Summary
Simon Pegg has offered a glowing review forGodzilla Minus One, praising the Japanesekaijumovie while taking a jab at its Monsterverse counterpart. The latestGodzillamovie from Japan has been immensely popular both overseas and in the US, and now it’s enjoying a new wave of praise thanks to the film’s surprise release on Netflix at the top of the month. Much likeGodzilla Minus Onereviewsduring its limited theatrical release, many have been singing the film’s praises as one of the best entries in the franchise since the original.
Now,Pegg(viaKaiju No. 14) has offered his review ofGodzilla Minus One, calling it the best movie the titular monster has been in since 2016’sShin Godzilla.
While praising the movie for going back to the monster’s roots,he also takes a jab at the Monsterverse movies' portrayal of him, referring to them as “rock ‘em, sock ‘em…cultural appropriation.” Check out everything Pegg had to say about the monster movie below:
Godzilla Minus One’ is now on Netflix. So if you haven’t seen it, watch it. It’s the single best Godzilla movie since ‘Shin Godzilla’. It’s incredible. It’s a proper Godzilla movie made by the people who sired Godzilla from their subconscious as they wrestled with the massive ramifications of what happened during the Second World War. It’s not some rock ‘em, sock ‘em f*****g cultural appropriation.
Godzilla Minus Oneis also impressive for having a less than $15 million budget, while also winning an Oscar for Best Visual Effects.
Is Simon Pegg’s Godzilla Minus One Monsterverse Comparison Fair?
Other Godzilla Movies Have Also Taken The Action Approach.
While Pegg has praised the newest Japanese iteration of thekaijufor embodying the themes of the original movie,he’s also clearly unhappy with the direction American movies have taken the monster.The latest entry in the Monsterverse,Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, is a more tongue-in-cheek interpretation, focusing on fun battles over thematic development. The franchise’s success can’t be denied, with aGodzilla x Kongsequelin development following its $567.5 million box office intake from a $150 million budget.
However,Godzillais no stranger to having action-focused entries made in Japan, with many films in the Shōwa era embodying such traits.
Pegg’s frustration with the Monsterverse is understandable, as more serious stories could be told in the ever-expanding Titan universe. However,Godzillais no stranger to having action-focused entries made in Japan, with many films in the Shōwa era embodying such traits. EvenGodzilla Final Wars, a film made to commemorate his 50th anniversary, was more action-focused than thematically aligned with his roots. It shows that Japanese movies also embrace the character in more action-centric ways, something reflected by his Monsterverse portrayal.
10 Best Movies Like Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla Minus One is one of the most popular monster movies recently, and these 10 other films are great for fans looking for something similar.
WithGodzilla Minus One’s endingsetting the stage for a potential sequel, a new version of the Japanese franchise may be on its way. This could include other monsters that Godzilla ends up fighting, something that would prove to Pegg how important monster battles have been for the franchise for decades. However, there’s also a chance it finds a balance between a serious tone andkaijufighting one another, blending the two versions of the monster together for an exciting entry in the franchise.
Godzilla Minus One
Cast
In Godzilla Minus One, set in postwar Japan, an unyielding Godzilla emerges in a landscape already ravaged, leaving survivors to unite against the monstrous threat. With no aid from military forces or government, the community must confront their fears to fend off the escalating peril.
