Godzilla Minus one Takashi Yamazaki.

Godzilla Minus one Takashi Yamazaki.

I have never really been one for Kaiju. My first experience was less sanitised than infantilised Godzilla and GODZUUKKIII! Of my childhood, compounded by the American renditions that seemed to exist in retrospect to take ownership of Godzilla, which in many ways America should, but washed off any of the shame and consequence of the atomic explosion that birthed him into the psyche of Japan.

The other aspect I have found hard when watching Godzilla films is that the interplay and context tended to be in board rooms with serious men talking with severe intent; in many ways, the level of warning Christopher Nolan gave a hat and may win more awards for.

But minus one sparked a breath in me. He is taking us back to his inception and bringing believable characters on the home ground, living the detritus of chaos and shanty town life left in the wake. Our main lead, Shikishima, is flawed and plausible as he tries to rebuild his life. He fails to shoot at Godzilla initially and is chastised by Tachibana. Nonetheless, he finds himself building a family around himself while lacking one thing: acceptance of himself.

It’s a strong move where Yamazki pulls on many threads of World War Two over the next two hours. It’s hard to ignore that this is a prequel, and the end is specific. But by drawing on elements of Dunkirk, detente, and even ID4, knowing it has to offset the tragedy with humour or it may fall into the absurdity of Godzilla’s paws,

It’s a film that understands that the scale of building destruction is mesmerising, but the human consequence will be compelling at every turn. Not just in loss of life but the emotional ramifications on all those around them. 

It’s a two-hour run that moves neatly and barely. A lot of franchise movies could learn from this method by having a great scope. We are at once worrying about the future—not an interminable middle act.

So, when it comes to the stream and blu ray distribution

Make mine Manga Studios.