Just when the film sphere thought there could not be any more blockbusters in 2023, Godzilla Minus One entered the list. The film has been greatly received by the viewers and has already severed a few box-office records after its release in November. Apart from making the biggest smash as a live-action Japanese film in North America, it also made the biggest domestic single-day debut for a foreign film.
Additionally, the unique name, distinct from the other Godzilla films piqued the viewers’ interest. Hours ago, Godzilla Minus One was acknowledged as one of the best Godzilla films ever by iconic filmmaker Guillermo del Toro Gomez on social media. He lauded the film with a brief but staggering statement that may elevate Minus One’s trajectory in the coming days.
Guillermo del Toro is impressed with Godzilla Minus One
Released on 3rd November, Toho’s call-back to the originality of the Godzilla franchise has been successful. After 2004’s Godzilla: Final Wars, the is the first film taken charge by a Japanese production. Owing to its rising prominence, Guillermo del Toro reshared a Twitter post by the Godzilla franchise’s official page, and commended,
“Top 3 Godzilla films of all time (actually top two). Theatre-sized ambition and fulfillment. A Miracle.”
Top 3 Godzilla films of all time (actually top two). Theatre-sized ambition and fulfillment. A Miracle. https://t.co/mrMfbadkck
— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) December 17, 2023
Thrilled by the plotline, the 59-year-old filmmaker, known for masterworks like Hellboy, Cronos, and The Shape of Water, publicly acknowledged Minus One’s essence. Besides that, the caption of the original post boasted Forbes’ comment on the film as “One Of 2023’s Greatest Films.”
According to Rotten Tomatoes, 1954’s Godzilla and 2016’s Shin Godzilla were two of the best Godzilla movies, with a significant addition this year. Likewise, the fans’ comments section seemed to comply with Toro’s revelation.
Godzilla Minus One is deeper than you think
Minus One is probably the few movies that have been named as such. While the title itself appears as a work of art, the deeper meaning of it resonates with Japan’s devastated state after World War II. Therefore, Kaiju in the film symbolizes the destruction caused by warfare, notably, the nuclear bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which brought them to a nil economic state.
Henceforth, the movie is based in a post-war 1940s era with Japan trying to recover from the losses, when Kaiju added greater destruction to the nation. Ultimately, stooping Japan’s level from zero to minus one. Kaiju was originally meant to signify war destruction. However, the Godzilla franchise eventually became a part of the larger Monsterverse, making several sequels on the Kaiju-centered narrative.
Therefore, Minus One was essentially a reboot of the franchise and not a sequel, given Toho’s intention of sticking to Godzilla’s true meaning. Forbes’s movie critic, Mark Hughes marked the film as one of the best films this year, and it’s hard to disagree. However, he also noted that the first-ever Godzilla, released in 1954 stands unmatched by any other to date.
