Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

Godzilla Minus One Blu-ray Movie Review

Godzilla Minus One brings back the monster Godzilla for a roaring-rampage of action-packed thrills for audiences the world over. The worldwide blockbuster became a cultural phenomenon following its release. Produced by Gô Abe (Ghost Book, The Great War of Archimedes), Kazuaki Kishida (You Shine in the Moonlight, Even If This Love Disappears from the World Tonight), Keiichiro Moriya (The Fighter Pilot, Parasyte: Part 1), and Kenji Yamada (Monster, 1st Kiss), Godzilla Minus One is a spectacular event film to see and share with others.

Executive produced by Shûji Abe (Lupin III: The First, Stand by Me Doraemon), Minami Ichikawa (Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle, My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising), and Hisashi Usui (Monster, We Were There: True Love), Godzilla Minus One is a technical powerhouse with award winning special effects. Godzilla Minus One features an ensemble cast including Ryûnosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Sakura Andô, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Munetaka Aoki, and Yuki Yamada. A must-see for Godzilla fans.

Godzilla Minus One explores the lives and events surrounding characters encountering the giant monster Godzilla as he faces down a post-war Japan. The WWII era Godzilla story brings drama, heartfelt pathos, and science to the table – Godzilla existing in the wake of atomic weapons. A compelling exploration of Godzilla with more in common with the original Godzilla feature-film than some sequels, Godzilla Minus One brings back elements of the original 1954 classic.

The cast of characters includes Kôichi Shikishima (Ryûnosuke Kamiki), Noriko Ôishi (Minami Hamabe), Sumiko Ôta (Sakura Andô), Kenji Noda (Hidetaka Yoshioka), Sôsaku Tachibana (Munetaka Aoki), and Shirô Mizushima (Yuki Yamada). Shikishima finds himself on a troubling mission as a rare survivor of a Kamikaze mission. After an attack by Godzilla happens on the beautiful Odo Island, Shikishima teams up with both scientific-experts and war-generals to create a new combat-mission opposing the rampaging Godzilla monster. Can the team defeat the monster?

The production scale of Godzilla Minus One is enormous. There is so much to appreciate about the filmmaking in Godzilla Minus One. The technical merits of Godzilla Minus One are first-rate. The production design by Anri Jôjô (Belle, Mirai) is exquisite and one of the best filmmaking merits. Exceptional production design and the sense of scale created is enormous – and not just for the monstrous Godzilla.

The score composed by Naoki Satô (Always: Sunset on Third Street, The Fighter Pilot) is incredible and brings back the iconic themes of the original. Satô did a solid job with the score. The music adds a lot – enhancing the experience. Godzilla Minus One has perfect music to accompany the action-adventure spectacle.

The cinematography by Kôzô Shibasaki (Always: Sunset on Third Street, The Laughing Frog) is breathtaking and a sight to behold. Godzilla Minus One is a gorgeous looking production. An outstanding cinematographic achievement, Godzilla Minus One is a visual powerhouse with cinematography that is at times both modern and classical in style.

Edited by Ryûji Miyajima (Resident Evil: Degeneration, Always: Sunset on Third Street), Godzilla Minus One is well-paced. Godzilla Minus One finds a solid balance between the drama and the action. The editing manages to highlight both aspects of the storytelling. Though Godzilla Minus One might occasionally feel overlong (a shorter cut might have been a bit better at times), the editing is nonetheless noteworthy and handles the drama and genre tones well.

The costumes by Aiko Mizushima (The Great War of Archimedes, K-20: The Fiend with Twenty Faces) are traditional and effective for the production. The costumes aren’t the strongest point of the production. Sometimes the costumes seem more on-level with a well-produced drama television series. Yet the costumes are still effective for the cast of characters and the WWII era Japan setting.

Featuring stunts coordinated by Tatsuro Koike (The Last Samurai, Jumper), Godzilla Minus One also offers exciting action-adventure. The stunt work is well-done. Godzilla Minus One soars as an old-fasioned action spectacle.

The special effects are arguably the most-value-player (MVP) of the production. The effects feature lead effects work by Junya Ando. Ando and the entire team of special effects designers, delivered something immersive and staggering. The technical achievement of Godzilla Minus One and its special effects is a good enough reason to see Godzilla Minus One. The effects for Godzilla are incredible and some of the greatest in the film series to date.

Written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki (Lupin III: The First, Stand by Me Doraemon), Godzilla Minus One is an impressive achievement of storytelling and special effects. Godzilla Minus One is well-done, featuring solid writing and characters. The script does a solid job balancing the human drama and blockbuster elements. One of the elements appreciated by the script is the pathos given to Godzilla. Godzilla may be seen as a monster by most but Godzilla should be honored and respected. Godzilla is a monster of our own creation – it is our own doing as a society that brought us Godzilla.

Godzilla Minus One might not be on the same level as the original classic masterpiece. Though Godzilla Minus One can’t achieve the same heights of the 1954 original, Yamazaki’s vision is nonetheless a compelling one and audiences will be drawn in to the world of spectacle and heart the filmmaker created. Yamazaki seems to want to recreate the magic of the original and in some respects this is achieved even if the film cannot compare to the film that started it all. For Godzilla fans, Godzilla Minus One is a must-see and one of the best modern films in the beloved franchise. (Though Shin Godzilla - from Neon Genesis Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno - gives it a run for the top-spot).

Godzilla Minus One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Toho, Godzilla Minus One is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.39:1 widescreen. The video quality impresses, providing good clarity and color reproduction. However, the release is not as good as the more impressive 4K UHD disc release. If you are 4K UHD equipped, please consider the 4K UHD.

For more information on the 4K UHD presentation, please refer to the following review:

Godzilla Minus One 4K UHD Review

Godzilla Minus One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release provides the Dolby Atmos audio presentation. The audio presentation is the same as on the 4K UHD edition. For more information, please refer to the 4K UHD review:

Godzilla Minus One 4K UHD Review

Godzilla Minus One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The supplements contain some of the same carry-over supplements as found on the 4K UHD and/or 4K UHD steelbook editions.

For more information about Godzilla Minus One supplements, please refer to the following review:

Godzilla Minus One 4K UHD Steelbook Review

Godzilla Minus One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Godzilla Minus One is an incredible achievement of special effects and technical wizardry. Fans of the Godzilla film franchise won't want to miss this powerhouse blockbusters. The Blu-ray release provides solid technical merits. However, home theater enthusiasts with 4K UHD equipment and who can play back the superior 4K UHD disc are strongly encouraged to consider picking up the separate 4K UHD edition. For those not equipped for 4K UHD, the Blu-ray still provides strong technical merits and is worthwhile. Recommended.