In A Heart of Darkness Lies a Battle For This World and the Next. During a dark age of demons and ghosts, the Heian Emperor relies upon the imperial order of the Onmyoji to protect the kingdom. However, as the birth of the emperor’s heir approaches, political intrigue and jealousy will lead to the most dangerous of betrayals-from within the Onmyoji and the Emperor’s family! It will be up to the most talented of the order, Seimei, to face his master, Doson, and the dark magic that threatens to destroy them all! Onmyoji the movie is based on the famous serial novels set during the popular Heian period by author Baku Yumemakura. Theatrically released in Japan, October 2001, “Onmyoji” played in over 2500 screens and grossed more than 3.1 billion Yen (approximately $23.6 million dollars).” A mystical tale set in Japan’s Heian era (794-1185 A.D.), when demons and sorcery lent intrigue to the business of ruling the kingdom, Onmyoji was Japan’s box office king in 2001. The emperor Mikado and his infant son are the targets of evil spells, and someone amidst the Onmyoji, the longtime supernatural guardians of the kingdom, is suspected of betrayal. A bumbling and somewhat cowardly court official named Minamoto no Hiromaki recruits the famed Japanese folk hero SeiMei, an easygoing yin-yang sorcery master, to help solve the mystery. The two develop a Holmes and Watson relationship while trying to thwart the conspirators. The movie fails to achieve much dramatic tension over a long two hours. With the exception of Mansai Nomura as SeiMei, the acting is exaggerated, as in bad theater. Some shoddy scene and sound editing leads to some clumsy transitions, and the special effects and fight scenes are of the made-for-TV quality. Still, with a lineup that includes Japanese pop idols Kyoko Koizumi and Eriko Imai and villains that cackle with such enthusiasm, Onmyoji nearly qualifies as a campy guilty pleasure. –Eugene Wei
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May 1, 2010
#1
There’s an evil prince and a good prince, aided and abetted by evil and good wizards. Butterflies turn into beautiful maidens. Beautiful maidens either live forever young (forget it – got to eat merman sushi to qualify), turn into delicate paper dolls, or, if the wizard is prankish, turn back into butterflies.
Our hero, Hiromasa, is a young, junior grade wizard, a wise man in waiting, an onmyoji in ONMYOJI. Spends most of his time playing flute solos in front of closed carriage of a mopishly beautiful, eternally youthful maiden. Falls in love with her, apparently by osmosis – how do you fall in love with a sigh machine, anyway? Hiromasa’s boss is Seimei, a yin-yang master of the complex spells with a strange sense of humor who may, or may not, help the Mikado when his newborn son is threatened by the evil machinations of boss bad wizard Doson.
With plenty of supernatural elements, the plot is both busy and superficial. The characters are pretty shallow, and production values are campishly low. There’s a supernatural bird and a sick animatronic baby that look like they were purchased at a dollar store. ONMYOJI recalls the spirit, if not the particulars, of the old Gene Autry and Roy Rogers programmers of my Saturday morning television youth. No central love story, or much graphic violence. Target audience, adolescents. With its indifferent acting, stylized and unambitious action it seems more or less the same as those bygone cookie cutter westerns. Some of the special effects are laughably bad.
ONMYOJI was comfortably interesting, an unusual flight of fantasy. Good Saturday morning fare, safe for the whole family.
May 1, 2010
#2
I picked up this movie based on reviews I had read, and I came in with somewhat good expectations. Unfortunately I was sorely disappointed. Though the costuming is great, and the theory behind the story is interesting, the exceedingly slow pacing reduces the movie to what is quite frankly an excruciating experience. I actually fell asleep 2/3 of the way through because of the pacing.
Needless to say I’m putting my copy up on ebay shortly, and I recommend renting this or borrowing from a friend before you buy one yourself.
May 1, 2010
#3
The question here is if you can get past the campiness of this particular rendition. I originally purchased this while at Kinokuniya because I loved the miniseries version of the whole Abe no Seimei legends from (I think) Fuji Television. Although that production had a lower budget, I found that it was better written and soundly produced with better acting for an overall rather good retelling of these fun and compelling sword & sorcery epics from the Heian period.
I had several problems with this rendition. Overall I liked it mostly because I love old tales of the Onmyoji, and I felt that although the treatment of the story was almost Godzilla featurette-esque. Seimei appears here as a omniscient superhero complete with smiling arms-akimbo stance a la those old black & white Superman serials save for the foppish, girlish demeanor given to Seimei by the actor who plays him.
Overall, if you’re not looking for a Kurosawa-esque voyage of cinematic mastery, you might like Onmyoji as long as you liked “Creature Double Feature” on Channel 56 when you were younger.
May 1, 2010
#4
Onmyoji is a fair film which really deserves 3 1/2 stars but is not quite a four.
The plot takes place during the Japanese Heian period, where demons and ghosts can envoke havoc on the living. The havoc in Onmoyoji ranges from slight to down right scary when two Onmoyoji are pitted against each other for control of the imperial city. This battle is brought on by Doson, an Onmoyoji, who wishes to take control of the city anyway he can. He starts by using slight manipulation and treachery before he turns to an all out onslaught of evil spirits to do his bidding. Seimei, another Onmoyoji, is recruited by Hiromasa to battle theses disturbances of the ghostly invaders. Together they unravel a plot of betrayal and trechary, and it’s ultimately the combined powers of both which is needed to try and save the day.
The plot and idea of Onmyoji was an exceptional one. The political intrigue element adds a lot of intelligence to the story and makes the characters plights interesting. Also, the friendship between Seimei and Hiromasa adds a Sherlock Holmes type element to the story which is easy to appreciate. There are also plenty of interesting characters including a demi-god who hangs out with Seimei and can turn into a butterfly, and a guardian of a tomb who can suck in, and spit out evil spirtis as a favor to Seimei. Seimei and Doson also use lots of magical tricks throughout the movie which gives ample opprotunity to use CGI effects. (some of the best I’ve seen in a Japanese production)
After all that praise why only 3 1/2 stars? Mainly because Omnyoji fails to seize opportunities to add more action to the movie. Especially towards the end, when the city is being taken over by ghostly foes. More action would have hit the spot. Overall though, Onmyoji is worth a watch. The cinematograhpy, costuming, and special effects will probabally be enough to hold your attention. You will probabally have to watch it twice to take in the whole story, due to the complicated-ness of the plot, but you’ll notice things the second time around that you may have brushed off the first time. Seimei is nothing else if not deliberate. (You’ll see what I mean)
Note: This film is not like the Vampire Hunting movies in Hong Kong Cinema. It’s not particularly scary, and the battle with the spirits is minimal. This is more of a Japanese fantasy with mystery and intrigue. Keep that in mind while viewing it.
May 1, 2010
#5
Onmmyoji is a terrific little Japanse film. First, if you don’t like Japanese fantasy then you won’t enjoy it but if you’re willing to just relax and go with it, the movie is a lot of fun.
You have a court appointed wizard who’se job is to protect the emperor and his family. Where did he come from and how old is he really are not known. You have a good hearted but bumbling Watson like buddy and you have a the wizard’s assistant who is not human and functions as a witches cat or a living magic wand. Oh and you have a villain who has a huge beef, destroys property and kills a lot of hapless extras and a of course you have a bounty of lovely ladies.
By the end of the movie I learned that if you are brave but stupid it’s really good to have a wizard for a best friend becuase he’s there to repeatedly save you and attempt to educate you.
Villains take a good ten minutes to laugh about their evil plans so you should take your shot while they’re occupied.
Wizards never answer direct questions so don’t even try asking.
If you’re going to fall in love find a woman who has nothing to do with the emperor and move fast becuase she might be dead before the final reel.
Onmyoji is a popcorn and beer movie. It’s highly amusing without scads of graphic violence, sex or hidden agendas. Give it a look see.