The Daimajin Trilogy Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

The Daimajin Trilogy Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman July 29, 2021

Arrow Video's relatively recent release of Django 4K + Texas, Adios BD caused me to jokingly ask, "When is a Django film not 'really' a Django film?", and in that regard I'd like to take a cue from a reliably ebullient Kim Newman who, in a supplementary introduction to the three Daimajin films collected by Arrow for this new release, suggests that this so-called "trilogy" may not in fact be properly termed as such. As several of the supplements spread across this three disc set get into, the general flailing of the Japanese film industry and the particular straits Daimajin producing studio Daiei found itself in by the mid-sixties meant that when some idea hit with the public, it was played for all it was worth, and in that regard the three Daimajin films are probably a salient example, since, as Newman and some of the commentators mention, the three films basically tell the same tale with slight differences. The third film, called Wrath of Daimajin here, but Daimajin Strikes Again on a previous release on Blu-ray (see below), arguably offers the most distinctive ambience due to its emphasis on children, something that (as is again mentioned in some of the supplements) tends to link that film, at least subliminally, with Daiei's "other" big "monster franchise" of this same period, Gamera. One of the kind of funny things about all three Daimajin films is that, as commentators Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp discuss in their analysis of the second film, their entire raison d'etre was ostensibly their special effects, and yet for the most part all three films offer around one hour of largely effects free narrative before releasing the kraken (so to speak) in the final few minutes.

All three Daimajin films were aggregated in a previous release on Blu-ray by Mill Creek Entertainment, and for those wanting plot recaps, I refer you to my colleague Martin Liebman's Daimajin / Return of Daimajin / Daimajin Strikes Again Blu-ray review. Marty's review is also a good resource for those who like to compare screenshots, as well as to see what supplements each version offers. As I've often repeated, "different reviewers means different opinions", and so you will see my scores may vary from Marty's.

For reviews of the Arrow version's technical merits as well as the copious supplemental features Arrow has included per its standard operating procedure, please click on the following review links:

Daimajin Blu-ray review

Return of Daimajin Blu-ray review

Wrath of Daimajin Blu-ray review

The Daimajin Trilogy Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Video quality of each film is assessed in the above linked reviews.

The Daimajin Trilogy Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio quality of each film is assessed in the above linked reviews.

The Daimajin Trilogy Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Supplements included with each film are detailed in the above linked reviews. Additionally, this is yet another pretty gorgeously packaged release from Arrow. The slipbox is especially attractive featuring some evocative artwork by Matt Frank, who also designed the equally nice looking keepcase inserts. This is a somewhat unusual slipbox in that it has a "lid" that pulls off of the top, with contents housed inside. Those contents include the three keepcases as well as an illustrated collector's 100 page book featuring a wealth of writing, and postcards featuring the original Japanese artwork for all three films. Unless I missed it, I didn't see this advertised on the back cover as being included, but the keepcase housing the first film also has a folded mini-poster inside.

The Daimajin Trilogy Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

When you have Asian cinema experts like Tom Mes and Jasper Sharp freely admitting that they either weren't overly aware of or got to see any of the Daimajin films until decades after their original theatrical release may give some solace to armchair aficionados coming to these releases cold. All three of the films are obviously molded from the same template, and each offer decently engaging stories of put upon people praying for deliverance, and ultimately getting it. Once again Arrow is offering some cult items with generally solid technical merits, a host of very appealing supplements, and some nicely designed packaging. Recommended.