Note: I’m going to be as spoiler-free as possible for this review. Nothing that’s not revealed in the trailers. If it sounds vague and full of holes, this is for you!
Godzilla: Minus One was a surprise hit, both for fans and Toho. It took the familiar Godzilla story and rebooted it for modern audiences. Unlike the Monsterverse going on at Warner, Minus One prioritized drama and character; these people just so happen to live in a world where Godzilla exists. So it’s not so surprising that a sequel has come about: Japan’s first feature film shot for IMAX, and thanks to the success of its predecessor, now has a wide release. So, does lightning strike twice for the franchise, or does Godzilla: Minus Zero suffer from sequelitis? Let’s find out.
Two years have passed since the events of Minus One, and Japan is still coming to grips with both emerging from the ashes of WWII and the carnage laid waste by Godzilla, seemingly defeated at the end of the last movie. But something happens that unleashes a catastrophic danger on the people of Japan and questions emerge about what to do next that’s best for the country and its people. Vague, I know, but it’s for the best.
A lot of the cast from the original film return. Ryunosuke Kamiki is front and center as Kōichi Shikishima, the pilot from the last film. He’s found happiness at long last, having married Noriko (Minami Hamabe) and accepted the role as father to the orphan Akiko, the orphaned child they both took in. Shikishima was plagued by survivor’s guilt in the first film, but has a new lease on life, which makes this new tragedy that much more impactful for him: he has something to lose now.
Other characters, such as Akitsu, the captain of the Shinsei Maru and Mizushima, his crewmate, have significantly reduced roles this time around. This is because the movie diverts a lot of screen time towards Kenji Noda (Hidetaka Yoshioka), the brilliant scientist turned director of the Large-Scale Disaster Response Bureau. Noda finds himself in a situation where the greater moral good is bogged down by what’s easy, and his arc more than a couple of times reminded me of Oppenheimer. A brilliant mind who has been put into a situation where he has become death, destroyer of worlds. Reinforcing this theme is the new character Kanji Murakami (Min Tanaka), a biologist and survivor of Hiroshima. Whereas Minus One delved into themes of life and death, Minus Zero taps into the moral grey zone of power, destruction, and retribution. There’s a fantastic, and horrifying, sequence revolving around Murakami that may just be the highlight of the movie that very much taps into the fears of atomic warfare.
It doesn’t always hit the same highs as Minus One did, that said. It does take a bit of time for the characterization and themes to really get going, and some plot points get resolved far too quickly. The depiction of the US characters also felt very cartoony. But Minus Zero is still poignant and even touching, with a lot of heart and questions to pose to the audience. So if you liked your Godzilla movie with a lot of characters you actually care about, Minus Zero continues that.
But what of the monster mayhem? There isn’t as much as you might think there would be, but what there is, is great. Let’s just say the movie wastes no time getting into it. The film really dives into that sense of scale, and that’s only bolstered by the IMAX presentation. Some of the VFX for trivial things, like birds or green-screen backgrounds while characters are on a motorcycle are jarringly rough, but rest assured, it delivers when it matters most. One sequence involving planes in the first half of the movie, was a particular highlight for me. Where the film doesn’t miss a beat though is both the score and the sound effects. Chef’s kiss. When that iconic Godzilla theme kicks in, you know you’re in for a treat.
Godzilla: Minus Zero is definitely bigger, not per se better, but still a great movie nonetheless. It keeps the story focused on its compelling characters and themes, while having them exist in these larger-than-life moments. Here’s hoping for one more Minus film to close out this story!
