'Godzilla Minus Zero' director explains why he refused to censor violent scenes

The Godzilla franchise has often been accessible to younger audiences, but the upcoming Godzilla Minus Zero may not be.

This is because it received an R rating from the MPA for the violence featured in the movie.

However, the director said the bloody images were necessary.

Takashi Yamakazi told Variety that the R-rating could have hurt the movie's box office because teenagers under 17 cannot watch it in US theatres unless accompanied by a parent.

"You want as many people from the general public to be able to see your film. So, an R-rating might seem like a barrier to entry," he said.

But Yamakazi stood by his creative vision, saying, "In spite of that, though, there were certain scenes that, for me as a director, were so essential to the film."

"Censoring it or cutting it was just not an option for me," he added.

On the other hand, Godzilla Minus Zero received strong reviews and sparked buzz for an Oscar entry for the Best Picture.

Yamazaki remarked, “I mean, I try not to think about that. And this was true of ‘Godzilla Minus One’ as well."

"So I try not to think about it, but at the same time, if the possibility is not zero, it’s hard not to have a little bit of hope," he added.

Godzilla Minus Zero in the North American theatres on Nov. 6