Mushishi (2006)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

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 Comic | Based On Manga

Awards:

1 win

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)

It's not necessary to know the manga to enjoy this movie.

I think that the negative comments here don't do this movie justice. First of all, I didn't watch this movie with any kind of expectations but that it would have beautiful shots of nature in it, which it did, in fact, these alone would be a reason to watch this movie if you are someone who loves nature.

Not knowing the manga of which this is an adaptation, I still had little problems understanding what was going on (admittedly, it took me a while to figure out that the little boy's storyline was in fact a flashback of the protagonist's youth, but once I got that, the characters' backstories and relationships were as clear as they needed to be to appreciate the story). A lot of the commenters here also complain that it is never made entirely clear how the "mushi" came into existence. I think that that is not an attitude to watch a movie that deals with mysterious, supernatural things (although the mushi are, in this movie, explicitly not supernatural, but feeding off the very source of nature's energy itself). It is not necessary to know how, for example, the Rocky Mountains came into existence to admire their stunning beauty. Actually, the best mystery movies leave the explanation to the viewer. To have everything explained is boring. If this confuses you and you can't handle that, then you should consider not watching any more fantastic movies. (One commenter honestly criticises: "Imagine watching Star Wars with little or no explanation of "The Force" - things just happen, and you move on." As a matter of fact, it is explained in more detail what the mushi are than Star Wars ever bothers to explain about the Force. Anyway, it doesn't matter what the Force is or what the mushi are; in the film's universe, they exist, end of story. Same applies for any fantastic movie.)

This movie is not the eye-candy, roller-coaster ride that a vehicle like Star Wars is. If you want to see CGI overkill, this is not for you. But the visual effects of this movie were all convincing, beautifully done and served the cause. So what if the mushi are not fire-spitting dragons or undead creatures with horribly distorted faces? Furthermore, it is true that this movie is slow-paced. But I was never bored at any point, because there was always a plot that was being pursued - yes, the ending left me wondering as well, but as I said above, there's nothing wrong with that, because I like movies that trust in the viewer's intelligence and ability to cope with "sense of wonder". The plot being, among other things, about a search for the inner self, it's obvious that this doesn't take place in a straightforward manner. To have hectic cuts and a fast-moving plot in a movie that is about nature and human, the way they interact and how they can co-exist wouldn't fit.