It’s like Godzilla only the special effects aren’t as good.
The castle of Lord Ogata is attacked. The Lord and his wife are murdered by the corrupt general Daijo Yuki who is aided by an evil ninja named Orochi-Maru. The Lord’s young son Ikazuchi-Maru was being rescued by some loyal soldiers who tried to take him away in a boat. Out of the water came a giant serpent. It sank the boat and was trying to kill the child. A giant eagle swooped down and carried the young lord away. Its talon injured the giant serpent leaving a scar.
Years later the young lord is now a man and the student of Dojin Hiki, a master of ninjutsu and toad magic. Ikazuchi-Maru has learned all the master could teach him. As he is gathering herbs in the forest he is attacked by a band of ninja sent by Daijo Yuki to kill him. Ikazuchi-Maru kills the ninja. After they are all killed he meets a young girl named Sunate. She is in search of her father who she has never met. Ikazuchi-Maru says he will take her to his master and see if he knows who her father may be.
In the meantime, Orochi-Maru has returned to Dojin Hiki’s home. He had been a student of the old master and has come back to kill him. The old Dojin was the eagle that saved Ikazuchi-Maru. Orochi-Maru was the serpent that now bears a scar on his forehead. Orochi-Maru attacks the old man and poisons him. Ikazuchi-Maru and Sunate return to the Dojin’s home to find him dying. The Dojin tells Ikazuchi-Maru to avenge his death. He then sees Sunate and his reaction is shock. Then he dies. Ikazuchi-Maru leaves to return to his home. His mission is to avenge his master’s death and take back his father’s kingdom.
So too does Sunate continue on her quest for her father. Her grandmother, the spider woman, sends her in the same direction the Ikazuchi-Maru is to take. The spider woman gives her a magic hairpin in case of emergency. But she can only use it once otherwise it will turn against her. It’s not too tough to figure out that Orochi-Maru is Sunate’s father. And it’s not too tough to figure out that Sunate is going to fall in love with Ikazuchi-Maru. And it’s not too tough to figure out that Orochi-Maru will try to use his daughter to kill Ikazuchi-Maru.
Of course the main part of the movie is the big battle between Ikazuchi-Maru and Orochi-Maru. Both of which turn into giant creatures to fight to the death. Orochi-Maru turns into his water spitting serpent and Ikazuchi-Maru turns into a giant fire breathing frog. Not to be out done, Sunate tosses in her giant foam spewing spider.
“The Magic Serpent” was released in theaters in Japan in 1966. It was released to Television only in the US in 1968. The production company was Toei.
This is a fantasy movie similar to things like Sinbad and Jason and the Argonauts, except for the good special effects. There are special effects. Lots and lots of them. They’re just not good. But when you consider this is mid-sixties Japanese low-budget stuff, what you get is tons of fun for kids. Of all ages. There are giant rubber monsters, magic, impossible ninja stuff. And it’s all over the place. You like Kaiju? As long as it’s rubber Kaiju, we got you covered.
American dubbed
Japanese subtitled