Bugmaster (2006)
"Mushishi" (original title)

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

Director:

Katsuhiro Ôtomo

Writers:

Yuki Urushibara (comic), Sadayuki Murai (screenplay),

Stars:

Jô Odagiri, Nao Ohmori, Yû Aoi

2 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Jô Odagiri	...	Ginko
Nao Ohmori	...	Nijirou
Yû Aoi	...	Tanyu
Lily	...	Inn owner
Makiko Kuno	...	Maho's mother
Reia Moriyama	...	Maho
Hideyuki Inada	...	Yoki
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Aaron Dismuke	...	Yoki / Young Ginko (voice)
Greg Dulcie	...	(voice)
Juli Erickson	...	Tama (voice)
Makiko Esumi	...	Nui
Todd Haberkorn	...	Inagu (voice)
Grant James	...	(voice)
Mike McFarland	...	Koro (voice)
Rô Naruse

Storyline

Ginko, a Mushi-shi has always been attuned to the Mushi, creatures close to life itself and able to affect and alter their surroundings. He cannot stay in one place for too long so he wanders, helping the inhabitants of rural Japan understand the Mushi around them and how to coexist peacefully.

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Plot Keywords:

based on manga | based on comic | one word title

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Genres:

Fantasy

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [jp]

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

24 March 2007 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Mushi-Shi: The Movie

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tohokushinsha Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Mushi-Shi (2005)

User Reviews

For manga fans...

I have noticed that the positive comments so far have mostly said 1. "I'm a big fan of the original manga" and 2. "It was beautifully shot". Together, these phrases sum up exactly what's wrong with Mushishi. It is a high production value film that is content to appeal solely to a relatively small subset of its potential audience.

I was terribly disappointed by this film. It's not that it was simply slow, leaden, plodding, etc. I can fully enjoy a film that does all those things if there's a payoff, if it ultimately makes sense and gives you a sense of there being a complete wholeness to the underlying concepts.

This did not happen.

Clearly I don't live up to point #1 - I am not a manga fan.

OK, so let me say something positive - point #2 is true. It was beautifully shot and the production values are excellent. A very nice film to look at.

My ultimate impression - if you are not already a fan of the manga, avoid, avoid, avoid.