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Just perfect...

Good concept, poorly executed.

A Disappointing Continuation

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The original concept of this story is based on 1968 movie that was created by comic artist Shigeru Mizuki who single handedly started the genre of Yokai (Japanese folk lore monsters) based stories. In this version, along with Mizuki, writers Miyuki Miyabe, Natsuhiko Kyogoku, and Hiroshi Aramata contributed their creative talent to the story.Tadashi Ino (Ryunosuke Kamiki) is a wimp of a kid, but on the night of the town festival, he gets chosen to be the Kirin Rider. Kirin Rider has obligation to get the sword of Great Goblin from the mountain, and Tadashi embarks on a journey to the mountain where the Great Goblin resides. In the mountain Tadashi is met by Yokai monsters who were waiting for him. Covertly they chose him as Kirin Rider to battle the dark army of Yasunori Kato who is an embodiment of the grudge of ancient Japanese people. Together with Yokai, Tadashi faces the deadly army of Kato.The movie was a big budget movie ( approx. 14M USD ) for a Japanese movie, and uses effective balance between CG and live performers that helps to maintain the realistic looks throughout the story. Ryunosuke Kamiki puts in a great performance as the main character despite his age (of 10). The cast reads like who's who of popular Japanese actors, and writers Mizuki, Kyogoku, Aramata, and Miyabe all makes cameo appearance in this movie.This is probably the best movie Takashi Miike has directed, helped by solid script written by the aforementioned team of writers.This is one of the best fantasy movie to come out of Asia, and is entertaining to both children and adults.

It's not very often I run across a movie that deals with parts of Japanese culture, especially yokai ( translated as " spirit " or " demon " ) .After watching this, I am of the strong opinion this should have been an anime, not a real life movie. The limited budget was very apparent in the CG effects used. It just looks cartoony. The costumes of the real life actors were not very well done either. Set design was all over the place. Ranging from good, to cheap, to cartoon ( when rendered in CG ).The acting I can not comment on, since I have the dubbed American version. The dub acting, on the other hand, was bad. The emotions were not effectively relayed. The dub syncing is literally the worse I have ever seen in ANY dubbed movie, from ANY time period. " Martial arts " movies I have watched from the 70's have better voice syncing than this movie made only a few years ago! You can clearly see characters there, not moving their mouths, as dub dialog is spoken.Also hearing about 50% of the movie, filled with the same " fearful screams " of the main character, gets real annoying, real quick!Camera control is alright, though continuity issues pop up.A good example is the main character and the grandfather character are walking along a street talking. In mid conversation it jump cuts to them sitting a bridge, still talking like nothing happened. Speaking of continuity, there are quite a few scenes that seem like they were cut short, or major chunks were removed. A good example of this is " grandfather's " six English word long song ( Ode to Azuki Bean ) . That shot just randomly appears, for no reason in between 2 other scenes. I have been interested in yokai lore for quite some time, and have studied the subject on my own. It may seem like nit picking, but the way yokai are portrayed in this film is VERY inaccurate. Most of them are cast as " just silly creatures ", though quite a few I recognized in the group shots, are in fact quite violent by nature. The worst part of this movie is the ending. No were in this movie they set up for the resolution to happen the way it does. It just happens, as a huge, unexplained anti-climaxed plot hole.

In many ways, The Great Yokai War is a Japanese version of The Neverending Story. Both push the limits of fantasy as a genre and create a dynamic world in which a young boy becomes the hero of an epic. But Yokai stays true to its folk roots by crowding the plot with all sorts of creatures drawn straight from the very repertoire of Japanese lore. There are kappas, objects turned spirits, snow women, river sprites, gozu, tengu and the list becomes endless as the story progresses. But the movie is much more than an homage to traditions. It is also self-conscious in its parade of monsters as is made evident when a flying fortress is mistaken for Gamera. Miike, known for his hyper violence, manages to create something that will appeal to children without being limited to that target audience. There are hints of the dark material for which he is known but they are harmonized by good humored moments and by the colorful imagery. The acting is also very competent with a child actor that is believable. Amidst the chaos there is also a family drama that is not stressed too much so that it does not overpower the impression of fun. The ludic element is indeed the main ingredient in this cauldron of insanity. Unlike so many of Miike's movies, this one to be enjoyed without any qualms. Even the hints of a coming of age narrative are subordinated to the ideal of splurging in fanciful fantasy. And that it achieves beautifully. While some deeper considerations are hinted that, such as the critic view on a society that produces too much waste, what the movie excels at is the manipulation and employment of archetypes to propel a flawlessly entertaining adventure.

The plot of this movie isn't exactly new - young person is chosen for adventure, then faces various trials and tribulations. It's pretty much a staple of mythology in any culture. What makes it interesting is that it's based on Japanese mythology.Japanese mythology is literally one of the most colorful in the world. So a movie based on it really needs to be vivid to do that mythology justice. And here, this movie really succeeds. The various Yokai or goblins or critters are portrayed exceptionally well.Where it really doesn't work well is as a movie. It's difficult for children to be the main character of a movie, because frankly, children are obnoxious. It can be done. Unfortunately, that's not the case here, the main character in this is really obnoxious, very whiny and wimpish. I supposed it's supposed to make the viewer sympathetic, but he's just so wimpish, you are more likely to yell at him for being such a loser.I could excuse this if the movie were aimed at children, but I cannot believe it's meant for them, because it would scare the hell out of them. Even the nice Yokai are incredibly creepy and would give them nightmares for months, if not years. Also some scenes of graphic violence, and well, the secondary villain is incredibly sexy and is also perhaps not appropriate for children (might jump start boys into puberty).Also, like some of Miike's movies, this is drawn out too long in some parts, but then rush too much in others. Nice cinematography, though. Probably more enjoyable to just watch it with the sound off and just enjoy the visuals.