Daimajin gyakushû

The sleeping Daimajin has moved to an island home and the people under his protection live happily at lakeside. When evil warlords decide its time to subjugate these peaceful neighboring domains they go right for their leaders with some sneaky assassins and a surprise attack. As a demoralizing move they blow up the stone god in his island home. What a bad move that turns out to be. Not the best of the three Daimajins. It's much less beautifully filmed and the story isn't so great. I liked "Return of Daimajin" best because the kids are cute and the cinematographer had the eye of a naturalist.

Wrath of Daimajin (1966) is a Japanese samurai monster movie I recently watched on a random streaming service. The storyline follows a group of kids whose family is being used as slaves to work the sulfur mines. They set out on an adventure to find sacred religious grounds where it's rumored a monster resides that if freed can save their families.

This movie is directed by Kazuo Mori (Zatoichi at Large) and stars Junichiro Yamashita (Gamera: The Giant Monster), Tôru Abe (Tokyo Story), Tanie Kitabayashi (Rikyu) and Yûzô Hayakawa (Gamera vs Barugon).

The majority of this film is about the children on an adventure and trying to survive harsh conditions in the wilderness. It's 1 hour and 5 minutes into the movie before you see Daimajin. There are some cool bird attack scenes that are well done and the arrival of Daimajin was cool. His intro music was very much like Godzilla's. The town models were very cool as was the use of snow. Daimajin arriving and attacking the city was pretty fun as were some of the elements they created within the town (like the zip lines).

Overall this is a very average addition to the genre that was a huge step down from the first Daimajin film. I would score this a 5/10 and recommend skipping it.

No pun intended - of course this is not a horror movie nor has it anything to do with Chucky. I reckon it would have more in common with Hulk (someone I mentioned in my review of the first movie of the trilogy) than a horror movie or its main character.

That being said, the movies do not have really much in common apart from the god and the (revenge) plot, if that is what you want to call it. Crazier things have been seen - and the kids on a mission stuff oddly works. Still the movie is - or rather feels too long. Even though it technically isn't - but it is the pacing. Also most of the action is compressed in the last half hour, which might make the rest quite the drag to watch. Different times and all that - although as someone has pointed out, it had to do with cinema viewers keeping the last things they saw in mind. So it makes sense to put all the goodies at the end. Would have been nice to have more in between though.

Anyway, the snow and everything that seems to seperate this from the other movies kind of works.

Daiei Studios' Wrath of Daimajin is the second and final sequel to the movie featuring the giant stone god. In this plot, a Lord Arakawa kidnaps the men of villages in a mountainous region to use as labor to produce gunpowder. As a result, a group of young boys journeys through the mountains, including through the valley of Daimajin, to rescue their fathers.

The plot, I thought, was not as suspenseful and solid as the original movie, as it concentrated too much on the boys' adventures in the mountains, alternating between that and the fathers' mistreatment at the labor camp. But there is the satisfying fun of seeing Daimjain awaken to wreak havoc on those nasty doers.

The acting was pretty good, cinematography was brilliant, and special effects were neat. And once again, you are treated with another great Akira Ifukube score; however, some of the music soundtrack is reused or reworked from past film scores.

Overall, it's not too bad of a sci-flick, but is the weakest of the Daimajin Trilogy.

Grade C-

The first film, released in April 1966, was a fun blend of fantasy and horror, even though it was hampered a bit by soft pacing. The second film, following four months later, was just as sharply crafted but did not suffer from the same pacing issues, and moreover told such a compelling story that the titular entity was almost altogether unnecessary. With new director Mori Kazuo now taking over to helm the same returning crew for the last of Daiei Film's trilogy, I've very much been looking forward to 'Wrath of Daimajin' - though the question still stands of how it would compare.

The good news is that in general, though we may debate the finer points, all three pictures having effectively been made contemporaneously means that we are assured of the same broad quality and common traits. If you enjoyed 'Daimajin' and 'The return of Daimajin,' you'll likely also enjoy this conclusion to one degree or another, and much that is true for the predecessors is also true for this feature. Beautiful filming locations are one thing, but outstanding detail was poured into most every facet of the production. The sets are utterly gorgeous, and even the costume design, hair, and makeup received substantial care. The proliferate practical effects and stunts are all terrific and exciting, and the action to come. Composer Ifukube Akira provides a swell dramatic score that lends to the somber airs of the proceedings; the cinematography is vivid, and the sound design impeccable.

On the other hand, this title bears the distinction of largely centering children as its protagonists. While it's not universally the case, the simple fact of the matter is that elevating children in a movie very commonly diminishes its seriousness: kids must almost always be cute, their acting skills are quite plainly variable, and if they appear to be in too much danger then a stark new level of violence is inherently breached. Even as the same overall plot structure holds of Daimajin defeating the cruel villains who harm innocents, significant airs manifest in part of an adventure piece more or less suitable for younger audiences. As returning writer Yoshida Tetsuro splits his narrative and scenes with emphasis on those youths, the urgency of the scenario takes a hit. In turn, and in its own way, 'Wrath of Daimajin' again comes across as somewhat struggling with weak pacing - in all earnestness the viewing experience is less actively engaging; the effects-laden climax, which should be and surely is the top highlight, feels overlong.

Please understand, this flick remains enjoyable and worthwhile on its own merits. It's solidly crafted, there are nice little touches throughout, and the root story ideas offer firm foundation. At large the acting is commendable, and the direction, and it's also worth observing that in no small part this installment carries the vibe of tragedy - an interesting distinguishing factor. Nevertheless, an uneven tone, slow plot development, and decidedly less focused storytelling result in a fantasy drama that has a harder time holding our attention than the progenitor, let alone the vibrant first sequel. We get what we came for; the anticipated saga just isn't as strong as it could have been. Even so I had a good time watching, and so long as you don't mind the imperfections too much, 'Wrath of Daimajin' is still a fine slice of entertainment for a lazy day, and a decent finale for Daiei's trilogy.