Godzilla: Lacerta Aeternus
Joseph Watkins Da Watcher
I am not a hardcore Godzilla fan. At most, I’ve watched the famed iguana hybrid as he starred in Godzilla ’98 (that stared Matthew Boderick as Dr. Niko "Nick" Tatopoulos) and thanks to the expert opinion of famed GFest aficionado, Joshua B, I’ve watched his newer material, Godzilla (2014/2019/2021 respectively). Overall, Godzilla continues to be reborn, restyled, and reshaped for every audience and generation and he’s improving over time. He doesn’t die. He can’t. On screen and in people’s hearts, Godzilla is the ultimate monster titan with a lifespan longer than most people’s grandparents.
He came out after World War II, before hip-hop started, before the Apollo 11 moon landing, and has even survived Covid -19 and the riots of Capital Hill. He’s the king of monsters; lacerta aeternus (lizard eternal) and Godzilla Minus One is possibly the best origin story, the prequel if you will, that I’ve seen in a while. Japan and Toho Company Ltd. stand up, Godzilla: Minus One was quite impressive.
Origin Story: Events nearing the end of World War II, Godzilla emerges as the death incarnate. The Ultimate Titan Destroyer. All thanks to nuclear atomic tests by the USA.
As he tears everything up in full monster fashion, what makes him interesting here is that people catch a glimpse of his regenerating abilities resembling Jason from Friday the 13th. He’s mutated, green, scaly, angry, and hungry for destruction. He’s a lizard after all, and some of them grow their limbs back in many ways. For Godzilla, he’s Deadpool.
Here, Godzilla is an asshole. He tears, he rips and roars and he’s just killing people; just stomping on them and dropping bombs to show his dominance among the populace. No rhyme or reason; just because.
As I watched this gargantuan gecko, I looked at him and thought, "What an asshole." Takashi Yamazaki, writer, director, and part of the visual effects team, had me so invested in this movie that I needed to see what would happen next.
Ryunosuke Kamiki , who played Kōichi Shikishima, a kamikaze pilot in the 601st Naval Air Group of the Imperial Japanese Navy, has a change of conscience and decides that his life is greater than his military position. As he meets and debates with the plane’s mechanic, Sōsaku Tachibana, played by Munetaka Aoki, about said position, Godzilla emerges. Ryunosuke, presented with an opportunity to strike the fatal blow to the lizard of death, cowers. That moment becomes the vengeance bond between him and Godzilla—making Minus One an ultimate revenger movie in which Ryunosuke falls in love (thanks to the amazing actress, Minami Hamabe, as Noriko Oishi), becomes a father, a widower, and, with time and guidance from peers, transforms into the ultimate kamikaze pilot willing to die not only for his country but for the human race to end Godzilla’s reign. Godzilla here, was the equivalent of Ricky's killer in Boyz n the Hood. Every time you walked in peace, he just showed up and started shooting and destroying—atomically.
Godzilla is a problem, a massive environmental and ecological hazard that I became vested in just to see how the characters were going to eliminate this invasive species. When he gets mad, he charges up and releases a Hadoken from his mouth. All I could think about during this scene was Akuma from the Street Fighter series; once that Atomic Blast landed, the screen goes white, and Akuma’s Kanji symbol "ten" appears. For the uninitiated, it means "immortality," and it's only fitting. Godzilla is 70 years old, and he's more powerful than ever. His influence, his actions...he’s arrogant, powerful, and does not GAF, and he lets you know that in every scene as he says in his own way, “I Run S*it!!!”
With Godzilla: Minus One, the lizard also gets slapped, and it’s a joy to see how they do it. Yamazaki’s approach to the monster lizard is both rewarding and perfect, as Godzilla proves once again why he is called lacerta aeternus: he’s both an antagonist and an awe-inspiring presence on screen. It’s hard to ignore him as he strong arms his way into your life and city and when he gets slapped, in pure Friday the 13th fashion, Yamazaki adds a thrilling twist to the movie, leaving the audience anticipating when he will rebound. Definitely watch this installment as it adds nicely to the Godzilla ethos as the famed King of the Monsters. You will not be disappointed.
