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

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.