The Great Yokai War

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Audience Member If someone is going to make a new Yokai movie, it really should be Takeshi Miike, who draws inspiration from Aramata Hiroshi's Teito Monogatari, the Spook Warfare movie and Mizuki Shigeru's GeGeGe no Kitaro manga. All three — and this movie — are just different takes on the legend of Momotaro driving the demons away from Kikaigashima. Where this adaption changes the game is that it's not about Japan against outside forces, but really about the old ways versus the modern world, as the enemy demons are all mechanical robotic beasts that feel like they'd be right at home in the Luigi Cozzi movie. It tells the tale of Tadashi Ino, a young boy who moves to a small town after his parents' divorce. At the festival of his village, he is picked as that year's Kirin Rider, but beyond that being just a ceremonial title, he ends up really being the protector of all things good and must defend the town against Yasunori Kato, who demands revenge for how modern Japan has disrespected the yokai. To gain that vengeance, he transforms them in a magical forge into kikai that takes a page out of Dr. Robotnik and transforms friendly yokai into enemies. Sadly, for all the adventures in this film, when you grow up, you lose the ability to see yokai. Despite the move toward CGI in this, its still a charming film. Of course, it's also a Miike movie, so it can have cute and cuddly creature in one scene and a fetal demon being born in blood the next, so prepare yourself. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Occasionally fun, occasionally grating, and way, way too long. But always fascinatingly illogical, as Miike films always are (and despite his trademark jerky, muddy CGI being completely wrong for the style of the narrative). Also some surprisingly good performances, especially from Toyokawa (the main bad guy), who is frighteningly stoic, almost melancholy, and the kid who plays Tadashi who somehow manages to not be annoying, an amazing feat considering the role he's playing. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Why didn't they make kiddie movies like this when I was a kid? Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/29/23 Full Review Audience Member (*** 1/2): [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] A strange, fun, and entertaining film. This is another very good film from Takashi Miike. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Miike makes a children fantasy movie! Awesome! Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Maybe the best film for kids 9-100 in decades. Funny, crazy, well made (though the SFX could have been given a bigger budget to work with). Really imaginative, doesn't shy away from maturity despite it's fantastic setting. It's Miyazaki meets Gilliam, and it's a must see. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Great Yokai War

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