When it comes to me and movie monsters, there is only one that stands above the rest and that would be none other than the king himself Godzilla. The titanic reptile has been destroying cities for decades in a variety of movies with the latest outings being the adaptations by Legendary Pictures. Yet it has been a while since the series main studio, Toho, has produced a movie featuring the king of monsters; with the most recent being 2016’s Shin Godzilla. This was due to a deal Toho made with Legendary Pictures which prevented them from making a new film until 2020. Well 2020 has passed and before Godzilla makes another appearance with his rival Kong, Toei has brought a new take on the icon to theaters with their newest film: Godzilla Minus One.

Directed by Takashi Yamazaki. Minus One centers on Godzilla terrorizing the inhabitants of Japan who are still dealing with the aftermath of World War 2. Yamazaki has been attached to this project as early as 2019 and the filmmaker cites several inspirations on this new film; such the work of Hayao Miyazaki, Jaws and even past Godzilla films like Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monster All-Out Attack. The movie was officially announced in 2022 and since hitting theaters in fall the new Godzilla film has become a major success with it breaking box office records and being regarded as one of the best in the series. Naturally this incentive was enough to get this film adventurer to see the new monster movie-though being a lifelong Godzilla fan I was going to this movie regardless. After experiencing the latest take on the King of the Monsters, I (shockingly) must agree with the popular opinion and say that Godzilla Minus One is a groundbreaking entry in the series.

When it comes to a Godzilla film, you tend to expect things such as crazy monster battles and absurd plots. Yet, from time to time, the series can surprise with films that feature thematic concepts and storytelling, and Godzilla Minus One is indeed a case in point. Along with taking place in a unique era for the series, the movie centered on ideas that took the franchise back to its root and featured a sense of storytelling that was grounded in practicality. The plot’s themes were not only captivating but were able to work with the concepts that have defined the series for years; and given the absurdity surrounding this franchise, that is saying something. While the story used plot points seen in previous installments, it never felt formulaic or rehashed; and I believe this was thanks to both the movie’s gripping tone and its brilliant sense of execution.

The film’s grounded approach also evidenced the movie’s cast. In the case of Godzilla films, I tend not to care a great deal for the human characters as I find myself rooting for the colossal lizard-even when he is the villain. Yet in the case of Minus One, while I was still in the King’s corner, the cast was impressive to say the least. Serving as the main protagonist was Ryunosuke Kamiki as the former kamikaze pilot Shikishima. This type of character is nothing new for the series, but Shikishima was nonetheless captivating thanks to Ryunosuke’s impressive performance. Along with Shikishima were other memorable characters like his partner Noriko (Minami Hamabe) and his crew mates (Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki and Hidetaka Yoshioka) who rounded out this cast to near perfection. As Godzilla himself, the king was as formidable as ever. The latest take on the titan leaned to the icon’s monstrous side, and though the movie used Godzilla sparingly this only added to creature’s effectiveness by giving him a foreboding presence worthy to his legacy.

As for its presentation, Godzilla Minus One was a spectacle to behold. The film’s visuals showed that the series has come a long way from featuring a guy in a rubber suit destroying model cities (though there’s still a charm to that) as its use of cg and motion capture crafted not just exciting sequences, but perhaps some of the best moments captured in the series. As for music, the film’s score was conducted by Naoki Sato. The music was a perfect companion for the film as it featured tracks that could be both thematic as well as thrilling; plus the music utilized the classic Godzilla theme which was not only great to hear again, but helped to enhance some of the biggest moments to this monster film.

Godzilla Minus One is a monstrous masterpiece. The latest take on the big lizard exceeded all my expectations with its cunning storytelling, impressive performances and sheer spectacle. While the colossal icon continues to make a scene in the Monsterverse, it is nice to see Toho reestablish their cherished franchise with their own take that could very well bring a new era to the series. Yet even if this film ends up being a standalone adaptation, then I think its place is still secure as Godzilla Minus One is among the best films in the series and redefines what it means to be a monster movie.