Blu Release – 4/5
Daimajin
Director – Kimiyoshi Yasuda (Yokai Monsters: 100 Monsters, Mute Samurai)
Starring – Miwa Takada (Killer in the Night Mist, Fencing Master), Yoshihiko Aoyama (Zero Fighters, Black Trump Card), and Jun Fujimaki (Devil’s Flute, Demon Spies)
Release Date – 1966
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “Behind the mask of stone, the fire of vengeance burn!”
When I was younger I was no stranger to kaiju films. I would often watch Godzilla and Gamera movies with my grandmother along with any other Japanese produced kaiju film that may air late at night on cable. This, like many of other films I love now, carried over to adulthood. I still seek out and watch as many as I can with many of them finding their way into my collection.
Many years ago a friend of mine gave me a DVD set, that was possibly a bootleg, of The Daimajin Trilogy. A few years later I upgraded the set to blu when Mill Creek Entertainment released it. I’ve watched these films several times now and when Arrow Video announced that they would be putting their touch on a Daimajin box set I knew it was the perfect time to revisit the three films. I reached out to MVD who was handling the release and they were kind enough to send a copy my way. Thanks guys!
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a Japanese village that is under siege by an evil lord and his army. Their lord is murdered and the evil lord takes the throne. He orders the dismantling of a giant stone statue that they worship but once they begin they soon learn that their god is not one to be messed with. **Spoiler Alert**
Daimajin is a fun mash of fantasy, period drama, and kaiju. Films like Gamera, Godzilla, and so on is more focus on the kaiju mayhem but Daimajin is mostly a period piece with fantasy elements before spilling into kaiju fun. It still works but it is a little misleading if you go into it expecting one kind of film. However, if you know it’s connections to the Yokai Monsters film series then you will know exactly what the film is and can fully appreciate it.
The acting in this one is pretty solid. I like the wide array of characters and how far the cast went to bring them to life. The characters fit the film very well and the cast makes each and every scene very enjoyable. Some do stand out a little more than others but it’s nothing too drastic.
The story for this one is a fun period piece featuring a village being overrun by an evil lord and his army. The film could have easily followed this story until the end and been just as enjoyable. However, the last 15 or 20 minutes of the film gives us some kaiju fun which does give the film a change of pace but oddly still fits the style of film. It really is a lot of fun but the dialogue heavy scenes during the first two thirds of it does affect pacing.
Finally, this film has a little blood but no real practical effects or carnage. However, the kaiju scenes are fucking beautiful. We get some classic camera tricks, overlaying images, and great use of miniatures. It’s a lot of fun visually for a mid-60s kaiju film. Overall, Daimajin is criminally underrated. It’s a gorgeous film and the kaiju action at the end is icing on an already delicious cake. I highly enjoy this one and I’m sure most fans of these types of films will really enjoy it.
Return of Daimajin
Director – Kenji Misumi (Shogun Assassin, Satan’s Sword)
Starring – Kojiro Hongo (Enbalming, The Haunted Castle), Shiho Fujimura (Tokyo Gambler, Killer Whale), and Taro Marui (Drunken Harbor, Fangs of Vengeance)
Release Date – 1966
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “Colder than ice, unyielding as stone, divine retribution is at hand”
The Daimajin trilogy is rather unique for several different reasons. The period piece fantasy film is surprisingly enjoyable by itself by the kaiju portion that appears during the last acts never disappoint. This is unlike most kaiju films that try to put the creatures in the spotlight. However, the Daimajin Trilogy has a story to tell and focus more on it than big monster carnage.
Another reason these films are so different is because it’s a similar story that was filmed by three different filmmakers with some of the same crew. I love all three films but they can be difficult to binge together because the stories are so similar. However, I do enjoy it so after I watched Daimajin I went ahead and hit play on Return of Daimajin.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows an evil general and his army that is capturing villages by force. When they come across another village the villagers fight back but the numbers are against them. However, instead of giving up they pray to their god who answers their prayers. **Spoiler Alert**
Return of Daimajin doesn’t bring something new or inventive to the trilogy but it still effective. Like I stated earlier, it does get a bit repetitive watching all three films together but I honestly enjoyed it even though it was so similar to the first film.
The acting in this one is just a good as the other film. We get some great performances and colorful characters. The cast does an amazing job bringing them to life while fitting the style and story of the film. Some of the performances are a little more enjoyable than others they are mostly consistent. The story for this one is more or less the same as the first film with some smaller changes. It’s still a fun period piece fantasy film for most of the running time before transcending into a kaiju romper during the last 15 or 20 minutes. The pacing is a little off but it’s not enough to ruin the experience.
Finally, the film is not a bloody one. We have some little splashes of red here or there but that’s about it. The enjoyable aspect of the film is the ending with the classic camera tricks, miniatures, and overlapping images. I fucking loved it. Overall, Return of Daimajin is a lot of fun especially if you are a kaiju fan. It is a bit repetitive especially if you watch it back to back with the other films but I have fun with it. Check it out.
Wrath of Daimajin
Director – Kazuo Mori (Rampaging Dog, Violent Hawk)
Starring – Hideki Ninomiya (Daimajin, The Space Giants), Shinji Hori, and Masahide Iizuka (Human Torpedos)
Release Date – 1966
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “A wave of evil has been unleashed”
Daimajin and Return of Daimajin are rather unique kaiju films when you compare them to the more popular or mainstraim kaiju films that were coming out of Japan during the 60s and 70s. The third film in the trilogy, Wrath of Daimajin, is the oddest of the three. Though it is set up like the previous two films in regards to being a period piece with fantasy aspects and drama before the last leg of the film unleashes the kaiju fun, it’s put together like a children’s film.
I never really noticed that during my original viewings but where I’m older now I can see and appreciate that more now. It’s a lot of fun and one that children can get behind. It might be considered the weakest of the three by many fans but I like it. I could appreciate it a little more if I hadn’t watched the other two films previously.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a small village where the men have been taken by an evil warlord and his army to perform hard labor. When one of them is able to escape and return to the village it inspires several children to make the trek across the dangerous mountain to find their loved ones. However, the mountain and soldiers put the children’s lives in peril forcing one of them to pray to the god of the mountain unleashing the Daimajin on them all. **Spoiler Alert**
Wrath of Daimajin once again delivers a similar story to the other films but it’s focus on children does make it feel a little different than the other two. It’s fun but nothing that makes it truly stand out from the other two films.
The acting in this one is probably my favorite of the three films. The young cast is great. Their experience is limited but they are great. They are comfortable in front of the camera and do an amazing job at bringing their little but big characters to life. The supporting cast is exactly what you would expect after watching the other films but it all comes together to work.
The story for this one is basically the same premise as the other two films but with some minor changes. The film still follows a village in turmoil while an evil general/warlord forces reign upon them. However, instead of the film following the villagers, it follows children who try to save the day before Daimajin unleashes his wrath. Nothing too drastic but just enough to stand out from the other two.
Finally, the film is not bloody but if you stick with it you will have the same kaiju fun as the other two films using similar effects. Overall, Wrath of Daimajin is just as fun as the other films. I would not recommend watching them all together but they are all equally as enjoyable.
Special Features:
High Definition Blu-rayTM (1080p) presentation of the three Daimajin films
Lossless original Japanese and dubbed English mono audio for all film
Optional English subtitles
Illustrated collector’s 100 page book featuring new essays by Jonathan Clements, Keith Aiken, Ed Godziszewski, Raffael Coronelli, Erik Homenick, Robin Gatto and Kevin Derendorf
Postcards featuring the original Japanese artwork for all three films
Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Frank
DISC ONE – DAIMAJIN
Brand new audio commentary by Japanese film expert Stuart Galbraith IV
Newly filmed introduction by critic Kim Newman
Bringing the Avenging God to Life, a brand new exclusive video essay about the special effects of the Daimajin films by Japanese film historian Ed Godziszewski
Alternate opening credits for the US release as Majin – The Monster of Terror
Trailers for the original Japanese and US releases
Image gallery
DISC TWO – RETURN OF DAIMAJIN
Brand new audio commentary by Japanese film experts Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp
My Summer Holidays with Daimajin, a newly filmed interview with Professor Yoneo Ota, director of the Toy Film Museum, Kyoto Film Art Culture Research Institute, about the production of the Daimajin films at Daiei Kyoto
From Storyboard to Screen: Bringing Return of Daimajin to Life, a comparison of several key scenes in Return of Daimajin with the original storyboards
Alternate opening credits for the US release as Return of the Giant Majin
Trailers for the original Japanese and US releases
Image gallery
DISC THREE – WRATH OF DAIMAJIN
Brand new audio commentary by Asian historian Jonathan Clements
Interview with cinematographer Fujio Morita discussing his career at Daiei and his work on the Daimajin Trilogy
Trailers for the original Japanese release
Image Gallery
