Summary
- Godzilla Minus One's critical success sets it apart from other Monsterverse movies, earning praise for its visual effects and human narrative.
- Despite differences in tone, both Godzilla Minus One and Monsterverse films remain faithful adaptations of the iconic monster.
- The Monsterverse thrives on thrilling monster battles, contrasting with Godzilla Minus One's emphasis on emotional storytelling and visuals.
As impressed as I was with what Monsterverse movies when it comes to its critical reception. Whereas movies like Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and Godzilla: King of the Monsters didn't fare well at all with critics, Godzilla Minus One received across-the-board praise. To say that it was a success feels like a huge understatement.
Its accolades speak for themselves when it comes to the 2023 movie's quality. Having picked up the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, Godzilla Minus One became the first Godzilla movie ever to win an Oscar. It even got a ton of acclaim for its human narrative, which is ittedly rare for the giant monster movie genre. And to be clear, I don't disagree with the notion that Godzilla Minus One is a truly great movie. But though it certainly delivered a moving story, astounding visuals, and a faithful take on Godzilla, I never once thought that this is what the Monsterverse should be doing.
Godzilla Minus One Ending Explained
Godzilla Minus One featured a few twists that require explaining, along with where all of the characters wound up at the end of the action.
Despite Their Differences, Both Godzilla Minus One & The Monsterverse Movies Are Faithful Godzilla Adaptations
They Can Both Be Accurate And Different At The Same Time
It's true that Legendary's Monsterverse movies have moved away from the serious tone of the original 1954 classic and have instead embraced an emphasis on over-the-top monster action. Juxtaposing Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire with Godzilla Minus One really helps illustrate that point. Godzilla Minus One comes across as a return to some of the darker themes of the franchise that were prevalent in the 1954 film as well as some of the Heisei era installments. The Monsterverse isn't like that at all, but that's not to say that it disrespects the spirit of Godzilla.
To the contrary, I see the Monsterverse as a welcome tribute to Godzilla's past. Specifically, it reminds me of the Godzilla movies that Toho made in the Showa era. Beginning in 1964 with Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, Toho began to employ a more kid-friendly approach, as evidenced by the scene where Godzilla x Kong's ending.
The Showa era of the Godzilla franchise extends from 1954 to 1975, beginning with the original and ending with Terror of Mechagodzilla.
It's these sorts of things that make me appreciate the Monsterverse. Sure, it doesn't pay much attention to the fact that Godzilla was created as a metaphor for the atomic bomb and some of the more symbolic elements of his character. But as its Showa-inspired action scenes show, it's not ignoring Godzilla's roots altogether. Rather, it's simply honoring a different yet equally important part of his history.
The significance of the Showa era of Godzilla movies shouldn't be overlooked, and I don't say that just because it's important to my childhood. ing for a massive chunk of Godzilla's history, the Showa films are responsible for much of the lore that exists in the franchise. The various Godzilla allies and villains in his universe perfectly underscore this idea, as most of them originate from that period.
The Monsterverse's Godzilla Movies Don't Need To Be Like Godzilla Minus One To Be Entertaining
Regardless Of Godzilla Minus One's Popularity, The Monsterverse Doesn't Need To Change
Currently, the franchise's Showa connections are working out well for it. Even if the reviews may indicate otherwise, Godzilla x Kong's record-breaking success at the box office is proof that the Monsterverse is doing something right. Clearly, Legendary's Godzilla and Kong movies are more than capable of filling seats. The entertainment its movies provide doesn't have to come from emotional story beats or strong character arcs like what's seen in Godzilla Minus One. The Monsterverse succeeds by leaning on another appealing aspect of the Godzilla franchise: monster fights.
Not unlike the movies in the Showa era, the thrilling Titan battles are the true highlights of the Monsterverse movies. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire offering more monster fights than previous installments (and benefiting handsomely from it at the box office) demonstrates that. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire doesn't endeavor to create unforgettable human characters, as the Monsterverse seems to understand that the monsters are the true stars. This is something that the Showa era films also recognized.
Naturally, my fondest memories of the classic Godzilla movies revolve around the climactic showdowns at the end. Godzilla and Jet Jaguar's epic team-up against Megalon and Gigan sticks out in my mind as one of the most exciting monster battles I've ever witnessed, and the same applies to Godzilla and Anguirus' fight with Gigan and Ghidorah in Godzilla vs. Gigan. Godzilla x Kong did well to recreate this feel when it pitted Godzilla and Kong against the Monsterverse's Skar King and Shimo. This is exactly what I want from a Godzilla movie, and truthfully, something I doubt I'm going to see from a potential Godzilla Minus One 2.
The Monsterverse & Godzilla Minus One's Differences Are Great For Godzilla's Future
There Can Be Two Great Godzilla Franchises Going Forward
Watching Godzilla Minus One made me even more thankful for the Monsterverse. After the last two Toho-produced Godzilla movies, I have no confusion about the direction the studio wants to take Godzilla. Shin Godzilla and Godzilla Minus One make it apparent that its aim is for its films to be more like the original movies and the ones that released in the 1990s. With that in mind, I have no reason to expect future Godzilla movies from Toho to revisit the Showa era like they did with Godzilla: Final Wars in 2004, which is all the more reason for me to want the Monsterverse to stay alive for decades to come.
I have no idea if a Godzilla Minus One sequel is going to happen, but I'm hopeful that its story continues as well. A follow-up to it, plus new installments from the Monsterverse, could make for a great and prosperous future for Godzilla that includes room for great storytelling and exciting monster action. To me, there being two separate Godzilla franchises on opposite trajectories is the ideal way - if not the only way - to do justice to these two sides of the iconic kaiju's history. I see it as an opportunity for us to have the best of both worlds.
Godzilla Minus One
- Release Date
- December 1, 2023
- Runtime
- 125 Minutes
- Director
- Takashi Yamazaki
Cast
Ryûnosuke Kamiki-
Minami Hamabe
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Takashi Yamazaki
- Franchise(s)
- Godzilla
- Studio(s)
- Toho Studios, Robot
- Distributor(s)
- Toho Studios
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