Yôkai daisensô (The Great Yokai War) (2005)

67% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(3,131 ratings)

A group of grotesque supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore enlist the aid of a young boy recently bestowed with the title of Kirin Rider in defeating a powerful dark overlord who preys on humans and monsters alike in this kid-friendly fantasy from Takashi Miike. As a series of bizarre… More A group of grotesque supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore enlist the aid of a young boy recently bestowed with the title of Kirin Rider in defeating a powerful dark overlord who preys on humans and monsters alike in this kid-friendly fantasy from Takashi Miike. As a series of bizarre supernatural incidents plague the Japanese countryside and scores of children go missing, a mysterious series of mechanical monster attacks led by a dark mistress (Chiaki Kuriyama) sends the country into a panicked frenzy. In the midst of the otherworldly chaos, a young boy named Takashi (Ryunosuke Kamiki) is named Kirin Rider at a rural shrine festival and sent into the hills to claim his sword from the Great Goblin as local legend dictates. Arriving at his destination to find that the mountain is populated by a variety of ghoulish inhabitants visible only to his eye, Takashi pledges to save his new Yokai friends and put an end to the apocalyptic plot set into motion by an evil entity determined to destroy mankind. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 3 min.
Directed By: Takashi Miike
Written By: Hiroshi Aramata, Takashi Miike, Shigeru Mizuki, Mitshuiko Sawamura
Genres: Action & Adventure, Kids & Family, Art House & International, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 6, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Sep 12, 2006
Studio: Shochiku Co. Ltd.

Critic Reviews

Bill Stamets, Chicago Sun-Times
This noisy, effects-crazed PG-13 adventure might work for 10 year-olds who are beyond Nickelodeon piffle and ready for Japanese splatter.
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader
With its scenes of mass destruction in Tokyo and its climactic mushroom cloud, the movie owes a psychic debt to the atomic-monster movies of the 50s and 60s, but its overriding tone is one of endless, giddy invention.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
... Miike's epic undertaking is probably best appreciated as the first stab at a live-action version of a Hayao Miyazaki ecologically minded extravaganza like Princess Mononoke.
A.O. Scott, New York Times
Takashi Miike's excursion into extravagant and demented fantasy combines folkloric elements with images from contemporary Japanese popular culture.
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice
The film makes no more or less sense than Ridley Scott's Legend or Jim Henson's Labyrinth, and in fact has a creaky, blue-gel '80s-ness to it, but for many, keeping up with Miike's cranked output is an end in itself.
Jay Weissberg, Variety
Odd blend of the truly cheesy with a few genuine f/x makes for a cutesy if not exactly thrilling spectacle.
Steve Biodrowski, ESplatter
The Yokai War, when it finally comes, is pretty near an unmitigated disaster, filled with silly special effects and sillier action.
Frank Lovece, Film Journal International
At just over two slow-moving hours, this picture might well outlast the narrow audience at which it's aimed-very young kids who can read subtitles quickly.
Rudy Joggerst, Reel.com
Miike's inventive and old-fashioned way of filmmaking has an odd and special charm that makes the movie a delight to watch.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Its warmth and silliness are distracting enough, even when the plot fails.
Bryant Frazer, Bryant Frazer's Deep Focus
Imagine Kwaidan cross-bred with The NeverEnding Story and directed by Terry Gilliam.
Mark R. Leeper, rec.arts.movies.reviews
This is a wild adventure that is not always easy to follow, but it is a font of comedy and macabre imagination with a wonderful Japanese flavor.
Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton, Dread Central
The end product packs enough punch to please both children and Miike fans alike. That in itself is a great achievment.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A fable of childhood's end with monsters, Miike's goofy, gallant, action-packed fantasy deserves to become a classic family film.
Louis Proyect, rec.arts.movies.reviews
A children's film--with a difference.
Collin Souter, eFilmCritic.com
It's like a live-action Hayao Miyazaki film. It's an indescribable, hilarious and insane piece of work that also has a refreshingly old-school feel to it.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Ariuza k

My god how did he go from Making Ichi the Killer "Takashi Miike" to making a children's (Kids) fantasy movie with such bizarre horror yet fantastically photography and elements to do with it. By horror I mean some of the creatures are just so freighting and some are so… More
My god how did he go from Making Ichi the Killer "Takashi Miike" to making a children's (Kids) fantasy movie with such bizarre horror yet fantastically photography and elements to do with it. By horror I mean some of the creatures are just so freighting and some are so colourful and alive. I would also like to thank Jesse P for reminding me about this I can easily forget this after watching Spirited Away (because the two films are alike). I must say for the first time we see Miike creative detail come right out of him when he is no dreaming up the most disgusting way to die, these creatures no doubt came from Japanese's mythology (I myself am Korean) to bring this spectacular that no doubt can prove that Miyazaki isn't the only one around with talent. A young boy is moving because of his parents divorce and they stop at a festival where for some reason he is chosen to be a "Kirin Rider" to protect all things that are good. And he himself must lead this war in the spirited world against all things that are evil even though he himself wants nothing to do with it. It is like something Miyazaki would make with all the detail and designs on creatures though its not animated. And I think Miike himself drew all this himself which proves he doesn't have that much of a messed up mind. The creatures them selves are frighting yet some are really amazing looking "but still can be strange" The prove they can act I admit but it isn't always strong most times. The visuals are breathtaking but it always proves that a film doesn't always have to be on CGI. This movie does something different when it comes to that. The last thing I will see is the music really good and I think that's it. Where the hell was this movie when I was young? Come to a close and I say see it if you love this stuff. Still one of the trippiest things i have seen, An acid trip you would fuck you up while watching this.
Tsubaki S

Don't let the cover fool you, or even the source material, this is far from being the usual family friendly flick. It' s far more rewarding from what most people would think. Once you see pass some of the cheesy effects and the slow parts you'll find that the film has… More
Don't let the cover fool you, or even the source material, this is far from being the usual family friendly flick. It' s far more rewarding from what most people would think. Once you see pass some of the cheesy effects and the slow parts you'll find that the film has more brains, guts and creativity than all those by-the-numbers-kiddy-friendly fantasy flicks that hollywood is crapping these days.
Greg S

Aided by friendly Yokai (spirits), a cowardly boy must overcome his fears to avert the destruction of Tokyo. Fun and visually impressive family fantasy from "extreme" Japanese director Takashi Miike; the best part are the dozens upon dozens of Yokai, each unique, from a… More
Aided by friendly Yokai (spirits), a cowardly boy must overcome his fears to avert the destruction of Tokyo. Fun and visually impressive family fantasy from "extreme" Japanese director Takashi Miike; the best part are the dozens upon dozens of Yokai, each unique, from a turtle man to a woman with an infinitely extensible neck to a living umbrella. Amereican kids would love it, except for the subtitles.
Justin Y

Entertaining movie with fantasy type creatures. This was said to be the Japanese answer to Harry Potter, but I thought it was more of an answer to Labyrinth. The movie is also more on the dark side and probably wouldn't suit a really… More
Entertaining movie with fantasy type creatures. This was said to be the Japanese answer to Harry Potter, but I thought it was more of an answer to Labyrinth. The movie is also more on the dark side and probably wouldn't suit a really young crowd as it seems it was made for. If your a fan of Chiaki Kuriyama you will most likely enjoy this movie as well. And yes she does play a villain once again.
Dean M

Good Japanese kid-friendly fantasy and these grotesque supernatural creatures are funny.
Marion R

It was interesting to see the "live versions" of the Yokai's which I have been fascinated with. I really enjoyed the beginning of the film, in fact all three beginnings were nice, cool and strange, but the ending was lame. The pacing was off, some parts were rushed… More
It was interesting to see the "live versions" of the Yokai's which I have been fascinated with. I really enjoyed the beginning of the film, in fact all three beginnings were nice, cool and strange, but the ending was lame. The pacing was off, some parts were rushed others dragged by. This film was aimed towards children which is strange that the most cool part happens right at the beginning. In fact what made the ending so lame was that it wasn't even a yokai war, it was one rogue yokai vs. the child Kirin Rider. That can hardly be called war. I really wanted to like this, but it was just meh.
FanGirl B

Takashi Miike's version of a kids film. I think if I know the culture better I would have enjoyed this film even more. I finally understand the purpose of festivals thanks to this film.