16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's about time... great DVD's, August 7, 2002
This review is from: The Complete Daimajin (Daimajin/Wrath of Daimajin/Return of Daimajin) (DVD)
I just got this three disc set of DVD's and I must say that I am extremely impressed. The ADV transfers are sharp and clear with the sound quality being very good as well. The subtitles are also clear and easy to read. As for the movies, they are in my opinion the greatest Japanese monster films ever made. The storylines, while simple, are effective and well acted. The special effects are incredible, with most of them holding up to and surpassing today's standard SciFi fest. ADV has also put together an impressive package here, featuring 3 DVD's for less than the price of two of the VHS editions, removeable subtitles, chapter selections, and some of the most creative and effective cover art ever brought to a Japanese SciFi film release. Overall, wonderful films that are finally getting their due by being released to DVD.
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
And the wicked will quake with fear..., January 14, 2003
This review is from: The Complete Daimajin (Daimajin/Wrath of Daimajin/Return of Daimajin) (DVD)
Like Wagner's "Complete Ring Cycle," one truly needs to view "The Complete Daimajin" to gain a full appreciation of the work. Here, finally, the epic saga is together in a fabulous DVD set.
In what is now a more common practice, all three "Daimajin" movies were made at the same time but were released a year apart. The three stories are not related to each other, except for the mighty Daimajin itself. Always on the side of right, always waiting till the last minute to awaken and seek revenge, Daimajin brings giant stony justice on those who would wrong the innocent.
This series is indeed the gem of the kaiju genre, providing both a good story and quality acting, along with a giant man in a rubber suit destroying things. The special effects are quite good. Actually, everything about this series is quite good. Fans of Japanese Samurai films or monster films cannot go wrong with this set.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Original Kaiju, January 12, 2003
This review is from: The Complete Daimajin (Daimajin/Wrath of Daimajin/Return of Daimajin) (DVD)
I bought this DVD set on a whim after the interesting cover design caught my eye. My son is a big Godzilla fan, which makes me a big Godzilla fan, and I have always been a samurai movie addict, so the combination intrigued me. I was presently surprised by the quality of all three films. These are not the happy monster sock `em up that Godzilla had become in the same time period as these were made. These are intelligent, serious movies - which are quite impossible to describe without making them sound silly.
Daimajin is this giant stone statue of some sort of warrior, which is protector of the feudal peasentry of its surrounding domain. It is described in the three movies as a kind of vengeful spirit trapped in stone, and as a god a la King Kong. Whichever incarnation is easiest to accept, I guess is left up to the viewer.
The plot of all three movies moves in the same structure. There is trouble in paradise, someone warns the bad guys they are going to incur the anger of Daimajin, bad guys don't listen and do really bad things to the peasents, tearful peasent offers to sacrifice self to Daimajin if he will set things right, and finally, Daimajin awakes and stomps the baddies in a major way.
However, each movie IS different. They are not traditional sequels of each other. If you can think of how the 60's Godzillas are not at all referred to by the 90's Godzillas, that's the way these go. Each one is a stand alone story.
DAIMAJIN - Basically an intro to the saga, involving peasents slaving away at hard labor for a thankless daimyo (feudal lord). When a priestess warns them about Daimajin, the daimyo decides to set the peasents straight by chiselling away at the statue. BIG mistake.
RETURN OF DAIMAJIN - My personal favorite -in this one, more slaving peasents, only a band of four boys decides to cross the forbidden Majin's mountain to rescue their relatives. This sounds like SON OF GODZILLA - but it couldn't be farther from it. This is a real life and death struggle for the children, and the story has a lot of humanity. Not at all what I expected. Plus Daimajin wields his sword for the only time.
WRATH OF DAIMAJIN - The weakest of the three, almost a rehash of the original, though redeemed by better Majin effects. Bogged down a little by an intrigue plot that ends up the same way as the other two.
All in all, Daimajin is recommendable for its high quality widescreen compositions (there are some shots of samurai cowering in terror on the gilded pagoda rooftops while Daimajin comes thundering over the mountains which are really well done), vibrant colors, great effects, and decent acting. These are not camp, but highly orginal works of fantasy, just a notch or two below Kwaidan and Akira Kurosawa's Dreams. Relentless Akira Ifukube (Godzilla) score, and some inspired sound design too (Daimajin's footsteps remind you of this huge stone heart beating).
Check it out - you won't be disappointed. Its a steal at this price.
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