I mean it's not really fair to compare post-war Japan to the US or UK. Japan was already ravaged by fire bombing and mass bombing campaigns as collective punishment *before* the nukes were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and then you add on the most destructive and powerful weapons ever created being used to level two entire cities of mostly civilians. And then to add insult to injury, the US set up a puppet regime, wrote a new constitution that established them as a client state, and rapidly westernized the country by force. The US and the UK have *never* experienced anything like the joint loss of life and humiliating cultural defeat that Japan did during and after WWII. Hell, the fucking Nazis got off *way* easier than Japan did.
Mind you, I'm not defending Imperial Japan. Japan was a vicious imperial power in the region but the US didn't dismantle and humiliate Imperial Japan for the good of the Japanese or the people they wanted to rule over. They did it to establish US imperial power in the region.
>In a nutshell, I wish that “Godzilla Minus One” thematically distinguished itself more from the conventions and themes of the original.
Well, that's kind of the point of the film. We're almost 70 years on from Honda's original film and Japan is still living in the shadow of WWII. The film actually does something interesting and kind of subtle by never actually referencing the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Instead it focuses on the fire bombing of Tokyo and the way Japan was treated like a puppet government by the US. I think the film does explore some new thematic territory that even *without* the nuclear bombing of two of their cities, Japan was going to be a broken and defeated country after the war.
While I think the film could have gone further in some place, I also don't go into a film expecting it to reflect my politics and beliefs to the letter. The film is very careful and adamant about the fact that Imperial Japan and the new US puppet government are bad and bad for different reasons. It tries to suggest a new and alternate way forward that isn't reliant on Japan's violent imperial legacy *or* based on being a client state of the US.
I think the people of Japan might disagree with that in a lot of ways. Their government is doing well, but the USA is a great example of government not being a reflection of the people
I believe he means during ww2 not now. Japan is incredible now. Everything we should be here but we'd rather fleece special interest pockets. I digress.
* It's so common to die from overworking in japan they made it a word: Karoshi
* the shame and guilt brought on by failing to meet societal expectations is so overwhelming that 100k+ people disappear every year in a phenomenon referred to as Johatsu (evaporated)
* Japan's economy has long been in a state of stagnation and deflation
* The birthrate has negative growth, and instead of looking to alleviate society of the crushing norms that cultured this they are instead opting to allow more immigration, which they are then angry toward foreigners not wanting to adopt their maladaptive social norms
* Sexual assault on trains is so prevalent rush hours have gender segregated carriages
Thriving? Existing, like the rest of us tbh
I appreciate the thought you put into this comment, but I’ll disagree and say that imperial Japan and the U.S. occupation were little more than set-piece dressing in the movie for the most part imo. I can’t really see employing former Japanese soldiers to destroy mines as that bad. It wasn’t like the treatment the German teen soldiers in “Land of Mine” received.
The only major exception to this (beyond the expectations of sacrifice as I mentioned before) is how the Japanese government and the United States alike abandoned the Japanese population to the wrath of Godzilla. But again, this goes into my issue of the insularity and self-victimization of the movie. And in the case, I felt like the absence of this presence hurt the thematic prowess of the movie more than it would have otherwise.
P.S., the movies I referenced related to the U.S. or the UK were about Japanese imperialist actions during the war and their cruel treatment of enemy POWs. I’m not sure if you realized that.
You think Japan got off way easier than Nazis? You're ridiculous. Japan got off very easy. The US let the Japanese war criminals continue running the government. Most of all, the US did not divide Japan. When Germany was defeated, the US and USSR divided Germany. But they didn't do this for Japan. Instead, they divided Korea instead, a country that literally didn't do anything wrong. Japan got off very easy.
Okay first off after just watching the orinal Gorjira not that long ago its not even close to a remake of the 1954 film.
Second its a Kaiju film about found family, survivors guilt , self forgivness, as well as sepression of the press, the unreliability of goverment, and change created through means of a hopeful future not self sacrifice.An extremley human story.
This would be why people are saying it's so good because it is. It's got themes anyone can see are universally positive.
Also your take on Godilla breeding some contagion virus thing is some incredibly awful writing (quite laughable to be honest) the exact kind of writing american film has come to be known for which is why people liked this so much.
Bro literally pitched putting zombies in it to improve the story LMAO
Must be the same guy that pitched zombies in that Star Wars show (but not actually zombies more of a societal curse)
I mean the american movies aren't that bad... actually godzilla 2014 is really fucking good. I mean most japanese godzilla movies are just a bunch of guys in rubber suits wrestling so... yeah.
It’s a lackluster remake if you ask me. Look at the train sequence where Godzilla grabs the train cart with his mouth. That scene compared to the original is laughable. CGI will never look as impressive as practical effects. Godzilla looked like he walked out of a video game!
I think the one from 98 actually had more detail, I had to pause it actually and I was watching in 4k. The CGI also has nothing on the practical effects that can be seen in Shin Gojira.. but people raving about Minus didn't even see that one.
Not referring to Godzilla even though it was based on a large model they made to make the CGI look practical. They created incredibly detailed miniatures and destroyed them for the movie and they end up being some of the most memorable shots.
Its a reboot not a remake
Remake is redoing essentially the same film/show. Reboot is regenerating the basis of original story but updating and re-writing not the original show but a new version of it
Not necessarily. Writer-director Takashi Yamazaki borrowed several elements from the original 1954 Godzilla movie for his film, including its post-war setting, street-level protagonists, and nuclear terror overtones. Yamazaki also took inspiration from other Godzilla films such as Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack and Shin Godzilla for Godzilla Minus One’s story and execution. Aside from representing a tip of the hat to the franchise’s forthcoming 70th anniversary, this lends Godzilla Minus One the air of a remake
No, a remake is not doing the exact same thing? How many remakes have you seen that have been the exact same movie beat for beat as the original? Did you not read my statement. The director of the movie borrowed elements of the original 1954 film and other films. Essentially it’s a remake/reboot same thing. That’s why I don’t see the point to this argument.
OP didn't say the movie was bad. A lot of people are just surprised why it got rated so high on Rotten Tomatoes.
For example, All Quiet, with *quite literally everything you pointed out above* (survivors guilt, self-forgiveness after all friends die, unreliability of Germany, self-sacrifice of soldiers...) got a 90.
I get it. Hollywood movies have been dogsh\*t recently. But that doesn't mean a really good, but nowhere near perfect Eastern movie deserves the same rating as objective masterpieces like BB. Hence, overrated.
Not to mention, though story is much, much more important than the cinematography, you can't excuse the fact that Godzilla just looks awful. Plain and simple. No idea how any production with this big of an issue gets 95+ tbh. There have been near-flawless movies with smaller issues that haven't hit 90.
TLDR: obviously good but overrated, esp when compared to other movies that have been rated similar to it
the 'themes' were runied by unbelievably corny melodramatic acting, shit pacing, cartoon characters, obvious plot lines...and the little girl is a shit cry-er. what a stupid, stupid movie.
Exactly this. I'm not interested in monster movies, but this is my favourite movie of the last few years because Godzilla is just a well done backdrop. Excellent positive ideas about how to approach life, community, and war.
I'm actually in the same boat as you despite being a lifelong Godzilla fan. I found the speech before the 3rd act about "how carelessly Japan treated life during the war" kind of weird when they only talked about in regards to it's own citizens completely ignoring all the horrible war crimes they committed in WW2.
Also the Japanese version of "The Tin Drum" would be The Human Condition trilogy.
I’m not sure you know this but Japan till this day has several influential people in power that continue to censor the war crimes the Japanese soldiers committed and I’m pretty confident it’s not taught in normal curriculum in schools
My sincere apologies for the late reply.
It is important to mention the censorship and ongoing efforts of Japanese authorities on their black pages in history. It is very likely that none of the people depicted in the movie would have any knowledge about Japans most extreme atrocities in the previous war.
On the other hand, I get the critique on Japanese media failing to include all victims of said atrocities in most depictions. Maybe this movie wasn’t the right one to do that. Such dark and shameful events deserve a minute attention to historical accuracy and the utmost respect to its victims.
TL;DR A Godzilla flick doesn’t allow for a decent retrospection on Japans darkest historical pages.
I think that's pretty on point. Even today, in 2024, the Japanese collectively do not acknowledge or take responsibility for the actions of imperial Japan.
Oooh I didn’t realize that’s what “The Human Condition” is about. Thank you! I’ll need to see it immediately. Sounds like a masterpiece on the level of “Come and See,” which I also have not yet seen.
Japan basically paints themselves as victims in their media while never mentioning all the horrible war crimes they committed and the tens of millions of people they murdered. They never mention any of it and pretend it never happened.
But they'll keep making movies about atomic bombs to paint themselves as victims (despite the fact that 70,000 of the victims in atomic bombings were actually Koreans they forcefully brought to Japan for slave labor. They'll never talk this though).
It's literal propaganda and historical revisionism. Can't believe the world lets them get away with this.
"Japan basically paints themselves as victims in their media while never mentioning all the horrible war crimes they committed... They never mention any of it and pretend it never happened."
I don't think a Korean has any moral leg to stand on in this topic mate
You're not going crazy, I generally agree though my reasons may be different than others.
For me, I can simply never get past the general "cheese" of mainstream Japanese acting direction, specifically even in movies that are meant to be serious or "realistic", and this is not exclusively an issue with this film, it's an issue in basically all Japanese film and TV.
I live and work in Japan, I see and talk to Japanese people every day (for years now), and plain & simply, for some strange reason the mainstream acting narrative have not yet been able to nail down "realistic human interaction" in fictional Japanese live action media yet. It's all so hammy, like as if they're acting out an anime in live action, and that applies to this film.
For me to think a film is superb, I need to generally feel like what I'm seeing on screen feels authentic (for the world the characters are in) and that simply never occurs in Japanese directed movies. This isn't a universal thing, some media is meant to be silly or comedic and obviously there's a spectrum here, but I think people know what I'm talking about.
At the end of the day, most of this movie was more of that to me, and it's punctuated by still years-behind special effects work that makes you wonder how despite being very influenced by the west, they still don't have a generation of SFX professionals who can make movies look fully realized without it breaking immersion.
It's not as if poor acting and special effects don't exist in the west, don't get me wrong, but I'm comparing minus one to its peers in terms of its current performance with critics. It's performing at big-dog levels in the reviews, so I'm comparing to the other big dogs, not "Dude Where's My Car".
Succinctly, it fails to rise above what I have for a long time felt are immediate immersion breakers to me.
Some other things annoyed me too: Noriko awkwardly shoving Shikishima in to the alley as a "save yourself" gesture even though it was pretty obvious she could have gone in there with him (super cheesy)...and the insular nature of the situation around Japan being abandoned to fight Godzilla on their own was just...awkward lol.
The plot was absolutely atrocious it would not stand a chance in the west or anywhere else really.not only did they do the female character dirty who had more personality than the main guy they actually brought her back at the end with a straight face.this movie was written by a 5 yr old how anyone can claim it is anything more than just ok is beyond me.
I just got out of it and I'm confused how people think this is better than anything that comes out of the US in years.
And 100% agree with how dirty they did the Noriko and then just brought her back as his "prize" for being the hero.
There is no way she would have survived what happened, and triple for how she basically came back flawless.
The movie to me is a 7 out of 10 at best. And that only for the cultural references to PTSD and survivors guilt.
Super late to this, but I had similar thoughts. Him sacrificing himself to create a safer world for his adopted daughter combined with the hint at the end that Godzilla will return one day would be a perfect metaphor for soldiers giving their lives in war, even though peace can't last forever anyway. But then not only did they suddenly reveal the ejector seat at the last moment, they then go "surprise his girlfriend somehow survived too"
I don't really know what you mean by "wouldn't stand a chance in the west." Especially being a few months later. Minus One has done INCREDIBLY well. Box office, critic reviews, user reviews and now an OSCAR. So, what exactly do you mean by this??
I respect your opinion in not liking it, but there is no doubt this movie has done insanely well in quite literally every metric.
I meant Would not stand a chance if it was an American/western film.never said I didn’t like the film but don’t believe the story is anywhere near as spectacular as made out to be.
I personally disagree with that. If it were made in the West. I feel the attention to human characters would still earn the praise regardless. I mean, that is what the Monsterverse has frequently been criticised for. Either lacking and/or having shit human characters.
If anything, it is the Western Critics that are signing the film's praises just as much as the Japanese. This and Shin Godzilla are higher rated than anything the West has produced in years. I personally love that the Monsterverse is just dumb fun but I can see Minus One's appeal clearly.
It was cheesy too at times but in kind of a different way. The most interesting part of Shin Godzilla to me is more what we didn't get to see.
Most of Shin Godzilla is focused on the monster itself I would argue so there's really not that much time to be bothered by acting, most of the human lines are evangelion-esque (naturally) "operation is a-go, photon beams are prepped!"-style dialogue from machine and monitor operators, which is incredibly similar to Evangelion itself.
If I didn't like Godzilla minus one that much due to its corny plot devices and over-reliance on cheesy drama, should I watch Shin Godzilla? I was a huge fan of the Heisei-era movies as a kid.
They are wildly different movies in tone so don't let your feelings about Minus One stop you, I'd say if you're a Godzilla fan and you like a little bit of extra mystery to the origins and "what ifs" around your monster, in a sort of lovecraftian way, Shin is a great watch.
It focuses more on the Monster than the people characters than Minus One (which is arguably why people say Minus One is really good), so with that in mind, if that's your preference, I'd bet you'll like it more than Minus One.
> I can simply never get past the general "cheese" of mainstream Japanese acting direction, specifically even in movies that are meant to be serious or "realistic"
I hate how true this is. I wanted this to be the tragic, menacing Godzilla movie reviewers were raving about but the "cheese" was too much of a disconnect. Must be the westoid in me, but Godzilla 2014 did a better job with the serious tone.
Great comment, this completely reflects my thoughts.
I’m glad you have an understanding of the Japanese culture to clear things up considering you live there. I admittedly have not invested much of my time in Japanese culture and watched this thinking “maybe this is how Japanese people really are” when considering the “cheese”. Happy to know that this is not the case
Wrapping the film up the film way it did was akin to teenage fantasy.
Nevertheless the action scenes were absolutely enthralling imo and saved the film
>For me, I can simply never get past the general "cheese" of mainstream Japanese acting direction, specifically even in movies that are meant to be serious or "realistic", and this is not exclusively an issue with this film, it's an issue in basically all Japanese film and TV.
1000% agree.
That rings true to me as well. I’ve been living and working in Japan for the last fifteen years, and the “cheese” in most movies and series is somewhat passable only in a very few of them.
My guess is that many people expected a cool-looking but fairly generic monster movie and were pleasantly surprised by the film's emotional depth. I thought it was good, but it's not among the best of the year for me (I'll probably rate it 3.5 stars also). It did hit me in the feels more than I expected, and I can see how it could be among the best for some people.
Yamazaki has said it takes influence from the original Godzilla; Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidora; Jaws, and the films of Hayao Miyazaki. It's not the most original, but I actually enjoyed seeing elements of other films blended together. I think it would make a fun triple feature with Jaws and Porco Rosso
>For example, let’s say Godzilla’s presence spread pathogens that caused people to starve or act wild with zealous aggression toward others. THAT at least would have been something with more substance beyond the retraced themes from the original.
If it's your belief that Godzilla Minus One would have been improved by turning it into the same fucking zombie movie that's been manufactured a hundred times in the last twenty years, then lol.
This was a fun, dramatic, emotionally impactful film that blends classic kaiju themes (anti-war, anti-nuclear testing) with capital-R Romantic Hollywood storytelling, and you're complaining that it's not The Tin Drum. Listen to yourself, man.
It’s a realistic approach at telling a story of a real life Godzilla attack. People would turn on each other and would do anything to survive in a real scenario like that. It’s the attention to detail that counts. The original 1954 film did it when they showed the scenes of the injured and kids crying. It felt realistic, minus one also had a subtle scene with the black rain. They could’ve showed more with that like how the radiation effects the characters. It felt like a missed opportunity to tell a much darker and serious Godzilla story.
Didn’t minus one literally show half the people in a room turn their back on the other half and do what they needed to to survive ?
It was a seized opportunity not a missed one. Y’all wanted this low budget cheesey Godzilla movie to risk going DEEPER when it’s about a giant monster suit? None of them have had the balls to go any deeper except for that comic con 2014 teaser!
IT’s success improves our odds of getting that darker serious take we are sorely missing !
When people say that it’s among the best movies of the year rather than a fun and emotional blockbuster informed by Japanese history, than yeah a comparison to “The Tin Drum” is suitable
We live in such an aesthetically impoverished moment in popular cinema that "fun and emotional blockbuster informed by Japanese history" means it absolutely clears 95% of mainstream films.
As far as thematic or narrative ambitions, it's no Afire or May December, but it does what it sets out to do pretty unimpeachably.
Well yeah that’s the point I’m making. When I see people posting on Reddit that Godzilla Minus One is the best movie of the year or that it has placement (even if it will no longer soon enough) on the Letterboxd Top 250, I see it as heaping unwarranted praise on a movie that surpasses the low expectations for its genre.
This isn't an intellectual exercise for most people, though. People like the movies they like because they had an emotional bond with them, not because the films struck them as especially important thematically or unique aesthetically. I had an emotional bond with Afire and Godland and The Holdovers and May December and also with Godzilla Minus One. I'm not a "cheap date" when it comes to films. I dislike more than I like. For me, it was really quite remarkable how bonded I became to these characters through storytelling that you saw as evoking soap operas but I saw as evoking classic postwar melodramas.
If you read the reviews that heap praise for this movie, it’s pretty obvious that they do in fact view it as an intellectual exercise (at least in part).
But fair enough regarding the point you made in the last sentence. Movies can act like a Rorschach blot test for audience members.
It feels better to say you liked a movie because it explored the nuances of survivor’s guilt (which this movie does, admirably) than because you teared up when Mizushima showed up with the tugboats (which I did). We’re creatures of emotion first, intellect second, but we love to rationalize our emotions because it’s more respectable for some reason.
My guy, why are you SO worried about random “people” liking a film. I think May December is a lame American version of a second tier Almodóvar film, but that’s my bad opinion and people can think it’s a masterpiece. Gatekeeping taste sucks.
Come on, don't be dishonest. It's common and completely fine to say a movie is over or underrated compared to popular opinion. They're not claiming any individuals who call it the best movie of the year are dumb or have bad opinions. They're surprised at the praise this movie got and want to know why others connected with the movie emotionally/intellectually more than they did.
There is nothing wrong with believing that the praise a movie receives is undeserved.
That isn’t gatekeeping. Nowhere did I say people had the “wrong” opinion about the movie or that they had bad taste.
I have just as much of a right to a contrarian, deliberately-phrased film opinion as anyone else.
Why are so fucking butt hurt over my Godzilla opinion lol. I never said there’s anything wrong about the people who enjoy it. Don’t throw a fit over movie criticisms. I thought it was an entertaining monster soap opera
The irony lol bro why do you feel the need to comment on something that doesn’t go with your opinions. If he doesn’t like the new Godzilla movie and you did that’s your problem not his. Guess what I don’t like Godzilla minus or the marvels or anything superhero related. Honestly people just need to grow the f up and learn how to respect others opinions. I’m not going to start with yours btw
Calling it "more or less a remake" and a kamikaze redemption arc shows that the movie went over your head a bit. The plot does grapple with many of the themes you claim it doesn't. There's a lot of subtext you seem to have missed, and adding an American or giving Godzilla zombie apocalypse vibes wouldn't do anything to make those themes more apparent than they already are.
It goes a goes much deeper then a redemption story. It's encompasses so much of survivors guilt , the shame of self preservation , living in the past , how self sacrifice isn't always the best choice , and how the aftermath of tragedy is finding something to live for.
Its also tackling these things from a cultural point of view. Everyone that shamed Shikishima for surviving ended up coming to the realization that life is better than death with some sort of fake honor. Shikishima is really more of a metaphor for how the government and people viewed their military and really how most counties view their military.
>It goes a goes much deeper then a redemption story. It's encompasses so much of survivors guilt , the shame of self preservation , living in the past , how self sacrifice isn't always the best choice , and how the aftermath of tragedy is finding something to live for.
Sorry, the main character was just a coward, over and over. Survivor's guilt? Nooo....
Then you’re wrong.
My criticism is that whatever subtext exists in the movie is somewhat shallow or generic information that establishes the film’s historical setting. If it wished to be something more than a kaiju film (there’s nothing wrong with not wishing to do more of course), then it should have done something more with that setting and what it said about postwar Japan.
It never wished to be anything it’s a fun entertaining thought provoking monster film that we have not seen for a long time thanks to Hollywood fucking things over. This movie shows how you make a monster film where the human characters are as important as Godzilla. Hollywood over the years couldn’t even make a single decent Godzilla film they are all just CGI fest just watch and forget.
The "subtext" you're talking about comes in the form of dying-cat-like screams.
Eternal Zero. There's some kamikaze survivor's guilt subtext. The way Minus One handled it was like an anime in comparison
Not really. Especially now that it won an Oscar. Something no Godzilla movie has ever done before. I respect your opinion for not liking it as much as others. But I still frequently see posts praising it on Twitter, YouTube, Letterboxd, IMDB, etc. It hasn't even had its DVD/Blu-Ray Release yet either. The Oscar will only raise the hype further.
people just glaze tf out of godzilla movies. it's a 10/10 for godzilla fans, maybe a 7-8/10 for everyone else.
for movies like this it's best to just let people have their fun and move on
All due respect. But that really doesn't seem to be the case. The main thing I noticed about the praise for this film was how people said it was an incredible film without Godzilla.
Regardless of what we feel, this is unquestionably one of the biggest talking points and reasons for its praise. Almost every review highlighted this.
are you really expecting people who aren't Godzilla fans to give it anything more than like an 8?
to be clear it was still quite good and the Ginzu atomic breath scene is one of my favorite of the year, but it was by no means a masterpiece imo
> just glaze tf out of godzilla movies. it's a 10/10 for godzilla fans, maybe a 7-8/10 for everyone else.
>
>for movies like this it's best to just let people have their fun and move
My rather aged father, with whom I saw the film over the weekend , despises Godzilla films, finding them to be laughable and dull. Even during other films, he tends to nod off in the theatre.
He gave it a 9/10 and was highly invested in the human emotional drama.
So, I think it has a broader cultural appeal that you give it credit for.
It’s all a matter of opinions because my dad also went to see the movie with me and he didn’t like it that much. He said it was a good movie but definitely not as good as some of his other favorite Godzilla films. Everyone can have different opinions what I don’t like is that people are treating this like you can’t have a different opinion. If you don’t like minus one your opinion isn’t valid. That’s my problem with the fan base at the moment it’s honestly disgusting.
Im a long life Godzilla fan, started watching it when I was like 10 years old maybe even younger tbh can’t remember. But even I can’t say this movie is a 10/10, it’s more of an 8/10 or 7.5/10.
Sometimes the only necessary reason for audiences to really like a movie is: "because it's fucking awesome".
And Godzilla Minus One is fucking awesome.
I agree with some of the points you made, but I still loved the movie. I actually think there is an uncomfortable tension in the way it portrays post-war Japan and doesn't grapple with the atrocities committed by the Empire (which, as you point out, is not an issue limited to this movie but Japanese media as a whole). However, where I would diverge is to say that the actions of the Empire don't really counteract the brutality with which Japan was treated at the end of WW2, as another commentor already pointed out eloquently.
What I think elevates the movie thematically is that it positions the defeat of Godzilla as an opportunity for the nation to be reborn without the brutality of either the Empire or western occupation. Japan's post-war rebuilding period was totally stunted by the repression and control of the American-installed regime, and this movie supposes a sort of alternate history where the Japanese people are able to craft a new vision for the country and rebuild it from the grassroots.
Is this still nationalistic? Totally, and I'm not saying it's envisioning some perfect future. But Japan never really got the opportunity to fully reckon with the national trauma of the firebombings, nuclear bombings, and wholesale defeat in the pacific theater. Instead they were made into a client state by another indifferent and destructive empire, which is the role Godzilla takes on in this movie. I found that to be quite poignant since it's a different take on the Godzilla allegory than the one we normally get.
I actually think a failed Kamikaze pilot is the perfect protagonist for the story, because he simultaneously can encapsulate a national sense of shame and also someone who take a stand, however small and motivated by fear it may have been, against the previous regime. Some of the stuff around him restoring his will to live is (imo) effective but predictable. But as a broader allegory he's way more interesting than what's literally in the script.
TL;DR on all that, I think your broader critique about Japanese cinema makes sense but Godizlla Minus One doesn't exactly fit.
Also, I think this is genuinely the best a Godzilla movie has looked in a long time. Shin obviously looks great but it's doing something a bit different, here he's threatening and really kinda scary, especially in the scenes where he comes out of the water. And some of the shots are just gorgeous, every bit of the climax where he's being harassed by a fighter plane is exciting to look at. The recent American films and honestly even some of the later Japanese efforts don't hold a candle to what they were able to pull off here.
I would say that they indirectly acknowledge the Horrors of imperial Japan but they do it subtely enough and the movie ends up being more about anti war in general rather than anti Japan's role in the war.
I'm kinda glad that the characters and sentiments held in the movie felt realistic for what Japan was going through. Making the main character a kamikaze pilot was incredibly brave but it also makes sense for the themes they wanted to talk about. I think the fact that the citizens are the ones to defeat Godzilla after they were left to their own devices was an incredibly powerful message and definitely politically charged. Also the whole theme of the value of one's life and that speech Noda gave about sacrificing nobody... how is that not political?
I loved the movie and I think it hit every note I look for in a movie. The music was fantastic. The characters were likeable and believable. There were some very hard hitting emotional moments. The movie was thematic and rich for discussion. It was immersive as hell in the set and costume design. And that last act actually had me rooting for the humans which Im not sure I've ever done in a monster movie. Yeah you can criticize the melodrama or VFX at parts, or that its a little tropy, but I really don't care. It has a lot of goodwill and I really can't agree with OP at all.
You’re not crazy. I felt the same way. I went to see it with no prior knowledge having placed my faith in the ratings.
The acting was cheesy and the plot seemed like a cringy apology for Japanese leadership at the time. What made it cringy for me is that I do not believe that any living Japanese person owes anyone an apology for what their country did 70 years ago. People did what they did back then and to understand it you have to study their culture and history. Nobody owes apologies for things they didn’t do or for things their country did way back when. It’s up there with Canada continuing to open old wounds by apologizing incessantly and reminding everyone that they treated indigenous people like trash in the past. Apologies mean nothing without action. It’s just moral posturing otherwise. Stop apologizing and trying to get a free pass for your country’s messed up culture once upon a time. It doesn’t make it okay, and that’s the point. You’re supposed to have a little guilt and live with it so that you never let it happen again. You don’t get to wash it away with an apology or even some sort of rationalization. There is none. So, yeah, that bugged me.
I found the guilt-tripping of the mechanic towards the pilot regarding his perceived cowardice as a kamikaze pilot annoying too. The twist at the end was like a cheesy cherry on top; I rolled my eyes and let out an audible WTF when they magically brought back his not-wife. It was almost on par with “Beerfest” when they reintroduced Landfill after he was killed off. The obvious difference is that Beerfest is a purposefully silly comedy, and Godzilla Minus One tried to pass this off as genuine drama and let us go home feeling not so bad now that the cute little girl has a mom and dad again.
I did, however, really enjoy the nod to Jaws with the minesweeper. That was really cool. 10/10 for that. Also, I love any movie that shows a “coward” find his courage, but where the writing appears twisted to me is that being afraid does not make you a coward, it makes you human. Yet this movie doesn’t even take that plot-line and move in that direction - rather, the mechanic magically has a change of heart that isn’t revealed until the end.
People don’t just have changes of heart. It just doesn’t happen. And if it does happen, then this movies fails to show how or why the mechanic had a change of heart. I get that the pilot shows him photos of his not-family, but if I were to put myself in the mechanics shoes, this would piss me off even more. I’d be like, “why are you accidentally-on-purpose revealing that you have a family. All those dudes that you let down on the island had families too, now go redeem yourself by suiciding diving into this giant charzard.”
Overall, I enjoyed the movie until the last half. To me, It had so much potential and simply needed more editing and maturity in the writing. All the bits were there but were poorly stitched together. They had some really cool and controversial subjects in this film such as blind-loyalty to one’s country no matter the cost, but they portrayed the vets and sailors as if they were thinking like contemporary westerners. “A” for effort and planning, “F” for overall execution though.
"The acting was cheesy and the plot seemed like a cringy apology for Japanese leadership at the time. What made it cringy for me is that I do not believe that any living Japanese person owes anyone an apology for what their country did 70 years ago" funny. where do you live? Germany? USA? UK? ISRAEL? :D you think pple in other countries are like ppl in UK? and they think like pple there? in one of 4 countries that made the most SHIT everywhere? well its not like that. you "believe" what you think, because you never lived in Japan, and you know nothing about what ppl think there. But thats the part of "believe" - its related with something that is not real :D
i gave it a 3/5, and i completely agree. a fine movie, but people are going a bit too crazy with this one. i predict nobody will care within a couple months (or weeks)
The average rating is a 4.2. That is an exceptionally high rating for a genre film. It is currently on the Letterboxd Top 250 (not for long though) and would be among the top 15 highest ratings for horror movies on the app. A lot of this is recency bias however.
I’d be interested to know what you thought of the film talk to me because I thought it was absolute rubbish and by no means did it do anything unique or special for a horror movie.yet people absolutely loved it.
Yeah, I didn't care too much for Talk to Me. I thought it was an okay horror movie, but nothing special. Its most unique attribute to me was that it took place in Australia lol
However, I gave it a 3.5 out of 5, which is only .1 below the average score (3.6)
Well everybody knows Godzilla power in general. Of course it is obvious. I saw that film won’t be super high brow or complex but it simple and universal human themes and story connected with audience and people realised how they missed these types of Blockbuster films. Monsterverse Godzilla character stories were somewhat dull and weren’t interesting for audience and people wanted more Godzilla in action. Well sequels got more action but still people only liked action and effects but stull underwhelmed.
Probably the most overrated movie I've seen in years.
People praise it like some cinematic once in ten years masterpiece but it turned out to be a generic disaster movie with just as generic characters and extremely predictable story.
It's watchable but I don't see how anyone could give it more than a 7/10.
Thats just not Godzilla Minus One, you’re looking for some thematic condemnation of Japanese society from an outsiders perspective. But sincere Japanese storytellers are making a movie for Japanese people first and foremost, for their family and friends, countrymen - people who can relate to the themes and elements they present in ways that outsiders never will. I don’t think you’ll ever get the Godzilla you want made in Japan by Japanese people. They definitely aren’t above cultural self-critique but you’re asking them to make a story not for them but for you. I’ve never seen a Japanese film made for The US. Just like I’ve never seen a US film made exclusively for Japanese people. We are lucky that we live in an advanced enough time that we can receive their movies at all and they ours. We take this for granted.
A self-reflective movie on Japanese behavior toward foreign peoples during its imperial era ≠ Japanese movie made for American audiences.
And there actually is a prominent Japanese movie trilogy one of the comments brought to my attention that does what I ask: *The Human Condition*.
And why are Germany (*The Tin Drum*) or France (*Caché*) supposedly able to pull off movies that do this, but Japan cannot?
Its just never been a priority for this film series. Even at their silliest the franchise is exclusively Sino centric. When they were exported to the US they added western characters to make them more palatable.
I think it just comes down to who is writing, producing and funding these films and who they think their target audience is and what messages they’re trying to put out there. Japan values its culture a lot, obviously - way more than western whitewashed society can relate to. They’re an ancient society. It’s barely westernized now, and back then even less so. For them they’ve got a million Japanese people stories to get through before they’d touch on talking about anyone else. On top of that Godzilla himself does represent western violence, the huge cultural shift they were unprepared for, the ghosts of the past and the threat of the future all rolled into one. When Japanese people look up at the screen and see Godzilla rampaging around their provinces that’s an existential experience for them, as opposed to when we watch it and are just like ‘where’s the white people why can this be more euro-centric’ ? 😂 I believe there would be a huge backlash amongst their target audience if they started making authentic Japanese Godzilla films featuring even a slightly western centric plot. Many countries are not ok with the influence of western society on their countries and they do not see outsiders in their countries as something worthy of talking about when they’ve got so many of their own concerns.
I think the problem you have with it is really the problem a lot of western audiences have with Godzilla. That’s why for the most part people in the US do not take Godzilla seriously and never will. You have to put yourself in a different headspace to appreciate it fully. When we watch their Godzilla movies we are not watching it the same way they are. They’ve just got different storytelling priorities.
Maybe in the future? But I wouldn’t count on it. If anything the advancement of their own VFX industry and filmmaking abilities seems like it will assure that Japanese Godzilla films will only get more Japanese and US Godzilla/Kong films will only get more western.
We are lucky as a planet to be where we are now that we can experience both, or either. It feels like an embarrassment of riches.
The writing for this Movie sucked, the acting wasn’t much better, the only saving grace was the Godzilla scenes, and why do most Asian movies constraint on shame,
Shame as the main driving point or reason for death it’s hilarious
I'm watching it right now, and ended up looking around for people's thoughts on it.
It's really not very good. Again the eyes and teeth, it all looks weird. I saw Shin a few months ago for the first time because I read that it was a amazing, and it was absolutely horrific. Visually laughably bad, and the movie itself boring.
This one has some nice idea, but they aren't executed in a way that makes you care. I'm falling asleep.
You are not going crazy. You are the sane and rational one.
This movie is yet another example of Japanese media whitewashing of their past.
Imagine if Germany made a movie about Nazi soldiers that were fighting against a big monster and the movie painted the Nazi soldiers as heroes, while completely erasing all context of WW2, Holocaust, Hitler, etc.
That's basically what Japan is doing.
I also agree with you that Ghibli movies like The Wind Rises and Grave of the Fireflies also are egregious in this. The Wind Rises glorifies the plane that was used to kill millions of people and erases all context. Grave of the Fireflies also paints Japanese as victims while erasing all context. Really left a bad taste in my mouth.
It's incredible how the world lets Japan get away with this, and allows Japan to just brainwash the masses with this historical revisionism and propaganda via their media.
I gave it five stars. It's certified kino. You know it's special when you care more about the human characters rather than Godzilla in a Godzilla movie
How dare you have an opinion that goes against the grain of popular opinion. Enjoy this downvote. /s
I'm on the same page with you. I thought it was decent, but overhyped, and while a high point in the series, that isn't THAT impressive given the franchise. It's currently in my top 10 movies of the year, but I doubt it'll last long when I see some of the other greats.
I think the reason for its success is because of great action, and while some of, for lack of a better terms, the intellectual themes felt shallow, the emotional themes are fairly universal and decently handled. And compared to most recent blockbusters, which have been very dull and stale, it is very refreshing, with the only recent comparable examples that were exciting for audience is Barbenheimer.
I honestly have Minus One above Barbie and Oppenheimer. I can see why some would consider Oppenheimer better, but I believe Minus One is for sure better than Barbie
I don't. I do think they only differ by half a star (Barbenheimer both get a 3.5 whereas I gave Godzilla a 3 star). I'm generally fine with melodrama but there were points where it took me out of the movie as being too cheesy. I also didn't like the ending. One of the characters had something that felt out of character and it felt like the movie wanted to erase consequences a bit (yeah I get it was supposed to be a reward for choosing to live but again it felt cheesy).
When I walked out of both Barbenheimer movies, it left with me with a good amount to chew on. They're not deep movies imo, but they work better at managing their tones and left me excited to think about. When I left Godzilla, the movie kinda just left my brain after I wrote my review, and didn't leave me as much to think about or with me caring as much with the characters.
But my point with the comparison is that there hasn't been many exciting Blockbusters this year for more casual audiences except for Barbie, Oppenheimer, and now Godzilla .
I respect your opinion, but disagree with your point about the tone. Minus One had a consistent tone and atmosphere throughout the film, you really felt Godzilla’s presence even when he wasn’t on screen. Oppenheimer has a consistent tone for the most part, and Barbie’s tone was all over the place. And since tone is related to theme, I think Minus One handled its theme of Godzilla representing a walking atomic bomb better than Oppenheimer’s theme of nuclear war and whatever theme Barbie was trying to push(I’ve heard so many theories on what the theme was that I’m kind of over it).
Maybe Oppenheimer managed its theme better objectively, but once again I think Minus One felt more impactful than anything in Barbie objectively. In the scene where we see the aftermath of Godzilla’s atomic breath, and you see the mushroom cloud which is virtually identical to Hiroshima’s, and also see black rain starting to fall which is what happened in Hiroshima, plus the main character screaming in pain/anger, it just makes for the most impactful scene I’ve seen in 2023.(though Oppenheimer’s ending scene is worthy of that too). Furthermore, if you look closely, Godzilla actually looks up at the mushroom cloud in the movie, no doubt in satisfaction that the pillar of fire that caused him pain is now causing humanity pain. Plus, the main character just lost his lover and last hope of a normal life, so his constant screaming isn’t over the top and just adds to the human emotion, which is rare in a Godzilla film. In short, the atomic breath scene demonstrates a great tone of the walking atomic bomb that is Godzilla, reinforced by the human emotion and pain you feel. I may be over the top and biased but I genuinely think Minus One is 2023’s magnum opus.
I guess I agree that Godzilla was more consistent with its tone but its melodrama got overindulgent at points. Barbie had varying tones, but I think they flowed together from A to B decently well.
> you really felt Godzilla’s presence even when he wasn’t on screen.
In some ways, yeah. The destruction in its wake was catastrophic, but it always feels somewhat cheap and lesser when there is some plot armor (especially with >!a character coming back from being presumed dead!<)
> and whatever theme Barbie was trying to push(I’ve heard so many theories on what the theme was that I’m kind of over it).
Like many good and great movies, I read many themes from it. The frustrations of being a woman in a patriarchal society. Men's mental health, and them seeking constant validation. A bit of "the joys of living as a human." Some general poking at gender roles.
Some themes are primary and more fleshed out, and others are obviously secondary and while not the focus of the movie, they were there. The movie itself did sometimes preach to the audience. And yes it isn't that deep. Part of my reservations in only giving it a 3.5 star instead of any higher, like many others did when the movie came out, is because there was a bit of that corporate feeling. These were only risky topics for corporations, but overall aren't risky things to say. But Greta Gerwig still did great work despite the confines of Mattel and Warner looming over her.
> Maybe Oppenheimer managed its theme better objectively
I have never been one to like using the term objectively when discussing art. I do recall decently liking Oppenheimer's themes but of the 3, it sticks out in my mind the least. It is part of why that movie isn't above a 3.5 star.
> In the scene where we see the aftermath of Godzilla’s atomic breath, and you see the mushroom cloud which is virtually identical to Hiroshima’s
I am not going to deny that was a great scene. It was. But a great scene does not necessarily mean it is a great movie.
> Plus, the main character just lost his lover and last hope of a normal life, so his constant screaming isn’t over the top and just adds to the human emotion
Honestly those moments were fine. It was him wallowing in his sorrow later that felt fake. At that moment, I didn't see the character grieving but instead an actor hamming it up a bit.
> and just adds to the human emotion, which is rare in a Godzilla film.
I do agree, and it is why (in my experience), it is one of the best Godzilla movies (currently at number 2, below the original). But I also don't think that was a high bar, with me giving Minus One a 3 star.
> I may be over the top and biased but I genuinely think Minus One is 2023’s magnum opus.
I am happy for you. I did like the movie and don't regret seeing it, but I still stand by it being just decent. Granted, to me, it is the best "decent" movie of the year.
I appreciate you for being very civil, and you brought up very good points. I agree that there’s no way Noriko could’ve survived that and that it was blatant plot armor, but hey, it made for a wholesome ending that almost had me in tears. I see your point about the Barbie movie, but I don’t know man, movies with inconsistent tones with unclear themes/identities that are also overly preachy at points are just not my type of movie if I’m being honest. I think the actor for Shikishima was great and though Japan does go over the top with its emotion and characters being “edgy,” I thought his character wasn’t too overboard with that like other Japanese films. But like I said, you have valid points that are completely respectable, and if anyone insults you for not putting Minus One as your best movie of 2023, ignore them.
Well no offence to you but if you didn't like this film then you have really crap taste in films. Everyone is entitled to there opinion even if its a wrong one. This film if youv actually seen it is a masterpiece
I gave Mad Max Fury Road 5 stars even though it’s also a recent adaptation of a long running action sci fi franchise.
Silly to think I have crap taste. I didn’t even say anything bad about people who like the film
Because people like the movie. I'm sorry that *you can't accept a movie you personally didn't enjoyed as much get a positive reception.* You need to stop being so self-conceited.
Bruh grow up. I'm not conceited because I found some elements of an acclaimed movie (one that I still enjoyed btw) shallow.
Do you think that every critic who gave a bad review too a generally acclaimed movie is conceited too?
How did you even find this the post is almost two weeks old
I don't quite understand why would you expect a Godzilla movie would touch on the bad side of Japanese militarism, nationalism, war crime against and the victims of other countries. Godzilla movies were never about that.
Personally I like this movie as it brings most of the original ideas represented by Godzilla in Japan and brought it to the western audience, in a modern, well made way. It is definitely a pleasure surprise to my friends who never watched Japanese Godzilla movies.
I disagree with you this movie is a redemption arc for a kamikaze pilot. It's quite obviously shown that kamikaze is wrong in the movie, even characters such as the neighbor aunt and jet mechanic who adored kamikaze and hate the MC didn't do his duty in the beginning of the movie, changed to against him doing the same thing in the end of the movie, to the extend like made an eject seat for him. Not to mention the other obvious anti-war messages such as the quote the captain told the kid "Never been in a war is something you should be proud of".
I honestly thought everything about it sucked.
The acting, the effects. The look of godzillia the look of destruction. Some of the story..
I wish I had just watched this online..
Don't worry if the film goes with what you said it will suit you to get a 4 or 5 out of you and then there will be 10 more others to say why they made the plot cheesy and mediocre, or too sophisticated or geeky that's not meant for mainstream, faking depth for the sake of depth.
I loved the movie, and I think that instead of looking for a “fresh take” on the concept of Kaiju, view it as more of a meditation of the bombs and the mindset post WWII. Yes the terrible imperialism and crimes against humanity of the Japanese government is often overlooked. But that was the government, not the people. Governments constantly do things their people don’t agree with.
I like how it’s about a pretty typical dude, yeah he’s a talented pilot but he doesn’t want to suicide bomb himself, he just wants to live a normal life. Most Japanese civilians did too. And when the bombs went off they felt helpless in the face of a super power that was pretty much unfathomable, much like Godzilla.
I also don’t think they redeemed Kamikaze pilots in any way. The concept of Kamikaze pilots was actually very looked down upon in more traditional Japanese culture. Taking a strong, talented, brave person and having them blow themselves up for the sake of sinking a ship was looked down upon by a lot of the Japanese people, that was just an imperialism thing (once again, governments not representing their people).
I think that makes his kamikaze move at the end even more tragic, it wasn’t out of patriotism, or even heroism, he just felt that helpless and the only solution was betraying his own beliefs.
Godzilla Minus One goes back to everything the original stood for. The WWII experience of Japanese civilians, their hopelessness and their fear.
Well throughout the movie until the very end, you can tell that the other characters looked down on the main character as a coward when they learned he was a kamikaze pilot, so I'd disagree with the central point you made.
lol wtf they never looked down upon him his friends wanted him to live they were concerned that he sacrificed himself in the ending and they were so relieved when he was still alive.
For the first two thirds of the film, every single interaction that someone realized he was a kamikaze pilot they reacted negatively that he was still alive. The neighbor told him her children and his parents would still be alive if he wasn't a coward.
That’s her grief speaking she damn well knows that one kamikaze pilot won’t make a difference. She later on opens up to them helps them raise the baby pretty much becomes the baby’s second mother.
And yet you ignored that they changed to against him doing the same thing at the end of movie like I mentioned in another comments, and basically against the concept of kamikaze pilot as the characters and as a movie. He did not choose to die as kamikaze pilot but live as a man value his life. He redeemed as himself but not as a kamikaze pilot, there is a difference.
I see your point but i don’t bother with it too much. Reason why this film worked is bc people somehow connected with people struggle in post-war Japan. Also people were happy to see Godzilla return to it roots as a “ force of nature” and not a hero who save people. I think it worked with audiences like “Top Gun Maverick” which is also kinda generic but flight scenes and reconcilation of characters and letting go of past mistakes hit it hard for Gen X and Millenial generation that grew up with Top Gun original and gave new generation a little fresh sequel in many years. People just tired of blockbusters that Studios keep making that does not interest people anymore.
Basically it’s not a genuine reaction from the audience. To say you like the movie because every other movie being released by Hollywood sucks doesn’t come off genuine, at least not to me. It seems more like an excuse. So if movies were entertaining the audiences like how they used to, people wouldn’t have reacted so positively to this one. At least that’s my 2 cents on that.
It wasn't at all a bad movie. Last movie I saw in theaters was The Creator, and that I was disappointed I went to see. Minus One was worth the watch and not something I felt was a poor choice, but it's not for me. It's possible that I let the hype build it up too much before hand. But personally, I prefer the Monsterverse movies. I've really been enjoying Monarch so far. For me, Monarch is better than Minus One. But I'm positive many will have a VERY different, and very strong opinion about that.
My impression reading this post is that you don't like monster movies as a genre. The ones you mentioned and praised was for their social commentary rather than the thrill and terror of seeing the monster and the special effects and all that. I also get this impression based on your statement about the Godzilla franchise as a whole, where you don't seem to care for the franchise or the related genre. So, it shouldn't be surprising that you don't care for the movie too much. It seems you want it to be something it isn't aspiring to be.
edit: Personally, I'm not huge on monster movies myself but I really like the original Godzilla, Frankenstein, and stuff like that. This is probably the main contemporary monster movie I really enjoyed (in comparison to the dramas I usually prefer). Part of that is because of how serious this movie takes its narrative, but more importantly because of how terrifying and awesome Godzilla is here. For example, the atomic breath sequences absolutely blew me away. There's not much of a "theme" to that and, even if there is one, its not what I take from the movie. The force of Godzilla in this movie reminds me of the way Milton described the violence of God banishing Satan in *Paradise Lost*. Its this sublime experience that is experienced like a dream.
Part of that "dream" feeling is rendered via the sound and design departments. These aspects of film are not often intellectualized and valued, relative to thematic analysis/appreciation--but for a movie like this, I think that is where the quality and "depth" is produced. This is just my perspective as someone who goes back and forth between genre films and more abstract stuff. With genre films and monster movies the acclaimed ones do have provocative themes to discuss, but the appreciation begins with the gut-level feeling the monster inspires in the audience. So the way you engage these movies may have to shift, if you are wondering what invites such inspired responses from the audience.
Your mention of pathogens or infections is actually incorrect as, if you look at the end when it zooms in on her head, there are black veins moving up her neck.
My theory is that this movie is going to have sequels and that 'infection' is going to likely give her some kind of telepathic connection to the reborn Godzilla that would allow understanding between him and humanity so he can start shifting from attacking and destroying humans to at the very least co-existing.
Likely will introduce another kaiju from Godzilla's villain roster to become the bad guy and start possible co-operation between Godzilla and humanity.
hey did anybody notice that they tried to say that Godzilla attacked Japan after the atomic bomb? I surely don’t remember reading that in the history books. Incredibly inaccurate!
The sentimentality in Godzilla Minus One is pathetic. the acting generally is Benny Hill standard. The special effects and all action scenes are superb. A failed Kamikaze pilot ( there’s a joke right there), banging one’s head hard on a table and numerous oriental face pulling is NOT good cinema. Get real folks. Shin Godzilla (2016) was a better movie with thought out politics and the threat of a third nuclear weapon drop on Tokyo. Godzilla Minus One only threatens the viewer’s intelligence.
if you think Shin Godzilla is about the threat of a third nuclear weapon dropping in japan you need to watch that again, its most certainly not, at least not the director intended for the what the Godzilla represents.
I think I share the opinions regarding the political commentary being generally fine and the CGI puppet looking sick and scary in its own way. But I will agree that the acting is exaggerated ASS, but that's more of the director's fault since his film history is mostly anime and animated movies.
In my opinion the movie was awful, boring and the acting was so bad, everyone is a damn cartoon character and a stereotype, NOT EVEN CLOSE to being the best Godzilla movie.
Your not crazy, the reception is what is borderline insane.
It was not a good movie. It is getting credit for having more on it's midn than *Lizard smash city*, but doing the bare minimum to be more than a movie for 12 year olds is not an accomplishment. The film picked good themes and because it did that everybody is acting like it didn't fail to execute, which it absolutely did.
The dialogue is bad, the delivery and acting even worse, predictable, bland, pacing was bad to the point of making the movie almost incoherent.
Probably the best godzilla movie, but you can probably make an argument that one of the mindless action entries in the series is better because it actually accomplished what is wanted to, even if what it wanted was just *big lizard smash.* Could make the case that mindless action is better than hard to sit through acting in a more substantive movie.
Long post so I'll just bullet point throw out some stuff.
It's a godzilla movie it didn't need too much societal overtone. They did plenty with the kamikaze arc of being too afraid to go through with it, deciding it was worth it for vengeance, acknowledging the countries lack of value in life, and finally realizing value in life. What's the point of saving lives with unnecessary death.
Again it's a godzilla movie, the main focus was a man who had a personal encounter with godzilla and felt responsible for the deaths of comrades and all the chaos that followed by his cowardice actions. Then being personally affected again by losing a person he had come to love but was unable to express it to.
Again again it's a godzilla movie, add in a nice sprinkle of interesting characters bound by duty, nobody was boring and everyone felt real. The characters had dinners and drinks together, giving them depth rather than just set pieces.
The boat chase scene and the ensuing destroyer getting a peak at the atomic breath was so fun and well done, daytime kaiju that doesn't look like shit and feels alive?!?! Yes please.
That city destruction and chaos topped off with am absolutely goosebumpin atomic breath!?!?!
The dogfight against godzilla near the farm, are you kidding me!
I'm sure I'm missing things but seriously to pack all of that into a reasonable run time. You've got thriller, monster,horror, drama in an extremely engaging blend. A directors cut would be nice..
And the music...
Also 90 percent of everything else this year was crap or boring overhyped rigamaroo.
Well, yeah that's the thing. It's a good *godzilla* movie. I didn't really feel that it elevated itself that much beyond kaiju genre fiction, unlike say Mad Max Fury Road did for the post-apocalypse sci-fi genre.
Therefore, I get confused about how it has the sixth-highest rating among 2023 releases on Letterboxd (even beating out KOTFM). Plus, over 250k people have logged it on the website so far, which means it's not just Godzilla fans watching the movie (it has over twice the number of views of any non-American Godzilla movie).
See I look at Fury Road the same way though. It took something I already loved, gave it exciting new direction, jept me interested the entire runtime, made me give a shit about the characters, and was such a breath of fresh air at the time. Being a top movie of the year doesn't mean. It has to be some overly complex masterpiece. Could just be that it was overall well done and everyone left the theatre with their expectations exceeded.
movie sucked...no way shape of form better than Shin Godzilla.... took forever to pickup...the story of the main character and his non wife was useless, this was not the masterpiece people screamed it was...i was so hyped to go see it and then decided to stream it before spending 30 bucks and thank god i saved my money
You're not going crazy. This movie sucked pretty bad. I wrote a review here:
[https://scriptwritersteve.com/2024/01/godzilla-minus-one-i-mean-minus-fun](https://scriptwritersteve.com/2024/01/godzilla-minus-one-i-mean-minus-fun)
I had similar thoughts too. With total respect to everyone who really loved it. I can say that although I liked it, (I especially loved Godzilla’s new design and almost all of the special effects shots), I would rather have a Godzilla movie with different themes and story. Not just a kind of alternative story where the American occupation of Japan is brushed over in a contrived plot move, just to justify why the civilians have to take upon Godzilla themselves without government support at all. It would be really interesting to see the American forces trying (and failing) to deal with Godzilla, until a joint solution between the American and the Japanese forces could finally figure out a way to defeat it (or not!). In that case, with their failure to stop it, we would finally see Godzilla roaming free through the world, and along with it other issues would rise from its presence in other countries. Anyway, this is just my two cents. I would rate GM-1 a solid 7.4 or 74% (by RT standards)= Solid. A good movie, if neither a very good nor a great one. Peace!
Because... it is awesome.
Last month, I didn't go to the theaters because, with no "Dune II", there was nothing of interest.
THIS was the film I should have seen last month. If the black and white version is playing anywhere near you, you must see it. Tonight, if not tomorrow.
Not given to hyperbole... but this is a gem. A classic. A towering achievement. The "Rogue One" of the genre. And that might be selling it short...
I saw "Shin Godzilla" thinking it was the one folks were raving about. That was quite good. And, ultimately, not even in the same conversation.
I mean it's not really fair to compare post-war Japan to the US or UK. Japan was already ravaged by fire bombing and mass bombing campaigns as collective punishment *before* the nukes were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and then you add on the most destructive and powerful weapons ever created being used to level two entire cities of mostly civilians. And then to add insult to injury, the US set up a puppet regime, wrote a new constitution that established them as a client state, and rapidly westernized the country by force. The US and the UK have *never* experienced anything like the joint loss of life and humiliating cultural defeat that Japan did during and after WWII. Hell, the fucking Nazis got off *way* easier than Japan did. Mind you, I'm not defending Imperial Japan. Japan was a vicious imperial power in the region but the US didn't dismantle and humiliate Imperial Japan for the good of the Japanese or the people they wanted to rule over. They did it to establish US imperial power in the region. >In a nutshell, I wish that “Godzilla Minus One” thematically distinguished itself more from the conventions and themes of the original. Well, that's kind of the point of the film. We're almost 70 years on from Honda's original film and Japan is still living in the shadow of WWII. The film actually does something interesting and kind of subtle by never actually referencing the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Instead it focuses on the fire bombing of Tokyo and the way Japan was treated like a puppet government by the US. I think the film does explore some new thematic territory that even *without* the nuclear bombing of two of their cities, Japan was going to be a broken and defeated country after the war. While I think the film could have gone further in some place, I also don't go into a film expecting it to reflect my politics and beliefs to the letter. The film is very careful and adamant about the fact that Imperial Japan and the new US puppet government are bad and bad for different reasons. It tries to suggest a new and alternate way forward that isn't reliant on Japan's violent imperial legacy *or* based on being a client state of the US.
You’re outa your mind Japan is thriving. One of the best places to life by most metrics and doing much better than the us in many ways
I think the people of Japan might disagree with that in a lot of ways. Their government is doing well, but the USA is a great example of government not being a reflection of the people
I believe he means during ww2 not now. Japan is incredible now. Everything we should be here but we'd rather fleece special interest pockets. I digress.
Lmao no its not are you insane? You couldn't pay me to live in Japan.
Let them dream
* It's so common to die from overworking in japan they made it a word: Karoshi * the shame and guilt brought on by failing to meet societal expectations is so overwhelming that 100k+ people disappear every year in a phenomenon referred to as Johatsu (evaporated) * Japan's economy has long been in a state of stagnation and deflation * The birthrate has negative growth, and instead of looking to alleviate society of the crushing norms that cultured this they are instead opting to allow more immigration, which they are then angry toward foreigners not wanting to adopt their maladaptive social norms * Sexual assault on trains is so prevalent rush hours have gender segregated carriages Thriving? Existing, like the rest of us tbh
I appreciate the thought you put into this comment, but I’ll disagree and say that imperial Japan and the U.S. occupation were little more than set-piece dressing in the movie for the most part imo. I can’t really see employing former Japanese soldiers to destroy mines as that bad. It wasn’t like the treatment the German teen soldiers in “Land of Mine” received. The only major exception to this (beyond the expectations of sacrifice as I mentioned before) is how the Japanese government and the United States alike abandoned the Japanese population to the wrath of Godzilla. But again, this goes into my issue of the insularity and self-victimization of the movie. And in the case, I felt like the absence of this presence hurt the thematic prowess of the movie more than it would have otherwise. P.S., the movies I referenced related to the U.S. or the UK were about Japanese imperialist actions during the war and their cruel treatment of enemy POWs. I’m not sure if you realized that.
What an excellent response to OP. Almost a perfect response to their whack review lol
You think Japan got off way easier than Nazis? You're ridiculous. Japan got off very easy. The US let the Japanese war criminals continue running the government. Most of all, the US did not divide Japan. When Germany was defeated, the US and USSR divided Germany. But they didn't do this for Japan. Instead, they divided Korea instead, a country that literally didn't do anything wrong. Japan got off very easy.
So the uk and us never experienced anything like that before. Maybe the us no but you can’t deny what the nazis did in ww2, the concentration camps…
Japan has never experienced anything like that before.
Okay first off after just watching the orinal Gorjira not that long ago its not even close to a remake of the 1954 film. Second its a Kaiju film about found family, survivors guilt , self forgivness, as well as sepression of the press, the unreliability of goverment, and change created through means of a hopeful future not self sacrifice.An extremley human story. This would be why people are saying it's so good because it is. It's got themes anyone can see are universally positive.
Also your take on Godilla breeding some contagion virus thing is some incredibly awful writing (quite laughable to be honest) the exact kind of writing american film has come to be known for which is why people liked this so much.
So rude and condescending, for no reason. Downvote.
You get a down vote, how bout dat?
Bro literally pitched putting zombies in it to improve the story LMAO Must be the same guy that pitched zombies in that Star Wars show (but not actually zombies more of a societal curse)
I believe what he's thinking about is the Cloverfield monster. How bits of it fell off and infected the people?
I mean the american movies aren't that bad... actually godzilla 2014 is really fucking good. I mean most japanese godzilla movies are just a bunch of guys in rubber suits wrestling so... yeah.
It’s a lackluster remake if you ask me. Look at the train sequence where Godzilla grabs the train cart with his mouth. That scene compared to the original is laughable. CGI will never look as impressive as practical effects. Godzilla looked like he walked out of a video game!
I think the one from 98 actually had more detail, I had to pause it actually and I was watching in 4k. The CGI also has nothing on the practical effects that can be seen in Shin Gojira.. but people raving about Minus didn't even see that one.
Shin Godzilla was fully cgi.
Not referring to Godzilla even though it was based on a large model they made to make the CGI look practical. They created incredibly detailed miniatures and destroyed them for the movie and they end up being some of the most memorable shots.
It’s is a remake of the original 1954 film. Look it up on IMDb.
Its a reboot not a remake Remake is redoing essentially the same film/show. Reboot is regenerating the basis of original story but updating and re-writing not the original show but a new version of it
IMDb has it as a remake to the original 1954 film. It should be classified as a reboot but it is not.
IMDb is not an authority on movies.
It's not a remake or a reboot the film is just going back to what godzilla is original is thats all
Me remembering that time Godzilla used his atomic breath to fly places in the original and the flying dropkick 😮💨
The flying and flying kick style were films way later than the one made in the 50s
Not necessarily. Writer-director Takashi Yamazaki borrowed several elements from the original 1954 Godzilla movie for his film, including its post-war setting, street-level protagonists, and nuclear terror overtones. Yamazaki also took inspiration from other Godzilla films such as Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack and Shin Godzilla for Godzilla Minus One’s story and execution. Aside from representing a tip of the hat to the franchise’s forthcoming 70th anniversary, this lends Godzilla Minus One the air of a remake
No, a remake is not doing the exact same thing? How many remakes have you seen that have been the exact same movie beat for beat as the original? Did you not read my statement. The director of the movie borrowed elements of the original 1954 film and other films. Essentially it’s a remake/reboot same thing. That’s why I don’t see the point to this argument.
I disagree the movie is bad. And the people in the movie can't act.
Wow u are an easy man to please.this film was totally average its best attribute was a few shots of Godzilla that is all.
You litterly sound like a troll at this point
OP didn't say the movie was bad. A lot of people are just surprised why it got rated so high on Rotten Tomatoes. For example, All Quiet, with *quite literally everything you pointed out above* (survivors guilt, self-forgiveness after all friends die, unreliability of Germany, self-sacrifice of soldiers...) got a 90. I get it. Hollywood movies have been dogsh\*t recently. But that doesn't mean a really good, but nowhere near perfect Eastern movie deserves the same rating as objective masterpieces like BB. Hence, overrated. Not to mention, though story is much, much more important than the cinematography, you can't excuse the fact that Godzilla just looks awful. Plain and simple. No idea how any production with this big of an issue gets 95+ tbh. There have been near-flawless movies with smaller issues that haven't hit 90. TLDR: obviously good but overrated, esp when compared to other movies that have been rated similar to it
the 'themes' were runied by unbelievably corny melodramatic acting, shit pacing, cartoon characters, obvious plot lines...and the little girl is a shit cry-er. what a stupid, stupid movie.
Exactly this. I'm not interested in monster movies, but this is my favourite movie of the last few years because Godzilla is just a well done backdrop. Excellent positive ideas about how to approach life, community, and war.
I'm actually in the same boat as you despite being a lifelong Godzilla fan. I found the speech before the 3rd act about "how carelessly Japan treated life during the war" kind of weird when they only talked about in regards to it's own citizens completely ignoring all the horrible war crimes they committed in WW2. Also the Japanese version of "The Tin Drum" would be The Human Condition trilogy.
I’m not sure you know this but Japan till this day has several influential people in power that continue to censor the war crimes the Japanese soldiers committed and I’m pretty confident it’s not taught in normal curriculum in schools
My sincere apologies for the late reply. It is important to mention the censorship and ongoing efforts of Japanese authorities on their black pages in history. It is very likely that none of the people depicted in the movie would have any knowledge about Japans most extreme atrocities in the previous war. On the other hand, I get the critique on Japanese media failing to include all victims of said atrocities in most depictions. Maybe this movie wasn’t the right one to do that. Such dark and shameful events deserve a minute attention to historical accuracy and the utmost respect to its victims. TL;DR A Godzilla flick doesn’t allow for a decent retrospection on Japans darkest historical pages.
I think that's pretty on point. Even today, in 2024, the Japanese collectively do not acknowledge or take responsibility for the actions of imperial Japan.
Oooh I didn’t realize that’s what “The Human Condition” is about. Thank you! I’ll need to see it immediately. Sounds like a masterpiece on the level of “Come and See,” which I also have not yet seen.
Japan basically paints themselves as victims in their media while never mentioning all the horrible war crimes they committed and the tens of millions of people they murdered. They never mention any of it and pretend it never happened. But they'll keep making movies about atomic bombs to paint themselves as victims (despite the fact that 70,000 of the victims in atomic bombings were actually Koreans they forcefully brought to Japan for slave labor. They'll never talk this though). It's literal propaganda and historical revisionism. Can't believe the world lets them get away with this.
"Japan basically paints themselves as victims in their media while never mentioning all the horrible war crimes they committed... They never mention any of it and pretend it never happened." I don't think a Korean has any moral leg to stand on in this topic mate
Uh, Korea has 100% right to criticize Japan for their war crimes, "mate". What are you, a weeb apologist for Japanese war crimes?
Mentioning the war crimes would have disrupted the flow of the speech...
How?
You're not going crazy, I generally agree though my reasons may be different than others. For me, I can simply never get past the general "cheese" of mainstream Japanese acting direction, specifically even in movies that are meant to be serious or "realistic", and this is not exclusively an issue with this film, it's an issue in basically all Japanese film and TV. I live and work in Japan, I see and talk to Japanese people every day (for years now), and plain & simply, for some strange reason the mainstream acting narrative have not yet been able to nail down "realistic human interaction" in fictional Japanese live action media yet. It's all so hammy, like as if they're acting out an anime in live action, and that applies to this film. For me to think a film is superb, I need to generally feel like what I'm seeing on screen feels authentic (for the world the characters are in) and that simply never occurs in Japanese directed movies. This isn't a universal thing, some media is meant to be silly or comedic and obviously there's a spectrum here, but I think people know what I'm talking about. At the end of the day, most of this movie was more of that to me, and it's punctuated by still years-behind special effects work that makes you wonder how despite being very influenced by the west, they still don't have a generation of SFX professionals who can make movies look fully realized without it breaking immersion. It's not as if poor acting and special effects don't exist in the west, don't get me wrong, but I'm comparing minus one to its peers in terms of its current performance with critics. It's performing at big-dog levels in the reviews, so I'm comparing to the other big dogs, not "Dude Where's My Car". Succinctly, it fails to rise above what I have for a long time felt are immediate immersion breakers to me. Some other things annoyed me too: Noriko awkwardly shoving Shikishima in to the alley as a "save yourself" gesture even though it was pretty obvious she could have gone in there with him (super cheesy)...and the insular nature of the situation around Japan being abandoned to fight Godzilla on their own was just...awkward lol.
The plot was absolutely atrocious it would not stand a chance in the west or anywhere else really.not only did they do the female character dirty who had more personality than the main guy they actually brought her back at the end with a straight face.this movie was written by a 5 yr old how anyone can claim it is anything more than just ok is beyond me.
I just got out of it and I'm confused how people think this is better than anything that comes out of the US in years. And 100% agree with how dirty they did the Noriko and then just brought her back as his "prize" for being the hero. There is no way she would have survived what happened, and triple for how she basically came back flawless. The movie to me is a 7 out of 10 at best. And that only for the cultural references to PTSD and survivors guilt.
Super late to this, but I had similar thoughts. Him sacrificing himself to create a safer world for his adopted daughter combined with the hint at the end that Godzilla will return one day would be a perfect metaphor for soldiers giving their lives in war, even though peace can't last forever anyway. But then not only did they suddenly reveal the ejector seat at the last moment, they then go "surprise his girlfriend somehow survived too"
I don't really know what you mean by "wouldn't stand a chance in the west." Especially being a few months later. Minus One has done INCREDIBLY well. Box office, critic reviews, user reviews and now an OSCAR. So, what exactly do you mean by this?? I respect your opinion in not liking it, but there is no doubt this movie has done insanely well in quite literally every metric.
I meant Would not stand a chance if it was an American/western film.never said I didn’t like the film but don’t believe the story is anywhere near as spectacular as made out to be.
I personally disagree with that. If it were made in the West. I feel the attention to human characters would still earn the praise regardless. I mean, that is what the Monsterverse has frequently been criticised for. Either lacking and/or having shit human characters. If anything, it is the Western Critics that are signing the film's praises just as much as the Japanese. This and Shin Godzilla are higher rated than anything the West has produced in years. I personally love that the Monsterverse is just dumb fun but I can see Minus One's appeal clearly.
How did you feel about the acting in Shin Godzilla?
It was cheesy too at times but in kind of a different way. The most interesting part of Shin Godzilla to me is more what we didn't get to see. Most of Shin Godzilla is focused on the monster itself I would argue so there's really not that much time to be bothered by acting, most of the human lines are evangelion-esque (naturally) "operation is a-go, photon beams are prepped!"-style dialogue from machine and monitor operators, which is incredibly similar to Evangelion itself.
That movie was a treat for Eva x godzilla fans
If I didn't like Godzilla minus one that much due to its corny plot devices and over-reliance on cheesy drama, should I watch Shin Godzilla? I was a huge fan of the Heisei-era movies as a kid.
They are wildly different movies in tone so don't let your feelings about Minus One stop you, I'd say if you're a Godzilla fan and you like a little bit of extra mystery to the origins and "what ifs" around your monster, in a sort of lovecraftian way, Shin is a great watch. It focuses more on the Monster than the people characters than Minus One (which is arguably why people say Minus One is really good), so with that in mind, if that's your preference, I'd bet you'll like it more than Minus One.
Does minus’s one budget compare more to dude where’s my car or big dog infinity war ?
> I can simply never get past the general "cheese" of mainstream Japanese acting direction, specifically even in movies that are meant to be serious or "realistic" I hate how true this is. I wanted this to be the tragic, menacing Godzilla movie reviewers were raving about but the "cheese" was too much of a disconnect. Must be the westoid in me, but Godzilla 2014 did a better job with the serious tone.
Great comment, this completely reflects my thoughts. I’m glad you have an understanding of the Japanese culture to clear things up considering you live there. I admittedly have not invested much of my time in Japanese culture and watched this thinking “maybe this is how Japanese people really are” when considering the “cheese”. Happy to know that this is not the case Wrapping the film up the film way it did was akin to teenage fantasy. Nevertheless the action scenes were absolutely enthralling imo and saved the film
>For me, I can simply never get past the general "cheese" of mainstream Japanese acting direction, specifically even in movies that are meant to be serious or "realistic", and this is not exclusively an issue with this film, it's an issue in basically all Japanese film and TV. 1000% agree.
That rings true to me as well. I’ve been living and working in Japan for the last fifteen years, and the “cheese” in most movies and series is somewhat passable only in a very few of them.
My guess is that many people expected a cool-looking but fairly generic monster movie and were pleasantly surprised by the film's emotional depth. I thought it was good, but it's not among the best of the year for me (I'll probably rate it 3.5 stars also). It did hit me in the feels more than I expected, and I can see how it could be among the best for some people. Yamazaki has said it takes influence from the original Godzilla; Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidora; Jaws, and the films of Hayao Miyazaki. It's not the most original, but I actually enjoyed seeing elements of other films blended together. I think it would make a fun triple feature with Jaws and Porco Rosso
Yeah, I think that I share an overall similar opinion as you do on the movie
king of monster had more emotional depth lmao and i loved the theme of dominance and submission
>For example, let’s say Godzilla’s presence spread pathogens that caused people to starve or act wild with zealous aggression toward others. THAT at least would have been something with more substance beyond the retraced themes from the original. If it's your belief that Godzilla Minus One would have been improved by turning it into the same fucking zombie movie that's been manufactured a hundred times in the last twenty years, then lol. This was a fun, dramatic, emotionally impactful film that blends classic kaiju themes (anti-war, anti-nuclear testing) with capital-R Romantic Hollywood storytelling, and you're complaining that it's not The Tin Drum. Listen to yourself, man.
It’s a realistic approach at telling a story of a real life Godzilla attack. People would turn on each other and would do anything to survive in a real scenario like that. It’s the attention to detail that counts. The original 1954 film did it when they showed the scenes of the injured and kids crying. It felt realistic, minus one also had a subtle scene with the black rain. They could’ve showed more with that like how the radiation effects the characters. It felt like a missed opportunity to tell a much darker and serious Godzilla story.
Didn’t minus one literally show half the people in a room turn their back on the other half and do what they needed to to survive ? It was a seized opportunity not a missed one. Y’all wanted this low budget cheesey Godzilla movie to risk going DEEPER when it’s about a giant monster suit? None of them have had the balls to go any deeper except for that comic con 2014 teaser! IT’s success improves our odds of getting that darker serious take we are sorely missing !
When people say that it’s among the best movies of the year rather than a fun and emotional blockbuster informed by Japanese history, than yeah a comparison to “The Tin Drum” is suitable
We live in such an aesthetically impoverished moment in popular cinema that "fun and emotional blockbuster informed by Japanese history" means it absolutely clears 95% of mainstream films. As far as thematic or narrative ambitions, it's no Afire or May December, but it does what it sets out to do pretty unimpeachably.
Well yeah that’s the point I’m making. When I see people posting on Reddit that Godzilla Minus One is the best movie of the year or that it has placement (even if it will no longer soon enough) on the Letterboxd Top 250, I see it as heaping unwarranted praise on a movie that surpasses the low expectations for its genre.
This isn't an intellectual exercise for most people, though. People like the movies they like because they had an emotional bond with them, not because the films struck them as especially important thematically or unique aesthetically. I had an emotional bond with Afire and Godland and The Holdovers and May December and also with Godzilla Minus One. I'm not a "cheap date" when it comes to films. I dislike more than I like. For me, it was really quite remarkable how bonded I became to these characters through storytelling that you saw as evoking soap operas but I saw as evoking classic postwar melodramas.
If you read the reviews that heap praise for this movie, it’s pretty obvious that they do in fact view it as an intellectual exercise (at least in part). But fair enough regarding the point you made in the last sentence. Movies can act like a Rorschach blot test for audience members.
It feels better to say you liked a movie because it explored the nuances of survivor’s guilt (which this movie does, admirably) than because you teared up when Mizushima showed up with the tugboats (which I did). We’re creatures of emotion first, intellect second, but we love to rationalize our emotions because it’s more respectable for some reason.
Well worded
My guy, why are you SO worried about random “people” liking a film. I think May December is a lame American version of a second tier Almodóvar film, but that’s my bad opinion and people can think it’s a masterpiece. Gatekeeping taste sucks.
Come on, don't be dishonest. It's common and completely fine to say a movie is over or underrated compared to popular opinion. They're not claiming any individuals who call it the best movie of the year are dumb or have bad opinions. They're surprised at the praise this movie got and want to know why others connected with the movie emotionally/intellectually more than they did.
There is nothing wrong with believing that the praise a movie receives is undeserved. That isn’t gatekeeping. Nowhere did I say people had the “wrong” opinion about the movie or that they had bad taste. I have just as much of a right to a contrarian, deliberately-phrased film opinion as anyone else.
lol let people make their own choices if it’s not your favorite movie fine go watch fucking Marvels or something
Why are so fucking butt hurt over my Godzilla opinion lol. I never said there’s anything wrong about the people who enjoy it. Don’t throw a fit over movie criticisms. I thought it was an entertaining monster soap opera
The irony lol bro why do you feel the need to comment on something that doesn’t go with your opinions. If he doesn’t like the new Godzilla movie and you did that’s your problem not his. Guess what I don’t like Godzilla minus or the marvels or anything superhero related. Honestly people just need to grow the f up and learn how to respect others opinions. I’m not going to start with yours btw
lol this movie was equally as generic as any zombie film and the plot was laughable.any msg this film had was hardly told in an impactful way.
Okay
No worries
Calling it "more or less a remake" and a kamikaze redemption arc shows that the movie went over your head a bit. The plot does grapple with many of the themes you claim it doesn't. There's a lot of subtext you seem to have missed, and adding an American or giving Godzilla zombie apocalypse vibes wouldn't do anything to make those themes more apparent than they already are.
Tell me the subtext that went over my head.
It goes a goes much deeper then a redemption story. It's encompasses so much of survivors guilt , the shame of self preservation , living in the past , how self sacrifice isn't always the best choice , and how the aftermath of tragedy is finding something to live for.
I think you’re correct, but I did mention those two last elements that you mentioned in the same paragraph I talked about kamikaze
Its also tackling these things from a cultural point of view. Everyone that shamed Shikishima for surviving ended up coming to the realization that life is better than death with some sort of fake honor. Shikishima is really more of a metaphor for how the government and people viewed their military and really how most counties view their military.
>It goes a goes much deeper then a redemption story. It's encompasses so much of survivors guilt , the shame of self preservation , living in the past , how self sacrifice isn't always the best choice , and how the aftermath of tragedy is finding something to live for. Sorry, the main character was just a coward, over and over. Survivor's guilt? Nooo....
No.
Then you’re wrong. My criticism is that whatever subtext exists in the movie is somewhat shallow or generic information that establishes the film’s historical setting. If it wished to be something more than a kaiju film (there’s nothing wrong with not wishing to do more of course), then it should have done something more with that setting and what it said about postwar Japan.
It never wished to be anything it’s a fun entertaining thought provoking monster film that we have not seen for a long time thanks to Hollywood fucking things over. This movie shows how you make a monster film where the human characters are as important as Godzilla. Hollywood over the years couldn’t even make a single decent Godzilla film they are all just CGI fest just watch and forget.
The "subtext" you're talking about comes in the form of dying-cat-like screams. Eternal Zero. There's some kamikaze survivor's guilt subtext. The way Minus One handled it was like an anime in comparison
Word
Eh, you should check this again in a few months. As long as there's internet hype, forget it, it's the best thing since sliced EEAAO Bottoms
Yup in a few months the hype will go down
Not really. Especially now that it won an Oscar. Something no Godzilla movie has ever done before. I respect your opinion for not liking it as much as others. But I still frequently see posts praising it on Twitter, YouTube, Letterboxd, IMDB, etc. It hasn't even had its DVD/Blu-Ray Release yet either. The Oscar will only raise the hype further.
people just glaze tf out of godzilla movies. it's a 10/10 for godzilla fans, maybe a 7-8/10 for everyone else. for movies like this it's best to just let people have their fun and move on
All due respect. But that really doesn't seem to be the case. The main thing I noticed about the praise for this film was how people said it was an incredible film without Godzilla. Regardless of what we feel, this is unquestionably one of the biggest talking points and reasons for its praise. Almost every review highlighted this.
It's fucking shite.
[удалено]
are you really expecting people who aren't Godzilla fans to give it anything more than like an 8? to be clear it was still quite good and the Ginzu atomic breath scene is one of my favorite of the year, but it was by no means a masterpiece imo
> just glaze tf out of godzilla movies. it's a 10/10 for godzilla fans, maybe a 7-8/10 for everyone else. > >for movies like this it's best to just let people have their fun and move My rather aged father, with whom I saw the film over the weekend , despises Godzilla films, finding them to be laughable and dull. Even during other films, he tends to nod off in the theatre. He gave it a 9/10 and was highly invested in the human emotional drama. So, I think it has a broader cultural appeal that you give it credit for.
It’s all a matter of opinions because my dad also went to see the movie with me and he didn’t like it that much. He said it was a good movie but definitely not as good as some of his other favorite Godzilla films. Everyone can have different opinions what I don’t like is that people are treating this like you can’t have a different opinion. If you don’t like minus one your opinion isn’t valid. That’s my problem with the fan base at the moment it’s honestly disgusting.
The one voice of reason amongst a sea of crazies
Im a long life Godzilla fan, started watching it when I was like 10 years old maybe even younger tbh can’t remember. But even I can’t say this movie is a 10/10, it’s more of an 8/10 or 7.5/10.
Sometimes the only necessary reason for audiences to really like a movie is: "because it's fucking awesome". And Godzilla Minus One is fucking awesome.
I agree with some of the points you made, but I still loved the movie. I actually think there is an uncomfortable tension in the way it portrays post-war Japan and doesn't grapple with the atrocities committed by the Empire (which, as you point out, is not an issue limited to this movie but Japanese media as a whole). However, where I would diverge is to say that the actions of the Empire don't really counteract the brutality with which Japan was treated at the end of WW2, as another commentor already pointed out eloquently. What I think elevates the movie thematically is that it positions the defeat of Godzilla as an opportunity for the nation to be reborn without the brutality of either the Empire or western occupation. Japan's post-war rebuilding period was totally stunted by the repression and control of the American-installed regime, and this movie supposes a sort of alternate history where the Japanese people are able to craft a new vision for the country and rebuild it from the grassroots. Is this still nationalistic? Totally, and I'm not saying it's envisioning some perfect future. But Japan never really got the opportunity to fully reckon with the national trauma of the firebombings, nuclear bombings, and wholesale defeat in the pacific theater. Instead they were made into a client state by another indifferent and destructive empire, which is the role Godzilla takes on in this movie. I found that to be quite poignant since it's a different take on the Godzilla allegory than the one we normally get. I actually think a failed Kamikaze pilot is the perfect protagonist for the story, because he simultaneously can encapsulate a national sense of shame and also someone who take a stand, however small and motivated by fear it may have been, against the previous regime. Some of the stuff around him restoring his will to live is (imo) effective but predictable. But as a broader allegory he's way more interesting than what's literally in the script. TL;DR on all that, I think your broader critique about Japanese cinema makes sense but Godizlla Minus One doesn't exactly fit. Also, I think this is genuinely the best a Godzilla movie has looked in a long time. Shin obviously looks great but it's doing something a bit different, here he's threatening and really kinda scary, especially in the scenes where he comes out of the water. And some of the shots are just gorgeous, every bit of the climax where he's being harassed by a fighter plane is exciting to look at. The recent American films and honestly even some of the later Japanese efforts don't hold a candle to what they were able to pull off here.
I would say that they indirectly acknowledge the Horrors of imperial Japan but they do it subtely enough and the movie ends up being more about anti war in general rather than anti Japan's role in the war. I'm kinda glad that the characters and sentiments held in the movie felt realistic for what Japan was going through. Making the main character a kamikaze pilot was incredibly brave but it also makes sense for the themes they wanted to talk about. I think the fact that the citizens are the ones to defeat Godzilla after they were left to their own devices was an incredibly powerful message and definitely politically charged. Also the whole theme of the value of one's life and that speech Noda gave about sacrificing nobody... how is that not political? I loved the movie and I think it hit every note I look for in a movie. The music was fantastic. The characters were likeable and believable. There were some very hard hitting emotional moments. The movie was thematic and rich for discussion. It was immersive as hell in the set and costume design. And that last act actually had me rooting for the humans which Im not sure I've ever done in a monster movie. Yeah you can criticize the melodrama or VFX at parts, or that its a little tropy, but I really don't care. It has a lot of goodwill and I really can't agree with OP at all.
You're not going crazy, you're just another innocent victim of the hype monster
You’re not crazy. I felt the same way. I went to see it with no prior knowledge having placed my faith in the ratings. The acting was cheesy and the plot seemed like a cringy apology for Japanese leadership at the time. What made it cringy for me is that I do not believe that any living Japanese person owes anyone an apology for what their country did 70 years ago. People did what they did back then and to understand it you have to study their culture and history. Nobody owes apologies for things they didn’t do or for things their country did way back when. It’s up there with Canada continuing to open old wounds by apologizing incessantly and reminding everyone that they treated indigenous people like trash in the past. Apologies mean nothing without action. It’s just moral posturing otherwise. Stop apologizing and trying to get a free pass for your country’s messed up culture once upon a time. It doesn’t make it okay, and that’s the point. You’re supposed to have a little guilt and live with it so that you never let it happen again. You don’t get to wash it away with an apology or even some sort of rationalization. There is none. So, yeah, that bugged me. I found the guilt-tripping of the mechanic towards the pilot regarding his perceived cowardice as a kamikaze pilot annoying too. The twist at the end was like a cheesy cherry on top; I rolled my eyes and let out an audible WTF when they magically brought back his not-wife. It was almost on par with “Beerfest” when they reintroduced Landfill after he was killed off. The obvious difference is that Beerfest is a purposefully silly comedy, and Godzilla Minus One tried to pass this off as genuine drama and let us go home feeling not so bad now that the cute little girl has a mom and dad again. I did, however, really enjoy the nod to Jaws with the minesweeper. That was really cool. 10/10 for that. Also, I love any movie that shows a “coward” find his courage, but where the writing appears twisted to me is that being afraid does not make you a coward, it makes you human. Yet this movie doesn’t even take that plot-line and move in that direction - rather, the mechanic magically has a change of heart that isn’t revealed until the end. People don’t just have changes of heart. It just doesn’t happen. And if it does happen, then this movies fails to show how or why the mechanic had a change of heart. I get that the pilot shows him photos of his not-family, but if I were to put myself in the mechanics shoes, this would piss me off even more. I’d be like, “why are you accidentally-on-purpose revealing that you have a family. All those dudes that you let down on the island had families too, now go redeem yourself by suiciding diving into this giant charzard.” Overall, I enjoyed the movie until the last half. To me, It had so much potential and simply needed more editing and maturity in the writing. All the bits were there but were poorly stitched together. They had some really cool and controversial subjects in this film such as blind-loyalty to one’s country no matter the cost, but they portrayed the vets and sailors as if they were thinking like contemporary westerners. “A” for effort and planning, “F” for overall execution though.
"The acting was cheesy and the plot seemed like a cringy apology for Japanese leadership at the time. What made it cringy for me is that I do not believe that any living Japanese person owes anyone an apology for what their country did 70 years ago" funny. where do you live? Germany? USA? UK? ISRAEL? :D you think pple in other countries are like ppl in UK? and they think like pple there? in one of 4 countries that made the most SHIT everywhere? well its not like that. you "believe" what you think, because you never lived in Japan, and you know nothing about what ppl think there. But thats the part of "believe" - its related with something that is not real :D
i gave it a 3/5, and i completely agree. a fine movie, but people are going a bit too crazy with this one. i predict nobody will care within a couple months (or weeks)
My prediction is that your prediction will be on the dot
And you were both wrong.
Its only been two months, relax
The average rating is closest to a 4 and you gave it a 3.5, no reason to be alarmed
The average rating is a 4.2. That is an exceptionally high rating for a genre film. It is currently on the Letterboxd Top 250 (not for long though) and would be among the top 15 highest ratings for horror movies on the app. A lot of this is recency bias however.
I’d be interested to know what you thought of the film talk to me because I thought it was absolute rubbish and by no means did it do anything unique or special for a horror movie.yet people absolutely loved it.
Yeah, I didn't care too much for Talk to Me. I thought it was an okay horror movie, but nothing special. Its most unique attribute to me was that it took place in Australia lol However, I gave it a 3.5 out of 5, which is only .1 below the average score (3.6)
I’d give it a 3.0 you got a problem with that suck it
I haven't seen it, and I don't care what you gave it
I think you hit the nail on the head; it's _relatively_ fantastic— compared to most Kaiju films. It's the same reason people freak out at certain "elevated" horror movies that aren't necessarily great, just great in comparison to 90% of schlock horror. I liked it. I think it's essentially as good as a Godzilla movie can get. The human narrative felt like a redemptive arc worth telling even outside of Giant Lizard©, but didn't outshine the thrills the King of Monsters brings to the table. The special effects were great, especially considering the budget. That being said, there's only so much a monster attacking a city can bring to a narrative. Plus, the acting was really hammy and the twist reveal was incredibly obvious. Not a masterpiece by any means, but it does enough to distinguish itself in the genre that it seems amazing.
Well everybody knows Godzilla power in general. Of course it is obvious. I saw that film won’t be super high brow or complex but it simple and universal human themes and story connected with audience and people realised how they missed these types of Blockbuster films. Monsterverse Godzilla character stories were somewhat dull and weren’t interesting for audience and people wanted more Godzilla in action. Well sequels got more action but still people only liked action and effects but stull underwhelmed.
Probably the most overrated movie I've seen in years. People praise it like some cinematic once in ten years masterpiece but it turned out to be a generic disaster movie with just as generic characters and extremely predictable story. It's watchable but I don't see how anyone could give it more than a 7/10.
Am I going crazy? Why all the praise for **“Past Lives”?** *ftfy*
Thats just not Godzilla Minus One, you’re looking for some thematic condemnation of Japanese society from an outsiders perspective. But sincere Japanese storytellers are making a movie for Japanese people first and foremost, for their family and friends, countrymen - people who can relate to the themes and elements they present in ways that outsiders never will. I don’t think you’ll ever get the Godzilla you want made in Japan by Japanese people. They definitely aren’t above cultural self-critique but you’re asking them to make a story not for them but for you. I’ve never seen a Japanese film made for The US. Just like I’ve never seen a US film made exclusively for Japanese people. We are lucky that we live in an advanced enough time that we can receive their movies at all and they ours. We take this for granted.
A self-reflective movie on Japanese behavior toward foreign peoples during its imperial era ≠ Japanese movie made for American audiences. And there actually is a prominent Japanese movie trilogy one of the comments brought to my attention that does what I ask: *The Human Condition*. And why are Germany (*The Tin Drum*) or France (*Caché*) supposedly able to pull off movies that do this, but Japan cannot?
Its just never been a priority for this film series. Even at their silliest the franchise is exclusively Sino centric. When they were exported to the US they added western characters to make them more palatable. I think it just comes down to who is writing, producing and funding these films and who they think their target audience is and what messages they’re trying to put out there. Japan values its culture a lot, obviously - way more than western whitewashed society can relate to. They’re an ancient society. It’s barely westernized now, and back then even less so. For them they’ve got a million Japanese people stories to get through before they’d touch on talking about anyone else. On top of that Godzilla himself does represent western violence, the huge cultural shift they were unprepared for, the ghosts of the past and the threat of the future all rolled into one. When Japanese people look up at the screen and see Godzilla rampaging around their provinces that’s an existential experience for them, as opposed to when we watch it and are just like ‘where’s the white people why can this be more euro-centric’ ? 😂 I believe there would be a huge backlash amongst their target audience if they started making authentic Japanese Godzilla films featuring even a slightly western centric plot. Many countries are not ok with the influence of western society on their countries and they do not see outsiders in their countries as something worthy of talking about when they’ve got so many of their own concerns. I think the problem you have with it is really the problem a lot of western audiences have with Godzilla. That’s why for the most part people in the US do not take Godzilla seriously and never will. You have to put yourself in a different headspace to appreciate it fully. When we watch their Godzilla movies we are not watching it the same way they are. They’ve just got different storytelling priorities. Maybe in the future? But I wouldn’t count on it. If anything the advancement of their own VFX industry and filmmaking abilities seems like it will assure that Japanese Godzilla films will only get more Japanese and US Godzilla/Kong films will only get more western. We are lucky as a planet to be where we are now that we can experience both, or either. It feels like an embarrassment of riches.
The writing for this Movie sucked, the acting wasn’t much better, the only saving grace was the Godzilla scenes, and why do most Asian movies constraint on shame, Shame as the main driving point or reason for death it’s hilarious
I'm watching it right now, and ended up looking around for people's thoughts on it. It's really not very good. Again the eyes and teeth, it all looks weird. I saw Shin a few months ago for the first time because I read that it was a amazing, and it was absolutely horrific. Visually laughably bad, and the movie itself boring. This one has some nice idea, but they aren't executed in a way that makes you care. I'm falling asleep.
You are not going crazy. You are the sane and rational one. This movie is yet another example of Japanese media whitewashing of their past. Imagine if Germany made a movie about Nazi soldiers that were fighting against a big monster and the movie painted the Nazi soldiers as heroes, while completely erasing all context of WW2, Holocaust, Hitler, etc. That's basically what Japan is doing. I also agree with you that Ghibli movies like The Wind Rises and Grave of the Fireflies also are egregious in this. The Wind Rises glorifies the plane that was used to kill millions of people and erases all context. Grave of the Fireflies also paints Japanese as victims while erasing all context. Really left a bad taste in my mouth. It's incredible how the world lets Japan get away with this, and allows Japan to just brainwash the masses with this historical revisionism and propaganda via their media.
I gave it five stars. It's certified kino. You know it's special when you care more about the human characters rather than Godzilla in a Godzilla movie
"acting was quite cheesy and resembled a soap opera"—This.
I agree and Shin Godzilla released in 2016 was way better. This movie has no soul.
How dare you have an opinion that goes against the grain of popular opinion. Enjoy this downvote. /s I'm on the same page with you. I thought it was decent, but overhyped, and while a high point in the series, that isn't THAT impressive given the franchise. It's currently in my top 10 movies of the year, but I doubt it'll last long when I see some of the other greats. I think the reason for its success is because of great action, and while some of, for lack of a better terms, the intellectual themes felt shallow, the emotional themes are fairly universal and decently handled. And compared to most recent blockbusters, which have been very dull and stale, it is very refreshing, with the only recent comparable examples that were exciting for audience is Barbenheimer.
I honestly have Minus One above Barbie and Oppenheimer. I can see why some would consider Oppenheimer better, but I believe Minus One is for sure better than Barbie
I don't. I do think they only differ by half a star (Barbenheimer both get a 3.5 whereas I gave Godzilla a 3 star). I'm generally fine with melodrama but there were points where it took me out of the movie as being too cheesy. I also didn't like the ending. One of the characters had something that felt out of character and it felt like the movie wanted to erase consequences a bit (yeah I get it was supposed to be a reward for choosing to live but again it felt cheesy). When I walked out of both Barbenheimer movies, it left with me with a good amount to chew on. They're not deep movies imo, but they work better at managing their tones and left me excited to think about. When I left Godzilla, the movie kinda just left my brain after I wrote my review, and didn't leave me as much to think about or with me caring as much with the characters. But my point with the comparison is that there hasn't been many exciting Blockbusters this year for more casual audiences except for Barbie, Oppenheimer, and now Godzilla .
I respect your opinion, but disagree with your point about the tone. Minus One had a consistent tone and atmosphere throughout the film, you really felt Godzilla’s presence even when he wasn’t on screen. Oppenheimer has a consistent tone for the most part, and Barbie’s tone was all over the place. And since tone is related to theme, I think Minus One handled its theme of Godzilla representing a walking atomic bomb better than Oppenheimer’s theme of nuclear war and whatever theme Barbie was trying to push(I’ve heard so many theories on what the theme was that I’m kind of over it). Maybe Oppenheimer managed its theme better objectively, but once again I think Minus One felt more impactful than anything in Barbie objectively. In the scene where we see the aftermath of Godzilla’s atomic breath, and you see the mushroom cloud which is virtually identical to Hiroshima’s, and also see black rain starting to fall which is what happened in Hiroshima, plus the main character screaming in pain/anger, it just makes for the most impactful scene I’ve seen in 2023.(though Oppenheimer’s ending scene is worthy of that too). Furthermore, if you look closely, Godzilla actually looks up at the mushroom cloud in the movie, no doubt in satisfaction that the pillar of fire that caused him pain is now causing humanity pain. Plus, the main character just lost his lover and last hope of a normal life, so his constant screaming isn’t over the top and just adds to the human emotion, which is rare in a Godzilla film. In short, the atomic breath scene demonstrates a great tone of the walking atomic bomb that is Godzilla, reinforced by the human emotion and pain you feel. I may be over the top and biased but I genuinely think Minus One is 2023’s magnum opus.
I guess I agree that Godzilla was more consistent with its tone but its melodrama got overindulgent at points. Barbie had varying tones, but I think they flowed together from A to B decently well. > you really felt Godzilla’s presence even when he wasn’t on screen. In some ways, yeah. The destruction in its wake was catastrophic, but it always feels somewhat cheap and lesser when there is some plot armor (especially with >!a character coming back from being presumed dead!<) > and whatever theme Barbie was trying to push(I’ve heard so many theories on what the theme was that I’m kind of over it). Like many good and great movies, I read many themes from it. The frustrations of being a woman in a patriarchal society. Men's mental health, and them seeking constant validation. A bit of "the joys of living as a human." Some general poking at gender roles. Some themes are primary and more fleshed out, and others are obviously secondary and while not the focus of the movie, they were there. The movie itself did sometimes preach to the audience. And yes it isn't that deep. Part of my reservations in only giving it a 3.5 star instead of any higher, like many others did when the movie came out, is because there was a bit of that corporate feeling. These were only risky topics for corporations, but overall aren't risky things to say. But Greta Gerwig still did great work despite the confines of Mattel and Warner looming over her. > Maybe Oppenheimer managed its theme better objectively I have never been one to like using the term objectively when discussing art. I do recall decently liking Oppenheimer's themes but of the 3, it sticks out in my mind the least. It is part of why that movie isn't above a 3.5 star. > In the scene where we see the aftermath of Godzilla’s atomic breath, and you see the mushroom cloud which is virtually identical to Hiroshima’s I am not going to deny that was a great scene. It was. But a great scene does not necessarily mean it is a great movie. > Plus, the main character just lost his lover and last hope of a normal life, so his constant screaming isn’t over the top and just adds to the human emotion Honestly those moments were fine. It was him wallowing in his sorrow later that felt fake. At that moment, I didn't see the character grieving but instead an actor hamming it up a bit. > and just adds to the human emotion, which is rare in a Godzilla film. I do agree, and it is why (in my experience), it is one of the best Godzilla movies (currently at number 2, below the original). But I also don't think that was a high bar, with me giving Minus One a 3 star. > I may be over the top and biased but I genuinely think Minus One is 2023’s magnum opus. I am happy for you. I did like the movie and don't regret seeing it, but I still stand by it being just decent. Granted, to me, it is the best "decent" movie of the year.
I appreciate you for being very civil, and you brought up very good points. I agree that there’s no way Noriko could’ve survived that and that it was blatant plot armor, but hey, it made for a wholesome ending that almost had me in tears. I see your point about the Barbie movie, but I don’t know man, movies with inconsistent tones with unclear themes/identities that are also overly preachy at points are just not my type of movie if I’m being honest. I think the actor for Shikishima was great and though Japan does go over the top with its emotion and characters being “edgy,” I thought his character wasn’t too overboard with that like other Japanese films. But like I said, you have valid points that are completely respectable, and if anyone insults you for not putting Minus One as your best movie of 2023, ignore them.
Well no offence to you but if you didn't like this film then you have really crap taste in films. Everyone is entitled to there opinion even if its a wrong one. This film if youv actually seen it is a masterpiece
I gave Mad Max Fury Road 5 stars even though it’s also a recent adaptation of a long running action sci fi franchise. Silly to think I have crap taste. I didn’t even say anything bad about people who like the film
\*their
Amazing 👏 have a cookie
Because people like the movie. I'm sorry that *you can't accept a movie you personally didn't enjoyed as much get a positive reception.* You need to stop being so self-conceited.
Bruh grow up. I'm not conceited because I found some elements of an acclaimed movie (one that I still enjoyed btw) shallow. Do you think that every critic who gave a bad review too a generally acclaimed movie is conceited too? How did you even find this the post is almost two weeks old
Maybe you were in a bad mood when you saw it cuz it be good
I don't quite understand why would you expect a Godzilla movie would touch on the bad side of Japanese militarism, nationalism, war crime against and the victims of other countries. Godzilla movies were never about that. Personally I like this movie as it brings most of the original ideas represented by Godzilla in Japan and brought it to the western audience, in a modern, well made way. It is definitely a pleasure surprise to my friends who never watched Japanese Godzilla movies. I disagree with you this movie is a redemption arc for a kamikaze pilot. It's quite obviously shown that kamikaze is wrong in the movie, even characters such as the neighbor aunt and jet mechanic who adored kamikaze and hate the MC didn't do his duty in the beginning of the movie, changed to against him doing the same thing in the end of the movie, to the extend like made an eject seat for him. Not to mention the other obvious anti-war messages such as the quote the captain told the kid "Never been in a war is something you should be proud of".
I honestly thought everything about it sucked. The acting, the effects. The look of godzillia the look of destruction. Some of the story.. I wish I had just watched this online..
I mean compared to any of Hollywoods Godzilla efforts this was pretty much Citizen Kane. At least it was watchable.
all legendary godzillas are better
Don't worry if the film goes with what you said it will suit you to get a 4 or 5 out of you and then there will be 10 more others to say why they made the plot cheesy and mediocre, or too sophisticated or geeky that's not meant for mainstream, faking depth for the sake of depth.
I loved the movie, and I think that instead of looking for a “fresh take” on the concept of Kaiju, view it as more of a meditation of the bombs and the mindset post WWII. Yes the terrible imperialism and crimes against humanity of the Japanese government is often overlooked. But that was the government, not the people. Governments constantly do things their people don’t agree with. I like how it’s about a pretty typical dude, yeah he’s a talented pilot but he doesn’t want to suicide bomb himself, he just wants to live a normal life. Most Japanese civilians did too. And when the bombs went off they felt helpless in the face of a super power that was pretty much unfathomable, much like Godzilla. I also don’t think they redeemed Kamikaze pilots in any way. The concept of Kamikaze pilots was actually very looked down upon in more traditional Japanese culture. Taking a strong, talented, brave person and having them blow themselves up for the sake of sinking a ship was looked down upon by a lot of the Japanese people, that was just an imperialism thing (once again, governments not representing their people). I think that makes his kamikaze move at the end even more tragic, it wasn’t out of patriotism, or even heroism, he just felt that helpless and the only solution was betraying his own beliefs. Godzilla Minus One goes back to everything the original stood for. The WWII experience of Japanese civilians, their hopelessness and their fear.
Well throughout the movie until the very end, you can tell that the other characters looked down on the main character as a coward when they learned he was a kamikaze pilot, so I'd disagree with the central point you made.
lol wtf they never looked down upon him his friends wanted him to live they were concerned that he sacrificed himself in the ending and they were so relieved when he was still alive.
When he first informs people that he was a kamikaze pilot, you could see their initial reactions of suspicion that he’s still alive
They never looked down on him throughout the film at all hell even the mechanic wanted him to live.
For the first two thirds of the film, every single interaction that someone realized he was a kamikaze pilot they reacted negatively that he was still alive. The neighbor told him her children and his parents would still be alive if he wasn't a coward.
That’s her grief speaking she damn well knows that one kamikaze pilot won’t make a difference. She later on opens up to them helps them raise the baby pretty much becomes the baby’s second mother.
Yet the characters changed in the end to want him to be anything but a kamikaze pilot.
And yet you ignored that they changed to against him doing the same thing at the end of movie like I mentioned in another comments, and basically against the concept of kamikaze pilot as the characters and as a movie. He did not choose to die as kamikaze pilot but live as a man value his life. He redeemed as himself but not as a kamikaze pilot, there is a difference.
I see your point but i don’t bother with it too much. Reason why this film worked is bc people somehow connected with people struggle in post-war Japan. Also people were happy to see Godzilla return to it roots as a “ force of nature” and not a hero who save people. I think it worked with audiences like “Top Gun Maverick” which is also kinda generic but flight scenes and reconcilation of characters and letting go of past mistakes hit it hard for Gen X and Millenial generation that grew up with Top Gun original and gave new generation a little fresh sequel in many years. People just tired of blockbusters that Studios keep making that does not interest people anymore.
so it appealed to incel's and maga's lol.....
Basically it’s not a genuine reaction from the audience. To say you like the movie because every other movie being released by Hollywood sucks doesn’t come off genuine, at least not to me. It seems more like an excuse. So if movies were entertaining the audiences like how they used to, people wouldn’t have reacted so positively to this one. At least that’s my 2 cents on that.
It wasn't at all a bad movie. Last movie I saw in theaters was The Creator, and that I was disappointed I went to see. Minus One was worth the watch and not something I felt was a poor choice, but it's not for me. It's possible that I let the hype build it up too much before hand. But personally, I prefer the Monsterverse movies. I've really been enjoying Monarch so far. For me, Monarch is better than Minus One. But I'm positive many will have a VERY different, and very strong opinion about that.
My impression reading this post is that you don't like monster movies as a genre. The ones you mentioned and praised was for their social commentary rather than the thrill and terror of seeing the monster and the special effects and all that. I also get this impression based on your statement about the Godzilla franchise as a whole, where you don't seem to care for the franchise or the related genre. So, it shouldn't be surprising that you don't care for the movie too much. It seems you want it to be something it isn't aspiring to be. edit: Personally, I'm not huge on monster movies myself but I really like the original Godzilla, Frankenstein, and stuff like that. This is probably the main contemporary monster movie I really enjoyed (in comparison to the dramas I usually prefer). Part of that is because of how serious this movie takes its narrative, but more importantly because of how terrifying and awesome Godzilla is here. For example, the atomic breath sequences absolutely blew me away. There's not much of a "theme" to that and, even if there is one, its not what I take from the movie. The force of Godzilla in this movie reminds me of the way Milton described the violence of God banishing Satan in *Paradise Lost*. Its this sublime experience that is experienced like a dream. Part of that "dream" feeling is rendered via the sound and design departments. These aspects of film are not often intellectualized and valued, relative to thematic analysis/appreciation--but for a movie like this, I think that is where the quality and "depth" is produced. This is just my perspective as someone who goes back and forth between genre films and more abstract stuff. With genre films and monster movies the acclaimed ones do have provocative themes to discuss, but the appreciation begins with the gut-level feeling the monster inspires in the audience. So the way you engage these movies may have to shift, if you are wondering what invites such inspired responses from the audience.
Your mention of pathogens or infections is actually incorrect as, if you look at the end when it zooms in on her head, there are black veins moving up her neck. My theory is that this movie is going to have sequels and that 'infection' is going to likely give her some kind of telepathic connection to the reborn Godzilla that would allow understanding between him and humanity so he can start shifting from attacking and destroying humans to at the very least co-existing. Likely will introduce another kaiju from Godzilla's villain roster to become the bad guy and start possible co-operation between Godzilla and humanity.
I think maybe that is a representation of the after effect of the atomic/nuclear weapons.
hey did anybody notice that they tried to say that Godzilla attacked Japan after the atomic bomb? I surely don’t remember reading that in the history books. Incredibly inaccurate!
I was not that impressed. It was good great special effects. And story but I don't get the hype and I have been a fan for over 30years. But what ever
The sentimentality in Godzilla Minus One is pathetic. the acting generally is Benny Hill standard. The special effects and all action scenes are superb. A failed Kamikaze pilot ( there’s a joke right there), banging one’s head hard on a table and numerous oriental face pulling is NOT good cinema. Get real folks. Shin Godzilla (2016) was a better movie with thought out politics and the threat of a third nuclear weapon drop on Tokyo. Godzilla Minus One only threatens the viewer’s intelligence.
if you think Shin Godzilla is about the threat of a third nuclear weapon dropping in japan you need to watch that again, its most certainly not, at least not the director intended for the what the Godzilla represents.
I think I share the opinions regarding the political commentary being generally fine and the CGI puppet looking sick and scary in its own way. But I will agree that the acting is exaggerated ASS, but that's more of the director's fault since his film history is mostly anime and animated movies.
movies trash i hate the movies where godzilla is just an evil villian
In my opinion the movie was awful, boring and the acting was so bad, everyone is a damn cartoon character and a stereotype, NOT EVEN CLOSE to being the best Godzilla movie.
Your not crazy, the reception is what is borderline insane. It was not a good movie. It is getting credit for having more on it's midn than *Lizard smash city*, but doing the bare minimum to be more than a movie for 12 year olds is not an accomplishment. The film picked good themes and because it did that everybody is acting like it didn't fail to execute, which it absolutely did. The dialogue is bad, the delivery and acting even worse, predictable, bland, pacing was bad to the point of making the movie almost incoherent. Probably the best godzilla movie, but you can probably make an argument that one of the mindless action entries in the series is better because it actually accomplished what is wanted to, even if what it wanted was just *big lizard smash.* Could make the case that mindless action is better than hard to sit through acting in a more substantive movie.
I actually almost feel asleep watching this film...that has NEVER happened to me before
Long post so I'll just bullet point throw out some stuff. It's a godzilla movie it didn't need too much societal overtone. They did plenty with the kamikaze arc of being too afraid to go through with it, deciding it was worth it for vengeance, acknowledging the countries lack of value in life, and finally realizing value in life. What's the point of saving lives with unnecessary death. Again it's a godzilla movie, the main focus was a man who had a personal encounter with godzilla and felt responsible for the deaths of comrades and all the chaos that followed by his cowardice actions. Then being personally affected again by losing a person he had come to love but was unable to express it to. Again again it's a godzilla movie, add in a nice sprinkle of interesting characters bound by duty, nobody was boring and everyone felt real. The characters had dinners and drinks together, giving them depth rather than just set pieces. The boat chase scene and the ensuing destroyer getting a peak at the atomic breath was so fun and well done, daytime kaiju that doesn't look like shit and feels alive?!?! Yes please. That city destruction and chaos topped off with am absolutely goosebumpin atomic breath!?!?! The dogfight against godzilla near the farm, are you kidding me! I'm sure I'm missing things but seriously to pack all of that into a reasonable run time. You've got thriller, monster,horror, drama in an extremely engaging blend. A directors cut would be nice.. And the music... Also 90 percent of everything else this year was crap or boring overhyped rigamaroo.
Well, yeah that's the thing. It's a good *godzilla* movie. I didn't really feel that it elevated itself that much beyond kaiju genre fiction, unlike say Mad Max Fury Road did for the post-apocalypse sci-fi genre. Therefore, I get confused about how it has the sixth-highest rating among 2023 releases on Letterboxd (even beating out KOTFM). Plus, over 250k people have logged it on the website so far, which means it's not just Godzilla fans watching the movie (it has over twice the number of views of any non-American Godzilla movie).
See I look at Fury Road the same way though. It took something I already loved, gave it exciting new direction, jept me interested the entire runtime, made me give a shit about the characters, and was such a breath of fresh air at the time. Being a top movie of the year doesn't mean. It has to be some overly complex masterpiece. Could just be that it was overall well done and everyone left the theatre with their expectations exceeded.
movie sucked...no way shape of form better than Shin Godzilla.... took forever to pickup...the story of the main character and his non wife was useless, this was not the masterpiece people screamed it was...i was so hyped to go see it and then decided to stream it before spending 30 bucks and thank god i saved my money
You're not going crazy. This movie sucked pretty bad. I wrote a review here: [https://scriptwritersteve.com/2024/01/godzilla-minus-one-i-mean-minus-fun](https://scriptwritersteve.com/2024/01/godzilla-minus-one-i-mean-minus-fun)
Utterly imbecilic review.
I had similar thoughts too. With total respect to everyone who really loved it. I can say that although I liked it, (I especially loved Godzilla’s new design and almost all of the special effects shots), I would rather have a Godzilla movie with different themes and story. Not just a kind of alternative story where the American occupation of Japan is brushed over in a contrived plot move, just to justify why the civilians have to take upon Godzilla themselves without government support at all. It would be really interesting to see the American forces trying (and failing) to deal with Godzilla, until a joint solution between the American and the Japanese forces could finally figure out a way to defeat it (or not!). In that case, with their failure to stop it, we would finally see Godzilla roaming free through the world, and along with it other issues would rise from its presence in other countries. Anyway, this is just my two cents. I would rate GM-1 a solid 7.4 or 74% (by RT standards)= Solid. A good movie, if neither a very good nor a great one. Peace!
Because... it is awesome. Last month, I didn't go to the theaters because, with no "Dune II", there was nothing of interest. THIS was the film I should have seen last month. If the black and white version is playing anywhere near you, you must see it. Tonight, if not tomorrow. Not given to hyperbole... but this is a gem. A classic. A towering achievement. The "Rogue One" of the genre. And that might be selling it short... I saw "Shin Godzilla" thinking it was the one folks were raving about. That was quite good. And, ultimately, not even in the same conversation.