Mushishi (2006)

Director:

Katsuhiro Ôtomo

Writers:

Yuki Urushibara (comic) and
Sadayuki Murai (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 March 2007 (Japan)

Genre:

Fantasy

Plot:

A traveling mystical doctor, a "Bugmaster' passes through remote regions of Japan curing the ill effects of supernatural creatures, the Mushi, who spread plague. |

Plot Keywords:

Based On Manga | Based On Comic | One Word Title

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Jô Odagiri	...	Ginko
Nao Omori	...	Nijirou
Yû Aoi	...	Tanyu
Lily	...	Inn owner (as Riri)
Makiko Kuno	...	Maho's mother
Reia Moriyama	...	Maho
Hideyuki Inada	...	Yoki
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Aaron Dismuke	...	Young Ginko
Makiko Esumi	...	Nui
Todd Haberkorn	...	Inagu (voice: English version)
Baku Numata	...	Nui's Husband
Reisen Ri	...	Tanyu's nanny
Travis Willingham	...	Ginko

Also Known As:

Bugmaster (International: English title)
Mushi-Shi: The Movie (USA) (DVD title)

Runtime:

Japan:131 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Taiwan:PG-12 (original rating) | UK:15

Company:

Tohokushinsha Film

Movie Connections:

Version of "Mushishi" (2005)

A Nutshell Review: The Bugmaster (Mushishi)

I was expecting Mushishi to be a wild fantastical ride full of snazzy special effects and martial arts. I was sorely disappointed with the latter, and more so when the movie had decided to jump right into the plot of things, with little explanation of what's going on.

Based on the Japanese manga written by Yuki Urushibara, Mushishi, or The "Bugmaster" follows the trials and tribulations of a young mystical shaman Ginko, who travels from location to location, healing people who are infected by the "mushi" creatures, spreading like the plague. However, the filmmakers decided to have made this for fan boys, and doesn't dwell too long with the backstories or relationship details between characters.

Started off quite impressively with a special effects shot of a huge landslide, the movie thereafter degenerated into a series of incomprehensible events that signals that the movie isn't really for non-fans. I was confused by the lack of explanation, either through dialogue or visuals, of what's happening. Imagine watching Star Wars with little or no explanation of "The Force" - things just happen, and you move on.

Come to think of it, it must resembles Star Wars in many ways. You have a manipulator of mystical energy, and have various practitioners belonging to various factions, and you have lineage issues with the lead. You even have a character with horns on the face, like Darth Maul.

For its length, I was hoping for something more epic., with the potential of being a classic. But sadly that was not to be.