How 'Godzilla Minus One’s' Director Used 'Shin Godzilla,' And Two Other Toho Movies, As Important Influences For His Entry

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Everyone who’s ever watched a sci-fi movie, especially the long history of gigantic monster/kaiju movies, has their favorite type of Godzilla movie. Whether you’re more into the popcorn blockbuster style of the MonsterVerse or if the terror of Ishirō Honda’s 1954 classic is your thing, there’s a monster mash waiting for you to dig into.

With Godzilla Minus One, writer/director Takashi Yamazaki cited three of the best Godzilla films as being important influences on Godzilla Minus One. While, of course, his direct live-action predecessor, Shin Godzilla, was one of them, there were two others that he submitted as sacred texts that absolutely reflect the tone and spirit of this sleeper movie schedule hit.
Transcript
00:00I wanted to create a situation in which the story of Shinkoja and the drama of Shinkoja
00:04are well-combined and have a positive impact on each other.
00:30This is a story about civilians, not politics or government.
00:37That was some influence with Shinkoja, but also GMK.
00:43I guess on a subconscious level, I didn't realize how much I was influenced by GMK.
00:50But when I look back, I do see that GMK influence is sprinkled in there, especially towards the end.
00:58The first Godzilla movie, hands down, it's the most important.
01:03I wanted to follow in its footsteps as far as that strong human relationship,
01:10the human experience versus the monster.
01:13It was just so solidly done with the monster and the human experience
01:18that I wanted to definitely attain that in Godzilla Minus One.
01:27Godzilla Minus One

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