"Godzilla Minus Zero" is a sequel.

It follows the Oscar-winning "Godzilla Minus One."

Director Takashi Yamazaki returns.

The film starts in 1949.

That is two years after the first movie.

Like the first film, it mixes human drama and monster spectacle.

But the review says the balance is a little off this time.

The story follows Kōichi Shikishima.

He is an ex-kamikaze pilot.

It also follows his wife Noriko and their young daughter Akiko.

The film keeps the postwar mood of trauma and loss.

The dragon Ghidorah attacks.

Professor Kanji Murakami feels the destruction like PTSD.

He lost his family in Hiroshima.

The review says Murakami may be the most interesting person.

His anger at the occupying Americans adds a political side.

A small group tries to stop Ghidorah.

Naval engineer Kenji Noda leads the group.

It includes meteorologist Makoto Aoyama.

He predicts kaiju movements from weather patterns.

Kōichi and Noriko join, but they do not want to.

They know they may leave their daughter for good.

The review says none of the characters have enough depth.

They get too much attention.

Their talks feel fake.

The review adds that Godzilla is missed when he is away.

The film has only two big monster scenes.

The first is a mid-movie aerial sequence.

The review calls it exciting.

But it says the final face-off between Ghidorah and Godzilla is slow.

It is also awkwardly staged.

The review gives the film two stars out of four.

It runs 135 minutes.

It is rated R for violent content and bloody images.