40
Succeeds in visual splendor (it was shot on location in Kyoto) but falls flat on characterization.
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What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
60
The New York Times by Dave Kehr
Has the sense of gritty, practical politics of a Japanese samurai epic combined with the high-flying stunt work and magical special effects of a Hong Kong romp. Ultimately this film by Yojiro Takita is satisfying on neither level, but not for lack of trying.
63
New York Daily News by Elizabeth Weitzman
It clearly wants to be more, but it's failed by its lightweight leads.
80
L.A. Weekly by Hazel-Dawn Dumpert
Film is a ghostly and gorgeous tale of a court magician, the legendary Abe no Seimei.
80
Superior summer entertainment.
80
Los Angeles Times by Kevin Thomas
Emerges as an epic tale of love, sacrifice and redemption that attains a Shakespearean aura of grandeur and nobility of spirit.
50
TV Guide Magazine by Maitland McDonagh
The quality of the CGI-heavy special effects is variable and Nomura's fey performance as Seimei gives his relationship with Hiromasa a distinctly homoerotic cast that may or may not be intentional, but the demon zombies and Doson's cackling familiar are crowd pleasers.
25
San Francisco Chronicle by Mick LaSalle
The moments of action are interspersed with lengthy plot developments that are hard to follow.
60
The effects prove extremely uneven, with sub-par touches alongside astonishing and truly unforgettable shots.
25
Every once in a while the old-fashioned costume drama comes alive, only to sink again into run-of-the-mill special effects and long periods of talkative tedium.