Godzilla Minus One (#493)

I had a choice of two films and opted not to see THE SHIFT because it sounded like a religious and/or metaphysical one, and I just couldn’t handle that now.  So I surprised myself by going to see the latest version of  the Japanese monster whom I haven’t seen since the original (which I remember viewing as a comedy because of the crude depiction of the monster then).  And, surprisingly, I liked it, subtitles and all.  The Japanese have improved their film making, and they seem to have turned compassionate because GODZILLA MINUS ONE is more about humans and love than it is about the monster wrecking Tokyo.  At the end of World War II, a young kamikaze pilot goes awol from his duties and lands on a tiny island which just happens to be attacked by Godzilla.  He survives and makes his way to Tokyo, a city devastated by the war, and encounters a young woman wandering with a baby she found deserted.  Although he doesn’t seem to approve of her actions, they end up living together with the child, although he doesn’t want to be considered the baby’s father.  Then, who shows up but Godzilla, destroying what’s left of the city, and nothing seems to be able to stop him until  the young man puts himself in a position to destroy the monster, possibly sacrificing himself, and save Tokyo, its citizens and his family.  It is a well-done film even though the monster still walks as though he was constipated.  And for a change, critics, audiences and I are on the same page.  97% of critics and 98% of audiences gave it a thumbs up.  Will wonders never cease?