Onmyoji (2001)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Yôjirô Takita

Writer:

Baku Yumemakura (writer)

Release Date:

6 October 2001 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Fantasy | Drama | Horror

Plot Keywords:

Demon | Severed Head | Butterfly | Spell | Supernatural

Awards:

6 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Mansai Nomura	...	Abe no Seimei
Hideaki Ito	...	Minamoto no Hiromasa
Eriko Imai	...	Mitsumushi
Yui Natsukawa	...	Fujiwara no Sukehime
Mai Hosho	...	Uri no onna
Ken'ichi Yajima	...	Fujiwara no Morosuke
Kenjiro Ishimaru	...	Onmyo-gashira
Kenichi Ishii	...	Fujiwara no Kaneie
Houka Kinoshita	...	Kanmu-Ten'nou
Sachiko Kokubu	...	Fujiwara no Tadako
Kenji Yamaki	...	Tachibana no Ukon
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Cansino	...	Fujiwara no Morosuke (voice: English version) (as Edward Zilla)
Akira Emoto	...	Fujiwara no Motokata
Masato Hagiwara	...	Sawara-Shin'nou
Manami Honjou
Brandon Jones	...	Minahoto no Hirosoma (voice: English version)
Ittoku Kishibe	...	The Mikado
Kyôko Koizumi	...	Aone
Steve Kramer	...	Doson (voice: English version)
Mona Marshall	...	Suke Hime (voice: English version)
Sean Mitchell	...	Nagamasa (voice: English version)
Susumu Nihashi	...	Nagamasa
Tony Oliver	...	Prince Sawara (voice: English version) (as Rafael Antonio)
Bob Papenbrook	...	Tachibana no Ukon (voice: English version) (as Bob Pappenbrook)
Simon Prescott	...	Mikada (voice: English version) (as Simon Issacson)
Hiroyuki Sanada	...	Douson
Ellyn Stern	...	Toko (voice: English version)
Terrence Stone	...	Abe no Seimei (voice: English version) (as Terry Roberts)
Kenji Takechi
Kari Wahlgren	...	Aone (voice: English version) (as Kay Jensen)
Tom Wyner	...	Fukiwara no Motokata (voice: English version) (as Abe Lasser)

Also Known As:

Onmyoji: The Yin Yang Master (USA)
The Yin Yang Master (International: English title)
Ying Yang Masters

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

112 min | Switzerland:116 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Japan:G | Germany:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | USA:R

Company:

Dentsu

Trivia:

From the Making-Of Documentary on the Special Edition DVD: --Total number of cuts: 1026 --Concept planning: 5 years --Number of days filming: 93 days --Number of days in post-production: 128 days --Location crew: 86 people --SFX crew: 31 people --CG integration staff: 37 people --Total number of crew: 154 people --Those who camped out for the first show: 400 people (at Nihon Gekijo Theater) --Number of theaters: 225 theaters --Number of viewers: 2.2 million people (as of Summer 2001) --Gross at box office: Approx. 3 billion yen (roughly $30 million USD)

Movie Connections:

Followed by Onmyoji 2 (2003)

Fun, well-made film

This one definitely had me from start to finish. It introduces the Onmyoji and definitely draws you into their world. The costumes and setting are stunning with vibrant colors and makes the time period look authentic. Mitsumishi is my favorite with her chirpy, fluttering nature while Lady Aone really shines as a woman with deep sorrow. Seimei and Hiromaki have this friendly rapport which shows the bond of friendship the two share; almost brotherlike. Hideaki Ito does well here and didn't recognize him as same actor in Blister and the Princess Blade. Overall, Seimei's carefree, yet enigmatic nature and brave (yet naive) Lord Hiromaki form this chemistry which provides for funny moments. Plus, relationships enfold as the story progresses. The CG effects amplify this eerie magical world, but are not overdone which is a credit to the film as well.

Overall, Onmyoji is surprisingly a great example of modern japanese cinema. Great story, characters, I definitely want to see the sequel.