Highly Overrated But Still Good

A lot of fun.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Unfortunately, I was not able to watch this movie in its original form, as it had been dubbed into English. While there could be multiple dubbed versions, I assume there is only one and was surprised to see it was described by one reviewer as having "Ernie and Burt" dubbing. That's because while far from perfect, when it comes to Asian martial arts films, there are many, many films with far worse dubbing! Overall, with the so-so dubbing it was still pretty watchable.When the film begins, it appears to be a serious movie about the 17th century massacres of Japanese Christians--an excellent and under-discussed subject from history. No one knows the exact numbers, but at least tens of thousands of converts were ordered brutally killed by the Shogun. The vividness of all the decapitated heads and the rest of the carnage was exceptionally well portrayed for a film from 1981.Unfortunately, instead of remaining a serious historical drama, the film veered off to weirdness when a surviving Christian (and an apparently not very good one) sells his soul to Satan in order to have the power to create death and destruction in retribution both for the massacres AND God's not stopping it. While this is very strange and convoluted logic, his plan works out very well as he's given powers to take anyone from the brink of death and make them servants of the dark forces. Of those enlisted to this evil cause was the mega-famous Musashi Miyamoto--known to history as one of the greatest swordsmen of all time (I'm sure he was rolling in his grave like a rotisserie when this movie came out).The group of demonic beings bent on revenge now numbered five and they set about killing and doing nasty stuff with no real set goal--just destruction for the sake of destruction. Their leader even created a plague that wiped out all the crops and the poor rebelled. While these rebellions are historical facts, I sincerely doubt if demons caused them. In addition to all this, they really enjoyed just being nasty--as in one scene, one of the nicer demonic possessed beings was ordered to rape and murder a girl who looked to be about 12. This, and the copious amounts of nudity make this a film that no sane parent would let their kids see.So, with five maniac demons running amok, who's to stop them? Well, it's up to Jubei Yagyu (played by Sonny Chiba) to obtain a special sword that will allow him to slay these creatures. It turns out that like Musashi, Jubei Yagyu was also a real-life legendary swordsman who lived during this same period (during the massacres). Considering that Chiba is a huge star in Japan and plays the lead, the conclusion of the film isn't a great surprise, but the action is spectacular though a tad goofy due to all the supernatural mumbo-jumbo.Once again, while this is an enjoyable martial arts film, I must point out that this is NOT a film for kids as it has nudity throughout and shows a rather savage attempted rape as well as lots of violence. So despite the Christianity angle, this is NOT a particularly religious or uplifting film--just one with lots of hack and slash!

While Makai Tensho cannot be mistaken for masterpiece film-making, it is definitely a fun-ride for those in love with Samurai movies. The cast is filled with a veritable who's-who of Japanese cinema, including such luminaries as Ken Ogata, Soony Chiba, Tetsuro Tamba. It is also very gratifying to see the venerable Tomisaburo Wakayama (star of the 70's epic Lone Wolf and Cub series), still slicing and dicing with the best of them.The film has some incredible action set pieces, including a stunning showdown in a burning castle. Some of the effects and costumes are a little over-the-top, but the actors seem to be having so much fun, and the direction is so fast paced, that you just can't help but be swept up into the pulp fantasy. Makai Tensho is a gem in modern samurai films.

Maybe I'm strange, but I thought this was the best movie I have ever seen. It seems long, but short too, as you watch it. And maybe, to us Americans, the kabuki style make-up is slightly KISS-like. Still, it was beautiful and thoughtful. I can't even begin to describe the plot. Think Charles Dickens crossed with H.P. Lovecraft. Anyway, here's what I think may have happened... an extremely good-looking Japanese Christian denounces his faith in the beginning, bitter about the whole Shogan clan system and all his friends being killed. He becomes an eternal satanic warlock, who is able to raise other disgruntled spirits from the dead. Over time they get up a group of undead who plan to topple the government. (Not, perhaps without some justification, but remember, they are evil.)On the other side, a one-eyed, fabulously talented swordsman. He's more of a Buddhist, not so interested in eternal vengeance and all. He goes to the most evil swordsman in Japan, and asks him to make him a sword, because only a creature of evil can create a sword that can kill evil ghosts, (or gods). There are many wonderful scenes besides the sword making one. (The swordmaker gives his all and dies.) The Shogun lord is enamoured of one of the undead group, (she's very lovely). I think this may have been his ex-wife whom he had murdered. When the royal court goes out hunting (with beaters dressed in black and white french prisoner costumes???), as the villagers flee before them she says "Oh look, there's a nice deer to shoot", (or something to that effect, and all the courtiers and eventually the prince, begin shooting the villagers with arrows, sort of a mass hallucination). They tie them up on stakes, still thinking they are deer. It was all very surreal. If you like excellent sword fights, good mob scenes, nice nature scenery, and theological conflict, this movie has it all and more. You MUST see it. Oh, and it all ends in flames. Lots and lots of flames. A must see for pyromaniacs as well.

I couldn't watch the entire film the dubbing was so bad. So I turned down the sound and heard nothing. After ten minutes I couldn't watch it either way...which is too bad since it looked like a good film. But this was a serious samurai horror film that was dubbed by people who thought it would be funny to do Erkel or Bert & Ernie voices over a Japanese film. These are the same people who ruined Ninja Wars! It's great for Mystery Science Theatre 3000 but this was a legitimate release!