[Den-O]

The 1st Daimajin film

I have to say that the video quality of these blu-rays is absolutely excellent. In no way does this film look like it was made in 1966. It looks late 80's early 90's at worst quality wise. The way Kimiyoshi Yasuda captured the characters and era is flawless. The cinematography of this film is top notch.

The rebellion which begins the movie is a brash move on the part of Samonouske but he's obviously gained so much support that it was child's play to topple the peaceful lord and kill him. But as always the noble lords supporters will find a way and Kogenta rescues the prince and princess, keeping them safe in secret for 10 years. 10 years over which Samanouske's tiny empire grows but so does his opposition from with in and out. It's of course a struggle we've seen time and again in various media where a person in a seat of power is deposed and their successors eventually return to claim their true place from those who wronged them in the past. But this film is something special. It's not often I can be wowed by an film that's pre-1980. But the production quality and acting alone knock this film out of the park.

Tadafumi is your typical hot headed hero but he's much more reserved than you'd normally see. His master Kagenta taught him well in their years of exile, though Kagenta obviously learned no new tricks as he's caught rather easily. Then Tadafumi is also captured by a fake out The titular character appears after this, nearly an hour in, because Samonouske literally incurs the wrath of god when he kills the old priestess, brutally. By attempting to destroy the statue which guards the majin of the mountain he incurs it's wrath.

Daimajin's wrath is both grand and sinister. When Samonouske's men attempt to drive giant nails into it to break it, and instead blood poors out on them, that visual is terrifying in an incredible way. The land and sky tear apart as the wrath of god awakens to smite these fools. The effects used to show all of this are also breathtaking for the era. And this is all before it even begins to live and walk. In order to wake his spirit the princess offers to sacrifice herself, and this deed though not followed through with awakens the angry god.

His descent on the village is as equally terrifying to the villagers as the lord and his warriors. Daimajin's wrath really is wide sweeping. An almost eclipse occurs when the creature arrives on the scene and begins mowing down the lords men. Probably the best moment of the film is after Daimajin "rescues" Kagenta and Tadafumi rather roughly. He then proceeds to pick up and tear to shreds the gates which separate Samonouske from the lands he controls. Though when the lords men trying to feebly trap the beast with mere chains, in the process they destroy the buildings the chains are anchored too. It's quite entertaining and a close second for me. The way these miniatures scenes are mixed with physical filming is simply flawless.

Overall this film instills a true feeling of terror and belief in the supernatural, in the sense that the characters know the unjust will be brought to justice , in the most severe fashion. Samonouske's death is perhaps the most brutal, deservedly so as he's cornered like a mouse and taken by Daimajin as a play thing. Daimajin removes the spike from his head, which the lords men had earlier driven into him, to then impale Samonouske and ends his reign abruptly.

But as is the case here, Daimajins' wrath is Indiscriminate. After the lord and his men are finished, his attention turns to blind attacks on the villagers. Only the princess with a selfless act can stop him. The statue then turns to dust as though it had never even truly been there.....

Thus ending perhaps one of the best sci-fi/kaiju films I've ever had the pleasure of viewing. I CAN NOT wait to watch the next 2 films. This blu-ray set was a steal for $12 on Amazon. Here's the link for anyone who wants to join me in my viewings. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...hr&tag=baii-20