“A perversely light and fun disaster film”: critics are delighted with the new Japanese “Godzilla”
Miscellaneous / / December 08, 2023
A brilliant return to the screens of the radioactive giant lizard.
On December 1, the international release of the new Japanese film “Godzilla: Minus One” from director Takashi Yamazaki (he has previously filmed anime and games, including Dragon Quest and Lupine III) starts. The plot of this film is reminiscent of the first film in the series from 1954 - Ishiro Honda's Godzilla. The action also takes place after World War II, when a giant lizard wakes up in Japan and begins to destroy cities, but the plot itself is different, so it cannot be called a remake.
The film now has an impressive 100% freshness rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes — based on 34 reviews. Here's what they write about him:
- “It would not be an exaggeration to say that this is one of the best films about kaizdu, which have been published since 1954. It is as darkly and passionately anti-war as Honda's first film, but at the same time full of inspiration, showing that life is a gift that can be shared with others. Let go of the preconception that kaiju films are empty films filled with monsters and destruction. Unlike the mediocre Japanese sequels or the Americanized version of the universe, this film is beautiful in its care and honesty. This is a picture full of terrible destruction, but at the same time speaking about the value of every life in all its complexity,” Inverse.
- “When it comes to action, Godzilla: Minus One will leave audiences incredibly satisfied. Yamazaki's visual depiction of scale is so epic and often creative that fans may think to themselves, "I can't believe we haven't seen anything like this before." The film doesn't hold back in showing the horror of Godzilla's destruction. All this creates a grandiose spectacle that will remain in the memory forever,” Discussing Film.
- Despite its relentless destruction, Godzilla: Minus One remains a perversely light and fun Roland Emmerich-style disaster film from a truly talented director. Yamazaki was clearly inspired by the works of his predecessors - this is especially visible in full-profile shots when the animal’s movements fluctuate between the jumpy, jumpy rush of the 1954 classic Godzilla and the more modern fluidity, it's a veritable blend of different eras. The human drama may look faded against the backdrop of the catastrophically roaring giant overhead, but the viewer will still be satisfied,” Slant Magazine.
The main (and perhaps the only) criticism is related to topicality - there is an opinion that the new film, unlike the previous ones, lacks it:
- “The best Godzilla films have always been more than just monster movies. The first film was a polemic on the dangers of nuclear testing. 1971's Godzilla vs. Ghidorah was a reaction to post-war industrial pollution that led to diseases like Minamata disease. “Godzilla: Resurgence” criticized the Japanese government's lackadaisical response to the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters.
Visually, “Godzilla: Minus One” resembles the original film from the 50s more than any other film. But because the story is set in the past, there are no references to modern issues: it's just entertainment without trying to use Japan's most malleable monster as a metaphor for the fact that everyone worries," Japan Times.
However, not all critics agree that this is so.
- “Godzilla: Minus One” once again shows the uncontrollable destructive power of nuclear weapons. But Yamazaki expands the film's metaphorical world by juxtaposing Godzilla with war in general—showing an unrelenting, lethal force without any specific motivation." Den of Geek.
Are you planning to watch the film?
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