nature just drops like another bomb on all them. My eyes watered several times in this film. Godzilla was relentless, devastating and simply terrifying. These people have been through enough. This was crazy. Favorite film not only this year but in years.
I saw this last night. I’d say it’s a masterpiece & best movie since Interstellar. Sadly only 6 or 8 people in the theater, I hope word gets out.
My theater had 4 people in it and that includes me & my buddy. I'm going to try to talk the wife [Japanese girl] into seeing it with me this weekend as this movie REALLY needs more ticket sales + word-of-mouth!!
Here in the US, there is an extreme aversion to subtitles
My theater was actually pretty full. I was surprised so many people showed up.
Saw it on an xd screening that was about 70% full
Our theater for the IMAX event on Wednesday was about 2/3 full. And everyone applauded as the credits rolled!
Movie was absolutely incredible. I’ve noticed foreign films take an emphasis on making sure you connect with characters or at least 1 character. The bonding and sense of community, Godzilla was so horrifying and menacing, I really imagined myself there 🥹
I saw it 2 days before the official release. It is the best Godzilla ever made in my mind. The best movie made in the last 8 years.
Just finished seeing it and definitely will be watching it plenty more because of how well it was made, especially for the budget of 15 million. From the first scene of the big G, it was phenomonal there on. Shin was the standard for a Godzilla movie, Minus One shattered that and more.
Going to see it again today. Probably one of my favorite movie experiences of all time.
I didn't expect much from this movie. I was blown away. This was the best movie of the year. And probably of the last few years. It's a heavy drama, that just happens to have a monster.
I LOVE the monsterverse Godzilla, but this may very well be the BEST Godzilla movie, EVER. I watched it last night with all my siblings, their partners and their kids, and they all loved it, especially the kids.
Just saw the movie a hour ago,and was blown away !! Going back with friends to see it again !
In terms of human character in Godzilla movie
Virgin Bryan Cranston in Godzilla 2014 vs Chad Ryunosuke Kamiki in Godzilla Minus One
(And if anyone thinks that his face looks familiar, he played as Sojirou, a psychopath villain in Rurouni Kenshin movies)
Wow!! The film sounds really good. Thanks for the review. I wasn't even aware of the film before. I'll definitely have to check it out now.
Pretty damned honest! I saw it yesterday and had nearly the same response. It was a refreshing thing to watch after the "blockbuster" trash we've been fed the last few years. You just earned yourself a sub!
I saw this yesterday. What an absolutely amazing cinematic experience. It wasn't just a monster movie. It was a story of a family and their struggle to survive. Their ups and downs. Their journey in life. The movie had so much heart. I can't recommend this movie enough. Movies like this need to succeed. We need more movies like this.
I mean...is anyone talking about the two year old girl? She was one of the best actors! What did they do, poke her with needles to make her cry? This movie was just amazing
Two-year-old girls are fickle. She wants to sleep right away, and she wants to cry. She is in a good mood when she wakes up from sleep. They shot the film in a way that suited her mood at the time. There are interviews that actors and directors were controlled by the girl.
When I auditioned, all the other two-year-olds didn't listen to me. But only this child would draw a picture if I asked him to. He didn't cry when his parents left him.
So he was really supposed to play the part of a boy, but they changed the setting to a girl.
Agree 100% with you on this film! Whether intentional or not there’s the scene just after Godzilla unleashes his heat ray and as the gigantic cloud of devastation billows into the sky he lets out an angry roar as he watches it almost like he’s angry and seeks revenge at the thing that made him. Later at home it made me think of the scene in the western Tombstone when Doc Holiday explains to Wyatt Earp that Johnny Ringo seeks revenge. Wyatt asks “Revenge for what?” and Doc says “For being born.”
Saw it in theaters last night. My and my kids are big Godzilla fans and loved it. Even my wife, who isn't a Godzilla fan, liked it.
Yes, the score was amazing.
I personally love Godzilla's design, since in my opinion his Heisei design is the most iconic.
This movie 🍿 will be a great success. Audience applauded in my urban rural town.
Loved the emphasis of the young Family unit amidst the monster movie.
This movie accomplished what no other Godzilla movie has done before. It got me to care about the characters. When Godzilla is destroying everything, you feel it. You care about the people. I have never gotten that before in a monster movie like this. I got teary eyed in parts. That was just so refreshing. I want more movies like this! And he did this with $15 million dollars? The man is genius. I would give it a solid B, myself.
Exactly! I felt so much for them, Koichi's breakdowns had me on the verge of tears and Akiko sobbing was so heartbreaking, it really shows how much of a horrible monster Godzilla was, it was everything I have ever wanted in a Godzilla film and it left me in awe, This was the best Godzilla movie I have ever seen!
Since Yamazaki didn't have a huge budget, he had to really focus on a good story and special effects that helped tell the story rather than distract from it. That aside, it's been a long time since I've really been excited about seeing a movie. You did that and thanks!
Great review! I just watched it in IMAX with my daughter and we had a blast. I didn't know the budget was so low until I got home and my god, that's amazing. I agree that the schmaltz was a bit heavy, but the pacing and tone keep things going in a way that kept it from being a notable hindrance. Bits like 'have you finished your war?' had me roll my eyes a little, but move on well enough. Really happy to support this over the bland and insanely expensive western takes on the subject!
It’s funny cause Godzilla was said to be an influence for the film Jaws and now jaws seems to have influenced this movie
I saw this last night with my son and it was awesome! I got on my son’s nerves bec I guessed the two big reveals early and kept whispering to him “oh…I’ll bet…” or “I know what that is about!” And then I had to whisper “aaah I told you! I knew there was…” or bouncing in my seat whispering “I knew it! I knew it!” 😂. Also, during the climax, when it was completely silent, I found myself holding my breath! This wasn’t just a great Godzilla movie…..it’s a great movie movie! Everyone will love it even if you don’t know anything about Godzilla.
I was waiting and hoping for this review! Now I'm ready to go see it, thank you Alachia 🙂
Hope you like it!
@@Alachia I think I will :)
Im a big Godzilla fan and this movie made me feel something that i havent felt in any other Godzilla. They made me be hella terrified of Godzilla. Holy Godzilla in this movie is really scary
Just saw this a few hours ago. Absolutely loved it! Characters you actually care about, plenty of Godzilla screen time. Really hope we see a sequel in a few years.
The music put the cherry on top of an amazing experience. Stunning!
So happy to hear you mention the music and sound. SUCH a big part of what made this film so perfect. Great recap! Definitely THE best movie I have ever seen in the theater, possibly favorite movie ever.
Brilliant review!
I want to see it, wow that’s every dollar on screen! Fantastic production value for the budget!
I love Godzilla but only the Japanese movies.
Excited to see it especially based on your review!
Originally Godzilla was a metaphor for the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings… This sounds like a brilliant continuation of the themes.
After seeing the movie last night I wonder if Godzilla is a symbol for something else. I have an idea of "what" in my mind but I may need a home viewing and some thought before I make any bold claims. Still if you want to see a movie that is as thought provoking as the original Godzilla then "Minus 1" is the movie to go see.
Takashi basically said that Godzilla is a metaphor for fear and despair. Especially emphasized after the experience of COVID.
I was going to see Napoleon tomorrow,but,now with all the positive and GREAT reviews,I'm now going to see-GODZILLA. Plus Alachia is giving this film a-RAVE-review,that settles it for me. LOL. GOOD review as usual Alachia.
He said he wishes to direct a SW film. Honestly, the type of SW film he can make would probably resemble the originals! Great and lovable characters, even with their flaws. And it goes big when it needs to and pulls back when it needs to. A great balance. Absolutely loved it!
Haven't seen this movie yet, but i'm surprised how much she is praising the human story. Usually in Godzilla movie's the human stories are always written bad.
Odd right, that we have now gotten to the point where we praise well written characters when that should be the standard??
I was surprised too. This is more of a beautiful human drama with a terrifying Godzilla thrown in that is devastating their lives.
Another great video! Don't ever feel the need to apologize for making lengthy videos. You don't waste any time getting into the details many reviewers gloss over, and you maintain a charming and jovial personality while doing it. I can't wait until I have the time to give Godzilla Minus One a watch. Keep on being you, and you are appreciated
It was a gift from my friend. He's not surfing but it does kind of look like that. Lol. I'll post a close up on Twitter.
Haha I didn't really think he was surfing... just being a cool-looking biomechanical organism :) Awesome! I will check it out. Very much appreciated!@@Alachia
Your in-depth analysis of the movie was great, without any spoilers.
Never thought I would be crying at the end of Godzilla movie. At the end when he is crying and finally letting go of all that guilt and pain was the prefect way to end the movie…..but seeing a piece of Godzilla come back to life. It is like saying is it really truly over. Yes ever one see it on the big screen.
This might be the best movie of the year. I absolutely loved it. The love story, one of the final scenes with the mechanic and the pilot, the final scene!! And YES the music!! It was SO SO good!!
The film I expect the most at the end of the year. Since Shin Godzilla who has regained the disturbing and unhealthy spirit of the original film, I can't wait to see this iteration. Long live the Japanese-style malaise 😆😆😆 Merci beaucoup Alachia! You are back on track! ❤️❤️❤️
The king has returned! ❤️.
What an experience. This film is what you call ABSOLUTE CINEMA. Gojira really is the king.
"Hollywood doesn't have action movie fatigue. It has bad movie fatigue."
Love your true illustration of passion that is developed into this movie. Great review!
I saw this yesterday - and went in blind, thought I was seeing an American style Godzilla style disaster/action movie, LOVED IT, also a shout out to you for your take on this filmed, subscribed!
Thanks!!
Great review! That was a good analogy with Train To Busan because I remember when I first saw that movie, I did not like zombie movies, but that movie made me really feel for the characters and I was crying at the end just like with Godzilla Minus One.
As I was watching this movie I was thinking that this is how Godzilla should be portrayed. He's a cosmic horror, something unreachable but at the same time immediate, pervasive, and unavoidable. (or "inevitable" as Thanos might say) In other movies he's sometimes portrayed as a heroic entity that comes around when the world needs some saving. And I get that and can appreciate it when it's not too cheesy. But really this is what Godzilla is. You don't want him anywhere near you or your world.
I was also thinking it would be fun to watch Hulk be unleashed to deal with the monster. Not MCU Hulk; that's not Hulk. I don't know who or what that is. But I mean real Hulk. Comic book Hulk, like Worldbreaker Hulk. The one who cracked the earth's crust by stomping really hard, or who stood under Manhattan island and held it up for a long time while the heroes were doing other stuff to save the day. Or who held up an entire mountain range when the Beyonder threw it on top of a group of our heroes. The problem is that the entire nation would end up being wrecked instead of just a couple of cities. But it might be fun to watch anyway.
I absolutely love how Toho went back to its grassroots and kept it simple and phenomenal at the same time!
I was so excited when Monarch came out and a few episodes in, I’m not very impressed yet. I’ll bet, for a television show, it has a much larger budget. I saw -1 last night and it’s by far the best Godzilla has to offer. I felt the look of Godzilla was reminiscent of the original but yet updated enough to make her relevant. I thought the score was a throwback and fit perfectly.
As for the characters taking too much time to really show the turmoil of war, it’s clear, you’ve never served during wartime. The nightmares, guilt, broken relationship and pain were far subdued compared to real life trauma suffered by those who served during war. I can only imagine how much worse it was in Japan where dying was expected to earn honor.
It is not Hollywood that should take note. It is people who demand action more than story.
Excellent review Alachia, I absolutely agree with the review although I did score it a bit higher than you, it's B+ movie from my perspective. This is an absolutely amazing movie in the kaijuu genre!
I just watched the movie. I nearly cried at the end. I HAVE to see this most amazing film again and soon! Fun fact. Robert Downey Jr was paid 75 million dollars for Avengers Endgame alone! Please show some support for this film. And you are right Alachia. Hollywood should take notes on this film.
I've seen Minus 1 twice and while you are entitled to your opinion, I think it's a solid B+ or even perhaps A-. It's not Citizen Kane or Seven Samurai but offers much more depth than most A list films I've seen in 2023. I also think the design is pretty spot on. Odo Island Godzilla is perhaps the most terrifying incarnation of the character ever.
Hollywood you have a industry.
It was absolutely amazing! My gripe is similar to yours: the first appearance of Godzilla was terrifying! His smaller version was insanely scary. But then he became just a super slow giant object in the finale. I wanted more of that initial terror…
The way he walked was silly but I think it's an homage to the original. I prefer the ones that move more organically like a dinosaur
Excellent review!
Zilla excited to view in IMAX on December 2nd!
I saw it on imax too. The seats were so uncomfortable but it made for reading the subtitles very easy!
Glad to find this channel again! after changing my RUclips account. I’m a GenX who came up on Showa,and Heisei era’s in my younger years then later some of the Millennium releases so I was really looking forward to seeing Toho reclaim Godzilla
Hmm, good to see you enthusiastic about a film! Might have to check it out!
Seeing it in 4DX really added to the experience! Every cent of their $15 million budget was well spent.
I'm in South Africa, I pray this film gets to us
Omg just saw it , I think it was the best movie of the year . Hope
You guys see it
Hopefully they do a release there!
@@Alachia crossing fingers🤞🏾 been looking forward to this film since I saw the trailer
I saw it last night. Your pretty much on par with how I felt about it too.
Got 10 tickets to go see it with a group tomorrow. Im so excited!!
Grew up in the 70s watching Godzilla movies. Even the corny ones. Im excited to watch this one as I had ZERO idea it was coming out. And the reviews...wow. If I can find it in this small town, im IN there!
Its been years since I watched you last. I didnt know you were still making videos so its good to know you're still going strong
Just saw this movie and absolute masterpiece
This Godzilla is a traditional Toho modeling, and I believe that in Japan, people would say "something is different" if this modeling is not used.
0:15 Is that Godzilla?
No - its....jehovah witness!
[screams in terror]
I think you nailed the review however I do have to disagree with the statement that they needed more money. More money doesn't make a better film. Minus One proves that you can do a lot with a little. Story is every thing and again more money cannot fix a terrible story.
Hollywood should take note...$15M to make a monster film with a story full of heart and like you said tension.
This film was perfect!
Saw it yesterday. It was fantastic, they brought the art back to movie making.
Best film of the year and best Godzilla ever!!!
I appreciate your review and perspective. I will be curious to see what my wife thinks when she sees it (she’s Japanese). I get that some of the dramatic sequences are a bit excessive but I wonder if The director wanted it to be expressive for those foreign audiences who wouldn’t get the same nuance because of reading the sub titles? The aspect I really admired about the direction here was how Yamazaki locked his camera down and didn’t use cutaways as much as so many Hollywood films do… so we the audience can absorb the characters reaction to their dialogue with one another. It also shows the utmost respect for his actors that many scenes are wide shots with dialogue amongst characters rather than editing close ups (a crutch for pedestrian actors who can’t remember more than a few lines).
Yes, it's amazing they made such a great movie for 15 mil.
It's way deeper than I expected, but it still delivered for the action, music and awesome Godzilla badassness.
i hope it will win the Oscar this year!
I saw this last night and I loved it. My only concern going in was would they portray Japan as innocent victims in the aftermath of WWII and I was surprised at just how hard the characters put the blame on the predicament they were in (before Godzilla even showed up) on their own government and their war. There’s a line in the movie where the young man wants to join the crew at the end and they don’t let him. He wants to fight and one of the veterans makes a comment along the lines of “You should be proud that you didn’t have to go to war”. That hit hard.
Historically I had to look past the fact that US forces occupied Japan pretty much during the entire time the movie took place, but I get why they wanted to keep the Americans out of the picture.
Also, couldn’t disagree more that they spent too much time on the main protagonist- but to each his own.
I saw it last night, and my thought through the whole thing was, “This movie’s about accountability.”
This movie made me feel for the dude. He was battling his own demons and the moral of “his” story I understood was that he felt guilty that he was still alive even though he was never meant to die in the first place. The ending scene in the water and the cheering was very emotional. Fantastic reboot of the 54 movie. Automatic top 3 for me.
@@souous7700The name of the most famous "suicide notes" or diaries of Kamikaze attackers, is called "Listen to Wadatsumi Voices (Kike Wadatsumi no Koe". The final operation to kill Godzilla in this film was called "Wadatsumi Operation". Not a coincidence.
Then you obviously dont know what the Imperial government was like during the war nor about post war Japan. Survivor’s guilt, veterans and civilians volunteering for minesweeping, living in slums, black markets, orphans everywhere etc. these were all reality during that time. Its not about being a “victim” but a realistic setting of that particular era. Its not your typical Hollywood movie that glosses over these things, but a Japanese movie made by a Japanese company aimed towards Japanese audiences who knows what society was like during that time.
If you want to add the occupying US forces into the movie, it would of been far uglier with scenes showing American soldiers mass looting and raping Japanese civilians.
I'd wanna know if you think the boy and his little sister in tye film Grave of the Fireflies should be responsible for the war...
I've always believed that the Japanese are exceptional storytellers. It's no surprise that anime has taken over the Western animation industry. They're experts in their field. Also love anything Godzilla, Kong, and Kaiju.
Growing up seeing Godzilla..I mean my dad intro'd me into Godzilla when I was a weee lad. I had only known the US version of Gojira and it was years before I actually saw the Japanese film not the "inserted american journalist" version. I didnt have a huge problem with the 2014 film , I really think Gareth Edwards is a great filmmaker but he didnt have the creative control. THIS damn film is right on with what I was expecting in 2014 from its initial teaser. This film was just amazing. Great scoring, great acting, great scenes, great direction..SOME of the visuals could've used more time but it was a perfect storm of everything. Really balanced.
It was a solid film. Only major criticism I have is having that scene before the end where they reveal ...I 🙄 given what we saw previously in the film
Are you talking about the girl that ended up being alive at the end?
@Passionz_ yeah. I wasn't trying to spoil it, but yeah. With what we saw previously in film...that was kinda eyerolly
Then he spent the final scene sobbing... So much sobbing. I get it.. I understand it.. I just had a hard time watching it. The only thing that saved that reveal was when Ando, neighbor started to hit him with frustration.. like you idiot, see!!
Also apparently Oishi is clearly going to turn out to be a super human because how the hell....
I’ve been waiting every day for your review!!! I knew you were going to see it!
Properly developed human characters is what makes this movies special for me. In most Godzilla films, I feel almost nothing for the human characters. In G-1 I felt a great sympathy, affection, and admiration for these people. That was the magic for me.
It never felt like a low budget movie. A huge budget might have tempted them to ruin this movie. I hope that doesn’t happen with the sequel, which we all know will happen.
I want to thank you for taking the time to give Godzilla a little love.
Holy shit 15 million? This is what I’ve been saying. The Wrath of Kahn, Aliens Minus One all movies with a fraction of the budget of modern movies and what made the difference? They wrote a fuqing story FIRST, and the effects were secondary. I loved this flick because it clearly shows the difference between a fan with a story to tell, and some flavor of the month studio hack.
1K% agree. This is a fantastic story from start to finish.
Just got back home from the theater from seeing this. I thought it was a very very good movie! I would definitely watch it again.
Watching this tonight!
Already have my tickets!
Let me know what you think!
@@Alachia (spoilers fyi)
I saw it with friends so we discussed it.
There was so much going on in this movie. The values a sense of duty, community, respect for elders, family, second chances, redemption, survivors guilt, honoring those who gave their lives.
It had great costumes for the period. And the female lead Niriko (Miname Hamabe) had black and white movie star looks!
It is also Women friendly! There was a lotnof ladies at the movie, and a woman crying on my row at the end of the movie. I have to admit I teared up for two different reasons. First is when the guy asked the lead Koichi "why didn't you marry that woman?" And the second was when they refused to let the young man come to war.
"To you we leave the future!"
We had an argument about two of the scenes!
1. Should she have died?
I think either way works. But with all the death in the war, I think it's an optimistic end and family and community is part of this story.
2. Would it have been better for the protagonist to know about the ejector seat (as in the movie) or have it be secretly installed by the mechanic to save the pilot.
I argue the way the movie did it was better bc he chose it! He chose to not orphan that child! To me that goes with the theme of choosing to live!
What are your thoughts on those two scenes or did you have other scenes you noticed?
Loved this film!
Btw this is the story we need now! These values I am sad to say, are seen as passé, corny or to be ridiculed in the US!
Saw this movie last night. It was fantastic. I loved the themes of redemption, teamwork, perseverance, community, and bravery.
I loved your review!!! Hollywood and Disney take note!!!
Saw it in RPX on Friday, it was one hell of an experience, I felt Godzilla's footsteps and roars, it was crazy and whenever he showed up, I felt his presence and it felt so intense and it gave me a huge adrenaline rush, Godzilla was actually scary and I haven't seen him that vicious since GMK. I actually loved the Godzilla design, it's very reminiscent to the 1990's Heisei era Godzilla which I have always loved, to me, it's just a scarier and more modernized version of the 90's Godzilla. Yamazaki really did the king of the monsters right, it was the solo horror film I have been wanting for so long, I liked it so much better than Shin Godzilla.