Godzilla Minus One

For as long as I can remember, Toho has been able to pull off many things. They have successfully incorporated telepathic moths and three-headed dragons and even managed to have Charles Dance appear briefly as a villain. But they've consistently told stories that keep audiences entertained and immersed without compromising on outstanding storytelling and stellar characters. I write this after finally finding time to sit down and watch this exquisite piece of cinema. Full disclosure: I’m a lifelong Godzilla fan, so I might be a tad bit biased in my review, but you’ll get over it. As with most movies nowadays, I keep my expectations at a minimum. If you’re a returning reader, you know my disdain for Hollywood and its desperate need to push out as many projects as possible without making them any good. Godzilla Minus One is the complete opposite of that. This movie had something that most (American) Godzilla films lack: characters you want to root for. For instance, while I appreciated the previous Godzilla films, the poorly written human characters detracted from the true purpose of the film. Don’t get me wrong; I think human characters can make a movie ten times better, but when they lack motivation or you just can’t connect on a much deeper level, it makes it unwatchable to a certain degree. Visually, it was a stunning display of what distinguishes Toho from the Hollywood machine. Despite the fact that Godzilla isn't real, I never once thought, "Wow, the VFX sucks," during the entire movie. After taking your time, movies turn out beautifully and resonate with audiences. Takashi Yamazaki did his thing with this film, and I’m excited to get to know his filmography a bit more. If I were to offer a single criticism of this movie, it would be its length. Towards the end, you may find yourself wondering, "Is it almost over?" This isn't a major criticism, but it's the only one I have. This review may be shorter than my previous ones, as I believe this movie's greatness is indescribable and best experienced in theaters.