Cinephile № 1,114 “Godzilla Minus One”

Recommendation: 5/5 Stars, SHOWTIME

Plot: “Post war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb.” -IMBD

Review: I hesitate to call any film perfect. The debate and expectations that such a lofty statement creates can often prevent me from trusting my initial reaction. Instead, I often say, “This film is perfect for me, and my version of perfection will differ from yours.”

I find perfection in films that can elicit a strong emotional reaction, often drawn from a profound sense of empathy, but it can also be joy, happiness, anxiety, frustration, or a thousand other emotions. The more I considered Godzilla Minus One, the more I found myself consumed by its ability to elicit awe. Without a doubt, this is the greatest Godzilla movie ever made. It reminded me of Fridays spent with my brothers watching classic monster movies. It reminded me of the magic of cinema.

Pilot Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) serves as the through line in this story. It is his story that becomes so much more than a personal journey. Rather, his redemptive story reflects and mirrors the journey of his country of Japan.

In the last days of World War II, Shikishima lands on an island off the coast of Japan. We…