Review: "Daimajin" somehow manages to succeed as two types of films. It will definitely satisfy film fans looking for a great Japanese period piece that's ripe with mysticism and betrayal, but also offers a 40 foot tall nipple for Kaiju fans to suckle on to their hearts content. These two styles merge together seamlessly, and manage to play off of each other creatively.

The entire film is more or less set up for the impending rubber suit attack during the finale. But instead of brewing up some boring filler, Yasuda and company craft a competent story that is home to some great dramatic moments and some calm, though very welcome cinematography. "Daimajin" enjoys taking its time without making its storyline convoluted, and there is a nice amount of wide-open shots that allow you to absorb the superb surroundings.

Samanosuke's ruthless nature rises and rises like a crescendo, which really gets the saliva pouring out, since every thought rolling through your mind will be to the tune of, "Good God, Daimajin is going to kick the living shit out of this guy, he's screwed!". It's both a blessing and a curse that we all know this is going to happen. It's hard not to imagine how amazing it would be to come into this movie completely oblivious to the fact that it's truly a Kaiju Destroy All Bastards smash em up at heart. Think of the surprise and orgasmic glee one would experience when first seeing the vengeful God spring to life. Well, if there was anyone left that would have been surprised, there sure as hell isn't now.

The main cast and supporting characters work nicely here. At one point in the movie, Prince Tadafumi flees the mountains to help save one of the other few remaining supporters of the fallen lord. This sequence alone is reminiscent of the Tenchu games on Playstation, at least in the stealth aspects and the atmosphere. Though it's merely noticeable due to the time period it's set in, this scene is at least worthy of a quick mention. The priestess manages to be an extraordinarily kind lady, what with her taking in the children, though at the same time she is cryptic as can be when confronted with the evil lord Samanosuke, as she can awaken the spirit of the God Majin herself.

It's the whole feeling of inevitable onslaught that drives the first hour of "Daimajin" home, though. It's almost as if you get to laugh at all the evil fools the whole time, planning out the order they'll get obliterated in. That being said, the Kaiju action in the films epic finale is exceptional. All of the subtle theme music that has popped up throughout the films course rises to an absolute explosion as buildings are smashed piece by piece, and every one in the big guy's path gets tossed to the wayside with extreme prejudice. The special effects hold up well after almost 40 years, with brilliant color schemes that bring purple stormy skies to life and Daimajin's green pissed off mug jumps off of the screen. The entire attack is so slow and lumbering, but no detail is spared so as to display it with the utmost ferocity.