After witnessing the coherence and success of Marvel and DC with their interconnected cinematic universes, Monsterverse Films were Warner Bros.’s attempt at achieving a similar feat. While the movies have been successful, so far they have failed to reach their goals and been criticized on several points.
Warner Bros. has been facing a lot of troubles lately, from backlash for shelving movies to disappointing movie performances, and now it is set to face another setback. The Japanese movie Godzilla Minus One, which is neither a sequel nor a prequel but rather an independent film with its own take on the Godzilla mythos, has been hailed as the best movie to date since the original Godzilla, which puts the studio’s entire Monsterverse to shame.
Warner Bros.’ Monsterverse Face An Unprecedented Foe
Aimed at delivering entertaining monster-themed adventures, Warner Bros.’ Monsterverse films were set to explore the popular monster lore and bring it to the mainstream. It was an attempt to build a larger coherent world that connected larger-than-life fantasy creatures with the human world.
While some movies performed well at the box office, they have always been criticized for some reason or the other. Some of the many points of criticism have been the lack of any strong or entertaining human characters, the lack of interesting storylines, and devoid of any real impact.
Meanwhile the Japanese thriller, Godzilla Minus One has all the hallmarks of a great kaiju movie. The movie’s budget isn’t even close to half of most Monsterverse movies, yet it has one of the best if not the best versions of the monster, with exceptional VFX throughout.
Unlike the Monsterverse films, it has humans at the center of it all, set in post-WWII Japan. Not only does it incorporate the monster mythos within its larger storyline, but it also uses these mythical creatures to symbolize nuclear power, shedding light on themes of geopolitics and Western hegemony. All these factors make the movie a powerful contender that even a megastudio like Warner Bros. has not been able to foresee.
Fans Claim Godzilla Minus One Is The Best Film Since The Original
The first ever Godzilla movie was released back in 1954 and ever since then, the creature has been a part of countless other movies. However, Godzilla Minus One, written, directed, and visual effects by Takashi Yamazaki, seems to have walked over the plethora of movies as fans declare it as the best Godzilla movie ever made.
#GodzillaMinusOne might be the first Godzilla movie I teared up during. It’s got everything. It’s a MEGA TON of fun. Well-acted, well-constructed (and hugely entertaining) action sequences. More of THIS please! pic.twitter.com/QatgCVGFt4
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) November 11, 2023
A lot of folks loved Shin Godzilla, but that wasn’t my jam. I’ve also had some problems with the Monsterverse ones too. This was the best of the bunch since the original.
The Monsterverse could never.
— Courtney Howard (@Lulamaybelle) November 11, 2023
With #GodzillaMinusOne now playing in Japan, I can finally talk about the film & holy sh*t it rocks.
Was SO MUCH better than I expected.
Also this is the brutal killing machine #Godzilla. He sees you…you die.
Will definitely watch again. Thumbs way up. pic.twitter.com/8Zo6gNqzTa
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) November 7, 2023
The visual effects in #GodzillaMinusOne are stunning. Like…I didn't realize we had the technology to make monsters look this good on screen. I legit thought they cast an actual kaiju to play Godzilla for a moment. pic.twitter.com/i7RxlBfjKh
— Josh Levesque (@JoshBLevesque) November 11, 2023
#GodzillaMinusOne goes deeper than almost any Godzilla film prior to it and delves into topics rarely discussed during monster films. The heart from director Yamazaki is apparent from the opening scene, and is carried throughout the entire film. Thank you @nostoro. pic.twitter.com/liFsc5zbWG
— Jacob Gilley (@Gilley_Monsta00) November 13, 2023
#GodzillaMinusOne Takashi Yamazaki's Godzilla is more formidable than ever, but it's the human story that really sets this apart. A tale of failure, struggle, and the will to live, Ryunosuke Kamiki and a terrific supporting cast make this an instant classic. -Jonathan pic.twitter.com/Qcsay5j6L7
— Daily Dead (@DailyDeadNews) November 12, 2023
Having a rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, the movie seems to be set to break all monster-themed movie records.
Godzilla Minus One will be releasing on December 1, 2023.
