In this latest edition to the Godzilla franchise, the mythical beast is given extraordinary powers by the detonation of an American nuclear test at Bikini Atoll. Full of rage and looking like a stegosaurus on steroids, the monster attacks Tokyo. The only people standing in his way are a group of veteran sailors and a failed kamikaze pilot.
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Ok, I have to admit I have never seen a Godzilla movie before and yes Im probably the only one, so I didnt really know what to expect.
Well – this one was actually really good. The pace was slow at times and after an initial action sequence the set up slows right down but is very engaging. The cast are excellent and while there are one or two moments of over done histrionics, everyone is pretty authentic. The characters themselves are all well rounded and most of the emotional moments feel really genuine and are not manipulative.
The film is set in the late 1940s and it has a very cool retro vibe to it. The special effects are well done, though you can tell the quality is not quite as strong as in Hollywood films, but ultimately it doesn’t spoil the effect.
Having seen Godzilla Minus One, I’m tempted to watch more of the stories about the beast.
So how did I score it?
Acting 7 /10
Story/Script 7 /10
Cinematography 7 /10
Set/Costumes 7 /10
Entertainment value 7 /10
That gives Godzilla Minus One an average score of 7 / 10
GODZILLA MINUS ONE
Starring: Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, Kuranosuke Sasaki
Directed by: Takashi Yamazaki
Duration: 125 Minutes
Open in New Zealand – 1 December 2023