‘Godzilla Minus One’ Changed The Way I See Movies

I’ve been a cinephile for as long as I can remember,butforeign filmshave always been a major barrier to me as a visually impaired adult.Even when they were available, subtitles could prove challenging, and I found dubbing largely unbearable to hear. One of the few franchises I could enjoy wasGodzilla, and I was definitely intrigued whenGodzilla: Minus Onebecame the first film from Japan to hit theaters here in the U.S.Being more than a great storywith good human characters, it proved to me that I could enjoy foreign films like everyone else, and opened my eyes to new experiences.

As a Visually Impaired Viewer, Foreign Films Can Be a Nightmare

One of my favorite Oscars speeches is the oneBong Joon-hodelivered whenParasitebecame the first non-English language film to ever win Best Picture,where he encouraged viewers to push through the invisible barrier created by subtitles. Many American viewers are turned off offoreign filmsfor that reason alone, but mine is more pragmatic. As a visually impaired adult,subtitles remain a huge challenge for me to overcome, and my ability to do so can depend on a wide variety of factors, such as the color contrast or the pace at which the word are displayed. For example, I was able to watch and enjoyNarcosbecause much of the show was still in English, and Netflix is friendly to accessibility,but it was not until the second season that I had the confidence to view it on television.

In fandom circles, there is often fierce debateabout whether using dubbing or subtitlesis a better viewing experience, but I’ve often found myself in the worst of both worlds. While I have difficulties with subtitles,I usually find dubbing unbearable to hear, which undermines my experiences. Although there are a few rare exceptions, like with some films or shows on Netflix, it has oftenserved as a deterrent from watching foreign films as a viewer,despite just how richthey can be. Combine this with the fact thattheaters rarely play them on the big screen,where I would ironically have the best chance of viewing them, and you’re able to see why my experiences have remained quite limited.

The city is ablaze under the feet of Godzilla in ‘Godzilla’ (2014)

Ever Since I Was Young, I’ve Always Loved Godzilla

Unlike my sister, I’m not someone who could be consideredengaged with Japanese cultureand I have very little interest inanime. However,I did have a fierce love for Godzilla while growing up, as the dubbing was tolerable and the action was always fun. Although I primarily grew up with the Heisei and Millennial eras, I also deeply enjoyed watching the 2014 American film give way tothe Monsterverse,a rare case of a cinematic universe that actually earned its success.As I grew older and continued high school,Toho gave the series a dark spinwithShin Godzilla, thefirst new Japanese installment in more than a decade.

‘Godzilla Minus One’ Does This Better Than Any Other Movie in the Franchise

Toho’s 2023 masterpiece will attract even non-Godzilla fans.

While I enjoyed the franchise,my own challenges often left me facing difficult choices about how to properly engagewiththese Japanese films.Many were hard to find on physical and some I even had to bootleg, often without subtitles or dubbing. Sometimes,I was forced to just engage with them casually, enjoying the fun and using internet summaries to answer any questions I had about the human plot,which were rarely the focusof the films anyway. Only whenthe original 1954 classicGodzillaappeared on Netflixdid I get a taste of the more serious side of the franchise — one that was more personally accessible.

‘Godzilla: Minus One' Showed Me What Was Possible

Although the franchisehas endured for seventy years nowand the American installments have been successful, it’s hard to say Godzilla is a cultural icon in America when compared to his native Japan, so imagine my surprise when I learned thatGodzilla: Minus Onewould be premiering in US theaters.At first, I had planned to just catch it later on streaming, but as word of mouth grew larger, I decided that if I was to watchmy first foreign film in an American theater,this was the perfect time and place to do it. Despite my own fears about being able to watch the film properly,I went in with no knowledge or expectationsaside from whatthe two trailers had provided.

What I saw was somethingfar more emotional than I had ever expected.Aside from my shock at the level of quality surrounding the storyline and characters,watchingGodzilla: Minus Onein theatersproved to me that I could enjoy foreign films just like other people. For the first time,I felt like a whole new world had been opened up to me, and the film made me want to revisit the franchise, alongside many others. With a new story from the same creatorsnow on the way, I’m sure my new journey with foreign films has only just begun, and I’ve got a childhood favorite series to thank for that.

‘Godzilla Minus One’ Does This Better Than Any Other in the Franchise