Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Exciting, emotional kaiju tale has deaths, mass destruction.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Godzilla Minus One
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
What's the Story?
In GODZILLA MINUS ONE, Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) is a kamikaze pilot during the final days of WWII. He lands his plane on Odo Island, pretending to need repairs. While there, a huge creature that the locals call "Godzilla" attacks. Shikishima climbs into his fighter to shoot the beast, but he freezes up. Everyone is killed except for mechanic Tachibana (Munetaka Aoki), who blames Shikishima for the deaths. Branded a coward, a guilt-ridden Shikishima returns to a decimated Tokyo, where he meets Noriko (Minami Hamabe), who's rescued an orphaned baby, Akiko. Due to his good heart, Shikishima lets them stay in his hovel. Time passes, and he finds work salvaging mines from the ocean floor. He becomes fast friends with his fellow crew members, captain Akitsu (Kuranosuke Sasaki), scientist Noda (Hidetaka Yoshioka), and rookie Mizushima (Yuki Yamada). Godzilla, now much bigger, attacks again, and the foursome manages to hold him off. After the monster destroys a portion of Tokyo with an atomic blast, Noda cooks up a plan to defeat the beast for good. Shikishima realizes he must take to the air again -- to act as bait and clear his conscience.
Is It Any Good?
This great-looking, exciting, surprisingly emotional movie gets its power by setting the action in post-WWII Japan, tapping into both heart-rending despair and newfound hope. Most of the 36 Godzilla movies made before this one was released were either somewhat cheesy, or, in the case of the American versions, overly bombastic. But Godzilla Minus One manages to find an appealing new tone. Director Takashi Yamazaki's handling of the kaiju action is skillful and smooth -- and sometimes deeply affecting; Godzilla's leveling of the city with his atomic blast is truly shocking.
The movie has startlingly good visual effects -- Godzilla's first appearance on a dark beach, suddenly illuminated by a spotlight, is a heart-stopper -- but the focus is squarely on the characters. It's a simple distinction, given that, historically, these movies' main goal has been to deliver an ecological message. But by settling Godzilla Minus One on themes of guilt and cowardice, as well as friendship and kindness, viewers may feel more invested in the action. Yamazaki handles things with an open-hearted quality but never lets anything get too soapy or hysterical. Even Sumiko (Sakura Ando), the neighbor in Tokyo who initially comes on strong, attacking Shikishima for his failures, settles into a more nuanced character. This sense of compassion makes Godzilla Minus One easily one of the best of the series and definitely on par with the original 1954 classic.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Godzilla Minus One's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
What does the movie have to say about war and its effects? What other movies have you seen about the impact of war?
What are the Godzilla movies generally about? How does this one compare to others in the series?
How are drinking and smoking depicted? Are they glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 1, 2023
- On DVD or streaming: June 1, 2024
- Cast: Ryunosuke Kamiki , Minami Hamabe , Hidetaka Yoshioka
- Director: Takashi Yamazaki
- Inclusion Information: Asian directors, Asian writers
- Studio: Toho Company
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- Character Strengths: Teamwork
- Run time: 125 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: creature violence and action
- Last updated: August 21, 2024
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