It’s Happening! 3 Things I Want To See (And 2 Things I Don’t) In The Next Godzilla Movie From Godzilla Minus One Director Takashi Yamazaki

It's Happening! 3 Things I Want To See (And 2 Things I Don't) In The Next Godzilla Movie From Godzilla Minus One Director Takashi Yamazaki

As a lifelong Godzilla fan who has witnessed countless battles between the King of Monsters and his fellow kaiju, I must say that I wholeheartedly agree with this article’s sentiments. The idea of a direct sequel to “Godzilla Minus One” without another monster in sight is truly intriguing. It would be a refreshing change of pace, allowing us to delve deeper into the human drama and the emotional impact of Godzilla’s presence.


As a diehard gamer, I can hardly contain my excitement! The title alone has me pumped up – another Godzilla movie is on its way, and it’s being directed by none other than Takashi Yamazaki, the mastermind behind one of the most incredible Godzilla films ever made, Godzilla Minus One, which happens to be my all-time favorite! It’s really happening; I can hardly believe it!

The news was shared in an “urgent tweet” from Toho, and I (alongside my recently crowned Godzilla fan son) couldn’t be more thrilled. As of the moment, it remains unclear whether this upcoming movie will serve as a direct follow-up to “Godzilla Minus One” or an entirely new concept; however, my mind is brimming with possibilities.

Based on our existing understanding that it is penned, helmed, and boasts VFX by Takashi Yamazaki, here’s a list of three aspects I’m eagerly anticipating (and two elements I hope to avoid) in the upcoming installment within the current Godzilla timeline.

Oh, and minor SPOILERS up ahead for Godzilla Minus One.

It's Happening! 3 Things I Want To See (And 2 Things I Don't) In The Next Godzilla Movie From Godzilla Minus One Director Takashi Yamazaki

Want To See: A Continuation Of The Story And Characters From Godzilla Minus One

To put it straightforwardly, what I’m most eager for is a sequel to “Godzilla Minus One” right away. I appreciate both “Shin Godzilla” and “Godzilla Minus One“, but given that the director of “Minus One” is working on this project, I’m hoping for a continuation of that particular storyline instead of another reboot in the franchise.

It’s interesting to note that the legendary figure of Godzilla is often associated with Ishiro Honda, who is frequently referred to as the creator or father of the character. This is due to his direction of the original Godzilla movie and several other iconic films in the series, including King Kong vs. Godzilla, Mothra vs. Godzilla, Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster, and many more legendary productions under his tenure as director. In fact, many of Godzilla’s most memorable adversaries originated during Honda’s time as a director.

Actually, you might be surprised to learn that Honda didn’t direct Godzilla’s second movie. That film, titled “Godzilla Raids Again” or “Gigantis, the Fire Monster”, was actually directed by Motoyoshi Oda.

To set the record straight, I’m quite fond of “Godzilla Raids Again,” but it’s a notable shift compared to the first installment. In the sequel, Godzilla squares off against his initial rival, Anguirus. This follows a long-established pattern of having Godzilla battle another giant monster, or kaiju, and while I appreciate this aspect, I often ponder what it might have been like if Honda had helmed the second Godzilla film instead.

With the release of “Raids Again“, the atmosphere underwent a significant change. Given that Takashi Yamazaki will be directing the next Godzilla movie, I believe we have a fantastic chance to preserve the remarkable dark tone established in “Godzilla Minus One“.

Beyond doubt, the characters in that movie, “Godzilla Minus One,” are what truly make it captivating. They’re the heart of the story, and I can’t get enough! I’m eager to find out what happens to Koichi, Noriko, and the rest of the cast next. The film leaves subtle clues that their journey isn’t complete yet, and I’d be thrilled to follow where their tale leads after such a surprising finale.

It's Happening! 3 Things I Want To See (And 2 Things I Don't) In The Next Godzilla Movie From Godzilla Minus One Director Takashi Yamazaki

Don’t Want To See: Another Revision Of Godzilla

To continue with my previous thought, let me clarify that I’m not looking for another rewrite of Godzilla. Instead, it’s intriguing to observe the various portrayals of this character during the Reiwa Era.

In Shin Godzilla, we encountered an evolving form; from Netflix anime Godzilla Singular Point, there was the slow, colossal monster; in the animated Godzilla films, a slightly awkward version; and if we consider the current MonsterVerse, we’ve also seen a quicker Godzilla capable of executing a powerful suplex on King Kong.

In my opinion, among all the Godzillas I’ve come across, the one from Minus One is my undeniable favorite. He stands out for his straightforward design and intentions, making him incredibly intriguing. This colossal being expands in size over time, suggesting there might still be room for growth. Although we witness his supposed demise in Minus One, the film ends with an ominous hint – his skin showing signs of life. This tantalizing detail leaves me eagerly awaiting a potential sequel.

There seems little point in altering something that’s working perfectly fine. We’re already content with the current version of the character, as it is exceptional. Therefore, I’m eager for the return of the original Godzilla rather than a new one, because improving upon perfection might be challenging.

It's Happening! 3 Things I Want To See (And 2 Things I Don't) In The Next Godzilla Movie From Godzilla Minus One Director Takashi Yamazaki

Want To See: More Information On Where Godzilla Came From

I dislike it when new origin stories are created for characters we’re already fond of. For instance, while I adore Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man, I’m not particularly fond of the two films he appears in. In my opinion, was it truly necessary to revisit Uncle Ben’s death yet again?

It’s common knowledge among Spider-Man fans that Uncle Ben’s death is a crucial event in his backstory. Therefore, it seemed unnecessary to rehash this incident in The Amazing Spider-Man, especially since the Tobey Maguire films had already covered it some time ago. Similarly, I appreciate that the Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man movies avoided repeating this event.

Despite seeming like a contradiction, I’m expressing a desire for an origin story of Godzilla in a potential “Godzilla Minus One” sequel. I appreciate how “Minus One” introduced Godzilla without delving into his origins. However, if this next film is indeed a sequel, as I hope it will be, I’d enjoy seeing the scientists in this version explore and explain where Godzilla came from.

In Minus One, a fascinating moment occurs when the scientists brainstorm ways to defeat Godzilla. This scene was one of my favorites in the entire film. If we could have something similar – a scene revealing how radiation from World War II contributed to the creation of this monster – I believe it would be quite intriguing. Who else agrees with me?

It's Happening! 3 Things I Want To See (And 2 Things I Don't) In The Next Godzilla Movie From Godzilla Minus One Director Takashi Yamazaki

Don’t Want To See: Godzilla Fighting Another Monster

In my earlier remarks, I expressed my fondness for the movie “Godzilla Raids Again”, but there’s one aspect about it, and many other Toho Godzilla films, that I find troubling: It’s uncommon for Godzilla to be the sole antagonist in a Godzilla film without any other monsters being present.

Reflecting on Godzilla’s cinematic journey, it’s a pattern that after a standalone Godzilla movie, there’s usually another film featuring Big G battling another kaiju. Following the original 1954 Godzilla, we saw Godzilla Raids Again with Anguirus as the immediate sequel. Similarly, Godzilla 1985 was followed by Godzilla vs. Biollante.

In my opinion, while it’s possible to view Godzilla Minus One as a sequel to Shin Godzilla in the Toho series, I personally believe that Minus One is more accurately described as another reboot, rather than a direct follow-up to Shin Godzilla.

In other words, if we were to make a Godzilla movie as a follow-up to “Minus One”, it would be unique because historically, Toho’s direct sequels to their Godzilla films have always featured another monster for Godzilla to fight against.

I’m particularly drawn to this prospect, as the upcoming Takashi Yamazaki Godzilla film might not be a follow-up to “Godzilla Minus One,” but given that Yamazaki appears to favor developing human characters over monster action, it would seem incongruous if it deviated from that pattern.

It's Happening! 3 Things I Want To See (And 2 Things I Don't) In The Next Godzilla Movie From Godzilla Minus One Director Takashi Yamazaki

Want To See: More Amazing (And Surprising) Cost-Effective Special Effects

To put it simply, once Godzilla Minus One won the series’ initial Oscar for its special effects, it’s likely that Toho would have been more open to granting Yamazaki any financial requests for future projects.

Despite seeming somewhat self-serving, I sincerely hope they continue to provide him with a reasonable budget for his work, as it was precisely this factor that made the film “Godzilla Minus One” extraordinary. Frankly, when we learned that “Minus One” was produced on a mere $15 million budget, many were left utterly astonished, and rightfully so. After all, how can a movie of such quality cost so little?

It seems clear that budget constraints may have played a role in crafting the compelling human narrative in “Minus One,” as Godzilla’s appearances, though awe-inspiring, are strategically saved for impactful scenes. This strategic choice gives the story room to unfold and makes the Godzilla encounters all the more terrifying.

Despite the assumption that a pricier (more expensive) Godzilla film would follow the success of Minus One, I’d be thrilled to witness the VFX team create more enchanting effects with a modest budget instead. Let’s explore if this idea could become a reality.

And that’s the list! Be sure to swing around often to see any new developments for this film.

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2024-11-06 02:08