YES! This is the movie that I have been waiting for. A great wuxia/sci-fi/fantasy film all rolled into one. This is the first true answer that I've seen to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is a superb start to a hopefully great trilogy.

The story is great. Really more of a sci-fi/fantasy, rather than a wuxia tale, although it is a wuxia setting. The film is near the 2 and 1/2 hour mark but it did not feel that way at all. The film does move at a moderately slow pace, but the good story, cinematography, and great acting keep this thing livened up.

As previously mentioned, the acting is well done. Kou Shibasaki, of Battle Royale fame, literally steals the show as Dororo and makes me wonder if she could have pulled off the Azumi character better than Aya Ueto did. She really has shown her maturity since her Battle Royale days. It is her acting alone that keeps the movie entertaining. I was also happy to see an appearance from Anna Tsuchiya, from the great Kamikaze Girls. I only wished that she had a bigger part.

There is quite a bit of action in here and it is great to watch, but it is not the greatest swordplay out there. Yet, it doesn't have to be. I love great swordplay as much as the next guy, but this movie isn't driven by the action.

The CG isn't too bad. Personally, I think it could have been a little better, but once again it works. The demons in this film come in the forms of all different fantasy types of creatures and they really go all out on the variety that appear.

This film should be a great watch to a variety of people since it covers quite a few genres nicely. Action adventure, drama, science fiction, and fantasy. Pick your poison and give this film a peek.