In 2023 we were blessed with a Japanese directed Godzilla movie that redefined expectations and subverted realities about Godzilla. Prior to Godzilla Minus One, we had a plethora of Godzilla content, including but not limited to 2016’s Shin Godzilla, but it had been a relatively long time where a Japanese-directed Godzilla movie was given a wide theatrical release and absolutely destroyed audiences, critics, and box office alike. We can look at the 1998 Godzilla and sort of laugh, and then we can look at the 2014 and 2019 Godzilla sort of fondly, before it tracked into silly territory, but we were missing a Godzilla film that stood for something, that had something to say beyond mass destruction and Americans trying to save everyone. Audiences got introduced to Takashi Yamazaki’s Godzilla Minus One and were simply blown away. This wasn’t a Godzilla movie where it was destruction and terror, this was a human story focused on a plethora of characters in post-war Japan and had more heart, life, and charisma than most movies have had in that year to now, Godzilla Minus One was an outstanding achievement across the board. So when Yamazaki said he was making a sequel to Godzilla Minus One, titled Godzilla Minus Zero the bar was set exponentially high, and somehow, some way, Yamazaki managed to join a very small prestigious club where the sequel surpasses the first installment. Godzilla Minus Zero is a monument in filmmaking, from cinematography, to graphics, acting, world building, everything – it is a testament that sometimes you just strike gold twice and Godzilla Minus Zero is that final strike.
Godzilla Minus Zero takes place roughly two years after Minus One and focuses again on pilot Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) and Dr. Noda (Hidetaka Yoshiohka) after they are thought to have rid themselves of Godzilla. However, now with our giant lizard laid to rest, a new threat emerges that absolutely decimates Matsumoto in the form of Ghidorah. One of the very few survivors of Ghidorah’s attack is Dr. Murakami (Min Tanaka) who informs Dr. Hoda of the new threat. Hoda is unsure what to do, but needs to put a plan in action which involves enlisting the help of Shikishima who would rather have nothing to do with Kaiju’s or Godzilla again, as he has settled down with his wife Noriko (Minami Hamabe) and their daughter Akiki (Sae Nagatani).
It is technically accurate to call Minus Zero a standalone film, but so much continues and is bled over from the Minus One that it is almost a required viewing (not a rewatch but at least having seen the movie) to fully understand the gravitas of the situation at hand and the unfolding of everything occurring in Minus Zero. There is a lot happening, a lot of side stories, characters getting involved from different branches of life, and again – like in Minus One there isn’t a *ton* of Godzilla, but when he is present and when Ghidorah is present the movie is what monster fans want the most. This is not a detriment to the film, as the story being told is rich in humanity and understanding, and bleeds with emotion and connection and compassion, but when that is counterbalanced with riveting pulsating action sequences (that mind you look simply undeniable in IMAX) the movie truly becomes a perfect package of cinema. Deep layers of heartfelt story, passion, and heart balanced by kaiju fights and destruction not only takes everything that made Godzilla Minus One such a monumental juggernaut in quality are replicated and repeated in Minus Zero that only enhances the brilliance of this newly established seires series of Godzilla movies.
There are images and scenes that Takashi Yamazaki has inserted into Godzilla Minus Zero that would never fly in an American-made film, images that will simply leave the audience haunted and disturbed for days to come after the film concludes. This is what cinema should do, it should not just be about creating a ‘moment’ it should leave an everlasting impact on the audiences and Yamazaki does that again with Minus Zero. Everyone involved should be so incredibly proud, because not only is the film a testament of resilience and brillaince, but it is some of the best acted cinema of the year bar none. Ryunosuke Kamiki, Hidetaka Yoshiohka and Minami Hamabe all reprise their roles, and bring forth even stronger performances with their new character attributes and drive to bring peace and stop Godzilla and moreover Ghidorah from wreaking havoc and potentially destroying everything they hold dear. Despite all the tribulations and issues they overcame in the first movie, they must band together again, go against what they believe serves their own interests even and fight for the greater good. However, new to the franchise is Min Tanaka who is hands down one of the best performances in the movie. Without giving away his role, he is filled with such passion and devastation that he will simply move the audience to tears with his conviction and powerhouse performance.
Godzilla Minus Zero somehow improves on the already near perfect Godzilla Minus One to give audiences one of those rare sequels that just surpasses the first installment in almost every facet. Being able to get lost in the world of Japan and the threat that consumed them all in IMAX is a glorious addition as well – truly using IMAX’s scope to encapsulate the scale of the movie and Godzilla himself. Truly there is not a movie that has come out yet this year that is as glorious, high-stakes, and well done as Godzilla Minus Zero and it is going to be a monster to dethrone the King of Monsters from the top of the mountain this year.
