WARWICK SHOWCASE

GODZILLA MINUS ONE
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(37th Godzilla Movie)

The Japanese are celebrating the 70th anniversary of Godzilla.

We have seen one of the 37, and never expected to sit through another.

Along comes Toho Studios' 33rd rendition of the monster movie, and believe us, it is monstrous.

The time is 1946. Japan is recovering from World War II.

A Japanese kamikaze pilot has disgraced himself by fleeing from certain death and landing on Odi Island.

Godzilla rises from the ocean and attacks the small crew defending the island. The pilot has the only weapon that could hopefully stop him, but he freezes and refuses to fire. All but two die.

He returns home to find the devastation of the war has left people homeless and vulnerable. He takes in a woman and a young girl.

Then it happens. Godzilla is reported to be on the way. Call out the Navy. Call out the army. Can the creature be destroyed? Who will lead the battle?

Amid the corniness of the genre and the over-acting of the Japanese thespians are some deep messages.

The writers and director took a close look at Japanese guilt. Were they wrong to send their pilots to death? Did they also send soldiers into battle with faulty equipment? Were many people living with survivor guilt?

With a goal of protecting the future, a group of patriots join to defeat Godzilla for once and for all.

We’ll see.

In Japanese with English subtitles.