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Godzilla Minus One

One of the biggest surprises at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony was when GODZILLA MINUS ONE took home the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Pitted against juggernauts like GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 3 and MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: DEAD RECKONING PART 1, the Japanese film had a budget that was, in some cases, $100 million LESS than its competitors. Despite this astronomical difference, the film obtained the credit and attention it so richly deserved by taking home the trophy, and now, audiences who didn’t get a chance to see it in theaters can finally see this astounding production at home.

For those who don’t know, GODZILLA MINUS ONE is not related in anyway to the Monster Verse that currently features Godzilla and King Kong. GODZILLA X KONG has also just been released on various home viewing platforms, but the two films couldn’t be more different. In fact, a quick comparison in tone, execution, and visual style of their respective opening sequences will tell you all you need to know about the key differences in these two productions. For those who prefer CGI-driven, over-the-top, basic blockbuster fare, GODZILLA X KONG is for you. If you’re more in the market for story-driven monster mayhem in which the title character is the most bombastic thing about it, stick with the far superior GODZILLA MINUS ONE.

Kōichi Shikishima is a kamikaze pilot who elects to abandon his mission at the end of World War II. Under the guise of malfunctioning equipment, he lands on an island to have his plane inspected. It quickly becomes apparent that there’s nothing wrong with the vessel, but before he can face the true ramifications of his decision, the island is attacked by a giant creature that emerged from the ocean. The mechanics, lead by Sōsaku Tachibana implore Shikishima to get into the cockpit and fire his weapon upon the bemouth before them, but the pilot can’t bring himself to do it, knowing that the effort will be futile and will lead to his certain death.

Shikishima survives, but now must live a life engulfed in shame. He failed to fulfil his kamikaze duties, and he didn’t even try to stop the beast known as Godzilla. He returns home to find his village destroyed as a result of the war, and discovers his parents had been killed in the wreckage. He is destined to live a solitary life until he crosses paths with Noriko Ōishi. She has also been impacted by the war, as she has agreed to care for an infant that is not her own. The two forge a platonic relationship, with Shikishima giving Noriko and the baby a place to live.

GODZILLA MINUS ONE tackles the complexities of PTSD, self-doubt, friendship, kinship and forgiveness with stunning insight. Though Godzilla was always going to serve as the main attraction, the emotional journey of Shikishima is the driving force of the film. In far too many entries of this genre, characters and stories get lost amidst the carnage. They often feel like mere filler, a bridge that exists to get from one scene of destruction to another. Here, Godzilla is effectively intwined with Shikishima’s journey, and there is no grey area as to whom the protagonist is. Unlike other recent iterations of the character, this isn’t a kaiju who accidentally stomps on some cities as it attempts to the save the world. This is a primal, nuclear blast-breathing beast that will destroy everything for the fun of it, and the more you fight, the angrier it gets. Whether we will see this particular universe in the future remains to be seen, but even if this is a stand-alone feature, it easily ranks amongst the best Godzilla features to date.