Netflix did a thing.
It got the rights to stream the latest non hokey Godzilla movie. Not saying the king of the monsters series was bad per se, but did not really feel like a godzilla movie should. I blame it on the fact that there is only so much one can do with it before the well runs dry.
Objectively, Minus One did a fantastic job portraying a post WW2 Japan, capturing the feelings of the characters as they struggle with surviving a war that they themselves started. They did so without being preachy, and without any of the anti American sentiment. It almost seemed a little apologetic in the fact that so many young men had to die in pointless fighting, since they themselves started it. Maybe a Bully's Remorse? But then the movie keeps asking us as we watch the main lead struggle with issues arising from not doing his Kamikaze duty. The question: What truly is cowardice versus Actually not wanting to die? Not going to spoil it, but the question gets answered in the best way possible.
The visuals were stunning to the point I shuddered with goosebumps during the action scenes. I mean they even used music from the classics to make each scene feel right. But wholly this movie would fall into the "Shin Godzilla" timeline, so there wont be any monster battles in the near future if they produce more like this. But you know they will, as it was worth making another.
Got Netflix? Got some time to kill? Give this a watch, you wont be disappointed.
Art - 8.5/10 It was stunning, even with a few flaws here and there.
Music 9/10 Classic music from the early days, not a single singer, and it laid out each scenes mood.
Story 10/10 They did not chop and screw anything here. No social justice issues, in keeping with the era it was set in. It was what I dream of in a movie I choose to kill a saturday night with.
Overall: 9/10: It had some flaws in the camera work, some goofy moments, but nothing to really detract from the fact that you are watching a modern take of early godzilla movie. If they could make the American versions like this, then the franchise would be unstoppable.