So what’s the deal with “Godzilla Minus One?” The Japanese-language film introduces audiences to Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), a kamikaze pilot returning back to an army base as World War II comes to a close only to be taunted by Navy technician Sōsaku Tachibana (Munetaka Aoki). Before long, the two become the only survivors of Godzilla’s first attack, as the monster has return to the island nation, and they return to Tokyo as Godzilla gains strength from American underwater nuclear tests and begins to make its way to the mainland.
From that point on, as Japan declines to tell the populace about Godzilla’s imminent arrival and the United States proves less than helpful, it’s up to Tachibana and Shikishima to work together — despite their mutual disdain — alongside a small crew, but along the way, Godzilla attacks Ginza, putting Shikishima’s girlfriend Noriko Ōish (Minami Hamabe) in danger (and putting her fate in question as well). By tying a tale of Godzilla’s destruction to the struggles experienced by Japanese soldiers during the wind-down of World War II, writer-director Takashi Yamazaki creates a stunningly rendered and wholly human story that just so happens to feature one of the most famous movie monsters of all time. Critics around the world took note; the movie earned an astounding 98% on Rotten Tomatoes with a critical consensus that reads, “With engaging human stories anchoring the action, ‘Godzilla Minus One’ is one kaiju movie that remains truly compelling between the scenes of mass destruction.” With that in mind, it’s no surprise that “Godzilla Minus One” pulled out an incredible triumph at the 2024 Oscars.
