Wonderful character development!

What a waste of my time!!!

Just so...so bad

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Yamato Takeru (known to Americans and Canadians as Orochi, the Eight Headed Dragon) was an expensive special effects production for Toho, yet was directed by Takao Okawara, who had directed some successful films like 1993's Godzilla vs Mechagodzilla and 1992's Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth. However, Yamato Takeru suffers from something of a hallow feel and though still somewhat enjoyable, suffers from some problem areas.The basic story is good, but the film fails to explain some things to the audience and just silently transitions at some points with characters not acting the way you'd think they would. In one scene in particular, when Yamato Takeru is accused of stealing an important sword, Yamato just runs right passed his accuser (who is surrounded by guards). He mumbled to himself, then sends the guards after him. The action scenes are generally well done enough, but there are sequences that definitely could've looked better. And when it comes to probably the best known part of the film, the final battle with Orochi (the eight headed dragon!), the battle is anticlimactic. Yamato Takeru struggles against the dragon, then becomes a sort of giant armored knight, and then just pummels the dragon easily. Not very exciting for the viewer, but perhaps they were limited in what they could do, seeing as how stiff and borderline immobile both the dragon suit/prop and the giant knight looked. But in terms of design, everything looks pretty good, although Orochi itself looks like a giant red slug with modified King Ghidorah heads.The original plan was for a trilogy of films, with this being the first. Sadly, this fantasy epic did not perform well at the box office in Japan, causing a delay and eventually cancellation in the second film, which was never started. Not having seen the first Toho adaptation of these legends, The Three Treasures (1959), I cannot say which is the better film. But while the eye candy is plentiful in this movie with nice props and monsters galore, as an entire film the movie is rather dull.*A word on buying this movie if you are interested: ADV Films released a DVD version of this movie in the region one market (United States, Canada). However, this was about a decade ago and with ADV no longer with us the DVD is long since out of print. You can still attempt to track down a new copy online, but it will cost you. So if you are having trouble finding it, this is why. A VHS release was also offered.

I have sat through this movie twice and I have concluded that this is one of the worst films I have ever seen. Loosely based on Japanese creation myth, it turns into a very bad version of Transformers. The plot is ridiculous, the acting is laughable and the action is plain silly. This is basically a mish mesh of styles, stolen from various genre. You see traces from Japanese as well as other folklore: Greek "Oedipus", Roman "Romulas an Remus", English "Excalibre", Chinese "Journey to the East" and Godzilla and Transformers. Supposedly set in Ancient Japan, the sets and armor looks like it came out of "Conan the Barbarian".If this was an anime, it would be bad. As a live action, it's beyond redemption. Avoid at all cost.

I enjoyed this movie quite a bit. It had some really nice special effects. It was a fun fantasy movie in the same vein as the US Sinbad movies complete with a Dragon. I first saw this as a Japanese import with English subtitles and was glad when it was released here in the US last year on video with English dubbing. The US video title is "Orochi: The Eight Headed Dragon". A fun way to waste a few hours and get lost in your imagination.

I enjoyed this movie a lot, and am frankly surprised that the few reviews I have seen of it have been so harsh. It's beautiful, filled with action and imagination, and fun to watch. Rather than taking itself seriously, as some of the reviews have said, it is perhaps innocent instead of cynical. The story begins with the creation of the universe, then quickly moves to the birth of a future hero, one of a pair of twin princes who must somehow surmount a whole series of harsh circumstances, ruthless enemies and, with the help of the woman he loves, eventually defeat a returning god! I found it well-done, visually enjoyable and fun. It has everything - handsome heroes, evil villains, handsome evil gods, beautiful heroines, sword fighting, cool special effects, mythological creatures, giant monsters, honor, love, sacrifice and triumph. Though for easy reference I called it a Japanese 'Clash of the Titans', I enjoyed it a great deal more than 'Clash'.