Daimajin
Directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda
Written by Tetsuro Yushida
1966/Japan
Daiei Studios
First viewing/YouTube

[box] Tagline: Behind a Mask of Stone, the Fires of Vengeance Burn![/box]

Do not be mislead by false advertising.  This is basically a fairly decent samurai movie with some avenging giant statue action toward the very end.

The samurai lord of a peaceful village is killed by one of his own men.  A retainer manages to hide the slain man’s children in the tabu location where the Daimajin statue which is the god of the villagers dwells.  Ten years pass during which there is plenty more samurai action.  Things with the evil warlord who took over the village go from bad to worse.  The villagers pray to Daimajin for deliverance.

I really expected a giant monster movie going in.  What I got was something a cut above. The samurai action is actually pretty good and it looks like they spent some money and effort into making it.  Pleasant enough way to spend an afternoon,

no subtitles