Customer Reviews

Daimajin

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Triple feature of the giant Majin, kind of a Japanese version of the Golem. Once evoked, the giant stone statue comes to life, bent on a vengeful rampage. The video quality is beautiful, with sharp contrast and nice color saturation. Much better than the VHS versions I already own. These movies have Japanese language with removable english subtitles. No extras, other than one ersatz "trailer" which is just a promotional short produced by ADV films. The films are on three separate disks, in a special keep-sake box. My favorite is "Wrath of DaiMajin", with a scene right out of "The Ten Commandments", where the Majin parts the waters of a lake. I wish someone could publish the english language versions that were released to television, back in the late 1960's. (Unseen for over 30 years...hint, hint)

I love Lone wolf and cub,Zatoichi,Lady Snowblood,Hanzo and more japanese films besides.I've enjoyed Daimajin just as much,although it is aimed at a younger audience.The story outlines have been described in other reviews.I wish to re-inforce the fact that this set is printed in the original 2.35:1 aspect ratio,whilst the latest ADV individual DVD remasters are cropped to 16:9.
This fact alone made me choose the box set and I am glad I did. The prints appear pleasantly clean and sharp,as well as less dark (I believe) than the later DVDs. Highly recommended family fun and a bargain in the box set.

The Daimajin films are CLASSICS! For me this goes far beyond Ray Harryhausen and Godzilla films, because it's based more on cultural facts. Whereas Harryhausen strung together myths and places quilt-like into a plot, and Godzilla is based rather loosely on Japanese icons (dragons, turtles and moths) turned into modern monsters by radiation; Daimajin is a monsterous hero based on Japan's spiritual history. Also of note are the moments in these films where someone is thrown in boiling sulphur or drowns and add to the depth and motivation of the characters, rather than being completely ignored as fodder for the monster or inspiring melodramatically overwraught reactions. Though the spiritual connection is fleetingly explored in many films of the 'Destory All Monsters' tradition; the reverence of certain characters and disregard for a higher power by others plays out in a more real fashion than most all other films in this fantasy genre. Though the original videocassettes warn: "This program is not rated but contains scenes which may not be suitable for younger viewers", I would actually recommend this more highly than most other films in this genre for the above reasons.
Some things work out happily, and others don't; that's life kids. Get Daimajin for your family.

Wow! When I booted the DVD into the player, I was expecting some cheap, Gamera-style kiddyshow typical of 1960's Daiei. What I got was a knock-out, action-packed, blood-filled SFX samurai epic! The effects are truly spectacular, even rivaling the Heisei Godzilla movies (minus Biollante). The first two thirds of the movie might not be exactly enthralling for some kaiju fans, but personally, I thought they were exciting as anything. In the first third, we see a creepy Majin-worshiping ceremony, a cool battle, and and some exciting chase scenes. In the second third, we see more chase scenes, and a few extremely cool torture scenes. However, it's in the third part that the movie really gets down to buisness. Majin awakes, and goes on a rampage destroying everything he sees. The effects were so awesome in this part, that I actually thought they were real for a second! Overall, this is an awesome movie with great effects, terrific plot, and fantastic acting. Daimajin has gotta be one of my favorite monster movies of all time. See it. Or else.

When I was growing up in Worcester, MA I used to watch The Creature Double Feature and see the best films including Frankenstein, Dracula, Gamera, Godzilla, and many others. For many years I've been searching for Daimajin, without knowing its name. I always remembered it in black and white.
Seeing the first volume in color, and letterbox is a treat. Yes, it's a standard story of good vs. evil. Yes, the subtitles are not very sophicated. Even so, Daimajin ranks up there with the great monster films. It has its own style and flair.

In 1966, Daiei was spending most of its time releasing Gamera films. Gamera, if you recall, is a massive, fire-farting turtle capable of flight. Of course, most people would be happy with one monster that cool. Not Daiei.

Because later that year, they released Daimajin, a terminally awesome movie about a giant stone avatar who comes to life and starts kicking stuff over. They followed that up with two sequels about the same exact thing, only with Kennies. For some reason, those were sweet too.

Now you can own own all three films together in a totally awesome set. So, what do you say? Join me or die! Can you do any less?

I used to watch this on Saturday morning in Boston on the Creature Doubel Feature(channel 56). I couldnt remember the name of the movie until I came across it recently in a bootleg at a toy show. After that it was a quick matter to find the set and buy. Great memories and great movies all. 56 should bring back the creature double feature!