Featured Audience Ratings

• Devon B

  
  Movies don't come more oddball than this. Japan's version of "Hancock" is also a loving tribute to the 60s live action kids shows. Big Man Japan is a "mockumentary" following the life of Masaru Daisato, a seemingly ordinary, middle-aged and divorced… More
  Movies don't come more oddball than this. Japan's version of "Hancock" is also a loving tribute to the 60s live action kids shows. Big Man Japan is a "mockumentary" following the life of Masaru Daisato, a seemingly ordinary, middle-aged and divorced loser who's having trouble making money and yet seems to be very famous (and disliked by the general population). People throw rocks through his window and write critical graffiti on his wall. Masaru however, is a super hero and must be on call 24 hours a day, for he never knows when he must leap into action to defend the country from giant monsters. It's these bizarre monsters that are the true stars of the movie, from the giant, "hugging" monster with the comb-over to the "evil stare" monster with the cooked chicken body and the phallic eyeball. Masaru grows great big and then chases down these creatures and confronts them (generally he doesn't defeat the monsters so much as they clumsily take themselves out). Everytime a monster dies, it's soul floats up to heaven on a beam of light. The clumsy battles are broadcast on television, albiet to very low ratings (Masaru must cover his body in advertisements just to keep on the air). Every scene involving the monsters is disturbingly surreal and funny all at once. Unfortunately, the documentary portion of the film takes up a great deal of the time. It's not that these scenes aren't compelling in their own right (while furthering the plot), it's just that they aren't very entertaining for the most part. The ending throws out the very premise the film is based upon (the notion that all these creatures are real), and gives us a cheaply done Power Rangers-type production of bad costumes and a badly choreographed fight scene. Yes, I realize this was supposed to be parodying that type of Japanese superhero program, but it feels tacked on and lazy, as if they didn't know how to end it so they went for something easy. Plus, it sort of negates the entire film they just made. I suppose it could be construed as a slightly political jab at the US (what with the red, white and blue super family coming to save the day) but even that is heavy-handed and not very funny. In any regard, it's not a great film, but it is for the most part, an entertaining one (marred, if slightly by a less-than-witty ending).

• Tsubaki S

  
  More than just a homage to kaiju flicks, you can feel Matsumoto is meditating a lot about the routine of living in Japan for a middle age man. A clever approach with a dead-pan comedy style that suits the whole thing very well. The final act was unpredictable but quite fun, and seeing… More
  More than just a homage to kaiju flicks, you can feel Matsumoto is meditating a lot about the routine of living in Japan for a middle age man. A clever approach with a dead-pan comedy style that suits the whole thing very well. The final act was unpredictable but quite fun, and seeing Riki Takeuchi as a big jumping monster is always a plus.

• Randy T

  
  I know a lot of people hated this one, but I for one thought it was hysterically funny. The monsters are totally outrageous and the ineptness of the 'hero' makes him completely identifiable. Highly recommended for the visuals and the creative "bizarreness" (just… More
  I know a lot of people hated this one, but I for one thought it was hysterically funny. The monsters are totally outrageous and the ineptness of the 'hero' makes him completely identifiable. Highly recommended for the visuals and the creative "bizarreness" (just don't take it too seriously).

• Steve K

  
  A terrific idea ultimately done in by overlength. An enjoyable main character, some fun, goofy, and slightly disturbing monsters, and the documentary approach help pull you through it.

• El Hombre I

  
  A mockumentary about a man on the Japanese government's payroll to transform himself into a giant and battle creatures that threaten. Depressed and lonely, he apprehensively carries out his duties trying to live up to others who held the same position, but isn't nearly as… More
  A mockumentary about a man on the Japanese government's payroll to transform himself into a giant and battle creatures that threaten. Depressed and lonely, he apprehensively carries out his duties trying to live up to others who held the same position, but isn't nearly as popular among the country's population. His lackluster fighting skills have him scraping the bottom of the barrel to the point of being sponsored by advertisers and sporting logos on his body while his agent tries to get him better ratings on reality tv. Silly most of the time, but enjoyable enough if you're a fan of kaiju films.

• JY S

  
  If there are any people that are fans of Japanese movies in general, then this film should be on their "must see" list.<p>This film plays out like a documentary, or a "mockumentary" if I may say so. The synopsis for this film may fool a lot of people into… More
  If there are any people that are fans of Japanese movies in general, then this film should be on their "must see" list.<p>This film plays out like a documentary, or a "mockumentary" if I may say so. The synopsis for this film may fool a lot of people into thinking this is an action packed monster-movie, but it isn't. This "mockumentary" moves at a really slow pace and, although humorous at times, is mostly serious, making it feel like a drama. The film does a nice job of giving us a lot of back story and details about the main characters life, but at times it moves just a little bit too slow. Luckily there are a good number of CG monster fights to balance out the slow parts.</p><p>The CG is actually pretty good. The details of Dai Nipponjin's body is done nicely along with the out of this world monsters. The film also does a good job of giving us some details of each monster that appears on screen. Not really necessary, but it is funny and consistent.</p><p>The acting done by Hitoshi Matsumoto is done well. He may seem bland and boring, but it fits the movie nicely. This is also his first direction and writing in a movie. Pretty good job.</p><p>The ending. Oh my god, the ending. I was going to give this film 3 stars, but the ending, or the last 10 minutes of this film, added another half star. Let me say that the ending is nothing you would expect in your wildest dreams. I'll just leave it that, so you can watch it for yourself. Funny stuff.</p><p>This film gives a little of almost everything, which is why I recommend this film to Japanese movie watchers in general. Comedy, drama, documentary, and science fiction genres appear throughout this film. Go and give this a watch.

• John B

  
  Dai Nipponjin is a perfect spoof of the kaiju genre from Japan and is absolutely hilarious. Not an easy film to find but it is wonderful. What do kaiju do once they have outlived their usefulness?

• Ryan M

  
  7.9/10 Hilariously awesome in that super-odd and super-endearing sort of Japanese way, "Big Man Japan" is the monster movie that we've all been asking for; and the mockumentary that we never thought we'd see. The Japanese have always been known for their… More
  7.9/10 Hilariously awesome in that super-odd and super-endearing sort of Japanese way, "Big Man Japan" is the monster movie that we've all been asking for; and the mockumentary that we never thought we'd see. The Japanese have always been known for their weird cultural aspects, and "Big Man Japan" wants to create a satire out of Japanese politics and culture; but in a non-offensive way. In fact, "Big Man Japan" does not aim to offend; it simply wants to make us laugh. And if you're the right kind of person, you will laugh. If you're like me, you'll actually find yourself laughing a lot. I'm the kind of person who can appreciate weird cinema at its weirdest. I have no doubt seen even weirder than the likes of "Big Man Japan", but it's still pretty odd; even by my extremely high "weirdness" standards. And that's saying something, oddly enough. If I have one major complaint about this movie, it's that it has a bad advertising campaign. The trailers suggest a full-out monster movie filled with brawls. Yes, this film is about the "big man" fighting the monsters and demons out of Japan, but it's also a smart mockumentary with a central character that we care about. In fact, the hilarious, CGI generated fight scenes come secondary to the character and his personality for most of the time. I can't believe on saying this, but that works to this film's advantage. It makes "Big Man Japan" a better-than-average monster flick; and a damn good satire as well. The most I can say is that I haven't laughed at a movie send-off sequence this much in quite some time. Believe me, this is funny stuff. It's an ingenious little film that should not be avoided; and will probably end up being one of the weirdest movies you ever see. It is for certain a cult classic if not a classic of the "odd cinema". It's probably a classic of both, but it's made for those who can enjoy it. For what it is, "Big Man Japan" is spectacular. And you really need to take it for what it is to enjoy it, and that's what I did. So maybe that explains why I enjoyed this delightfully camp-filled action-comedy. It's one of the best I've seen in a while. It's guaranteed to make you laugh. The film is presented as a mockumentary one moment; and a giant hell of a monster movie the next. The story follows a man named Daisato, who has a strange and unique ability. His ability is that of growth; and expansion comes from shock. He consistently shocks himself so he can become "Big Man Japan"; the titular character who fights off the monsters that forever terrorize his country. There have been many "big men" before this one, and out of each and every one of them, Daisato is the lamest. He has trouble balancing his celebrity life with his personal life; as he also has a daughter who he is seldom allowed to see due to his odd jobs. He has a history; and therefore he is a character worth following. And strangely, his best scenes are not the hilarious fight scenes, but rather the sequences in which we learn a little more about him. That is what I liked about this film; it had a story and it had characters. Sure, a lot of the high points of the story involve something really crazy and ridiculous happening, but it's not that bad for a movie like this. It offers something that manages to be more than you probably bargained for. You get a good monster movie, a good comedy, and a good mockumentary all in one. It's not very often that we get a movie like this, yet here we are. I think there is reason to see "Big Man Japan"; one of the bigger reasons being because the film exists. And why not see it just because it exists? It's funny, fresh, and accessible to just about anyone. It doesn't take much to appreciate the uniqueness of the film, and there's not much "wrong" with it as it is. It's pretty damn good as a campy action flick, and as one of those, it's one of the best out there. I say give it a go. Hitoshi Matsumoto puts on an eccentric and surprisingly engaging leading performance in this film. Somehow, the crafty bastard manages to make a presumably disposable character interesting through giving him a likable personality. You wouldn't expect a movie like this to be anything but superbly entertaining, but "Big Man Japan" also features plenty of substance; one thing out of the whole being Matsumoto's performance as an actor. He also works well as the director of this film. I guess that's how weird directors and weird films work best; working together every moment. This film is really, really funny. And as a monster film from Japan, it kind of should be. This ain't "Godzilla" we're talking about here; we're talking about a unique spin on the monster genre that lets itself loose when it comes to humor and ideas. This film is pretty darn creative for what it is; and it delivers one of the most singularly entertaining films I've seen in quite a while. I've laughed hard in many films; but this one has made me laugh out of its campiness (all of which is surely intentional). I laughed in the CGI fight sequences (which were ridiculous to the max). I even laughed in the final sequence (which is virtually unexplainable aside from the fact that it includes a league of very strange super-heroes and one big devil-monster). There is a LOT to laugh at here; and the film gives you many options to which things you really want to chuckle at. You see; I like that. If you understand Japanese political themes, then you will laugh at the references. If you laugh at pure absurdity, then you will laugh at the film's fight sequences. This if not a film for everyone per se, but it's a film for many people none the less. Most will probably have fun with the film; but only if you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the hilarious Japanese ride. It's not regrettable, and it's a film worth seeing. At least now I have seen one of the best Japanese monster movies since the original "Godzilla". And that's a big achievement for me. Seriously, how can you NOT find a film as bat-shit crazy as this HILARIOUS? Sure, some won't like it. Some don't like having this much fun; and then some just won't find such silliness "funny". But I do, and I like the weirdness of Japan (for the most part). There's a lot to look at here, and while it's mostly just funny and absurd, I also like the effort and craft that was put into the script of this film. It's actually funny, and it takes a big film- or in this case, a big man- to make that aspect work for a film like this. I have seen many monster films; and I have seen many of them fail. This one is funny and fresh; just the kind of antidote I've been looking for. In fact, I'd love to give Matsumoto a big, fat high-five just for making this flick. He should know that MANY people enjoy his work here. And apparently, he's the guy to go to when it comes to campy monster movies. He has made a parody, a homage, and a satire all in one big movie. This is the kind of film that shouldn't work. Why it does is beyond me, but I think it has something to do with the amount of ridiculousness contained in the thing. If it hadn't been for Hitoshi Matsumoto's extremes, then this film's appeal and success would not have been possible. And while it's no classic, "Big Man Japan" is definitely going to be a cult hit one day. Just you wait; one day, this thing will be considered great. Maybe it will even be considered big.

• matt s

  
  Interesting premise, yet it moves at a snail's pace and the CGI makes this film look like a live adaptation of the old Rampage games. I would like to see America take this premise and stretch it out, make it amazing, but we already have the Hulk (and Ang Lee's version is… More
  Interesting premise, yet it moves at a snail's pace and the CGI makes this film look like a live adaptation of the old Rampage games. I would like to see America take this premise and stretch it out, make it amazing, but we already have the Hulk (and Ang Lee's version is better than you remember). Eh, I guess wanted a cult classic and got stuck with boredom 20 mins in.

• Christopher B

  
  Brilliant! Expertly done take on the monster movie, mixed with a downbeat docudrama of a very unhappy man. I've heard some mention the slow pace as a criticism, but I thought it was perfect in setting the mood for the whole piece. I enjoyed the camera following the lead to the… More
  Brilliant! Expertly done take on the monster movie, mixed with a downbeat docudrama of a very unhappy man. I've heard some mention the slow pace as a criticism, but I thought it was perfect in setting the mood for the whole piece. I enjoyed the camera following the lead to the power factory on his motorcycle (with a beautiful score) as much as I loved the fight once he "powered up". I loved the interviews as much as I loved the ludicrous monsters. Hell, I just loved it. Touches of black humour (the scene with his daughter) do elicit laughs, without interrupting the downbeat drama aspect of the film. Simply fantastic. And oh what an ending. I'm anxiously awaiting the director's next film, the guy is an incredible talent.

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