By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Takashi Miike
Starring: Bunta Sugawara | Chiaki Kuriyama | Etsushi Toyokawa | Hiroyuki Miyasako | Ryunosuke Kamiki
Original language title: Yôkai Daisensô
Country: japan
Year: 2006
Running time: 124
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425661/
Michael says: “A children’s film by Takashi Miike, auteur responsible for the nightmarish (AUDITION), the sick (VISITOR Q), and the bizarre (HAPPINESS OF THE KATAKURIS) certainly seems like an oxymoron. And upon initial viewing, this fable about Japanese goblins attempting to take over the world seems a little… visceral for childish consumption. Still, in the tradition of some of the more gruesome Eurpoean fairy tales, THE GREAT YOKAI WAR is a dark and thrilling fantasy populated by bizarre spirits and monsters that the kid inside all of us can cheer on. While the plot is fairly standard, in the way many children’s fantasy stories are (child must save the world against an overpowering evil with the help of some pretty unusual allies) the visuals Miike creates are endlessly imaginative. I’m not sure whether THE GREAT YOKAI WAR will reach the audience it is intended for here in the States, but the midnight movie crowd will certainly enjoy it. 3 cats.”