I’m super excited for the new Godzilla Minus Zero film releasing in theaters this week, so now seems the perfect time to revisit my favorite chunky-thighed monster in his surprise 2023 hit, Godzilla Minus One (Disc/Download). Seventy years on, this icon of Japanese cinema just keeps getting better and better!

I’ve pondered why I love these enormous movie creatures so much, and I think it’s because they make our world look miniaturized. From King Kong, to the Indominus Rex, to a nuclear-powered Godzilla, these monsters tower over cities and make the people look tiny and insignificant. It’s intriguing to think that humans actually aren’t as important as we think we are; that there’s a whole universe of giants out there willing to put us in our place. In Godzilla Minus One, the creature has been freshly mutated by US nuclear bomb tests, while Japan is still trying to rebuild its infrastructure and national identity in the wake of World War II. A kamikaze pilot struggles with PTSD and shame, and now he views the fight against Godzilla as his chance at redemption. There’s a lot of science thrown at the audience, and a lot of history, so for those reasons, I consider this Godzilla for people who paid attention in high school. But if you’re just here to see a scary monster snap a train in half like it’s a stale breadstick, you won’t be disappointed.

There can only be one drink for this movie, and that’s the Kamikaze. Sometimes served as a shot, it’s equally nice scaled into a proper cocktail. You can serve it up or on the rocks, but I like to make mine with a glowing blue cube to “power up” the drink. While watching Godzilla Minus One, I recommend drinking a Kamikaze.

Kamikaze

2 oz vodka

¾ oz orange liqueur

¾ oz fresh lime juice

Garnish: blue glow cube

Combine vodka, orange liqueur, and lime juice in a shaker with ice. Shake well to chill, then strain into a martini glass, or rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a blue glow cube.

Godzilla is one of the few franchises I never tire of, and if you’re a superfan like me, I highly recommend the Criterion Box Set for all those classic iterations of our favorite “monster”. You can’t keep this guy down for long, and you can’t keep me from celebrating each and every reincarnation. Cheers!