Godzilla Minus One is now streaming worldwide on Netflix, with the exception of Japan and France, according to film distributor Toho International in a release shared with The Verge. Fans can also purchase ($14.99) or rent ($5.99) digital copies, available in both color and black-and-white formats on platforms like Apple TV, Amazon, and Google Play.
The Return to Origins
Takashi Yamazaki, known for his unique storytelling style, has taken the reins as director and writer of Godzilla Minus One. The film revisits the giant radioactive kaiju’s origins, setting its events just after World War II, following the US nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It vividly captures the anxieties surrounding human-made destruction demonstrated during those years.
A Plot Twisted by Survival
The plot centers around a kamikaze pilot named Kōichi Shikishima (played by Ryunosuke Kamiki), who decides to land on Odo Island rather than sacrifice himself for the war. This decision makes him one of the few survivors of a Godzilla attack on the island.
Critical Acclaim and Awards
Upon its theatrical release last December, Godzilla Minus One garnered widespread acclaim. Charles Pulliam-Moore from The Verge described it as a spectacular disaster movie
. It was further lauded for its visual effects, winning an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects back in March 2022.
This combination of historical context and spectacular visuals intertwines the legacy of the original 1954 Godzilla with modern cinematic techniques. As one succinctly put it, I am not a historian…it doesn’t take a historian to understand that the 1954 film Godzilla is about the devastating possibilities of human-made destruction realized in the wake of World War II.
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