Takashi Yamazaki returns with Godzilla Minus Zero, reuniting familiar characters for an emotional new chapter featuring spectacular visual effects and epic monster battles.
The original Godzilla movie was released over 70 years ago by Toho Co., Ltd. and has since become the longest, continually running film series in history, as recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. Since 1954, there have been 38 total Godzilla films released, including 33 by Toho and five by American movie companies, TriStar and Legendary Pictures. This week, number 39, Godzilla Minus Zero, hits theaters, hoping to match, if not exceed, the success of its predecessor, 2023's Godzilla Minus One. While this may seem like a monumental task, since Minus One made $116 million on a $10 million budget and won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, this sequel seems up to the challenge.
As you may remember, Godzilla was defeated in 1947 after Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki; Your Name.) crashed his plane into Godzilla's head. Two years later, with Kōichi, Noriko (Minami Hamabe; Shin Kamen Rider), and Akiko (Sae Nagatani; Miss King) living happily together, Japan has begun to rebuild. However, just as they are lulled into a sense of peace, a new threat falls from the sky and is named Ghidorah. Seemingly more indestructible and more lethal than Godzilla, the powers that be are at a loss as to how to stop it, and after numerous attempts to destroy it, the Japanese government must once again call upon Kōichi and Dr. Noda (Hidetaka Yoshioka; Always: Sunset on Third Street) to erase the threat to their country.
With most of the main players returning for the sequel, there is a built-in chemistry and trust that comes across on screen. Kamiki and Hamabe, who were both praised for their roles in Minus One, offer equally strong performances here. Nagatani is a natural talent who does such a wonderful job that I was bawling my eyes out during her heartbreaking moment. Yoshioka is also terrific as Noda and gives his character the gravitas it deserves.
Writer/director Takashi Yamazaki (The Fighter Pilot) also returns for the continuation of this iteration of the large, lizard-like creature that terrorizes Japan. This gives the film the same look and feel as its predecessor and offers the same type of character development that we saw in Godzilla Minus One.
Joining Yamazaki are the same award-winning visual effects team and music supervisor. These elements helped make Godzilla Minus One as good as it was, and Yamazaki was smart to include them once again. Not only does it continue the themes established in the first movie, but it also makes certain that he has the best people under his direction (as evidenced by their Oscar).
Speaking of visual effects, Godzilla Minus Zero certainly has them in abundance. Both Godzilla and Ghidorah are incredible-looking, with their spikes and scales having been created with the smallest details in mind. Their heat streams are also well thought out in terms of how much destruction they can cause and how much debris will be left after a battle of epic proportions.
For those who enjoyed Godzilla Minus One and who couldn't wait for this sequel to be released, they certainly won't be disappointed. At 135 minutes long, there is a nice balance of plot and action, and the battle sequences are certainly worth the wait. My only complaint is that Godzilla awakens, fights, and then goes back to the sea without once again destroying Japan. This minor detail may seem trivial, but I found it inconsistent with the first movie, and it has stayed with me negatively since viewing the sequel.
Just as in the vein of the old Godzilla movies, these latest two entries in the franchise are welcome additions that are not only entertaining but also subtly include the symbolic moments that give the films deeper meaning, should you want to dig into the backstory.
A worthy sequel, I see Godzilla Minus Zero igniting a whole new generation of Godzilla fans for years to come.
Grade: A-
