What the critics are saying – The Hollywood Reporter

“Godzilla minus one”

Toho

Godzilla minus onethe 37th film in Japan’s long-running giant monster movie series, opens in U.S. theaters on Friday — and the early reaction from critics has been ecstatic.

“Godzilla minus one “It’s not just a good Godzilla movie,” he writes relaviews Critic James Berardinelli in a special shot. “This is an excellent Godzilla film, arguably among the best to ever grace the screen.”

Written and directed by renowned CG animator and visual effects artist Takashi Yamazaki. Godzilla minus one It is a historical film that takes the giant Kaiju back to its roots, and shows the emergence of the creature as Japan struggles to recover from the ravages of World War II. It stars Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabi, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando, ​​and Kuranosuke Sasaki.

American critics unanimously praised the film for Yamazaki’s impressive visual output from the project’s relatively small budget, as well as the story’s poignant human drama and canonical use of Kaijiu as a metaphor for social criticism.

IGN Films Critic Katie Rife was full of praise for the film’s aesthetic. “Even though it was produced for just $15 million, less than 10% of the budget of Legendary’s final Monsterverse installment, Godzilla vs. Kong — Godzilla minus one It looks extravagant, with clever use of period sets and drone shots that zoom over wide expanses of ocean. The scenes of kaiju-fueled destruction are similarly impressive: a shot of a giant warship flying across the screen like a piece of fire is worth watching in Imax on its own.

As of Thursday night, the film had a score of 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes from 48 reviews, with the consensus summed up as follows: “With compelling human stories anchored by the action, Godzilla minus one It is one of the kaiju films that remains truly compelling between scenes of mass destruction.

The release of the new film coincides with its 70th anniversaryH The famous monster franchise, which began with Toho Studio’s Godzilla 1954. The first entirely Japanese-made title in the series since 2016, Godzilla minus one It was released at home on November 3 and has already earned over $20 million there.

In a consistent thread among critics, Godzilla minus one It seems to be drawing particularly favorable comparisons to recent Hollywood production of franchises – including superhero bombshells, as well as actual hits.

He says Washington Post Critic Lucas Trevor wrote in his review: “In this 1954 reboot Godzilla, director Takashi Yamazaki — who juggles the roles of writer, director, and visual effects supervisor — blends the tried-and-true beats of a modern blockbuster with the emotional and political tone of the original. The result is nothing short of magical: a feast for the eyes, an entertaining saga in every sense of the word.
…Top Gun: Maverick It showed us that there is still an audience for films that combine concise, creative action with emotionally resonant characters. Godzilla minus one is another reminder, and is probably the better film of the two.

The daily monsterThe Godzilla’s Nick Shager enjoyed seeing Godzilla return home in exciting fashion after a mixed-race run in Legendary Entertainment’s Hollywood blockbuster. “When it comes to bringing Godzilla to thrilling, terrifying life, America’s record has been spotty at best, marked by some minor highs (2014) Godzilla2021 Godzilla vs. Kong) and a lot of lows (almost everything else, including the current Apple TV+ Monarch: Legacy of Monsters). But this is not the case in his homeland. As new from Toho Studios Godzilla minus one Proves that the Japanese know how to handle the famous radioactive giant properly.

“Skillfully balancing its human-sized and giant-sized concerns, highlighting social and political allegory in favor of muscular mayhem, it delivers almost everything fans could want from a sequel — including larger-than-life mayhem and madness galore,” adds Schager.

Bob Strauss San Francisco Chronicle They were both impressed by the film’s VFX and its impact on human drama. “The appearance of Godzilla in Minus one “It’s so visually and viscerally impressive, you can almost overlook that the monster doesn’t appear on screen very often.” “The main effect of this film’s commitment to emotional intelligence is to show us what’s been missing from the series all along. That, and to deliver a climax that will bring tears to your eyes — unless you’re some kind of monster.”

In a similar context, AV Club Critic Matt Shimkowitz concludes his review by emphasizing how much this innovative installment has helped revitalize the world’s longest-running film series: “Godzilla minus one It does what the best Godzillas strive for, successfully using Godzilla as a foundation for powerful storytelling. With drama as compelling as the action, the film breathes with pride so the audience can feel the heat. Old tropes, now the stuff of tired parody, return with renewed force here as Yamazaki finds the human message amid the ruins of Tokyo. Godzilla minus one They may be as good as the Godzilla movies, meaning there’s still plenty of life left in this lizard.

Add Rolling StoneChristopher Cruise:Godzilla minus one It offers an alternative to the shared universe syndrome. It’s a masterful throwback to the kaiju classics and likely the first Godzilla film that dares to make you cry. Watch it on the biggest screen possible.”