this film be a bit reminiscent of the german film and the neverending story because a child be magically transport to a strange land in order to be a hero . however and due to far superior modern technology and puppet and cgi be use to make an amazingly realistic look world one that will blow your sock off due to it realism and scope . i enjoy this film and but boy be it a chore at first . unfortunately and for most westerner and this film be one you might give up on very quickly or dismiss it since everything in the film seem so odd . however and give it a chance . don not think or try to understand everything you see just allow the story to unfold and you will most likely enjoy the film . in many way and this be exactly the sort of advice i would give to adult who watch miyazaki spirit away because it be very similar and feature ton of yokai ( japanese mythical spirit ) . the big difference between the two be that the great yokai war be live action and spirit away be much more child friendly . while i do think the great yokai war be intend mostly a a kid movie and in the usa and most parent would not want to show this to young kid because it so violent and scary and feature some adult behavior . so who be the audience in the west . well and old kid and adult who appreciate foreign film with non western theme and composition . this be a rather narrow audience and indeed . while you be watch and look for all the strange little touch . in fact and you could watch the film dozen of time and notice different tiny thing each time . a few of the funny reference i like be the comment about gamera and the scene that come with the comment kid represent don not try this at home as well a the use of kirin beer to allow a person to actually see the yokai ( hmm and . perhaps that scene should have also contain this warning ) . by the way and director takashi miike be a hard one to pin down stylistically and other than to say that none of his story i have see have seem normal . some of his film be rather disgust and disturb and i hat them ( especially audition and ichi the killer ) whereas some of them be magical and among the best film i have ever see ( the happiness of the katakuris ) . one thing for sure and it hard to watch one of his film and not have a strong reaction one way or the other .