It's not quite as good as “The Martian”. But I would consider it my second favorite film of the century, so far.
As some of you may remember, I've been a Godzilla freak since I was a kid. And while I now watch most Godzilla movies these days and chuckle over how bad they are, I still think the original Japanese film, the one that started it all--”Gojira”--is an amazing movie.
In fact, every chance I get I watch it again (and again).
For Christmas I was given the Blu-Ray of “Godzilla: Minus One”, the latest reboot of the franchise (in fact, the 30th Toho film in the series). It was supposed to be a return to zero for the story, the film that was supposed to be the closest in spirit to the original “Gojira”.
And in my view, it's just as good as “Gojira”, the movie that started it all.
Like “Gojira”, it's set in post- World War II Japan, where the country's trying to rebuild. The original, of course, was a metaphor for the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and “Minus One” carries that on. But unlike the original, the one that set the template for all “Godzilla” films to follow by having a guy in a rubber suit stomp around cardboard buildings, this one uses cutting edge CGI. In fact, it's the first “Godzilla” film—believe it or not, the first Japanese film ever—to win an Academy Award for those visual effects.
If you had ever told the younger me that a “Godzilla” film would one day win an Oscar I just would have laughed. But that's how good “Minus One” is.
Now, I realize “Godzilla” movies can be an acquired taste. But if you get the chance, check it out for yourself. It's not like any other Godzilla film—Japanese or American—you've ever seen.
In fact, it might just be one of the best movie of the 21st century, at least so far.
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