Wow! I did not expect so many people to feel the same kind of way about this film! I’ve got a brand new video out now on why Godzilla Minus One is an OPPENHEIMER sequel. Check it out and share with me your thoughts: ruclips.net/video/o5QjfLIhr-Y/видео.htmlsi=wbWp434npr80NYAj
It’s a character driven film. It’s shows instead of tells. People are starved for characters they actually care about as opposed to characters they’re TOLD they HAVE to care about. It’s the 1st movie I’ve revisited the theater to see in years. This also felt like what Godzilla was supposed to have been originally: consequences of nuclear warfare, larger than life menace, and people coming together to stop him because they have no choice; no one else will help, but someone’s got to do it. Manning up basically. Breathtaking.
the portrayal of his ptsd and deep deep shame, the chosen family and love message being there but not forced, the political commentary, the depictions of true bravery, the HORROR aspects. i was blown out of the water. best theater experience i’ve had as an adult.
if I was going to define the film it is about survivours guilt and the people of japan fighting back without help after sufering the horror of the second world war! the curage of the people! so strong!
I saw Godzilla Minus One last night. Breathtaking. Your review is excellent! This is so much more than a monster flick. It is about redemption, bravery, honor, and shame. It is a story about a man learning to love again after the war. Most importantly it is about forgiveness (Tachibana's story arc) and second chances and starting over. A powerful, powerful emotional drama. The best story I have seen in 20 years. The 3rd act drags a little bit but so what. There are scenes in this movie you will remember for the rest of your life. Just like "Jaws", this is a movie you can watch again and again and again and again. I will absolutely go back and see it again this weekend!
And its also about family being what you make it. You dont have to be blood related to be family. Its nice to see someone act like a tsundere but show his feelings at the end. I instantly liked the film when Noriko mentioned that the baby wasnt hers but she promised her mother to take care of her. Confucian culture places too much focus on blood ties so I was very touched to see two strangers automatically coming together for Akiko and treat her like their own.
One of the only changes I would have made is Tachibana not telling Koichi about the ejection lever, but hiding it in the bomb release, giving him more gravitas to his own development & more to Koichi's willingness to sacrifice his life for Akiko's future, even though that was a horrible selfish decision by him which would have made his break down at knowing Noriko survived even harder.
My husband had already went and seen this movie when it first released this month. But when he came back and told me he would 1000% go watch it again and had been convincing me to go too. I was hesitant because of the past Godzilla movies made by Hollywood which I just didn’t find deeply interesting at all even the 2014 one. So obviously, I had low expectations going to watch this one with him, but I was very wrong after watching Godzilla minus one. This movie was deeper than just Godzilla= monster I truly appreciated the writers and directors and the fact that this was a modern day updated version of the original Japanese one made it better. If you (and or your spouse) are planning to go watch this movie, it’s a 10/10 recommendation for sure!!
This movie had me caring about every single character even the extras during the attack in the city. This movie was quite simply what cinema is all about. This was a movie about war, destruction, hope, fear, violence, self loathing, horror and the eternity of love. It quite simply a movie about human beings and how they must adapt in the shadow of Godzilla’s dispassionate destruction and find a way to triumph with what’s left. Damn. This movie should win the Oscar for best picture.
I really don't know if I have ever seen a movie that I'm still thinking about almost a week after I saw it. I'm glad it's getting a longer release I just hope word of mouth spreads because this is a movie that not only needs to be seen but seen on the big screen.
I totally agree. I'm so glad I saw this in the theater. To see it for the first time at home would not do it justice. That being said, I just hope when I do view it at home when that platform is released, I don't find myself comparing it to the theatrical viewing experience and feel let down. I would love for them to release this back to the theaters in 3D
This proves you don't need a big Hollywood budget to produce a great movie, saw it on day one, the best movie ever made about Godzilla, I actually cared about the characters
yes but they couldnt make this movie in US for 15 million. actors crews etc and the Unions want their big cut of everything......its impossible! The Japanese working on the CG were working for peanuts!
@@fireballfireball6962that being said, with all those resources the movies usually only lack a good script, it should legit be the easiest and cheapest thing to get with those budgets
This proves that American companies don't understand Japanese culture and wouldn't make a film as good as this with one of their intellectual properties in hand. This film was great on all levels, and though I would have loved to have seen more Godzilla in it, the lack of him was not necessarily a bad thing. The human element was amazing.
@fireballfireball6962 tbf studio A24 were able to make a ton of low budget gems as of late. It's just big studios have so much corporate hogwash it's almost impossible to get a good story that is not made solely for the purpose of product but as artistic impression. Very few have managed to keep Western Films worthy of relevance lately
Great job on this video. I am 59 and also grew up watching Godzilla movies. I went to see Minus One twice in 3 days. I did get emotional both times. Magnificent Film!
I took my 11 year old twin boys and they loved it. Kept up with the subtitles and they preferred it being in Japanese. They are huge Godzilla fans and they both said this was the best Godzilla ever made. They loved the characters and story. I have been a Godzilla fan as a kid and this probably has to be one the best one I think.
I have been a Godzilla fan since I was 7 when my mom rented a film projector, and 2 Godzilla movies on film reels showing them on a white sheet in the living room for my birthday party. So, while I love most of the silly movies, there's a reverence I have for the deeper movies that I have grown to love as I became an adult. I am proud to say I wept through the Fan Early Screening of Godzilla Minus One. I work at a movie theater and still tear up a bit when I pop into a showing to watch a scene during my work day since it came out.
This movie really grabbed me. For starters, my grandfather fought against Japan in the Pacific in WW2. This movie developed the post-war trauma and developed the characters so well I had the thought, "We should have never been fighting each other." Very strange thought. But, war is hell and this movie gets into that. My grandfather certainly had PTSD...something nobody could recognize back then. Even if this movie didn't have a monster it would be excellent. I, too, was moved to tears watching this. I was surprised by that. My kids absolutely LOVED it. On the way home after the first time we saw it (we saw it in the theater twice) they were telling me how they now understood how character development in a film works. That was really neat. Can't say enough about this masterpiece.
This movie was made by a group of people who went above and beyond what a limited budget asked of them. It was absolutely incredible to see, and I can’t appreciate everyone behind this film enough. If you remove Godzilla from the story and replace him with any other disastrous force, the gravity of the human storyline remains. This isn’t a Godzilla film featuring humans. It’s a human story featuring Godzilla and that is why it works.
One aspect I really appreciated about this film is how it depicts the resolve and determination of the Japanese, how they immediately get to work to rebuild their homeland and it's a testament to what they actually did. The human aspect of this film is what makes a great film, it is how movies used to be about.
I loved the man in the background hammering out the pan in the midst of the rubble. And in each subsequent scene Tokyo was restored even more. As the pilot first takes control of his plane he waggles the wings a bit then banks to look down at his beloved Japan. Rice fields and homes.
The scene that struck me deeply was when the navy veterans were saluting to Godzilla just right after they've defeated him, because there's a deep Japanese ethos that we can't retaliate against hatred with hatred yet expecting that's gonna go well later on. So when Godzilla to an extend was himself a victim of nuclear holocaust, what his wounds and subsequent hatred that can't be healed fully with love alone, has to be processed then relinquished. I went so far as associated Shikishima's agonizing scream when he's left alone as the sole survivor after Godzilla raided Ginza, as the same as Godzilla's own malicious roar right after he leveled Ginza with his atomic airburst.
@@Kar1s3n no, you got the sequence wrong. They were weeping and enraging when they thought that Shikishima had sacrificed himself, they weren't saluting. The plan only required him to act as a bait in order to guide Godzilla to the operation area, none of them expected him to went kamikaze. Otherwise they would've be cheering and encouraging him from the sideline the moment they saw him started charging straight into Godzilla.
@@DomFortressYou got it right. It is hard for westerners to understand why, for example, Tokugawa Shōgun built Nikko Tōshogu shrine also to honor Daimyōs Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who were his enemies. It's all about honor and non-hate culture, this is what enables Japanese people to be resilient and rebuild what it takes on and on. They don't loose time victimizing themselves.
@@crisjapopcris1564 this is also reflected in their opening meal prayer that the west loosely translated into "let's eat", when what's embedded in that prayer is a conscious realization and reminder that eating is a sacred act of nourishing oneself with the life of another. To that extent the ritual of nourishment begins in the kitchen, that even the cutting board is treated as a sacred altarpiece. while the west treat eating like an entitled and gratifying pastime, that attitude however isn't equally shard by parts of the rest of the world.
What touched me the most about Godzilla Minus One.. was the redemption of Koichi Shikishima (the Pilot) at the end of the film. He was so sorry for his actions, and he felt that he needed to die to make up for his bad decisions which cost the lives of others. But the plane mechanic and his friends wanted him to live. There is flashback scene when the plane mechanic showed him the ejection seat and said one word: "Live." It gave Koichi a new opportunity to choose life, and he persevered and the film had a peaceful ending. This reminded me of Jesus Christ, who offers us forgiveness, redemption and a second chance. He gives us new life through Him. This was very meaningful to me and I just loved this movie.
Everything's about Jesus with you people isn't it? This comparison doesn't even make sense. Jesus never had to redeem himself after having done something shameful like the hero of this movie. Stop making everything about Christ. Jesus.
My son is a huge Godzilla fan, and I'm sort of because of him. We've seen this movie twice in a week (first in IMAX ...OMG). Second time around still loved it and got a whole lot more insight, particularly focusing on different elements of the film. I lived in Japan for 15 years and my wife is Japanese, and some of the political commentary is so topical. Also, there are cameos of famous J-actors that western audiences won't know either. I thought Kamiki's performance was Oscar material just quietly. Brilliant, breath-taking, heart-string tugging movie.
I am Japanese, but I was deeply impressed by your thoughts. He has a deep understanding of Godzilla and Japanese culture. Quoting the Old Testament is also a valid way to present Godzilla's reason for existence. Now, speaking of religious factors, Japan is polytheistic, whereas the United States is monotheistic. Therefore, the Hollywood version of Godzilla is a monster, not a god. However, in Japan, where various gods exist, Godzilla is a god. Godzilla, the god of disaster, is the embodiment of human error.
Hmm interesting.. It's not only USA that is monotheistic friend. I would say... Until Middle East... Pretty much all are monotheistic. South America is monotheistic, Europe is monotheistic, Africa is monotheistic, Middle East is monotheistic,.... I think polytheism is from India to east. Including the Asian regions of course. China, Japan, etc. But polytheism was also in Europe and the Middle East region fyi... Before the Roman Empire! Greece, Italy, the Mediterranean region (Egypt and Israel for example) had polytheistic religions actually... They did transition to a monotheistic religion after the expanse of the Roman Empire to the east (Israel). Where they found Judaism and later on.. Christianity. Christianity was installed in Europe through the Roman Empire and then was installed in the Americas, during the colonization period by the Europeans... You see... Europe is like 2000 years old and Americas are like 500 years old. Europe went through a lottttt of changes and Americas did not. There are more old civilizations... The Egyptians have like 10000 years of existence. And I heard Asian civilizations are one of the oldest in the world too, with like 5000 years of existence. Not sure about that but maybe you can correct me In the West... Well... We do consider destructive gods as monsters in a way... They fall under that definition... But yes gods are one thing and monsters can be another thing. Gods don't have necessarily a physical form while monsters do. Although there are tales of gods assuming a physical form to manifest themselves around people... Complicated stuff 😆 When you said "embodiment of human error"... Is it only about human error or more?? Like human arrogance, human vanity, human ego,.... Is it exclusive to human error?? Best regards to you friend, from Europe. It was good movie btw 😀
Exactly, not only this movie portray the antagonist Godzilla perfectly, but this movie delivers plot, characters chemistry, score, cinematography, VFX and depth of a film ingredients perfectly. 10/10 Best film period.
I did take my 9-year-old son to it, not knowing it was so heavy. The little girl crying got him. But in the end, when Godzilla was defeated, he stood up and saluted with all the characters on the ships.
This was my first Japanese Godzilla experience in theaters, and didn’t disappoint. Once that theme song kicked in when he made it to the mainland, the nostalgia came instantly.
I went in with high expectations and this movie exceeded that. Godzilla was a supporting actor and it was awesome. Great character development, plot, emotion, everything. I'm watching it again.
Just remember if Godzilla is behind you that you are NOT going to outrun him. You need to run perpendicular to his path. Run down a sidestreet and keep on running.
Except no Because when he swings his tail, it destroys everything in a radius, front, back, sides, it all gets wiped out. Maybe fly away somehow but if he wants to target you he still has his arms and mouth lol
OK, then run perpendicular to Godzilla's path and then down the first Subway entrance you find. Godzilla usually keeps his tail in the air causing havoc so you should be safe. I offer no guarantees.@@lightning1896
I’ve read that many folks have shed a tear or two by the end of this film. The time that I felt a lump in my throat was when the child suddenly started crying. I have to wonder how the director got that child to cry on cue like that. It wasn’t a fake cry, it was heart wrenching.
The mechanic Tachibana is so important in the plot because he is not really an independent character with a life of his own but just a projection of Koichi's soul towards the external worlds,. See how all what Tachibana does is just to exteriorize what Koichi feels, the self hatred, the sense of guilt, of humiliation, the despair then, finally, the will to fight and the recovery of his pride, resolve and self respect. Also see that the interactions of Tachibana are practically all with Koichi, if memory serves me well, because his own reason to be is to let Koichi's soul to express itself. That is why the best moment of the film from the POV of Koichi is when he is about to take off and Tachibana gives him full military honors, that is himself being himself again. That is why he absolutely needs Tachibana when he has finally decided to fight, he needs him because the mechanic is part of himself.
@@tikhongilson3770 Had not existed the need to make Tachibana such an important character they would have simply gone and located one of the engineers that worked on the original plane, not an outsider. Tachibana was an essential part to the plot and that is the main reason why he is there
The first Godzilla movie I seen in the theater, was Destroy all monsters. Ever since that faithfully day I was a Godzilla fan. My children and I went to see Minus 1, we all loved it. The storyline was incredible. My son said he couldn’t believe a Godzilla movie almost made him cry. I’m a new subscriber, I love your content. Keep up the good work and God bless.
I would go so far as to say this film is the best movie in many years. It is so profound and moving. It really isn't a Godzilla movie at all. Yes, Godzilla appears in the film, but it isn't about him. That's the brilliance of it. This is an anti-war movie done in ways I've never seen before. The cruelty and despair of war is on full display in such an emotional way in the film. I agree this movie has biblical overtones that serve it so well. I can't recommend this film enough. Run, don't walk to see it. It will touch your soul.
I saw it New Year's Eve and the first thing that came to my mind is WOW THIS MOVIE HAS A STORY! And it only cost 15 million to make something that Hollywood should do instead of putting a ton of money into something that can fail.
I agree except for the political shaming part. It’s political but not shallow - it criticized the lack of value for life by the people and the government. The fact he’s a kamikaze pilot who didn’t kill himself and is the hero - its a strong statement.
Tokyo is the scene of indiscriminate massacres of civilians by the U.S., but the film makes no mention of this. It's taken into consideration for Americans.
@@shirankedo-ib8uv I was going to mention the various massacres by the Japanese military but 2 wrongs don’t make a right. The Japanese military slaughtering innocent civilians doesn’t give other countries the right to slaughter innocent civilians as well. I mean, they’re *innocent civilians* for a reason.
I think that when a nation holds its own people and soldiers as having little to no value, they themselves reflect that in their actions towards people who's lands they occupied. Japan has had a hard time coming to terms with their part in WW2, but Ihink I admitting how poorly they treated their own is a step towards admitting their fault in atrocities towards others.
When the character Godzilla was first created, the setting was Dinosaurs that had survived unbeknownst to people were exposed to American hydrogen bomb tests, and he were transformed into monsters that exhale atomic breath. Godzilla-1.0 is a work that goes back to that initial setting. So, Godzilla is both a symbol of war and nuclear weapons, and at the same time he is war/nuclear victim (as a result of being involved in a hydrogen bomb test, he transformed into monster regardless of the his intention). Godzilla in this film, when he exhales atomic breath, his own mouth and face is burned. It looks like he is suffering by having uncontrolled violent energy. Because he survived the hydrogen bomb test, he transformed monster, and he has too much uncontrollable energy. It's painful even when he’s alive. He was angry at human, and also he may have been looking for a place to die. He is a threat that people must overcome, and it is also a test for regaining the meaning of life left behind in war. In the sense, Godzilla sank into the sea holding remorse and pain caused by the war. What's important is that Godzilla isn't completely evil. He is also one character whose life was derailed by war. Instead of dividing it into two simple colors of evil and justice, they are appealing how disastrous and meaningless war is. Negative emotional chains sometimes lead to explosive violence. Godzilla's Atomic Breath is expressed by a nuclear chain reaction. And all that is left after violence is emptiness, and no one can be saved. There's just an endless chain of negativity waiting. The main character, Shikishima, didn't forget his kindness. But Godzilla was different. A victim of the hydrogen bomb test became a the perpetrator who hurt himself and his surroundings due to being drunk in anger, and finally defeated.
The Best Godzilla Movie ever. This reminded me how I felt when I saw The Joker. Really full of emotion, guilt and redemption. the strength of the scenes and Its CGI and Visual effects are perfect. It's a Masterpiece.
We just saw it and it was superb. This movie would stand on it's own without Godzilla. The human story was very compelling. Best movie I have seen in several years.
It was fantastic. Everything about it. Not only did the story and character development kick ass over anything that Hollywood produces, it even had better visuals than what Hollywood is producing these days. The visuals actually served a purpose, as opposed to just cluttering up the screen with CGI shlock. This movie was made with the same love and care as the best Japanese anime.
Just saw Godzilla Minus One Minus Color. I've not seen the color version, but I will, and I'm glad I saw the B&W version first. It's in theatres for ONE WEEK only, starting today. Go!
I have just come back from the cold( no heat at all) old movie theatre in Toronto( -5C) where I watched this movie. I am stunned. Tears were rolling down my face while I was leaving. This is as you said "human movie" Godzilla is an extra here - not the main character. The main character is Japan and, also the Japanese people after the Second World War. Their values glorify the sacrifice of the individuals - glorify death. Godzilla is a metaphor for the glorification of death. And the people beat that beast and decided to LIVE!!!
This film is deserving of the highest awards! EVERY character is endearing, and the continuity to the older Godzilla movies is nothing short of OUTSTANDING! The story is plausible, and the acting is excellent! Godzilla himself is both terrifying yet loveable! The emotions were heartfelt, and so much more than just believable. Like some other posters said, I do not know how this film can be topped. Is this film a masterpiece? YOU BET IT IS!!!
I'm just so thrilled that this is going on at this moment of time. Godzilla was always such a big part of my life and now to see it done so incredibly well. So amazing that the film with the most positive and moral of messages could come from japan and come packaged as a Gojira movie! What a great time to be a G fan!!
I have great admiration for your fair and thoughtful stance on understanding of Japan's profound post-war tragedy, conflicts and traumatic stress which were largely forgotten in history but now partly described by this affectionate movie by a gifted director Yamazaki!
I have a special place in my heart for Japan and the Japanese people. The movie is amazing and the Japanese language is music to my ears. I am very much attracted to this Godzilla
Godzilla was amazing. I think the main theme is wrestling with the idea of self sacrifice. It is about the transformation of the view of self-sacrifice as a celebration of death in a warrior death cult into a view of self sacrifice that is a celebration and enablement of life. Also, I might have cried in the movie.
Koichi at first being a coward in refusing his "duty" feels shame inherent to his culture, has PTSD of the encounter on Odo Island, and survivor's guilt. Cares for his "family" but can't move on with them until his war is over. Comes to terms with the realization that he must sacrifice his life to save the future for Akiko. And it's only when Tachibana forgives him that Koichi allows himself to see his own worth when maybe his country (govt and military), and he himself, didn't. His faith in Tachibana, Akiko, and even Noriko leads him to choose life. It's a wonderfully brilliant arch and emotionally complex.
@@grayden4138 Yes! Tachibana's story arc of forgiveness was riveting and moved me deeply. The last 10 minutes of this film delivered an amazing emotional climax and I am still thinking about it.
I've been a Godzilla fan since I was like 5 and listening to you read Job in correlation with footage was giving me chills. I believe one of the crew behind the original Gojira(Ishiro Honda) was Catholic, and if you look at 2019's Godzilla King of the Monsters, it has a protagonist who kind of goes through a Job like story where he has to make peace with the Monster who was responsible for his son's death in order to save the world.
Honda had some Buddhist teachings passed down from his father. He wasn't a Catholic. Making peace with something that originally brought anguish, isn't new. Those occurrences likely existed long before Job.
This is why I wanted to see this movie; it was going to be the first Godzilla that was purely evil and aware of what it was causing and doing, he was a metaphor but also an evil presence, no longer just a force of nature anymore and I adore this take. I’m STILL thinking about it days later and about to go see it again
100% agree Paul! Seen it 3x and the best kaiju movie in a long time and did Godzilla justice by going back to its roots and a period peace right after WWII. beautiful and emotional plot line, character building and character arcs. Simply amazing!!!!
i imagine people with post war PTSD or PTSD in general would find it impeccable but also terrified to the core, have the full chaotic reality and utter despair blasted right in front of them and disintegrating people from every subatomic particle, not any ideologies would protect a human from that level of reality-breaking mindfk
EXCELLENT video. Yes, the movie is very good. The honor/Shame dynamic and post WWII Japan is of course super interesting. The movie reminded me of Dunkirk as well. But it also had quite a Jaws feel. The little boat out on the ocean with the monster at sea. Of course, Jaws deals with Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well, because Quint in some ways has a death wish (partly explaining his fascination with sharks) because he was on the Indianapolis, the ship that delivered the bomb. And so the post war sense of survivor’s guilt that you find in Jaws is also present in this movie.
Just personal interpretation, but I think this movie also had a lot to say about hatred, both of the self and of others. Koichi hates himself, Tachibana hates Koichi, and Godzilla hates humanity. Only the loser is holding onto their hatred by the end.
I'm half Japanese. My mother was a child in Imperial Japan. She's 89 years old today. She remembers running from firebombs. Howeber unlike the characters in Godzilla Minus One, most Japanese, including my mother, would never display strong emotions, especially fear. To this day, she remains breathtakingly stoic. I realize characters need to emote for dramatization.
Sumiko, the neighbor and Noriko showed that I believe...it also showed women's innate strength. They were emotional and irrational at first but bounced back quicker than the men and looked toward the future and what was worth living for in the image of Akiko. You can see both became stoic after the initial horror.
The scene Noriko remains washing dishes while hearing the guys in the other room talking is precious, it gives meaning and value to what followed ahead. And we don't see her face, the camera shows only her back.
Randomly stopped at a theater yesterday to treat myself to a movie and picked this with very little insight, and fell in love with cinema all over again!
When Noriko talks about how her family being pleaded to her to live as they were consumed by flames I instantly recalled the scene in Barefoot Gen where the same thing happens to the protagonist of that movie after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. This is definitely more of a war movie than a monster movie.
Wow, certainly the best and most thoughtful review of this amazing film (I did see it), but honestly, one of the most thoughtful and captivating movie reviews I can remember ever watching. Very well done.
8:30 I suppose you missed the comment because it came really early on in the narrative, but when Koichi parted with his parents the one thing they told him was "come back alive". He manages to come back alive, but discovers that his parents are dead. This is supposed to make the things that his neighbor says even more devastating. One thing you should know about this movie is that - while it is extremely well done and was favorably received in Japan as well - almost all of the story lines that DONT involve Godzilla are very heavily worn film tropes from Japanese cinema.I suppose it goes without saying that the movie was made first and foremost for a Japanese audience. Im sure Toho gave thought to some aspects and issues which would affect its overseas reception (for example, writing out any real role for the US occupation forces). However it is first and foremost aimed at Japanese moviegoers - particularly aging boomers and kaiju fans. Therefore there is a lot of subtext in the movie that will go completely over the head of overseas audiences. The brilliant thing about the movie is that it works even without the subtext. The historical experiences of Japanese people during and after the war has produced an entire cultural narrative involving the Tokkotai (the actual name of the division that people call "kamikaze"). There are dozens if not hundreds of books and films that explore the issues, and some of them are fairly major cultural memes [Along the lines of Die Hard, The Shining or Clockwork Orange]. In other words, most Japanese moviegoers/mediaconsumers above a certain age will already be familiar with many movies addressing the critical moral issues raised by the Tokkotai: What does the individual owe to society? What does society owe to the individual? When do the needs of the many outweigh the "rights" of the one? When does survival of the many require the ultimate sacfrice by the One? When does survival of One demand sacrifices from the many? And so on . . . You can see all of these themes touched upon in this movie. Naturally a nonJapanese viewer would miss that subtext (unless they are obsessed with Japanese cinema). The key is not to take those early scenes at face value, as somehow "glorifying" the ideal goal of the kamikaze. These scenes are presenting the audience with several familiar Japanese film tropes that most people will recognize (such as the neighbor who lost her entire family) in order to establish two critical narratives: 1. Self-sacrifice for abstract principles like patriotism, loyalty, honor etc. is stupid. It only creates misery - even for those who dont die. However, 2. When groups, families or societies face truly existential obstacles, the only way to overcome the obstacles is if EVERYONE agrees to make SOME sacrifice ... and perhaps a few will have to make the ultimate sacrifice. Like a lot of similar Japanese movies before it, it seems to end with the lesson that the needs of the many DO outweigh the needs of the individual. But only when "the many" are so closely connected to "the One" that "the One" is willing to do whatever is needed to preserve "the many". It is interesting to see the reaction to people outside Japan, particularly since it seems so overwhelmingly positive. The truth is, even though it was quite successful in the home box office, the only issue that created real **buzz** in Japan was the beliuef among some critics that it strikes a militaristic note [We cant depend on the US. We have to save ourselves]. Personally I cant see any hint that the movie promotes a pro-nuclear stance - quite the opposite - but it Does seem to imply that Japan shouldnt rely on the US to take on ... shall we say ... "a threat from offshore". Anyway, most people I talked to see it as just a (particularly well-done) re-consideration of some of the more philosophical themes of late-1900s Japanese cinema, sandwiched into a Godzilla movie. It wasnt until it blew up in the US that people in Japan are really starting to talk about it. Hope you dont mind this long rant on your channel but I also loved the movie and I enjoyed your comments about it.
Thank you for the insightful explanation on the Tokkotai narrative, I genuinely had no idea how deep the subtext really goes. It makes me appreciate this more even more than I already do.
I didn’t read any reviews before watching this movie and I didn’t know how emotional this movie was; so I brought my seven year old son with me to watch the movie and he cried. Myself, I almost cried 😂.
I saw it at the theater and was very impressed. I would like to see it again in the theater. It was a great movie. I hope you too stay strong and healthy. from Japan. Maybe Aquaman and Godzilla are fighting in the ocean 🌊🦖
I loved the movie and it was really REALLY good, I honestly cant believed i cried during a godzilla movie, the only reason i cried was mainly due to the historical context and a little bit of some of my experiences specifically when akikko (i think was the kids name) was told that her adoptive mother was going to be away for a while, and just brought me to tears. Overall beautiful movie
i've been a fan of Japanese entertainment for a really long time, and watching the progression from largely "really great, but you might not 'get it' if you don't understand Japanese culture" to "objectively, universally incredible" has been surreal and such an impressive experience i think Alice in Borderland was the first peak of that for me, with Minus One being the follow up, even higher peak; excited to see the next peak (and the next Toho Godzilla. lol)
It's was amazing . Good to see a movie with great story , writting and acting etc compared to the trash Hollywood has been spewing out for years . First movie I actually paid for in years to see at the cinema
My mom loves movies but things with sci-fi elements or monsters are challenging for her. I was telling her this is legitimately one of the movies of the year, it just happens to have a monster in it, but I was thinking I might spare forcing her to watch it. But now, partly thanks to your comment, I might see how she feels once it's on streaming!
As a Japanese who lived in the US until high school and went to church every Sunday for personal religious interests, your comparisons with Job were truly compelling. Thank you!!!
Maybe not the ONLY reason but I think definitely ONE of the reasons this movie is so good is that it is not even really ABOUT THE MONSTER. It is much more about the CHARACTERS and there are COMPELLING STORY ARCS. The main character undergoes a "hero's journey" of sorts as he starts out a cowardly failed pilot and goes through a personal crisis leading to him redeeming himself and becoming a hero by the end of the movie. And there is so much GOOD MORALITY and HUMAN BONDING in the story. It was touching how that other lady was determined to take care of the baby even though she was not the mother (not related at all) and the main character just basically takes care of her and the baby because he is too kind to kick them out. Even that neighbor lady was jaded and said she wanted no part in raising some random baby but her heart softened and she kind of became an honorary aunt. And the comraderie between the main character and the crew on that mine sweeper boat was well developed as was the compelling emotional scenes of the people banding together to defeat Godzilla. It was much more ABOUT THE PEOPLE than it was about the creature. To many giant monster movies are ABOUT THE MONSTER and the human characters are portrayed by 3rd rate generic actors with really generic lines and there is not much of a compelling story for them.
I also repeatedly went to blockbuster when I was a kid to rent the Godzilla Flicks over and over thanks mom and dad!! I had lymes disease and subsequently ulcerative colitis so being sick and watching godzilla vhs from blockbuster is formative for me. This recent iteration was exceptional. Very well done! I am loving this Godzilla resurgence! Just like the beast. It rises up again from the depths to tower over the waves in the ocean of our collective consciousness yet again.
I think of all the reviews I've seen of this film, you are the FIRST to dig into the ancient mythos that supports and strengthens the idea of Gojira/Godzilla. The Leviathan is perhaps the most accessible example of these mythological embodiments of non-order, and it represents the class of them well. Godzilla is indeed a modern Leviathan. Well done!
Director Yamazaki is willing to make the next film. The director stated that he would like to make a sequel because there are things he could not do in this film. That is why Minus One ends in a way that reminds him of a sequel. Director Yamazaki said that making a Godzilla movie is a lot of fun. I would rather do it myself if given the chance than have another director make it. If the movie is a big hit, that is a possibility. He stated that he would like to make a Godzilla movie if he has the chance.
@@tikhongilson3770And the movie wouldn't sell half as many tickets. Great plan. Quit acting like it being a Godzilla movie is somehow a turn off for casual audiences.
You are the first reviewer of Godzilla Minus One, I have watched who mentions the influence of the Ghibli film, "Grave of the Fireflies", Iaso Takahata's masterpiece on the utter uselessness of war. Its such an important animated movie, that I urge everyone I know to watch it with the proviso. You will only need to watch it once for it to impact your thinking about war forever, and you will only want to watch it once. Godzilla Minus One does take influence from there, but it also gives us a message that unity and caring about your fellow citizens, can overcome even the greatest devastation.
I m also a die hard Godzilla fan! You mentioned Grave of the Fireflies. I saw this about 15 years ago (I’m thinking). It was such a deep story that was so emotionally profound. It’s been difficult to find. I definitely want to see it again, as well as Godzilla Minus 1!
Godzilla at his heart will always be about the human condition and our limits. Thank you for caring enough to tie his legacy into a history deeper than the monster itself - I loved this film for finally rekindling Godzilla’s focus on humanity, and I hope it’s a sort of rebirth. I loved listening to this and your take on the film and Godzilla as a phenomenon of ongoing human culture.
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Wow! I did not expect so many people to feel the same kind of way about this film!
I’ve got a brand new video out now on why Godzilla Minus One is an OPPENHEIMER sequel. Check it out and share with me your thoughts:
ruclips.net/video/o5QjfLIhr-Y/видео.htmlsi=wbWp434npr80NYAj
It’s a character driven film. It’s shows instead of tells. People are starved for characters they actually care about as opposed to characters they’re TOLD they HAVE to care about.
It’s the 1st movie I’ve revisited the theater to see in years. This also felt like what Godzilla was supposed to have been originally: consequences of nuclear warfare, larger than life menace, and people coming together to stop him because they have no choice; no one else will help, but someone’s got to do it. Manning up basically. Breathtaking.
Honestly the movie was very slow, boring af
@@Imperialbbuilding if it's too slow i suggest watching the Marvels or the new Aquaman movie. Heard they do alot skipping.
So funny you wrote this. I saw Oppenheimer last week and G-1 today, and I saw the connection too.
other movies godzilla minus one take inspiration from Godzilla GMK, and Independence day
the portrayal of his ptsd and deep deep shame, the chosen family and love message being there but not forced, the political commentary, the depictions of true bravery, the HORROR aspects. i was blown out of the water. best theater experience i’ve had as an adult.
Wow! I'm 60 years and I never understood Godzilla until this video. Thank you for sharing!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Congrats to Toho, the Japanese folks for a masterpiece of a film. I don’t think this movie can be topped.
From what I'm hearing, the boy and the heron is up there with it
This film is the Godzilla VS Japanese Kamikaze soul😮😮😮
if I was going to define the film it is about survivours guilt and the people of japan fighting back without help after sufering the horror of the second world war! the curage of the people! so strong!
You'll be surprised
The film is overrated. Boring af
I saw Godzilla Minus One last night. Breathtaking. Your review is excellent! This is so much more than a monster flick. It is about redemption, bravery, honor, and shame. It is a story about a man learning to love again after the war. Most importantly it is about forgiveness (Tachibana's story arc) and second chances and starting over. A powerful, powerful emotional drama. The best story I have seen in 20 years. The 3rd act drags a little bit but so what. There are scenes in this movie you will remember for the rest of your life. Just like "Jaws", this is a movie you can watch again and again and again and again. I will absolutely go back and see it again this weekend!
And its also about family being what you make it. You dont have to be blood related to be family. Its nice to see someone act like a tsundere but show his feelings at the end. I instantly liked the film when Noriko mentioned that the baby wasnt hers but she promised her mother to take care of her. Confucian culture places too much focus on blood ties so I was very touched to see two strangers automatically coming together for Akiko and treat her like their own.
GODZILLA 1984 is my Favorite.
Wow! That speaks volumes. I will go see it. Thank you.
One of the only changes I would have made is Tachibana not telling Koichi about the ejection lever, but hiding it in the bomb release, giving him more gravitas to his own development & more to Koichi's willingness to sacrifice his life for Akiko's future, even though that was a horrible selfish decision by him which would have made his break down at knowing Noriko survived even harder.
My husband had already went and seen this movie when it first released this month. But when he came back and told me he would 1000% go watch it again and had been convincing me to go too. I was hesitant because of the past Godzilla movies made by Hollywood which I just didn’t find deeply interesting at all even the 2014 one. So obviously, I had low expectations going to watch this one with him, but I was very wrong after watching Godzilla minus one. This movie was deeper than just Godzilla= monster I truly appreciated the writers and directors and the fact that this was a modern day updated version of the original Japanese one made it better. If you (and or your spouse) are planning to go watch this movie, it’s a 10/10 recommendation for sure!!
“Has your war ended,Shikishima-san?” What a movie. Best blockbuster of the year, period.
This movie had me caring about every single character even the extras during the attack in the city. This movie was quite simply what cinema is all about. This was a movie about war, destruction, hope, fear, violence, self loathing, horror and the eternity of love. It quite simply a movie about human beings and how they must adapt in the shadow of Godzilla’s dispassionate destruction and find a way to triumph with what’s left. Damn. This movie should win the Oscar for best picture.
I really don't know if I have ever seen a movie that I'm still thinking about almost a week after I saw it. I'm glad it's getting a longer release I just hope word of mouth spreads because this is a movie that not only needs to be seen but seen on the big screen.
It’s about to crack 50 million worldwide so it might
This and the revenant had the same affect on me. But THIS!!! omg so good. I watched zilla vs kong after and it's almost unbearable
I totally agree. I'm so glad I saw this in the theater. To see it for the first time at home would not do it justice. That being said, I just hope when I do view it at home when that platform is released, I don't find myself comparing it to the theatrical viewing experience and feel let down. I would love for them to release this back to the theaters in 3D
It's been 3 months and I'm still thinking about it
This proves you don't need a big Hollywood budget to produce a great movie, saw it on day one, the best movie ever made about Godzilla, I actually cared about the characters
yes but they couldnt make this movie in US for 15 million. actors crews etc and the Unions want their big cut of everything......its impossible! The Japanese working on the CG were working for peanuts!
@@fireballfireball6962that being said, with all those resources the movies usually only lack a good script, it should legit be the easiest and cheapest thing to get with those budgets
This proves that American companies don't understand Japanese culture and wouldn't make a film as good as this with one of their intellectual properties in hand.
This film was great on all levels, and though I would have loved to have seen more Godzilla in it, the lack of him was not necessarily a bad thing.
The human element was amazing.
I just saw it for the third time‼️
@fireballfireball6962 tbf studio A24 were able to make a ton of low budget gems as of late. It's just big studios have so much corporate hogwash it's almost impossible to get a good story that is not made solely for the purpose of product but as artistic impression. Very few have managed to keep Western Films worthy of relevance lately
Amen! This film was so moving, I was crying the entire time. Can’t remember the last time I saw an “action” film and said “that was a work of art.”
This film is the Godzilla VS Japanese Kamikaze soul😮😮
The last action film that I found a work of art was Mad Max Fury Road!
“I’m not saying I cried but I was deeply moved … to tears.” Lol
I really drop a tear in the end. This movie rocks
Great job on this video. I am 59 and also grew up watching Godzilla movies. I went to see Minus One twice in 3 days. I did get emotional both times. Magnificent Film!
I took my 11 year old twin boys and they loved it. Kept up with the subtitles and they preferred it being in Japanese. They are huge Godzilla fans and they both said this was the best Godzilla ever made. They loved the characters and story. I have been a Godzilla fan as a kid and this probably has to be one the best one I think.
I took my 11 year old son as well, who also is a big Godzilla/Kaiju fan, and he loved it, too.
I have been a Godzilla fan since I was 7 when my mom rented a film projector, and 2 Godzilla movies on film reels showing them on a white sheet in the living room for my birthday party. So, while I love most of the silly movies, there's a reverence I have for the deeper movies that I have grown to love as I became an adult. I am proud to say I wept through the Fan Early Screening of Godzilla Minus One. I work at a movie theater and still tear up a bit when I pop into a showing to watch a scene during my work day since it came out.
This movie really grabbed me. For starters, my grandfather fought against Japan in the Pacific in WW2. This movie developed the post-war trauma and developed the characters so well I had the thought, "We should have never been fighting each other." Very strange thought. But, war is hell and this movie gets into that. My grandfather certainly had PTSD...something nobody could recognize back then. Even if this movie didn't have a monster it would be excellent. I, too, was moved to tears watching this. I was surprised by that. My kids absolutely LOVED it. On the way home after the first time we saw it (we saw it in the theater twice) they were telling me how they now understood how character development in a film works. That was really neat. Can't say enough about this masterpiece.
Saw it yesterday, expectational movie!!! Cried multiple times, acting was so well done. Deeply moving!
This movie was made by a group of people who went above and beyond what a limited budget asked of them. It was absolutely incredible to see, and I can’t appreciate everyone behind this film enough. If you remove Godzilla from the story and replace him with any other disastrous force, the gravity of the human storyline remains. This isn’t a Godzilla film featuring humans. It’s a human story featuring Godzilla and that is why it works.
Watched it last night with my wife and saw her burst out crying at “Is your war over yet?” Powerful stuff
One aspect I really appreciated about this film is how it depicts the resolve and determination of the Japanese, how they immediately get to work to rebuild their homeland and it's a testament to what they actually did. The human aspect of this film is what makes a great film, it is how movies used to be about.
I loved the man in the background hammering out the pan in the midst of the rubble. And in each subsequent scene Tokyo was restored even more.
As the pilot first takes control of his plane he waggles the wings a bit then banks to look down at his beloved Japan. Rice fields and homes.
Gotta say .. movie of year .. I left awe struck ... simply the movie going experience of the year ..loved it .. this is how you do cinema right
The scene that struck me deeply was when the navy veterans were saluting to Godzilla just right after they've defeated him, because there's a deep Japanese ethos that we can't retaliate against hatred with hatred yet expecting that's gonna go well later on. So when Godzilla to an extend was himself a victim of nuclear holocaust, what his wounds and subsequent hatred that can't be healed fully with love alone, has to be processed then relinquished. I went so far as associated Shikishima's agonizing scream when he's left alone as the sole survivor after Godzilla raided Ginza, as the same as Godzilla's own malicious roar right after he leveled Ginza with his atomic airburst.
This film is the Godzilla VS Japanese Kamikaze soul😮😮😮
@@753tmd no, otherwise Shikishima wouldn't have used the ejection seat.
@@Kar1s3n no, you got the sequence wrong. They were weeping and enraging when they thought that Shikishima had sacrificed himself, they weren't saluting. The plan only required him to act as a bait in order to guide Godzilla to the operation area, none of them expected him to went kamikaze. Otherwise they would've be cheering and encouraging him from the sideline the moment they saw him started charging straight into Godzilla.
@@DomFortressYou got it right. It is hard for westerners to understand why, for example, Tokugawa Shōgun built Nikko Tōshogu shrine also to honor Daimyōs Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who were his enemies. It's all about honor and non-hate culture, this is what enables Japanese people to be resilient and rebuild what it takes on and on. They don't loose time victimizing themselves.
@@crisjapopcris1564 this is also reflected in their opening meal prayer that the west loosely translated into "let's eat", when what's embedded in that prayer is a conscious realization and reminder that eating is a sacred act of nourishing oneself with the life of another. To that extent the ritual of nourishment begins in the kitchen, that even the cutting board is treated as a sacred altarpiece. while the west treat eating like an entitled and gratifying pastime, that attitude however isn't equally shard by parts of the rest of the world.
What touched me the most about Godzilla Minus One.. was the redemption of Koichi Shikishima (the Pilot) at the end of the film. He was so sorry for his actions, and he felt that he needed to die to make up for his bad decisions which cost the lives of others. But the plane mechanic and his friends wanted him to live. There is flashback scene when the plane mechanic showed him the ejection seat and said one word: "Live." It gave Koichi a new opportunity to choose life, and he persevered and the film had a peaceful ending. This reminded me of Jesus Christ, who offers us forgiveness, redemption and a second chance. He gives us new life through Him. This was very meaningful to me and I just loved this movie.
I would only add that, if a man can add an ejector seat to a fighter plane, he's more than a mechanic. He's an engineer.
There is No Jesus . Japanese Gods are more than large …
Inscrutable, Implacable, Kiju No Kama.The H-Bomb that Walks.
Everything's about Jesus with you people isn't it? This comparison doesn't even make sense. Jesus never had to redeem himself after having done something shameful like the hero of this movie. Stop making everything about Christ.
Jesus.
@@ishaangovardhan7430 I pictured Jesus saying "Live" to the pilot - giving redemption to the pilot.
My son is a huge Godzilla fan, and I'm sort of because of him. We've seen this movie twice in a week (first in IMAX ...OMG). Second time around still loved it and got a whole lot more insight, particularly focusing on different elements of the film. I lived in Japan for 15 years and my wife is Japanese, and some of the political commentary is so topical. Also, there are cameos of famous J-actors that western audiences won't know either. I thought Kamiki's performance was Oscar material just quietly. Brilliant, breath-taking, heart-string tugging movie.
I am Japanese, but I was deeply impressed by your thoughts.
He has a deep understanding of Godzilla and Japanese culture.
Quoting the Old Testament is also a valid way to present Godzilla's reason for existence.
Now, speaking of religious factors, Japan is polytheistic, whereas the United States is monotheistic.
Therefore, the Hollywood version of Godzilla is a monster, not a god.
However, in Japan, where various gods exist, Godzilla is a god.
Godzilla, the god of disaster, is the embodiment of human error.
Hmm interesting.. It's not only USA that is monotheistic friend. I would say... Until Middle East... Pretty much all are monotheistic. South America is monotheistic, Europe is monotheistic, Africa is monotheistic, Middle East is monotheistic,.... I think polytheism is from India to east. Including the Asian regions of course. China, Japan, etc.
But polytheism was also in Europe and the Middle East region fyi... Before the Roman Empire! Greece, Italy, the Mediterranean region (Egypt and Israel for example) had polytheistic religions actually... They did transition to a monotheistic religion after the expanse of the Roman Empire to the east (Israel). Where they found Judaism and later on.. Christianity.
Christianity was installed in Europe through the Roman Empire and then was installed in the Americas, during the colonization period by the Europeans... You see... Europe is like 2000 years old and Americas are like 500 years old. Europe went through a lottttt of changes and Americas did not. There are more old civilizations... The Egyptians have like 10000 years of existence. And I heard Asian civilizations are one of the oldest in the world too, with like 5000 years of existence. Not sure about that but maybe you can correct me
In the West... Well... We do consider destructive gods as monsters in a way... They fall under that definition... But yes gods are one thing and monsters can be another thing. Gods don't have necessarily a physical form while monsters do. Although there are tales of gods assuming a physical form to manifest themselves around people... Complicated stuff 😆
When you said "embodiment of human error"... Is it only about human error or more?? Like human arrogance, human vanity, human ego,.... Is it exclusive to human error??
Best regards to you friend, from Europe. It was good movie btw 😀
@@Trip4man The USA isn't monotheistic. Ridiculous. It might be in the minds of the MAGA crew.
神＝GOD
っていうのが最初に翻訳された段階で間違ってた
I've never heard the term "God of Disaster" before. What a perfect title.
The United States is not monotheistic. The United States has no official or homogeneous religion.
It’s not just a great monster movie, it’s a great movie.
Exactly, not only this movie portray the antagonist Godzilla perfectly, but this movie delivers plot, characters chemistry, score, cinematography, VFX and depth of a film ingredients perfectly.
10/10 Best film period.
I did take my 9-year-old son to it, not knowing it was so heavy. The little girl crying got him. But in the end, when Godzilla was defeated, he stood up and saluted with all the characters on the ships.
⚠️ MASSIVE SPOILER ⚠️
@phillawrence5148 I mean it's Godzilla with no other monsters... all Godzilla movies with no other monsters get defeated.
This was my first Japanese Godzilla experience in theaters, and didn’t disappoint. Once that theme song kicked in when he made it to the mainland, the nostalgia came instantly.
My wife and I watched it in an empty theatre. We thought it would be an opportunity to discuss it. We hardly said a word to each other.
I went in with high expectations and this movie exceeded that. Godzilla was a supporting actor and it was awesome. Great character development, plot, emotion, everything. I'm watching it again.
Just remember if Godzilla is behind you that you are NOT going to outrun him.
You need to run perpendicular to his path. Run down a sidestreet and keep on running.
this is excellent practical advice.
And then Godzilla turned 90 degrees and you a fucked. LOL
Except no
Because when he swings his tail, it destroys everything in a radius, front, back, sides, it all gets wiped out.
Maybe fly away somehow but if he wants to target you he still has his arms and mouth lol
Yes, Never follow the Prometheus School of Running Away From Things. You will get crushed.
OK, then run perpendicular to Godzilla's path and then down the first Subway entrance you find. Godzilla usually keeps his tail in the air causing havoc so you should be safe. I offer no guarantees.@@lightning1896
I’ve read that many folks have shed a tear or two by the end of this film. The time that I felt a lump in my throat was when the child suddenly started crying. I have to wonder how the director got that child to cry on cue like that. It wasn’t a fake cry, it was heart wrenching.
This movie was... A Masterpiece.
Perhaps the best film of the year. Definitely one of the best films of the last decade.
I'm going back to see it soon
Yea I definitely didn’t have “tearing up during a Godzilla movie” on my 2023 bingo card. Fantastic movie!
The mechanic Tachibana is so important in the plot because he is not really an independent character with a life of his own but just a projection of Koichi's soul towards the external worlds,. See how all what Tachibana does is just to exteriorize what Koichi feels, the self hatred, the sense of guilt, of humiliation, the despair then, finally, the will to fight and the recovery of his pride, resolve and self respect. Also see that the interactions of Tachibana are practically all with Koichi, if memory serves me well, because his own reason to be is to let Koichi's soul to express itself. That is why the best moment of the film from the POV of Koichi is when he is about to take off and Tachibana gives him full military honors, that is himself being himself again. That is why he absolutely needs Tachibana when he has finally decided to fight, he needs him because the mechanic is part of himself.
They call Tachibana a mechanic, but if he can install an ejector seat in a Shinden fighter, he's an ENGINEER.
@@tikhongilson3770 Had not existed the need to make Tachibana such an important character they would have simply gone and located one of the engineers that worked on the original plane, not an outsider. Tachibana was an essential part to the plot and that is the main reason why he is there
@@rubenoteiza9261he's not an engineer by title, but by talent.
The first Godzilla movie I seen in the theater, was Destroy all monsters. Ever since that faithfully day I was a Godzilla fan. My children and I went to see Minus 1, we all loved it. The storyline was incredible. My son said he couldn’t believe a Godzilla movie almost made him cry. I’m a new subscriber, I love your content. Keep up the good work and God bless.
I would go so far as to say this film is the best movie in many years. It is so profound and moving. It really isn't a Godzilla movie at all. Yes, Godzilla appears in the film, but it isn't about him. That's the brilliance of it. This is an anti-war movie done in ways I've never seen before. The cruelty and despair of war is on full display in such an emotional way in the film. I agree this movie has biblical overtones that serve it so well. I can't recommend this film enough. Run, don't walk to see it. It will touch your soul.
Godzilla is used perfectly in this movie, just like the original, he is an allegory.
I saw it New Year's Eve and the first thing that came to my mind is WOW THIS MOVIE HAS A STORY! And it only cost 15 million to make something that Hollywood should do instead of putting a ton of money into something that can fail.
Because it's actually a movie, not just a bunch of special effects. Also, no political shaming of the audience.
I agree except for the political shaming part. It’s political but not shallow - it criticized the lack of value for life by the people and the government. The fact he’s a kamikaze pilot who didn’t kill himself and is the hero - its a strong statement.
@@Lionel054it’s political commentary done right.
Tokyo is the scene of indiscriminate massacres of civilians by the U.S., but the film makes no mention of this. It's taken into consideration for Americans.
@@shirankedo-ib8uv I was going to mention the various massacres by the Japanese military but 2 wrongs don’t make a right. The Japanese military slaughtering innocent civilians doesn’t give other countries the right to slaughter innocent civilians as well. I mean, they’re *innocent civilians* for a reason.
I think that when a nation holds its own people and soldiers as having little to no value, they themselves reflect that in their actions towards people who's lands they occupied. Japan has had a hard time coming to terms with their part in WW2, but Ihink I admitting how poorly they treated their own is a step towards admitting their fault in atrocities towards others.
When the character Godzilla was first created, the setting was Dinosaurs that had survived unbeknownst to people were exposed to American hydrogen bomb tests, and he were transformed into monsters that exhale atomic breath.
Godzilla-1.0 is a work that goes back to that initial setting. So, Godzilla is both a symbol of war and nuclear weapons, and at the same time he is war/nuclear victim (as a result of being involved in a hydrogen bomb test, he transformed into monster regardless of the his intention).
Godzilla in this film, when he exhales atomic breath, his own mouth and face is burned. It looks like he is suffering by having uncontrolled violent energy. Because he survived the hydrogen bomb test, he transformed monster, and he has too much uncontrollable energy. It's painful even when he’s alive. He was angry at human, and also he may have been looking for a place to die.
He is a threat that people must overcome, and it is also a test for regaining the meaning of life left behind in war. In the sense, Godzilla sank into the sea holding remorse and pain caused by the war.
What's important is that Godzilla isn't completely evil. He is also one character whose life was derailed by war. Instead of dividing it into two simple colors of evil and justice, they are appealing how disastrous and meaningless war is. Negative emotional chains sometimes lead to explosive violence. Godzilla's Atomic Breath is expressed by a nuclear chain reaction. And all that is left after violence is emptiness, and no one can be saved. There's just an endless chain of negativity waiting. The main character, Shikishima, didn't forget his kindness. But Godzilla was different. A victim of the hydrogen bomb test became a the perpetrator who hurt himself and his surroundings due to being drunk in anger, and finally defeated.
Godzilla Minus One should win The Oscar for Best Movie of The Year!!!!
The Best Godzilla Movie ever. This reminded me how I felt when I saw The Joker. Really full of emotion, guilt and redemption. the strength of the scenes and Its CGI and Visual effects are perfect. It's a Masterpiece.
I loved the storyline as much as I did the brilliant special effects! Deserves to be nominated as Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards!
We just saw it and it was superb. This movie would stand on it's own without Godzilla. The human story was very compelling. Best movie I have seen in several years.
It was fantastic. Everything about it. Not only did the story and character development kick ass over anything that Hollywood produces, it even had better visuals than what Hollywood is producing these days. The visuals actually served a purpose, as opposed to just cluttering up the screen with CGI shlock. This movie was made with the same love and care as the best Japanese anime.
Just saw Godzilla Minus One Minus Color. I've not seen the color version, but I will, and I'm glad I saw the B&W version first. It's in theatres for ONE WEEK only, starting today. Go!
Godzilla Minus 1 was the best movie in 2023. I am so looking forward to it coming out on blu-ray.
I have just come back from the cold( no heat at all) old movie theatre in Toronto( -5C) where I watched this movie. I am stunned. Tears were rolling down my face while I was leaving. This is as you said "human movie" Godzilla is an extra here - not the main character. The main character is Japan and, also the Japanese people after the Second World War. Their values glorify the sacrifice of the individuals - glorify death. Godzilla is a metaphor for the glorification of death. And the people beat that beast and decided to LIVE!!!
Well said!
This film is deserving of the highest awards! EVERY character is endearing, and the continuity to the older Godzilla movies is nothing short of OUTSTANDING! The story is plausible, and the acting is excellent! Godzilla himself is both terrifying yet loveable! The emotions were heartfelt, and so much more than just believable. Like some other posters said, I do not know how this film can be topped. Is this film a masterpiece? YOU BET IT IS!!!
I'm just so thrilled that this is going on at this moment of time. Godzilla was always such a big part of my life and now to see it done so incredibly well.
So amazing that the film with the most positive and moral of messages could come from japan and come packaged as a Gojira movie! What a great time to be a G fan!!
Godzilla minus one was truly a CLASSIC! Hollywood should take notes on how to make a film … best movie of the year
I keep hearing good things about
I have great admiration for your fair and thoughtful stance on understanding of Japan's profound post-war tragedy, conflicts and traumatic stress which were largely forgotten in history but now partly described by this affectionate movie by a gifted director Yamazaki!
I have a special place in my heart for Japan and the Japanese people. The movie is amazing and the Japanese language is music to my ears. I am very much attracted to this Godzilla
Godzilla was amazing. I think the main theme is wrestling with the idea of self sacrifice. It is about the transformation of the view of self-sacrifice as a celebration of death in a warrior death cult into a view of self sacrifice that is a celebration and enablement of life. Also, I might have cried in the movie.
Okay, maybe I teared up a little 😢 😂
Koichi at first being a coward in refusing his "duty" feels shame inherent to his culture, has PTSD of the encounter on Odo Island, and survivor's guilt. Cares for his "family" but can't move on with them until his war is over. Comes to terms with the realization that he must sacrifice his life to save the future for Akiko.
And it's only when Tachibana forgives him that Koichi allows himself to see his own worth when maybe his country (govt and military), and he himself, didn't. His faith in Tachibana, Akiko, and even Noriko leads him to choose life. It's a wonderfully brilliant arch and emotionally complex.
No its about Japanese culture value death more than life. It even says that in the movie.
@@grayden4138
Yes! Tachibana's story arc of forgiveness was riveting and moved me deeply. The last 10 minutes of this film delivered an amazing emotional climax and I am still thinking about it.
I've been a Godzilla fan since I was like 5 and listening to you read Job in correlation with footage was giving me chills. I believe one of the crew behind the original Gojira(Ishiro Honda) was Catholic, and if you look at 2019's Godzilla King of the Monsters, it has a protagonist who kind of goes through a Job like story where he has to make peace with the Monster who was responsible for his son's death in order to save the world.
The crew you are referring to was special effects master Eiji Tsuburaya.
@@Nexus04that's the one, thank you.
@@josephfiandra4523 no problem.
Hey while I agree but rember toho who made godzilla made godzilla vs
Honda had some Buddhist teachings passed down from his father. He wasn't a Catholic. Making peace with something that originally brought anguish, isn't new. Those occurrences likely existed long before Job.
This is why I wanted to see this movie; it was going to be the first Godzilla that was purely evil and aware of what it was causing and doing, he was a metaphor but also an evil presence, no longer just a force of nature anymore and I adore this take. I’m STILL thinking about it days later and about to go see it again
Go watch it again, you connect the dots better the 2nd time. I rewatched it today , and got the chills just as the first time.
@@alans8771 I’ve watched it twice already, wanna watch it again already. Absolutely OBSESSED
Actually, Goji in GMK was also evil, possessed by the spirits of everyone killed by the Japanese Empire.
100% agree Paul! Seen it 3x and the best kaiju movie in a long time and did Godzilla justice by going back to its roots and a period peace right after WWII. beautiful and emotional plot line, character building and character arcs. Simply amazing!!!!
just by thinking about the tomb of fireflies brought tears to my eyes, that movie was amazing
i imagine people with post war PTSD or PTSD in general would find it impeccable but also terrified to the core, have the full chaotic reality and utter despair blasted right in front of them and disintegrating people from every subatomic particle, not any ideologies would protect a human from that level of reality-breaking mindfk
I'm a war vet and I deeply deeply felt this movie. War is not pretty.
EXCELLENT video.
Yes, the movie is very good. The honor/Shame dynamic and post WWII Japan is of course super interesting.
The movie reminded me of Dunkirk as well.
But it also had quite a Jaws feel. The little boat out on the ocean with the monster at sea.
Of course, Jaws deals with Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well, because Quint in some ways has a death wish (partly explaining his fascination with sharks) because he was on the Indianapolis, the ship that delivered the bomb.
And so the post war sense of survivor’s guilt that you find in Jaws is also present in this movie.
Just personal interpretation, but I think this movie also had a lot to say about hatred, both of the self and of others. Koichi hates himself, Tachibana hates Koichi, and Godzilla hates humanity. Only the loser is holding onto their hatred by the end.
I'm half Japanese. My mother was a child in Imperial Japan. She's 89 years old today. She remembers running from firebombs. Howeber unlike the characters in Godzilla Minus One, most Japanese, including my mother, would never display strong emotions, especially fear. To this day, she remains breathtakingly stoic. I realize characters need to emote for dramatization.
Sumiko, the neighbor and Noriko showed that I believe...it also showed women's innate strength. They were emotional and irrational at first but bounced back quicker than the men and looked toward the future and what was worth living for in the image of Akiko. You can see both became stoic after the initial horror.
The scene Noriko remains washing dishes while hearing the guys in the other room talking is precious, it gives meaning and value to what followed ahead. And we don't see her face, the camera shows only her back.
Randomly stopped at a theater yesterday to treat myself to a movie and picked this with very little insight, and fell in love with cinema all over again!
When Noriko talks about how her family being pleaded to her to live as they were consumed by flames I instantly recalled the scene in Barefoot Gen where the same thing happens to the protagonist of that movie after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. This is definitely more of a war movie than a monster movie.
Wow, certainly the best and most thoughtful review of this amazing film (I did see it), but honestly, one of the most thoughtful and captivating movie reviews I can remember ever watching. Very well done.
8:30 I suppose you missed the comment because it came really early on in the narrative, but when Koichi parted with his parents the one thing they told him was "come back alive". He manages to come back alive, but discovers that his parents are dead. This is supposed to make the things that his neighbor says even more devastating.
One thing you should know about this movie is that - while it is extremely well done and was favorably received in Japan as well - almost all of the story lines that DONT involve Godzilla are very heavily worn film tropes from Japanese cinema.I suppose it goes without saying that the movie was made first and foremost for a Japanese audience. Im sure Toho gave thought to some aspects and issues which would affect its overseas reception (for example, writing out any real role for the US occupation forces).
However it is first and foremost aimed at Japanese moviegoers - particularly aging boomers and kaiju fans. Therefore there is a lot of subtext in the movie that will go completely over the head of overseas audiences. The brilliant thing about the movie is that it works even without the subtext.
The historical experiences of Japanese people during and after the war has produced an entire cultural narrative involving the Tokkotai (the actual name of the division that people call "kamikaze"). There are dozens if not hundreds of books and films that explore the issues, and some of them are fairly major cultural memes [Along the lines of Die Hard, The Shining or Clockwork Orange]. In other words, most Japanese moviegoers/mediaconsumers above a certain age will already be familiar with many movies addressing the critical moral issues raised by the Tokkotai: What does the individual owe to society? What does society owe to the individual? When do the needs of the many outweigh the "rights" of the one? When does survival of the many require the ultimate sacfrice by the One? When does survival of One demand sacrifices from the many? And so on . . . You can see all of these themes touched upon in this movie.
Naturally a nonJapanese viewer would miss that subtext (unless they are obsessed with Japanese cinema). The key is not to take those early scenes at face value, as somehow "glorifying" the ideal goal of the kamikaze. These scenes are presenting the audience with several familiar Japanese film tropes that most people will recognize (such as the neighbor who lost her entire family) in order to establish two critical narratives:
1. Self-sacrifice for abstract principles like patriotism, loyalty, honor etc. is stupid. It only creates misery - even for those who dont die. However,
2. When groups, families or societies face truly existential obstacles, the only way to overcome the obstacles is if EVERYONE agrees to make SOME sacrifice ... and perhaps a few will have to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Like a lot of similar Japanese movies before it, it seems to end with the lesson that the needs of the many DO outweigh the needs of the individual. But only when "the many" are so closely connected to "the One" that "the One" is willing to do whatever is needed to preserve "the many".
It is interesting to see the reaction to people outside Japan, particularly since it seems so overwhelmingly positive. The truth is, even though it was quite successful in the home box office, the only issue that created real **buzz** in Japan was the beliuef among some critics that it strikes a militaristic note [We cant depend on the US. We have to save ourselves]. Personally I cant see any hint that the movie promotes a pro-nuclear stance - quite the opposite - but it Does seem to imply that Japan shouldnt rely on the US to take on ... shall we say ... "a threat from offshore".
Anyway, most people I talked to see it as just a (particularly well-done) re-consideration of some of the more philosophical themes of late-1900s Japanese cinema, sandwiched into a Godzilla movie. It wasnt until it blew up in the US that people in Japan are really starting to talk about it. Hope you dont mind this long rant on your channel but I also loved the movie and I enjoyed your comments about it.
Great observations. Thank you for your comments.
@bobgeile
Thank you for the insightful explanation on the Tokkotai narrative, I genuinely had no idea how deep the subtext really goes. It makes me appreciate this more even more than I already do.
I ain’t reading all that
When the pilot told him he put in the eject lever & told him to live was emotional.
I didn’t read any reviews before watching this movie and I didn’t know how emotional this movie was; so I brought my seven year old son with me to watch the movie and he cried. Myself, I almost cried 😂.
If you haven't seen it yet, you should definitely see it in theaters. you will definitely get something in your life. Watch this movie in theaters now
Fr. While you can. Before the Aquaman junk come out
I saw it at the theater and was very impressed. I would like to see it again in the theater. It was a great movie.
I hope you too stay strong and healthy. from Japan.
Maybe Aquaman and Godzilla are fighting in the ocean 🌊🦖
I loved the movie and it was really REALLY good, I honestly cant believed i cried during a godzilla movie, the only reason i cried was mainly due to the historical context and a little bit of some of my experiences specifically when akikko (i think was the kids name) was told that her adoptive mother was going to be away for a while, and just brought me to tears. Overall beautiful movie
i've been a fan of Japanese entertainment for a really long time, and watching the progression from largely "really great, but you might not 'get it' if you don't understand Japanese culture" to "objectively, universally incredible" has been surreal and such an impressive experience
i think Alice in Borderland was the first peak of that for me, with Minus One being the follow up, even higher peak; excited to see the next peak (and the next Toho Godzilla. lol)
My son and I loved it. When the Godzilla March music hit we lost our minds! Epic!
I did too!!
It's was amazing . Good to see a movie with great story , writting and acting etc compared to the trash Hollywood has been spewing out for years . First movie I actually paid for in years to see at the cinema
Godzilla Fan here since mid 1970.. You are not alone dude!!
I went into this movie essentially blind having only seen the trailers. Best movie of the year. I recommend it to everyone.
To be honest, my wife didnt want yo go see it because it was subtitled but ended up enjoying it and was invested in it.
My mom loves movies but things with sci-fi elements or monsters are challenging for her. I was telling her this is legitimately one of the movies of the year, it just happens to have a monster in it, but I was thinking I might spare forcing her to watch it. But now, partly thanks to your comment, I might see how she feels once it's on streaming!
I cried 4 times in this film and my expectations were greatly exceeded. Definitely want to see it again.
As a Japanese who lived in the US until high school and went to church every Sunday for personal religious interests, your comparisons with Job were truly compelling. Thank you!!!
Great vid! Best review of this movie
I have seen.
Agree 100% with you on all of this. It is the best movies of not just this year, but the last 5 years.
you forget to tell about the best sound/music desin in years, it was fucking epic
Maybe not the ONLY reason but I think definitely ONE of the reasons this movie is so good is that it is not even really ABOUT THE MONSTER. It is much more about the CHARACTERS and there are COMPELLING STORY ARCS. The main character undergoes a "hero's journey" of sorts as he starts out a cowardly failed pilot and goes through a personal crisis leading to him redeeming himself and becoming a hero by the end of the movie.
And there is so much GOOD MORALITY and HUMAN BONDING in the story. It was touching how that other lady was determined to take care of the baby even though she was not the mother (not related at all) and the main character just basically takes care of her and the baby because he is too kind to kick them out. Even that neighbor lady was jaded and said she wanted no part in raising some random baby but her heart softened and she kind of became an honorary aunt.
And the comraderie between the main character and the crew on that mine sweeper boat was well developed as was the compelling emotional scenes of the people banding together to defeat Godzilla. It was much more ABOUT THE PEOPLE than it was about the creature.
To many giant monster movies are ABOUT THE MONSTER and the human characters are portrayed by 3rd rate generic actors with really generic lines and there is not much of a compelling story for them.
I also repeatedly went to blockbuster when I was a kid to rent the Godzilla Flicks over and over thanks mom and dad!! I had lymes disease and subsequently ulcerative colitis so being sick and watching godzilla vhs from blockbuster is formative for me. This recent iteration was exceptional. Very well done! I am loving this Godzilla resurgence! Just like the beast. It rises up again from the depths to tower over the waves in the ocean of our collective consciousness yet again.
Minus one wasn't just a movie, it was an event. Awesome.
I watched it yesterday and you are SPOT ON. One of the best movies of this millennium.
I think of all the reviews I've seen of this film, you are the FIRST to dig into the ancient mythos that supports and strengthens the idea of Gojira/Godzilla. The Leviathan is perhaps the most accessible example of these mythological embodiments of non-order, and it represents the class of them well. Godzilla is indeed a modern Leviathan.
Well done!
You have to see it in Black and White!!! It is absolutely unreal and so so special
Director Yamazaki is willing to make the next film.
The director stated that he would like to make a sequel because there are things he could not do in this film. That is why Minus One ends in a way that reminds him of a sequel.
Director Yamazaki said that making a Godzilla movie is a lot of fun.
I would rather do it myself if given the chance than have another director make it. If the movie is a big hit, that is a possibility. He stated that he would like to make a Godzilla movie if he has the chance.
Never been a Godzilla fan, this movie was tremendous
I almost wish it was titled something like "the hesitant kamikaze" rather than anything with Godzilla in it. Then non-Godzilla fans would see it.
Ok why
@@tikhongilson3770And the movie wouldn't sell half as many tickets. Great plan.
Quit acting like it being a Godzilla movie is somehow a turn off for casual audiences.
It's a story about what it means to be a human being and the actors successfully hit the emotional tone that was required
You are the first reviewer of Godzilla Minus One, I have watched who mentions the influence of the Ghibli film, "Grave of the Fireflies", Iaso Takahata's masterpiece on the utter uselessness of war.
Its such an important animated movie, that I urge everyone I know to watch it with the proviso. You will only need to watch it once for it to impact your thinking about war forever, and you will only want to watch it once.
Godzilla Minus One does take influence from there, but it also gives us a message that unity and caring about your fellow citizens, can overcome even the greatest devastation.
Oh God dont talk to me about "Grave Of The Fireflies" it was so sad and heavy i swore i could never watch it again!
I couldn't agree more . It is a human story at it's core with Godzilla in the story .
Ok the movie sounds good
I m also a die hard Godzilla fan! You mentioned Grave of the Fireflies. I saw this about 15 years ago (I’m thinking). It was such a deep story that was so emotionally profound. It’s been difficult to find. I definitely want to see it again, as well as Godzilla Minus 1!
Just saw it today …had no expectation , yet I left the theater crying and feeling for all the characters . What an amazing and heartfelt surprise !
This movie was absolutely fantastic. Truly a masterpiece!
Godzilla at his heart will always be about the human condition and our limits. Thank you for caring enough to tie his legacy into a history deeper than the monster itself - I loved this film for finally rekindling Godzilla’s focus on humanity, and I hope it’s a sort of rebirth. I loved listening to this and your take on the film and Godzilla as a phenomenon of ongoing human culture.
Seen it in Black n white and it was great!!
Thank you Japan. It is a masterpiece!!