Daimajin: Film Trilogy (1966)

Daimajin (aka Majin): Film Trilogy (1966)

Dirs. Various (see below)

A kaijū trilogy produced by Daiei, which is the studio that gave us the original Gamera franchise. The 'Majin' features in all three films, but their stories are otherwise unconnected.

01. The first entry, Daimajin (1966); aka Majin / Majin, the Monster of Terror / Majin, the Hideous Idol [Dir. Kimiyoshi Yasuda], is an altogether more sophisticated breed of film than the big turtle got. It's a quality jidaigeki about clans, control, and a merciless militaristic coup. It's a male dominated tale, but the few women that do feature wield the kind of power that matters.

The creature is like a crushing force of nature or an angry god's retribution personified, punishing the evils of mankind. It takes a long time for its 'kaijū' aspect to appear onscreen, but in all probability you won't miss it because the drama that occupies the remainder of the running time is excellent and holds its own. It keeps colours naturalistic but still manages to look beautiful.

02. The second film, Daimajin Ikaru (1966); aka The Return of Daimajin / The Wrath of Daimajin / Majin Grows Angry / The Return of Giant Majin / The Return of Majin, features two neighbouring villages that aren't financially rich but share a kind of prosperity due to location. The peace and mutual respect that each one enjoys with the other is shattered when a power-hungry Lord from a third village muscles in, wanting that particular wealth for himself.

Directed by Kenji Misumi, it's more dramatic than before, the swordplay is better, and Kenji's way of looking at the world is very different to Yasuda's, but the story isn't quite as good. A similar amount of time passes before the 'creature' is seen, but its presence is felt sooner.

I was unsure if the religious imagery in the first film was coincidence or not, but it sure seemed intentional in the second. It may be that the events were simply borrowed ideas from scripture, not meant as direct reference, or perhaps Japan has similar stories in its own lore. People with more knowledge of Japanese myths, or of the country's relationship with Christianity at the time the movies were made, may be able to answer such questions, but I certainly can't.

03. Daimajin Gyakushu (1966); aka The Return of Majin / Majin's Counterattack / The Revenge of Majin / Majin Strikes Again was directed by the usually reliable Kazuo Mori.

From a village that's quick to announce they're cursed when bad luck befalls them, a small group of boys undertake a perilous journey to do what the adults won't: aid family members who are being held prisoner, forced to carry rocks all day by a tyrannical samurai clan. The task requires that the children traverse the forbidden Majin Mountain, where an angry god resides.

Gyakushu is more of a children's movie than anything else, but despite that the themes of oppression and self-sacrifice that were a defining ingredient of its predecessors are again present. Unfortunately, not all of the child actors are convincing and their slow progress toward Hell's Valley makes the journey feel like it takes twice as long as it actually does.

I should add that Akira Ifukube scored all three films; the second score is arguably the best.