Rated 4.3 out of 5: Godzilla Minus One in theaters… Why is it absolutely necessary to see this fantastic movie that is a worldwide hit?

Godzilla minus one phenomenon is preparing to invade France again! After its release on December 7th and 8th, the feature film starring the famous kaiju returns to theaters from January 17th to 31st!

After conquering a part of the planet, amassing 100 million dollars in international income, the generous monster is not going to stop here! The creature is heading to Europe and here are 3 good reasons not to miss Godzilla Minus One.

Back to basics

After recent Hollywood works featuring the famous monster like the recent Godzilla VS Kong, the license is going back to the basics, which feels good! Indeed, the feature film is produced by Toho, the historic Japanese studio that produced the first Godzilla film in 1954 (directed by Ishiro Honda).

Thus, the story does not take place in the present day, but takes us to the end of World War II. Japan has barely recovered from this armed conflict when a giant threat appears off the coast of Tokyo. Koichi, a suicidal terrorist deserter traumatized by his first encounter with Godzilla, sees this as an opportunity to atone for his actions during the war.

Thus simplified, the story cuts straight to the point, revealing its essence in the form of Jaws to make the threat all the more compelling. Each time the Kaiju appears, it is even stronger and more ferocious, building up the tension until the final climax. We remind you that the production was entrusted to the Japanese director Takashi Yamazaki, to whom we owe a special debt to the excellent 2019 animated film Lupine III The First.

The filmmaker returns to the theme already discussed in 2015, The Last Assault, the theme of kamikazes. The main character of Godzilla Minus One is one of those soldiers who are doomed to commit suicide in battle. Haunted by the guilt of failing in his mission, he pours his whole soul into the fight against the devastating titan.

Amazing special effects

Despite its limited budget of just $15 million, Godzilla Minus One offers impressive visual effects! The design of the creature, a cross between a dragon and a tyrannosaurus, is breathtakingly beautiful. The destruction scenes are amazingly genius for such a small budget! A real fortune on the part of the film team.

For example, the opening sequence of Godzilla’s first attack is incredibly intense. Takashi Yamazaki manages to make us feel the same sense of horror as when we first met the T-Rex in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park.

Indeed, in certain aspects, especially its staging and lighting, the scene recalls this iconic passage from Spielberg’s masterpiece. The feature film also offers breathtaking aerial scenes and Dantesque moments on the open sea.

An eye for detail

If work on special effects is appreciated, work on other creative aspects is also appreciated. From the sets to the costumes to the art direction, the historical reenactment of the late 1940s is mind-blowing. Full of good ideas and discoveries, nothing is left to chance in this play, which leaves the audience on the edge of their seat.

Also, the cast are all fabulous, especially Ryunosuke Kamiki who plays the protagonist, Koichi. The 30-year-old artist is a rising star of Japanese cinema. Thanks to extraordinary creativity, Godzilla Minus One manages to forget about its limited budget and offer us one of the most spectacular monster movies of recent years!

All the ingredients are coming together to make this movie one of the cinematic events of 2024! You have 15 days to discover this new Godzilla, which hits theaters January 17-31. The prehistoric reptile returns on April 3 through MonsterVerse Warner in Godzilla X Kong: The New Kingdom.