It feels like the day after Christmas now that I've actually seen Godzilla Minus Zero.
All that hype and anticipation actually lived up but it's over now and as the credits rolled I realized I was so satisfied that I had nothing critical to say.
I slept on it so I wouldn't write something hyperbolic in my satisfaction with the film. Now make no mistake, I absolutely ADORED Godzilla Minus Zero. But I just didn't want to write some pointless glaze.
It's not perfect. But it's close! It falls JUST short of its predecessor Minus One. I thought Godzilla could've had a bit more screentime. Speaking of screentime, with the extended cast in this film. As well as Dr. Noda and Noriko's increased importance, compared to Minus One, our hero Shikishima is no longer the sole focus of the human drama. So the narrative is not as tight.
The movie still has SOMETHING to say. A lot of it is the classic Godzilla fare. Nuclear weapons are bad. But there's also conversation about the indomitable human spirit. How do we persevere, even when faced with the end? What are we willing to do? What sacrifices are worth making and which ones aren't?
We're also presented with an almost antagonist view of the US military, with some commentary about the dubious nature of foreign aid in Post War Japan.
It didn't seem possible, but the sense of DREAD and absolute HOPELESSNESS from the first film is AMPLIFIED by a hundred in Minus Zero. It gives the final act so much more weight than the usual GODZILLA VS. situation.
Plus a sky fight scene pulled straight of a Star Wars film, that stands to be this movie’s version of the Shinsei Maru scene from Minus One
LETS TALK ABOUT THAT THIRD ACT FLOW STATE.
Takashi Yamazaki gets his shot to go full out Kaiju vs Kaiju and he swings the SHIT out of his bat. The new designs for a classic Toho Kaiju who will not be named here are out of this world. So many small references to Toho's history.
The action is DISGUSTING and you will IMMEDIATELY understand why this film was given an R Rating. (There are some earlier scenes dealing with radiation and nuclear weapons that likely contributed to the rating as well.)
Overall. One of my favorite movies of the year. Minus One was a 10/10 for me.
So Godzilla Minus Zero is 9.5/10.
Incredible film. Please see it on the biggest screen possible