If it’s ultimately a less ingenious entertainment than 2016’s “Shin Godzilla”, it’s still preposterously satisfying, never more so than in a climax whose choreography suggests a child playing with their entire toy collection at bath time.

The result is a celebration of homegrown courage, with the vastly overpowered citizens fighting to protect the fragile progress of their rebuilt lives and to banish Godzilla back to the depths of the sea.

Yamazaki’s screenplay has subtly framed Shikishima as a stand-in for the nation at large, sloughing off macho Imperial dogma from underneath a suffocating shroud of survivor’s guilt.

Overall, Godzilla Minus One is a nicely-shot action flick that’s quite thrilling to see on the big screen. I