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PLEASE WATCH THIS! Minus-One is not just one of the best Kaiju films ever made, it is simply a fantastic movie regardless of genre. With just 15 million dollars, this cinematic triumph hits harder and looks better than Hollywood blockbusters with 10 times the budget. American monster movies could definitely take a lesson. Godzilla Minus-One is undoubtably an homage to the original Godzilla and follows along a similar yet refreshed plot and familar themes, but adds more depth with a modern reinterpretation of what the King of the Monsters represents, and the corresponding societal human struggles such a monster invokes. The action sequences are tasteful yet gripping, pulling at the strings of what made the original so great, while satisfying the modern expectations of what CGI can do when used properly. I especially liked how the filmmakers tried to carry the original feel of Godzilla (with the man in the suit), all while updating the effects. The result is a beautiful looking piece of cinema, classic, yet modern; entertaining, yet terrifying; humorous and heartfelt. In addition, the human story is not just a boring cheesy afterthought like many other monster movies. It is a solid social commentary on the societal and cultural changes that took place in post-war Japan, and is a pillar of the film. It takes up a majority of the screen-time, but this is not a detraction. The characters are great, the performances are terrific, and the themes presented resonate with the viewer. You actually care about the humans and what they are going through. The subject matter of the human story interweaves with that of the Godzilla story, and as a result, the two balance each other wonderfully. Writing, pacing, editing, direction, production design, action sequences; all are top notch. I still can't believe a film of this genre can come off this good on such a small budget. Hollywood really needs to take notice. Overall, Godzilla Minus-One is a fantastic addition (reboot?) to the franchise and is arguably THE BEST INSTALLMENT THUS FAR. Please watch and support films like this, so the filmmakers are rewarded for their achievement. AN ABSOLUTE MUST SEE.

On a technical level it was a good show. Good characters, acting, directing, pacing, and cinematography. But thematically it just ends up being ironic, and not in a good way. It's a show about the pits of white privilege, that is itself a definition of white privilege. An almost all white cast, told through mostly miserable rich white characters, with some generic Hawaii music thrown in to make it feel exotic for the white people. Cast members of other ethnicities are thrown their tidbits to help the white people problems seem more relatable. The irony of the whole thing is palpable. A "White" Lotus indeed. I got an original idea. Why not tell a story that critiques white privilege through the eyes of people who aren't white? That way some talented non-white actors can actually be given a break in Hollywood. But, wait, that would mean white people wouldn't be the center of attention, and they wouldn't get their awards and paychecks and glorification for playing terrible people on screen, and that's too radical for Hollywood. I wouldn't be this critical of the show if it wasn't inviting me to be critical, what with its 'anthology' minimalist plot, artsy fartsy, freudian blah blah blah, preachy subtext. By the way, I'm from Hawaii, born and raised, and I'll give a standing ovation when Hollywood finally learns that Hawaii is a minority state, i.e. more non-white people than white people. It's probably the most unrealistic part of all mainland productions shot in Hawaii and really makes me shake my head. Just a tip to any other filmmakers who want to place their stories in Hawaii and make their casting more realistic.

Just saw Alita: Battle Angel. Go see it!! It is a solid sci-fi action adventure and manga adaptation definitely worth your money. Gorgeous graphics, well paced story, and a main character that is easy to root for! We need more films like this! Movies like Alita: Battle Angel are refreshing and need our support! It's good to reward good movies.