53
Metascore
12 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80Los Angeles TimesKevin ThomasLos Angeles TimesKevin ThomasEmerges as an epic tale of love, sacrifice and redemption that attains a Shakespearean aura of grandeur and nobility of spirit.
- 80Chicago ReaderJ.R. JonesChicago ReaderJ.R. JonesSuperior summer entertainment.
- 80L.A. WeeklyHazel-Dawn DumpertL.A. WeeklyHazel-Dawn DumpertFilm is a ghostly and gorgeous tale of a court magician, the legendary Abe no Seimei.
- 63New York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanNew York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanIt clearly wants to be more, but it's failed by its lightweight leads.
- 60VarietyRobert KoehlerVarietyRobert KoehlerThe effects prove extremely uneven, with sub-par touches alongside astonishing and truly unforgettable shots.
- 60The New York TimesDave KehrThe New York TimesDave KehrHas 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.
- 50TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghTV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghThe 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.
- 40Village VoiceVillage VoiceSucceeds in visual splendor (it was shot on location in Kyoto) but falls flat on characterization.
- 25New York PostV.A. MusettoNew York PostV.A. MusettoEvery 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.
- 25San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleSan Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalleThe moments of action are interspersed with lengthy plot developments that are hard to follow.