Years after the kaiju Godzilla wreaked havoc in the Ginza district, postwar Japan faces a new threat from a mutated monster. Struggling to defeat it and running out of options, the Disaster Response Bureau becomes convinced that the only thing that can stop a giant monster is another one. Thus, they plan a mission to regenerate Godzilla from the deep waters and pit the two against each other.
“Godzilla Minus Zero” is exactly what you get from a traditional monster movie sequel. When resources fail to mount a solution to an overwhelming problem, the natural movie response is to find the one thing you dread the most. We’ve seen this before, from James Cameron’s “Terminator 2” to the Hollywood Godzilla Monsterverse, where kaiju battle it out and leave no time for rest.
The appeal of its predecessor, “Godzilla Minus One”, lies in the detour from blockbuster convention, with human fragility at the core of the drama. We get a similar approach in “Minus Zero”, though it's scaled back to make room for character arcs and an apology letter that humanises the first film’s big villain. This sequel may have been overshadowed by the first film's excellence, but it has its own merits.
“Godzilla Minus Zero” is a violent and loud instalment that puts more emphasis on its monsters. Godzilla fans will get what they want, and exactly what they pay for, on a giant IMAX screen with all those expanded aspect ratio sequences. As spectacle filmmaking goes, this is undoubtedly one of the most fun I’ve had in cinemas this year.
The aspect I liked most about “Minus Zero” is the continued exploration of the political allegory of its kaiju in the Japanese context. We’ve seen time and again how Godzilla represents the worst days of Japan, but the inclusion of more human perspectives in the sequel is intriguing and solidifies the film’s statements.
Overall, “Godzilla Minus Zero” soars high as the blockbuster entertainment it aspires to be. If things go according to the original plans, it’s a worthy conclusion to a two part saga featuring one of the greatest iterations of Godzilla on the big screen.
“Godzilla Minus Zero” is showing in select cinemas across New Zealand on November 5, with IMAX previews on November 3 to 4.
Featured images from Toho Studios.
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