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09-11-2013, 09:27 AM | #161 |
Big Bad Wolf.
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Raiding tombs.
Posts: 9,529
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Just watched the first episode of Daimajin Kanon.
Usually these non KR SS toku shows have measly budgets, at least from my experiences, so it blew me away how epic and movie like this opening episode was. I'm assuming they won't be able to afford to keep this up for the whole series but it is welcome here. My only real issue is it is damn slow, the majority of the first episode was fanservice - no complaints from me and the sort of hipster cinematography you usually get in like indie romance flicks. Once again, no real complaints, but ain't this supposed to be toku? Still, when the supernatural and the action does start, it's pretty great. The show does horror very well, there is some real creepy shit, but also the violence feels less fantastical than in your usual toku superhero show. People get hurt, badly here and people die. Sadly though, on the other hand, the sparks, explosion and wirefu of toku superhero shows does a great job of creating comic book like action on a budget. I've gotten into drunken brawls outside of pubs that are more fantastical than the action included here. So for every time the action works, by feeling grounded, there is another time when you're wondering why two super powered beings fight so statically and boringly.
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09-11-2013, 09:31 AM | #162 |
Kawaii 5-0
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Cardiff, United Kingdom
Posts: 12,851
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I've not had a chance to watch it myself, but from what I gather Daimajin Kanon is just as much a J-Drama show in terms of story content.
Also, have you tried Garo yet?
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09-11-2013, 09:36 AM | #163 |
Big Bad Wolf.
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Raiding tombs.
Posts: 9,529
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Quote:
I watched the first half, of the first season, of Garo. I really enjoyed it, but at the time I didn't have a forum to chat to people about Toku, and so I eventually lost the motivation to watch it.
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09-11-2013, 09:50 AM | #164 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,410
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Quote:
Just watched the first episode of Daimajin Kanon.
Usually these non KR SS toku shows have measly budgets, at least from my experiences, so it blew me away how epic and movie like this opening episode was. I'm assuming they won't be able to afford to keep this up for the whole series but it is welcome here. My only real issue is it is damn slow, the majority of the first episode was fanservice - no complaints from me and the sort of hipster cinematography you usually get in like indie romance flicks. Once again, no real complaints, but ain't this supposed to be toku? Still, when the supernatural and the action does start, it's pretty great. The show does horror very well, there is some real creepy shit, but also the violence feels less fantastical than in your usual toku superhero show. People get hurt, badly here and people die. Sadly though, on the other hand, the sparks, explosion and wirefu of toku superhero shows does a great job of creating comic book like action on a budget. I've gotten into drunken brawls outside of pubs that are more fantastical than the action included here. So for every time the action works, by feeling grounded, there is another time when you're wondering why two super powered beings fight so statically and boringly. The thing to keep in mind about Kanon, though, is that if you're expecting an action-packed superhero show like Kamen Rider or Super Sentai, you're going to be disappointed. The show's main focus is, first and foremost, on the character interactions and Kanon's depression. There are still scenes with the Ipadada and Onbakes every episode, but a lot of them go by pretty quickly and they can often be interspersed with more scenes between Kanon and whoever she's interacting with during the current storyline. If you can't get past that, you probably won't like the show very much. If it works for you, though, you'll likely love the show. |
09-11-2013, 09:54 AM | #165 |
Big Bad Wolf.
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Raiding tombs.
Posts: 9,529
|
Character drama and romance are both fine with me, but it does seem a little odd to include monsters and action into your romance drama, if you're gonna do it so crappily. It didn't feel quite as tacked on as the Megazord sections of an episode of Power Ranger's, but with all the careful artistic imagery of the episode, the clunky static fight in the alley felt brutally half arsed and uneeded.
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09-11-2013, 12:53 PM | #166 |
I have a problematic type
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 10,410
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Quote:
Character drama and romance are both fine with me, but it does seem a little odd to include monsters and action into your romance drama, if you're gonna do it so crappily. It didn't feel quite as tacked on as the Megazord sections of an episode of Power Ranger's, but with all the careful artistic imagery of the episode, the clunky static fight in the alley felt brutally half arsed and uneeded.
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09-11-2013, 01:03 PM | #167 |
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Lexington, Ky
Posts: 16,328
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I just got my incredibly inexpensive Daimajin Trilogy Blu-Rays in. Very excited to watch these films this week. Loved what I've seen of Daimajin Kanon but wanted to see the originals before finishing the series.
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09-11-2013, 10:26 PM | #168 |
Uchu Kaiju
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 1,669
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I have the older Daimajin DVDs; they are very unique among their daikaiju brethren!
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09-14-2013, 12:25 AM | #169 |
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Lexington, Ky
Posts: 16,328
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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
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09-14-2013, 09:12 PM | #170 |
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Lexington, Ky
Posts: 16,328
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Return of Daimajin
As brilliant and original as the first film was this one is a major retread of the plot. In a different land this time, a jealous lord from beyond the mountains seeks control of 2 neighboring kingdoms. So he takes over these completely peaceful lands and kills scores of innocent people. All because the people of his land have been seeking refuge in the neighboring lands. Different circumstance for the bad guy, but the same basic premise. As is the notion that destroying the statue of Daimajin will prove there are no such things as demons or god's wrath to invoke. The difference this time is that the statue is literally blown up and the only wrath you see if some furious red lightning. Daimajin also grants princess Sayuri and her aid safety from the explosion and following avalanche of stone and deadly lightning. He even delivers the missing lord of Chigusa, Juro, mostly safely to Sayuri. Daimajin is a bit more forgiving this go around if you ask me. And all of this good will is because Sayuri offered to sacrifice her life to awaken the god, just like the last film. This movie even goes so far as to replicate Tadafumi's failed infiltration from the first film. Juro and his sidekick are the infiltrators, though they successfully kidnap the evil lord Danjo who has taken there land, they fail to keep him for long. The climax forms similarly as well, with the heroes being strung up to be killed and Daimajin coming to the "rescue". Daimajin's rampage is nearly identical to the first film, even down to Danjos men trying to tie it up like an AT-AT on Hoth. It destroys everything in it's path yet again and when the deed is done he leaves the fair maiden alive and then disappears. Instead of turning into a pile of dust he becomes water. This film was good but not nearly as good as the first. Hardly a sequel, this film could have been watched first and still be taken as though it were the first in the series. I really wish there was a better definition of time and relation between the films. When/where do they take place and are they at all in relation to each other?
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