Daimajin (1966) is a film that utilizes both the Japanese Samurai Genre and the Japanese Giant Monster Genre - both genres I clearly admire - and turns it into a concept that could have easily worked only if it wasn't for the actual film we got.
Daimajin is the type of monster movie where the monster shows up for like ten minutes at the end, tears up some buildings, and then walks off. The type that leaves you dissatisfied and wanting more. What the heck?! The destruction at the end is some of the best in the genre; it should be the main attraction of the movie, and you utilize it only at the end?
Throughout the movie, you are forced to sit through a Samurai plot that is nowhere near the same level as "Seven Samurai" or "Ran" or "Zatoichi Challenged." It's some dull story about an invasion of an army and the quest to take back the castle. Dull stuff. You know what might have redeemed the bland plot line? If the monster was the central focus of the story! Then it would be a pretty solid monster flick.
Daimajin is the type of monster movie where the monster shows up for like ten minutes at the end, tears up some buildings, and then walks off. The type that leaves you dissatisfied and wanting more. What the heck?! The destruction at the end is some of the best in the genre; it should be the main attraction of the movie, and you utilize it only at the end?
Throughout the movie, you are forced to sit through a Samurai plot that is nowhere near the same level as "Seven Samurai" or "Ran" or "Zatoichi Challenged." It's some dull story about an invasion of an army and the quest to take back the castle. Dull stuff. You know what might have redeemed the bland plot line? If the monster was the central focus of the story! Then it would be a pretty solid monster flick.