Earlier this year, “Godzilla Minus One” became the first Godzilla film in 70 years to win an Academy Award. With a modest budget of $15 million, it grossed $115 million worldwide. The film is now streaming on Netflix, and a for-rent or purchase version with subtitles is also available on Amazon, Apple iTunes, Google Play, and Microsoft. Here are five reasons to watch the latest installment in the Godzilla franchise:
1. **Oscar-Winning Visual Effects** Director Takashi Yamazaki, who spent three years (2019-2022) writing the script, drew inspiration from past Godzilla films as well as from Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki (Studio Ghibli) and Steven Spielberg. Yamazaki also oversaw the visual effects, blending old-school techniques with modern technology to create stunning visuals. Online videos showcase the team’s innovative methods for simulating waves and a ship using just a portion of a set. Highlights include the post-World War II Japan setting and Godzilla’s iconic atomic breath and blue ray.
2. **A Rich Legacy** Since the first Godzilla film in 1954, featuring Haruo Nakajima in a high-quality creature suit, 37 more films have followed. “Godzilla Minus One” is Toho Studio’s 33rd film in the franchise. Over the past 70 years, Godzilla has battled 15 villains, including King Ghidorah and Kamacuras. The current Reiwa period, which began in 2016 with “Shin Godzilla,” is characterized by a return to the monster’s origins and more realistic CGI depictions. The franchise has amassed a global following, with fans obsessed with the intricacies of Godzilla’s atomic breath and radioactivity control.
3. **A Compelling Story** “Godzilla Minus One” tells a tale of redemption, following a Japanese World War II kamikaze pilot with PTSD who seeks to redeem himself by confronting the nuclear lizard on the high seas. This explosive narrative taps into rich historical themes. Last year, before the film’s global release, fears arose about a real Godzilla emerging as Japan released water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean.
4. **Talented Cast and Crew** Written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the film stars Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, and Kuranosuke Sasaki. Key crew members include visual effects director Kiyoko Shibuya, 3D computer graphics director Masaki Takahashi, effects artist and compositor Tatsuji Nojima, and composer Naoki Sato.
5. **Celebrating 70 Years of the Monster Franchise** Over the decades, Godzilla has undergone numerous transformations. The latest film returns the monster to its roots. As Yamazaki explained to the Los Angeles Times, “We wanted to go back to the original reason for Godzilla’s existence… The creature is a metaphor for nuclear weapons, so we mimicked the way a weapon would work inside of his body. Each element would come together and create an implosion, and that’s when the blue rays would come out.”
