They're not evil they just like wearing masks!
Unlike Kai, I’m giving this movie a good review because it was artistic and told just enough of a story that it wanted to. As a story writer I don’t like writing too much information into things either, though sometimes I just wish I had more. The story line had me interested, but it just ended, leaving me wanting more! I also got the impression that this was supposed to be the beginning of a series, but it was not to be true. I'm just still really confused to why it ended where it did, it had so much potential to be something truly magnificent, yet it fell short with ending the movie where they did...
The style of animation that they used was truly amazing, this is the thing I liked most about this movie. I think that IG Plus / Production IG team did a great job of capturing the look and feel of the Japan's Heian era. Though I was obviously not around during these times, I really think they really captured how things would have looked during that time period. I loved how everything appeared to have a foggy-haze surrounding it and how the characters would sort of glow in the moonlight. The animations reminded me a of a old style painting, which I believe is what the production team was aiming for.
The story, though historical and interesting, was just missing something at the end. The story just all the sudden ended, and I still am pondering what could have been. Truly, though the story lines were completely different, this movie reminded me allot of another IG Plus / Production IG realese, "Blood, The Last Vampire". Both are visual masterpieces in their own unique way, and that both have great potential story lines that just end in the middle of the story!! It kind of upsets me that this is the second time that this production team has done this because of the fact that the story lines had potential. This is also the production team that did one of my all time favorite Anime Movies (not to be confused with my favorite series)"Ghost In The Shell". I really think that Kai Doh Maru needed just another 10 to 15 minutes to wrap up the story line and it could have turned an OK Anime short story into a great animated movie that takes place in an interesting time in Japanese History.
Overall I enjoyed watching this DVD until the credits started rolling, that just pissed me off!! If watched with an open mind I think you might agree that this particular style of probably one of the most unique styles used in anime. Remember, just keep an opened mind and don't start to compare the style of to your favorite anime movie or series because Kai Doh Maru's style is UNIQUE and truly one of a kind.....
If the ending of Blood the Last Vampire did not bother you too much, then I would highly recommend buying this dvd....
Kai's Thoughts:
But I don't feel like laughing...
This anime was awful. The back of the dvd case actually give you more informative information on the backstory than the feature itself. Its set in the Heian era of Japan in which different political factions, organized gangs, and hereditary rulers were all vying for power. Kintoki is a young girl raised as a boy whose parents are murdered by her uncle and she is next except she is rescued by Raiko, the captain of the "Four Knights", an elite guard of the city of Kyo. She is raised as a samurai and as she reaches the age of 17, she is an equal partner in the defense of the city. Thats when a sorceress, unaware that Kintoki is a woman and is consequently in love with her comes to stir up chaos and death.
Why was this dvd awful? The same people that created Kai Dah Maru created Blood The Last Vampire. That movie was too short. The storyline was very simple so that its brevity didn't interfere with the enjoyment of it that much. The same does not hold true for this movie. You have all these complex intrigues and assasinations and backstory and presentstory and you're cramming it into 45 minutes. Think of any anime series ending after its second episode and you'll understand the problem here. I am not ignorant of Japanese history but I really never understood what was going on in this story. You really can't even figure out who is who character-wise until the show is over. It's like they were trying to do Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in the space of 20 minutes. Truly awful. No development.
In addition to the shortness of the feature, the animation was sorry. I know by reading the cover that the palette was supposed to be influenced by the art of the time period and all this seasonal blah blah blah. What you get is the effect of watching the entire anime through a fog. Picture being in a theater watching a movie through a haze of smoke. Also, during the action scenes, the frames shake in a pitiful attempt to simulate a hand held camera. All it looks like to me is scrolling up and down on a computer screen.
This movie was a total disaster. One guy gets his arm cut off and instead of bleeding to death on the spot, he jumps onto a roof and, as he escapes, yells to his amputator "I won't forget your face!!" The CGI used in this movie also stinks. It does not blend into the scenes. It's like every small flaw in Blood was taken and expanded upon by this anime. In the future, I would suggest that the makers, if they continue to make 45 minute movies, should stick to stories that are simple and that can fit into their time restraints.
There are a lot of extras on this dvd but I didn't look at them because I hated the movie so much what was the point? I’m sorry I couldn’t give a positive review… but this movie just didn’t do it for me… If you want a samurai movie for the action try Samurai X, though even that was a little disappointing. My kind of a samurai movie is Champloo!
A.J.'s Thougts:
That looks painfull... Old-school style...
This is a difficult anime to assess. It comes from Production IG, the studio responsible for 'Blood - the Last Vampire' and 'Ghost in the Shell.' But unlike those anime and others intended for large public exposure, 'Kai Doh Maru' is a far more intimate creation, curiously low key for a tale with this much violence. Intended more as artistic expression than high profile.
The story is set in the late 9th Century in the Heian capital of Kyoto. Action revolves around Kintoki Sakata, the Kai Doh Maru. When an envious uncle wiped out her branch of the Sakata clan, Kintoki escaped and was finally rescued by Lord Raiko Minamoto who is the captain of the Four Knights of the defense ministry. Kintoki has always been a tomboy, and now she sets out to be a warrior, one of Raiko's right hand 'men.'
The overt theme is the political conflict already brewing between the Minamoto and the Taira. Doji Ibaragi is a mad swordsman who serves Kintoki's cousin, Hime Ohni. He uses Hime's own compulsive desire for Kintoki to manipulate events into a crisis. The true theme, amidst the whirl of fighting and betrayal, is Kintoki's fatal effects on the lives of those that love her.
This is all told with the terse minimalism that the Japanese often seem to relish. The ending is sudden, and difficult to grasp. I found it jarring in its sudden tragedy, and I expect that many watchers will feel that 'Kai Doh Maru' is much too short. The film cries out for more detail and character development.
Yet, as an art piece, this film is outstanding. Colors and graphic style have been chosen to recall Heian artistic forms. The images of the capital and characters will stay with you for some time. And the fight chorography is nothing short of remarkable. It all makes the abruptness of the telling forgivable. The DVD includes a long discussion bout the making of the film and a lot of artistic artifacts. The latter include many of the 3D models for many of the film's features.
I would go so far as to say this does for Japanese culture what Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero, and House of Flying Daggers do for Chineese culture. Only watch it if you expect to watch a piece of art!
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