Here's
a simple overview: Troubled ten-year-old Tadashi (Hiroyuki Miyasako) becomes
"chosen," and he stumbles into
the middle of a Great Demonic war against human kids as children from
all over the countryside begin to disappear. During his quest to bring
peace to the alternate fantasy world, Tadashi meets a group of friendly
spirits who become his companions during a war against the Great Goblin
and the army of Yomotsumono.
Promoted as Takashi
Miike's first family film (obviously by people who haven't seen ZEBRAMAN
and its sequel),
but it
should not be called a Kids' Movie, especially when compared to
that genre today. Rather, here is how such movies used to be in the '70s
and '80s days before helicopter parents and play dates. Remember Family
Movies like Goonies and Gremlins?
This is a spectacle
for ALL ages. Traditional puppets, animatronics and make-up are mixed
with CG effects to create a
rich world that borders visionary. It is manic, imaginative and (yes)
unhinged as other great Miike films, but - this time
- instead of using torture and gore as his pallet, the director draws
from an endless supply of Yokai [monsters/ghosts]
and his love of Japanese folk-lore. Inspired by the classic Daiei movie
BIG
MONSTER WAR.
A Japanese
film with optional English subtitles and English dub; widescreen format,
uncut 124 minutes, Two DVD Package encoded for REGION 1 NTSC FORMAT.
Extras include Making Of, Interviews, theatrical trailer, World Yokai
Conference plus more.
![Great Yokai War (2005) Takashi Miike [2 Discs]](Images/vd5063_1.jpg "Great Yokai War (2005) Takashi Miike [2 Discs]")
