Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare

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Chris M The story is good but not great. There are some character issues and for 1968, the effects could have been way worse. Could have been better too. But overall, it is interesting and fun. Plus it never gets boring. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/10/23 Full Review sean s You have to consider that this movie was made in 1968, before you start tearing down the special effects and historical accuracy or it. I would not be surprised if Ridley Scott borrowed some of it for his movie Legend (1985). The Japanese apparitions in it are great considering the limitations of budget and the special effects of the time. The humor is also great in it. This is one of three movies that were made in a set. All are worth watching. I was glad to find this hidden gem as my years wind down and surprises are more rare as each year passes. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare is the first in a series of Japanese children's movies created in the 1960s. Despite being advertised as a "children's movie", the presence of cursing and bloodshed make that label highly questionable. You will find out that there were originally three movies made: Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare (1968), Yokai Monsters: One Hundred Monsters (1968) and Yokai Monsters: Along With Ghosts (1969). For a movie which is 45 years old this is amazing! I thought it was some cheap Japanese rubber dolls costume party, but this is a serious movie with a substance regardless the costumes which are awful! The story was developed carefully, and is set in the Middle Ages. After hibernating for thousands of years, a Babylonian monster called Daimon is awoken from the ancient ruins in which he is sleeping by Arab grave robbers. This was my first and only problem with the movie: the background of the ruins was much closer to the Egyptian excavations than to the Babylonian sites. Simple encyclopaedia from that time could help the director and the crew. After the awakening, Daimon then flies to Japan. On the Japanese coast a magistrate, his daughter and a servant are fishing. A sudden storm forces them to head home, but the magistrate decides to 'patrol the area' first. Daimon lands and kills him, sucks his blood and takes on his form. The disguised monster returns to the magistrate's home, where the daughter's dog takes a dislike to him... Ok, I will stop here retelling the story, but I have to say that later there will be hundreds of other Japanese monsters defending their honour and trying to expel the intruder. No CGI, special effects were all made the old fashioned way, all monsters are played by actors in rubber suits, except one wooden umbrella with a sticking long tongue - which is a puppet... and still it has an appeal in the 21st century. I hope it's nothing wrong with me... Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member A testament to the ingenious power of practical effects and absurdity. Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare, not only has an amazing title, but amazing visuals too. It tells the story of a Babylonian demon who is awakened and comes to Japan where he soon replaces a high ranking magistrate. The demon unwittingly awakens a Kappa (water imp) who gathers together a merry band of ghosts and monsters to fight. It's a simple plot, but handled at an amazing pace over its 80 minutes. The monsters want to help people is endearing and we soon rally behind such a gang of misfits. The real stars here are the creatively assembled monsters, who by no means look convincing, but with imagination and passion poured into them, they soon become as close to reality as anything you're bound to see anywhere else. From a one legged/one eyed umbrella type thing, to a stretchy necked woman, and a wolf creature with a beer belly that shows the future. These monsters are ingenious, and each one is handled with heart and sincerity. The action scenes and comedy also hit the right notes. Anyone who loves special effects that are actually special needs to see this underrated classic. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member This has to be the only movie with the subtitle, "You suck, Buddha!". Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/19/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Yokai Monsters: Spook Warfare

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