The kids of today, with their Power Rangers and Dragon Balls, never could appreciate what we had for Japanese imported entertainment. Believe me on this.
We had Godzilla. Or, more specifically, we had Japanese movies featuring a gigantic lizard-monster who stomped through Tokyo while battling some other kaiju monster. Lather, rinse, repeat. Ha.
We didn’t understand that Godzilla was a metaphor of the Japanese psyche after World War II and the Hiroshima / Nagasaki nuclear destruction. We just saw it as a series of two-hour movies that were syndicated on local television, where Godzilla destroyed other monsters while everybody else in the film talked in a weird redubbing.
Yeah, as I reached adulthood, I saw the American version of the original 1956 Godzilla film, and understood the monster to represent the side-effects of nuclear detonation. You know, how radiation turned a spider-nibbled college kid into Spider-Man. That makes sense.
And over the years, Godzilla movies walked that fine tightrope – Godzilla battles some nuclear or alien monster, Godzilla destroys Tokyo with his size 50,000 feet, same old same old.
Then, in 2024, I saw a different Godzilla movie. A film that changed my view of the entire Godzilla cinematic franchise.
This was Godzilla Minus One.
That is NOT some guy dressed up in a rubber suit and stomping all over a miniaturized Tokyo. This looks scary as anything.
I mean … this one scene where Godzilla revs up his atomic breath blast … imagine seeing this in a crowded movie theater.
And if you think these little clips are impressive … understand that the special effects in Godzilla Minus One actually earned the film an Academy Award. That’s right, Godzilla has an Oscar. King Kong does not have an Oscar. Godzilla has an Oscar.
Oh, and the whole “Minus One” question? You have to equate it to the time period. After the second World War, the Japanese lost everything. So their entire life went from “nothing” to “less than nothing.” Or, translated – “minus one.”
Hence – Godzilla mathematics. 😀
So … imagine my surprise / delight when I saw the announcement of a sequel to Godzilla Minus One.
Take a look at the teaser for Godzilla Minus Zero.
Especially at the end.
Ho – lee – shit.
This version of Godzilla … coming to New York?!?
Checking my calendar … the movie is scheduled for release in November 2026. And it’s filmed (double checks) in IMAX.
This looks incredible.
Start my countdown clock. This is now part of my 2026 movie calendar watchlist, along with the Star Wars Mandalorian movie, the Marvel Avengers movie, and that one film with Hugh Jackman and the sheep.
Hell freakin’ yeah.
Chuck The Writer 