Unlike some of the other reviews, this is for the subtitled version of KIBAKICHI--not the dubbed version. In practically every case, I prefer subtitled though I really don't know how well the dubbing was.
This is a very weird film for Western audiences and one that probably won't appeal to the average person. The story itself seems strongly inspired by Japanese manga or anime, as so many of the story elements seem identical or similar to those in popular Japanese stories and cartoons (most notably, the very popular INUYASHA). Like INUYASHA, many of the characters are animal spirits in human form and some of them love the taste of human flesh. However, the story is a bit weirder and is full of odd anachronisms. Though the story appears to be set sometime before Japan modernized in the Meiji period (by the dress and feudalism), some of the characters sport modern leather clothes, use Gatling guns and throw very modern-looking grenades!! Trying to make sense of this as well as some of the odd action in the film is probably more trouble than it's worth--it's best to not question and just watch.
The title character, Kibakichi, is one of these animals in human form, though for almost the entire movie he is in human form. However, towards the very bloody ending, he reveals himself to be a werewolf. Other characters, for example, are spiders in human form and love the taste of human flesh. Not surprisingly, there is a lot of prejudice towards these creatures and the film appears to make you feel sorry for them and see them as basically good--but they WERE eating people!! This makes it very hard to really care about the wicked humans or the nice but dietary challenged animals in human form.
As I said before, this is a movie best viewed with your brain turned off and your eyes wide open to take in all the sword play and action. I thought it was generally pretty well done despite all the silly and cheesy elements, but I do have a higher than normal tolerance for the weird. For lovers of Japanese cinema, fantasy and anime, this is probably an excellent film to watch. For others, it will probably confuse you or make you laugh.
By the way, while you see a lot or arms and head hacked off and they are often accompanied by geyser-like sprays of blood, I found these scenes not the least bit scary or gross. They seemed more like the Black Knight scene from MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL. However, with this violence and a brief glimpse of a woman's breasts, parents might want to think twice about letting Junior see this one.
This is a very weird film for Western audiences and one that probably won't appeal to the average person. The story itself seems strongly inspired by Japanese manga or anime, as so many of the story elements seem identical or similar to those in popular Japanese stories and cartoons (most notably, the very popular INUYASHA). Like INUYASHA, many of the characters are animal spirits in human form and some of them love the taste of human flesh. However, the story is a bit weirder and is full of odd anachronisms. Though the story appears to be set sometime before Japan modernized in the Meiji period (by the dress and feudalism), some of the characters sport modern leather clothes, use Gatling guns and throw very modern-looking grenades!! Trying to make sense of this as well as some of the odd action in the film is probably more trouble than it's worth--it's best to not question and just watch.
The title character, Kibakichi, is one of these animals in human form, though for almost the entire movie he is in human form. However, towards the very bloody ending, he reveals himself to be a werewolf. Other characters, for example, are spiders in human form and love the taste of human flesh. Not surprisingly, there is a lot of prejudice towards these creatures and the film appears to make you feel sorry for them and see them as basically good--but they WERE eating people!! This makes it very hard to really care about the wicked humans or the nice but dietary challenged animals in human form.
As I said before, this is a movie best viewed with your brain turned off and your eyes wide open to take in all the sword play and action. I thought it was generally pretty well done despite all the silly and cheesy elements, but I do have a higher than normal tolerance for the weird. For lovers of Japanese cinema, fantasy and anime, this is probably an excellent film to watch. For others, it will probably confuse you or make you laugh.
By the way, while you see a lot or arms and head hacked off and they are often accompanied by geyser-like sprays of blood, I found these scenes not the least bit scary or gross. They seemed more like the Black Knight scene from MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL. However, with this violence and a brief glimpse of a woman's breasts, parents might want to think twice about letting Junior see this one.