The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi /Sonatine Double Feature

• I must admit that , although I live Takeshi Kitano and films , that I was a bit hesitant watching his version of the classic Shintaro Katsu series . I think the main thing that made me worry was Kitano's bleached blond hair , hehe . Well , I must say that Kitano definately does not disappoint with this film . As with the 25 + Zatoichi movies , the plot is quite simple . A town is over run by criminals some individual seeks revenge and Zatoichi , the wandering blind masseur / gambler comes to town and kills every evil individual with ease , but with flair , until he comes to his final battle gets a bit injured . Those who like tradition of the Zatoici films will definately not be disappointed with this film . The film begins simply enough with Zatoichi sitting on the side of the road enjoying the sunshine . A group of ronin disturb the peaceful massuer and wind up losing three or four of their comrades . Zatoichi eventually encounters Aunt Oume who informs him that the town in which she lives has gone to crap because the two head gangs , Ogi and Ginzo , have teamed up together , demanding protection money not only once a month , but everytime a gang member demands it . As usual , Zatoichi , does not come out and say that he will help , but of course he does . Combined with a taciturn blond Zatoichi , the audience is also treated to Hattori Gennosuke a ronin who acts as the bodyguard for the Ginzo boss . This character has noble deeds for his job , however . He does it to support his sick wife . Might I add this character is played by Asano Tadanobu . An interesting film with Kitano's trademark flair . The music is nice and fits the scenes well and the dance choreography by the dance group , The Stripes , is stunning . The set design is amazing , one almost feels as if one is in Tokugawa Japan . For Sonatine : I guess that I am like many other people interested in Japanese film , because it was the work of Kitano Takeshi that first sparked my interest in modern Japanese cinema . The first film I watched of Kitano's was the bittersweet comedy _ Kikujiro _ and while I thought that it was a bit sappy , it opened the door for me to delve into Japanese Film . The thing that amazed me the most about Kitano's films are how un-formulaic they are and that they are also quite unique from each other , but one can see common Kitano elements . _ Sonatine _ starts off simply enough . Murakawa is the head of a small group of yakuza who rules his district with an iron fist . He does not hesitate an iota before either having someone killed or beating someone into a bloody pulp . However , it seems that his presence makes some oh his higher ups a bit nervous because he is sent to Okinawa to aid the Nakamatsu gang against the Anan gang . Taking a group of colorful individuals with him , Murakawa joins up with a few local Yakuza . However , the Nakamatsu boss is quick to state that there is no real problem . However , trouble soon begins when members of Murakawa's gang are killed in a bomb explosion and later in a shoot out . Murakawa and the surviving members of the gang hide out in a beach side home . Instead of being terrified of being hunted down by the Anan gang . The yakuza group , including Murakawa , seem to really enjoy themselves at the beach . If you thought it was funny to see a couple of bikers play like children in _ Kikujiro _ , wait till you see yakuza shooting fireworks at each other and digging pits to catch their friends . However , the movie truly has a state of foreboding over it . One just can't help but wait for this ideal time to end for Murakawa and his fellow yakuza . I was urged by my Japanese film professor to watch _ Sonatine _ . He told me that he believed it was the perfect summation of Kitano's films . While I definitely would not call _ Sonatine _ my favorite film by Kitano , it is quite good and it should be watched by Kitano fans
• 001 4  Kitano's remake of the popular 1960 ' s Zatoichi-the Blind Swordsman series ( there were probably over two dozen of the original series ) takes big risks but largely succeeds . Kitano is a darker , more sinister Zatoichi , and the action is a lot more Tarantino-esque . The sword action is first class but extremely violent , unlike the original series which , like the vintage Westerns , were mostly bloodless affairs . Blood squirts everywhere on the scale of Kill Bill . This is not the 1960s Zatoichi , who was a more light-hearted character who often avoided conflict and was even prepared to play a buffoon to avoid violence . Not so here - Kitano stalks his prey relentlessly , like the former Yakusa he was . There is a very adult story spliced in here about the two gisha runaways ( one is not who s ( he ) appears to be ) so forget about pre-teens watching this one . Unlike many Samurai period pieces , there is a plot here which is serious and sad . The unexpected bonus to this movie is the excellent musical soundtrack consisting of Taiko drumming and dancing , well worth cranking up on a home theater system . Peasants threshing rice beat out a syncopated background to a scene , and there is a big Taiko musical send up ( not too different from some of the 1960s Zatochi musical numbers ) at the end .
• 002 4  For Zatoichi : I must admit that , although I live Takeshi Kitano and films , that I was a bit hesitant watching his version of the classic Shintaro Katsu series . I think the main thing that made me worry was Kitano's bleached blond hair , hehe . Well , I must say that Kitano definately does not disappoint with this film . As with the 25 + Zatoichi movies , the plot is quite simple . A town is over run by criminals some individual seeks revenge and Zatoichi , the wandering blind masseur / gambler comes to town and kills every evil individual with ease , but with flair , until he comes to his final battle gets a bit injured . Those who like tradition of the Zatoici films will definately not be disappointed with this film . The film begins simply enough with Zatoichi sitting on the side of the road enjoying the sunshine . A group of ronin disturb the peaceful massuer and wind up losing three or four of their comrades . Zatoichi eventually encounters Aunt Oume who informs him that the town in which she lives has gone to crap because the two head gangs , Ogi and Ginzo , have teamed up together , demanding protection money not only once a month , but everytime a gang member demands it . As usual , Zatoichi , does not come out and say that he will help , but of course he does . Combined with a taciturn blond Zatoichi , the audience is also treated to Hattori Gennosuke a ronin who acts as the bodyguard for the Ginzo boss . This character has noble deeds for his job , however . He does it to support his sick wife . Might I add this character is played by Asano Tadanobu . An interesting film with Kitano's trademark flair . The music is nice and fits the scenes well and the dance choreography by the dance group , The Stripes , is stunning . The set design is amazing , one almost feels as if one is in Tokugawa Japan . For Sonatine : I guess that I am like many other people interested in Japanese film , because it was the work of Kitano Takeshi that first sparked my interest in modern Japanese cinema . The first film I watched of Kitano's was the bittersweet comedy _ Kikujiro _ and while I thought that it was a bit sappy , it opened the door for me to delve into Japanese Film . The thing that amazed me the most about Kitano's films are how un-formulaic they are and that they are also quite unique from each other , but one can see common Kitano elements . _ Sonatine _ starts off simply enough . Murakawa is the head of a small group of yakuza who rules his district with an iron fist . He does not hesitate an iota before either having someone killed or beating someone into a bloody pulp . However , it seems that his presence makes some oh his higher ups a bit nervous because he is sent to Okinawa to aid the Nakamatsu gang against the Anan gang . Taking a group of colorful individuals with him , Murakawa joins up with a few local Yakuza . However , the Nakamatsu boss is quick to state that there is no real problem . However , trouble soon begins when members of Murakawa's gang are killed in a bomb explosion and later in a shoot out . Murakawa and the surviving members of the gang hide out in a beach side home . Instead of being terrified of being hunted down by the Anan gang . The yakuza group , including Murakawa , seem to really enjoy themselves at the beach . If you thought it was funny to see a couple of bikers play like children in _ Kikujiro _ , wait till you see yakuza shooting fireworks at each other and digging pits to catch their friends . However , the movie truly has a state of foreboding over it . One just can't help but wait for this ideal time to end for Murakawa and his fellow yakuza . I was urged by my Japanese film professor to watch _ Sonatine _ . He told me that he believed it was the perfect summation of Kitano's films . While I definitely would not call _ Sonatine _ my favorite film by Kitano , it is quite good and it should be watched by Kitano fans
• 003 4  ok , to be honest , i have not yet watched Zatoichi . i'm not here to review that . judging by the reviews of the others on here , you can see that you either love it or hate it . i'm here to recommend SONATINE . people seem to overlook Sonatine . to be honest , that was the reason i bought this DVD . Sonatine was previously not available on DVD , and you could only get it in a full screen VHS . now it's here in all it's glory . don't expect a crazy action movie like Zatoichi , Sonatine is more akin to Hana-Bi ( aka Fireworks ) . very slow paced , but still very good . this double feature is worth it just for Sonatine .
• 004 4  I just don ` t understand the people that refer to the obvious digital blood spill scenes as unrealistic , it is just meant to be like that to excaggarate the obvious , how realistic would it be if a blind swordsman kills all yakuza by the way ? Japan is all about illustration , big and colorfull stuff , cool and tough guys , swift swords masters . . We have to notice in Japanese cinema that Japan is not a materialist culture and things like justice , fun and friendship means something to them . This movie is very good , not as good as the good old Kurosawa movies may be , but it just makes its point . The music is great by the way , sometimes I found myself dancing with the crowds , it is so good . So enjoy the movie , but see also lighter Chinese movies too like the house of flying daggers and Hero just to keep it cool . Avoid Tarantino as much as you can , apparently he is loosing it . ( Why I recall him , because he recommends Zatoichi , but may be only because it is bloody . After the Hostel what else could I think ? ) . The original Zatoichi series is lovely too . By the way that was an era of extraordinary gentlemen , just about the same time a Turkish actor , Cuneyt Arkin released a series in which he acted a blind karate master who beats the hell out of criminals . Those days were really full of fun and creative ideas . . We are still longing for the day his The man who saved the world to come with English subtitles to see what creativity is .
• 005 4  This is the type of Beat Takeshi film I have been yearning to see for a decade . It is a Japanese period film stylistically similiar to Kurosawa's Yojimbo and Sanjuro . Takeshi however has modernized the genre with the utmost taste and care . The music , the acting , the swordfights , the tap dances , the camerawork , the plot , the computerwork . . . all utterly amazing . Takeshi set out to make a Big Screen work to entertain the masses and he has far surpassed any expectations . I cannot believe this hasn't exploded onto the big screen in America . This movie can be enjoyed on a number of different levels by an extremely wide audience . If you haven't seen this movie go out and rent it , you will not be disappointed . Godon Sensei would be Proud !
• 006 4  This Zatoichi movie is a twist on a long line of Japanese movies about a classic hero , a blind Samuri . Everything gets a bit twisted , from the heros blond hair to the cross dressing geisha . It is every bit as bloody as noted in other reviews , however the fight scenes are wonderfully choreographed and the CG slow motion blood droplets are really actually pretty in a strange way . There are no long drawn out fight scenes , the action is abrupt and certian . There is a special feature on the making of the movie and Kitano explains some of his ideas for the movie . My absolute favorite scene in this movie has become one of my favorite scenes in any movie , it is the showdown near the end of the movie where Zatoichi faces another skilled Samurai the other Samurai visualizes how he will defeat Zatoichi because the grip Zatoichi is using will allow him to be a fraction of a second faster , after visualizing this he looks up at Zatoichi and smiles . Zatoichi quickly changes his grip , momentarily throwing his opponent off guard , then attacks at once . He of course wins instantly .
• 007 4  Takeshi Kitano does another take from the Zatoichi series and adds alot of humor into the mix along with the drama and action . A retelling of the Zatoichi samurai epic , the blind master swordsman and masseur Zatoichi played by Takeshi Kitano finds himself in a town in fear of a gang that is in control of everything , he gets to defeat the gang and has a final confrontation with the final tough bad guy . Zatoichi also befriends a local old woman and her nephew who seems somewhat like a coward and fumbling idiot but is a nice guy , there is also a subplot involving two orphaned geishas who had a hard time growing up as one of them had to be a prostitute to survive they want revenge for the death of their parents . The film definently has bizzare scenes as some farmers seem to dance for no reason and make music that has a rythem to it like with their farming equipment and that weird ending , the blood and violence was similar to Kill Bill but it seems like they used computer fx or cgi I have no idea why they did this but it doesn't matter , it all seems like Kitano wanted to do this with his own style and sense of humor I guess . Takeshi Kitano definently did a great job with this film I thought it was fantastic , if your a fan of Japenese cinema than I highly recomend that you watch this .
• 008 4  Takeshi Kitano's cinematic style answers to nobody . You either accept it or you don't , and if you're going to derive enjoyment out of his films , you have to understand and accept his quirky approach towards narrative - - such as never signalling a flashback , never introducing characters by name , and lurching expositions . I had expected that his remake of Zatoichi would become the most accessible of his films , but despite the samurai-film milieu , Kitano's style remains as difficult to grasp as ever . And the middle of the film lags quite a bit , when the back story of the two geishas and the gambling nephew's subplot take over and Zatoichi disappears for 20 , 30 minutes straight . But I'd seen enough Kitano films to be prepared for this . And the reward lies in stunning action choreography , beautiful cinematography , a terrific acting turn from Kitano himself , and some of the best sight gags in the Kitano catalogue . Comedy has always been the backbone of his films , and in Zatoichi he crafts some of his funniest situations and characters . Kitano himself is perfect for this role , with his immense physical presence , yet he constantly expresses that little odd sliver of tenderness and humour that has always made his characters so watchable . What truly amazes are the action scenes . Characters move with grace and power , and the sound effects are realistic and pack a wallop - - no comic-book whooshes and noises here . Fight choreographer Tatsumi Nikamoto , in a short interview on this DVD , hits the nail on the head : Kitano uses his entire body to drive blows and directs his actors to do the same , making for kinetic swordplay scenes that rank with some of the best martial-arts scenes ever filmed . The choreography , shooting and editing here are leagues above Kill Bill Vol . 1 ' s blood-spraying , overly edited scenes and won't even pale alongside some of Lau Chia-liang and Tang Chia's best work with Chang Cheh . There are traces of Kurosawa's Yojimbo and Sanjuro in this film , in terms of the dark humour , the warring gangs , and the one-swift-blow approach towards duelling rather than clashing , extended swordfights , and watching Zatoichi cut a swath through the hordes , you might think Toshiro Mifune were still alive - - and that's a mighty feat . The long period of waiting for plot progressions in the middle does cut into the enjoyment , and overall the pacing of this film is less accessible than Brother , but the best parts of Zatoichi are thrilling beyond words . A must-watch , though newcomers to Kitano are advised to check out Brother first . One more word about this DVD : The strange cover and the double bill moniker may suggest this is a pirated copy , like one of those 10 Jackie Chan movies on one disc releases by no-name companies , but looking at the disc , I think it's authentic . Miramax simply made a weird choice by including Sonatine in the package and making the package look inexplicably like those pulpier releases . Why Sonatine ? I have no idea , since it has nothing to do with Zatoichi , despite being a pretty good film in itself . But the picture transfer on both films is good , the supplemental materials well put together , and everything suggests that this disc is indeed an official release . So don't be fooled by the packaging .
• 009 4  This is the #1 film in my list . One of the best of 2003 . For those of you who own the japanese or other original version of dvd you know what I mean . Its a shame they're not showing it in theatres close to where I live . It must be quite incredible see this film on the big screen . I've watched it over 10 times now , I think and I don't get tired of it . If you're a big fan of martial arts , samurai movies , you won't be dissapointed with this one . I'm also planning to buy this version .
• 010 4  I found this film to be exceptional and worthy of the legacy of Zatoichi . Takeshi takes a well known character and without changing the feel of the character , he gives him a vivid personality that comes out well on the screen . I got the chance to see this film in a pre-screening and I enjoyed it thoroughly . The only part that I found to be strange was at the very end when the townspeople did a modern dance , but I understand this was artistic license . I hope this brings a revival into the character and we will see many more in the future .
• 011 4  I've been waiting for something like this to come along for a long time . Finally , a movie with cool swordfights and special effects to go along with it's great story and acting . A brief paraphrase of the story is a blind swordsman ( Zatoichi ) comes across a town which is run by cutthroat gangs and a master ronin . As he makes his living by giving massages and gambling , he ends up involved with two geishas who are trying to avenge the murder of their parents by one of the rival gangs . And let the blood fly ! Loaded with lightening fast swordplay that is 100% free of wire tricks and with special effects nearly equal to that of any hollywood movie , the action is flawless . The blood flies off the screen and nearly hits you in the face . The skill of Zatoichi is amazing . He is truly a master of the sword . His blazing fast strokes strike down his opponents before they even see him draw his weapon . There is plenty violence and gore almost equal to that of Kill Bill aside from the over the top blood fountains . In this movie the blood flow is much more realistic and there is more fighting overall . The movie does slow down a couple of times in terms of killing but just to add to the depth of the story , then it is right back off with his head . Another area where the movie shines is the awesome sound quality and the way it's used to be able to hear as well as Zatoichi himself . With a good surround sound system it will be like you are right there among all the slicing and dicing . The audio is in japanese with optional subtitles ( which I recommend ) and in english . The subtitles are done very well and the dialogue is usually short so there is no extensive reading . There is also english dubbed audio that is not the greatest . Some of the voices are done in an extremely stereotypical way : Would you rike some more sake ? ( Would you like . . . ) It really makes the acting cheesy . The added bonus to all of this is the acting ( if you watch it in japanese ) . I am not talking Oscar performances but for what each role requires the actor performs perfectly . There is also some really good humor in the film coupled with some clever musical scenes , except for the ending riverdance / stomp broadway type dance session . What in the world was that all about ? Just try to ignore it and think of all the glorious bloodshed you just witnessed . This movie has it all and is instantly one of my favorites . Everyone who is a fan of action , swordfighting , martial arts , or just good ol ' hack and slash is sure to love this one . A must see and own !
• 012 4  This review is from : The Blind Swordsman : Zatoichi / Sonatine Double Feature ( DVD ) This film was very well made . And I think one of the key aspects that made this film so great was the artistic blending of different elements . The pacing of the story is very nice . the blend of character developement and action is beautiful , as well as the blending of CGI into the action sequences . It's so smooth and elegant that it feels natural . Unlike many films which rely or over use this medium until it become an eyesore . I'm not really a fan of excessive blood or gore , but this film uses the blood and gore elements to where they are actually beautiful . I know that might sound strange , but this film , like kill bill , manages the diffucult task of creating art out of carnage . The music creation scenario's where a welcome suprise , although I have to say that while I found the end one intrestion I thought it was out of place and drew me away from the dramatic ending . I can understand some of the classic film fans being upset by some of the liberties Takeshi Kitano took with the story and character , but I personally feel that judged on it's own merit this film is well worth checking out . This is going in my collection once it's released . Plus I'm curious about the extra film included , which could turn out to be a nice bonus .
• 013 4  This film was very well made . And I think one of the key aspects that made this film so great was the artistic blending of different elements . The pacing of the story is very nice . the blend of character developement and action is beautiful , as well as the blending of CGI into the action sequences . It's so smooth and elegant that it feels natural . Unlike many films which rely or over use this medium until it become an eyesore . I'm not really a fan of excessive blood or gore , but this film uses the blood and gore elements to where they are actually beautiful . I know that might sound strange , but this film , like kill bill , manages the diffucult task of creating art out of carnage . The music creation scenario's where a welcome suprise , although I have to say that while I found the end one intrestion I thought it was out of place and drew me away from the dramatic ending . I can understand some of the classic film fans being upset by some of the liberties Takeshi Kitano took with the story and character , but I personally feel that judged on it's own merit this film is well worth checking out . This is going in my collection once it's released . Plus I'm curious about the extra film included , which could turn out to be a nice bonus .
• 014 4  So I have heard about this guy for a while and I am really pissed at myself for not watching any of his earlier movies . The lone wolf and cub and zatiochi series are certainly at the top of my list . Other reviewer is correct abiout the special effects and the sound effects . The blood is not all that real , but comes out like a comic book and yet does look somewhat real . The sound effects are another story and blew me away . I thought the music was way above average and warning to all kung fu fans who read my reviews ( at least I wish ) , this one is not going to be for you if you need an iron monkey type of movie . I guarantee you will like it if you stick with it for like an hour . I don't want to talk about the story too much cause it is kind of slow , but I freaking love movies like this and hopefully the next person who reviews this can tell me what zatoichi movies they think I should check out ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? I will talk about my 2 favorite parts of the movie , action scenes of course . The part where zatoichi and his friend got all of their money playing at the casino and all of the house money's being bet . You really get that feeling of how whoever loses will be screwed but when z notices that the dice have been switched , you know what's going down . And the part where the ronin thinks about what he is gonna do when him and zatiochi are actually trading blows , then it actually happens . Wow , that is movie making done very well . So the story is very good and funny , not a lot of comedy but I laughed out loud at least a few times . I had my jaw dropped down to the floor a bit more often though : > Sound quality and picture on the dvd are perfect . Making of is long but very good . Interviews are good as well . I bought this at a used store and didn't get the tarantino recomended movie : (
• 015 4  Wow ! I am absolutely stunned by this DVD set ! I would happily have paid full price for either Kitano Takeshi's award-winning Zatoichi or his early Okinawan film Sonatine . To get them together in one set is unbelievable . Kitano , a true modern genius of Japanese film , reinvents one of Japan's most beloved and long-lasting film heroes , the blind , wandering swordsman Zatoichi . The character was portrayed in 26 films by actor Katsu Shintaro , from 1962 - 1989 . It was a bold move by Kitano to put his own mark on such a familiar and defined character . Rather than simply mimic Katsu's work , Kitano completely reinvents the character . Still a gambler and a wanderer , the humble , self-effacing nature of Zatoichi is retained , but he is less of a comic figure , less of an unlucky but kind-hearted loser . Kitano's Zatoichi is more calculated , more cunning . His hair has been died blonde to show the outsider nature of the blind swordsman , forever beyond normal society . Still blindingly fast with his hidden cane sword , this Zatoichi cuts with an accurate and surgical precision . The plot is more complex than a normal swordfight flick , with Zatoichi being only one of the prime movers of the story . Included into the mix are levels of subterfuge from the enemies , with the true boss being protected and hidden , using Zatoichi's own tactics of disguising strengths and presenting a face of weakness . Into this mix are two sisters seeking their own revenge for the murder of their parents and destruction of their family . Sonatine , his fourth film , is an interesting character sketch , laying the grounds for Kitano's later Yakuza masterpiece Hanabi . Taking the popular Japanese Yakuza genre , Kitano adds his own sense of humor and pacing to create something unique . Sent to the distant southern island of Okinawa to end a gang dispute , a band of Tokyo gangsters quickly find themselves in an unclear situation , not knowing the real reason for their exile . They while their time away , playing games and relaxing on the beach , enjoying their tropical vacation while it lasts . When it becomes clear that they have been set up , and that some kind of revenge is called for , the light humorous nature of the film takes a sharp turn , and the violent nature of their lifestyle returns . Unlike what we would consider an action film , Sonatine is a serious of vignettes , punctuated by sharp , sudden violence . Rather than exaggerated gun battles and over-the-top schemes , the violence is realistic and quick . A single bullet is all that is needed to end a life . On an interesting note , the title of the film comes from a native form of Okinawan folk music , properly called sonachine that can be heard throughout the film .
• 016 4  This movie has everything that makes a movie great . My only wish is that it could be longer so I could experience more of Tikano's unprecedented performance as the blind swordsman Zatoichi . The negative reviews for this movie show the ignorance of most of the customers reviewing . This is a must see for martial arts fans and anyone who just wants to see a well made movie .
• 017 4  This is a modern Japanese rendition of the famous Zatoichi movies and series of 1962 and up . When you think of Samurai movies - you must not leave this one out . Zatoichi - the common man's Samurai - famous and beloved by generations of Japanese - has come to the big screen in a big way . Zatoichi is a highly moral and skilled swordsman who travels about olden days Japan . Two things set him apart from other Samuari movie characters - he uses the unorthadox upside down grip on his cane sword and he is blind . This doesn't stop him from defeating scores of his enemy . This movie is very well done and the acting and sword play is excellent . The lead actor was actually a comedian in Japan but who is obviously very skilled with the sword . His portrayal of Zatoichi is supurb . The underlying theme of all Zatoichi films is one of morals . Good over evil . There is humor intermixed with drama and the everflashing cane sword of justice . If you are at all familiar with the Japanese Samurai films of old - you must have this for your collection .
• 018 4  I originally caught part of Zatoichi on tv late on night . After watching 20 min of the movie I was hooked . I loved everything from the comedic breaks with the gamblers to the beautifully choreographed fight scenes . It proves the point that sometimes less is really more . The movie also has a great sense of humor about it self , never taking things so seriously that it becomes terribly ridiculous . Capping it off with the dance at the end of the movie was just a nice bowtie on the whole package . As for the second movie sonatine I found it enjoyable , but I'm not sure it translates as well across cultures . At times if felt like things were being shown that the audience was expected to have an imediate knowledge of , which often left me somewhat mystified . Still an enjoyable over the top kill fest , with salient moments of introspection . These movies have convinced me to start digging for Takeshi Kitano movies when I can find them .
• 019 4  I've just spent several months watching the original Zatoichi cinematic series and as a finale , I took a look at this updated version by Takeshi Kitano . Unfortunately I found it a strangely cold and alienating effort . Many modern movie goers are unaware of the 26 original films from the 60 ' s and 70 ' s , so I assumed this film would reintroduce Zatoichi , giving us some of his background and history . Sadly this was not the case . We are simply dumped into Zatoichi's world knowing nothing of him . Eventually we learn he is a masseur and a gambler and a god-like swordsman , but that's all . Nothing of how he became blind , learned swordplay or ended up a wandering yakuza is presented here . That's a shame , for we learn nothing to really help us identify with him , and he is portrayed in such a distant and cold manner that we never really gain any affection toward the character . His loneliness and loss - - his tragic side - - are never seen , neither are his doubts and regrets . This leaves our main character a rather inhuman creature , possessed of super human abilities and few discernable endearing qualities . Structurally this is the old familiar Zatoichi story and all the hallmark themes are here : yakuza ( gangsters ) bullying farmers and townspeople , Zatoichi out-gamboling the villains , flashy swordplay , fallen samurai taking jobs as yojimbo ( bodyguards ) for sleazy gang bosses . But when it comes to the main character himself , Zatoichi is treated like a background character . He is silent through 90% of the film ; the entire plot is driven by the actions of what should be secondary characters . More often than not , Zatoichi is seen in the background of the scene with his head bowed and his back towards the viewer . When he does come into play it is usually as a killing machine . He displays his amazing sense of smell and hearing , yet he is rarely seen interacting with other characters except when he's chopping them up into digital bits . Unlike the original films , Zatoichi displays no sense of humor , no scheming intelligence and little humility . He is a distant and unknowable character , like an angel of death , set apart from his world and the viewer alike . Unlike the original films , Zatoichi does not investigate the wrong-doings of the yakuza bosses in town , other characters do that on their own and report it to Zatoichi . And again , unlike the original character , he does not befriend or form emotional ties to the downtrodden in the story , he simply listens to them tell their tale . Ultimately he does take care of their problem , but when he does , it seems to be more a personal matter , not the act of an man righting the wrongs he finds around him . The special effects in this film are obviously digital , complete with 3 - dimensional spouts of the old red-red kroovy , which rarely seem to stain anything , vanishing instead as a mist in the air . Gratuitous violence there is aplenty , often in much greater excess than in the original films - - Zatoichi seems more a merciless and unstoppable killer than a man living within the confines of a strict , if harsh , code of ethics . The score is rather bizarre and distracting , often layering Asian-influenced synthesizer parts overtop traditional shamisen music without regard for whether the two are harmonically related . Natural sounds , such as farmers digging in the fields or carpenters building a house , are turned into the rhythm track for annoying little soundtrack pieces , and not for any apparent reason . It felt like the producers were teetering on the edge of turning this into a musical . . . when suddenly the finale of the film arrives and we're treated to an extended choreographed tap dance scene ! Yes , tap dancing in feudal Japan . In all we end up with a film that is completely blind to what made the original films work so well : their ultimate humanism , which was derived from the stellar performance of Shintaro Katsu , who managed to portray the legendary blind swordsman as a compassionate , charming , empathetic , humble , humorous and highly ethical human being , not the distant and unknowable creature we have here .
• 020 4  The final scene with the festival dance is worth the price of this movie . Great fight scenes and many scenes involving tragic events such as the two sister who really aren't .
• 021 4  Kitano Takeshi's take on the Zatoichi series is a fine film in it's own right . However , in the context of the Zatoichi series , I felt that this was a lackluster movie . Most all the elements of a Zatoichi movie were there , except the most important one of all ! Now as far as filmmaking goes , I admit that Takeshi is a multi-talented , world class filmmaker . But Katsu Shintaro not only starred as Zatoichi , but also wrote , directed and produced some of the installments . He even wrote and sang the theme song ! Katsu Shintaro is synonymous with Zatoichi . I'm not saying Katsu is a better filmmaker than Takeshi , I just think he's a better Zatoichi movie maker . Takeshi does craft a compelling tale , and most of the elements are there . But let's face it , Zatoichi movies follow an obvious pattern . He comes across some honest , simple country folk who are beset by corrupt officials / yakuza . Zatoichi confronts and warns them , having lost face they retaliate against the peasants , which forces Zatoichi into a final showdown . Of course there's a lot more depth ; interwoven sub-plots with characters on both side of the conflict , moral shades of grey . These movies were always great at showing the dark side of human nature , and of the Japanese Feudal system ( where most samurai movies show a romanticized version ) . Zatoichi movies always showed the view from the bottom , how peasants were bullied and terrorized by the powers that be . Kitano did capture the dark , edgy feel of the series . Kitano should be applauded for not reinventing the wheel , and sticking with a winning formula , instead of succumbing to vanity and reimagining the series in his image . So we've got the humble blind masseur with the cane sword who acts as champion for the downtrodden little guy . We've got arterial sprays , goofy slapstick , witty dialogue , severed limbs . . . what's missing ? Unfortunately it's the role of Zatoichi and Kitano's portrayal of him . The role itself was small , and Kitano's performance was grey , limp , and colorless . You can't not compare this to Katsu Shintaro who played Zatoichi with such a wide range , he was pitiful but praise worthy , gentle to the weak and vicious to bullies , he'd laugh and endure insults towards himself but draw at the drop of a hat other times , he'd crack a goofy fart joke one minute and be beating a guy with his own broken limb the next , he was dirty and ate like a pig but treated others humanely , he played stupid but it was just a way for him to unravel webs of deceit . I just didn't get this from Takeshi at all , partially because the role wasn't written that way , and also because Kitano delivered a flat performance . I wanted to like it , but it just wasn't there for me . Again Takeshi is a great filmmaker in his own right , this just isn't his milieu . It's like David Lynch doing James Bond , Jim Jarmusch doing Rocky , or David Cronenberg doing Conan ( hmmm that might work ! ) . But then again Katsu Shintaro had decades to grow into the part , so I'll give Takeshi another chance . By the way , I'm sure that some artistic justification for the peroxide blond hair and the tap dance sequence can be fabricated . But really now , it was completely unnecessary in this context . Zatoichi movies are much better when they end on a bittersweet note , with plenty of torment and pathos for us to mull over .
• 023 4  I have never seen the series that this movie is based on . And I must say I'm grateful for that since it seems from the reviews posted here that few who are familiar with the series seem to be able to enjoy this movie . That is a shame and I hope it doesn't work the same in the other direction since I intend to look up the series and view it too . I thought the movie's mix of high drama , low comedy , poignant heartbreak , hyperviolent action and creative anachronism was well-nigh perfect . I was never bored , not for a second . And I was continually suprised by the creativity and freshness of the storytelling even as it treaded through well-worn cliches . I am now a little afraid to watch the second feature , Sonatine , or anything else the director , Kitano , has done . I fear it won't be as good as this and it couldn't possibly be better .
• 024 4  I just watched this movie at a local filmfest . Excellent . Very entertaining . There are moments you are stiff in your seat anticapating what is coming next . . . and you know what is coming . . . but there you are at the edge of your seat anyway . There were moments when the entire audience broke out in laughter ! A mysterious Masseuse . A Ronin . A murdering pair of Giesha . And none of them are ( only ) what they seem to be . And each has a story . It deserves a few more viewings . ( There is some gore , not gratiutous , but its there . )
• 025 4  Director / actor Beat Takeshi Kitano takes his , er , stab , at the popular Japanese franchise character Zatoichi with his usual quirky aplomb . With the exception of the iconic Seven Samurai , I don't generally find the genre very compelling ; the plot is almost always the same : a village either under siege or at the mercy of a criminal enterprise , a mysterious lone wolf rolls into town , and although reluctant to get involved intitially , becomes moved by the suffering of the salt of the earth villagers , and singlehandedly dispatches the bad guys . . . ( did I leave anything out ? ) Zatoichi is no exception , plot-wise , but Kitano's unique approach makes for great entertainment . The stylized , CGI - enchanced violence , while apparently annoying to some reviewers , was a perfect artistic choice , giving the already cartoonish mayhem an almost beautiful and balletic anime look . I'll also give credit to Kitano for NOT utilizing that Crouching Tiger flying through the air nonsense that has become a tiresome cliche in Asian action cinema of late . Kitano also makes a bold choice in staging his film like a musical-a construction scene where the carpenter's hammering and sawing informs the rhythm of the accompanying score is right out of Seven Brides For Seven Brothers ( ! ) , and of course , the much-discussed dance number at the end . Why is it suddenly so controversial to pepper a violent story with a few dance numbers ? Ever heard of West Side Story ? Get over it ! DVD note : If you can get past Quentin Tarantino's ubiquitous mug trumpeting that he is gracing our collections by presenting it ( did we have a choice ? ) , the 2 - disc release also throws in a bonus - Kitano's Yakuza action film Sonatine , previously unavailable on DVD .
• 026 4  This review is from : The Blind Swordsman : Zatoichi / Sonatine Double Feature ( DVD ) It was an intresting movie . Great sword Fighting , Blood effects were strange.Dancing threw me off . all in all I thought it was Great Japanese Cinema .
• 027 4  It was an intresting movie . Great sword Fighting , Blood effects were strange.Dancing threw me off . all in all I thought it was Great Japanese Cinema .
• 028 4  This review is from : The Blind Swordsman : Zatoichi / Sonatine Double Feature ( DVD ) Great movie ! I saw this first on TV , but it was slashed to pieces by all the commercial breaks . Worth adding to your permanent collection if you like movies where the underdog whips butt in style . I would almost compare this to some of Kurasawa's masterpieces . All done with a wry bit of humor that endears the character to you . What's also nice is the blind swordsman is middle-aged and also does massage . An unassuming hero ! Set in classic Japan with the scenery , costume and time frame we have come to love , the Samurai era . Well directed and well filmed , this will be one you need to see .
• 029 4  Great movie ! I saw this first on TV , but it was slashed to pieces by all the commercial breaks . Worth adding to your permanent collection if you like movies where the underdog whips butt in style . I would almost compare this to some of Kurasawa's masterpieces . All done with a wry bit of humor that endears the character to you . What's also nice is the blind swordsman is middle-aged and also does massage . An unassuming hero ! Set in classic Japan with the scenery , costume and time frame we have come to love , the Samurai era . Well directed and well filmed , this will be one you need to see .
• 030 4  This review is from : The Blind Swordsman : Zatoichi / Sonatine Double Feature ( DVD ) I'm a big fan of Japanese samuri movies . While for the most part an updated and fun continuation of the Zatoichi series , the use of poor quality special effects seriously dampered by ethusiam . Let me explain . During sword fight scenes , most of the time Zatoichi's sword is actually a digital special effect as are the limb severings and cuts . On the upside , this allows for much more complex techniques than could perhaps be done in the traditional manner . The down side is that the sword , blood , and limbs being severed are so poorly rendered and obviously fake that it detracts from the realism of the scene . If a fighting move is patently false , it undercuts the ability of the audience to believe in the swordsmanship of the character . It's like if Clint Eastwood quickdrawed in his Westerns , but his gun looked like a cartoon gun inked in . I think this film would have been much better , and more realistic , if they had used props rather than digital effects . Otherwise , I found the characters to be engaging , and the dance sequence at the end was highly entertaining .
• 031 4  I'm a big fan of Japanese samuri movies . While for the most part an updated and fun continuation of the Zatoichi series , the use of poor quality special effects seriously dampered by ethusiam . Let me explain . During sword fight scenes , most of the time Zatoichi's sword is actually a digital special effect as are the limb severings and cuts . On the upside , this allows for much more complex techniques than could perhaps be done in the traditional manner . The down side is that the sword , blood , and limbs being severed are so poorly rendered and obviously fake that it detracts from the realism of the scene . If a fighting move is patently false , it undercuts the ability of the audience to believe in the swordsmanship of the character . It's like if Clint Eastwood quickdrawed in his Westerns , but his gun looked like a cartoon gun inked in . I think this film would have been much better , and more realistic , if they had used props rather than digital effects . Otherwise , I found the characters to be engaging , and the dance sequence at the end was highly entertaining .
• 032 4  In early 2004 I saw Takeshi Kitano's ZATOICHI in the local cinema , intrigued by a Japanese feature but knowing nothing of the long tradition of films with Zatoichi , the blind swordsman . I never did see the earlier films with Shintaro Katsu , but I continue to enjoy Takeshi Kitano's take on the character . The plot is fairly basic , rival gangs are fighting for control of a small town , and the locals are obliged to pay increasing amounts protection money . Into this steps Zatoichi , played by Takeshi himself , as well as another itinerant swordsman who seeks to do the dirty work of one of the gangs in order to help his sick wife . Zatoichi falls in with a poor farmer , as do two geishas who are traveling about to get revenge on the gang members who killed their parents . Over the course of the films , Zatoichi proceeds to slay an enormous amount of people , with some vivid CGI blood painted over each fatal sword blow . In spite of the generic setup , the production values and a few of the twists in the story make this an enjoyable film . I know that Takeshi has been criticized for completely doing away with the back story around Zatoichi . Here the only sign that he has a past at all is when a gang member says , Could this blind man be Zatoichi , and a flashback where he silently kills a group of nameless foes . Instead , Takeshi brings the character between the two extremes of charming , but taciturn , old blind man and unstoppable killing machine . But nonetheless , I like how universal the Zatoichi character is , even when he is as mechanical as Kitano sometimes makes him . The archetype of the man of piercing intelligence who fains disability or madness appears in Western art from Hamlet to Russian holy fools , so all audiences will respond to Zatoichi . And sure , the action is sometimes hard to believe , but Takeshi knows this and has injected a level of grim humour into the film . My only complaint about the film's action is that the final battle between Zatoichi and the bodyguard is anticlimactic . After building up the polarity between them for over an hour , there could have been more to it than a single blow . In addition , the soundtrack strikes me as exceedingly lame until the nice taiko drumming that closes the film . I cannot comment on SONATINE , as in my market the two films were not released together .
• 033 4  This is definitely worth purchasing for Sonatine ; while I'm not sure why this film wasn't released on its own , I'm glad its reaching a wider audience because of the bonus film it came with , Zatoichi . Sonatine is one of the greatest films ever made , and this is a great deal .
• 034 4  Zatoichi is a great movie . I haven't watched Sonatine yet , but since Asano is a top-notch actor , I have high expectations . The set was received in perfect condition in a timely manner . A good purchase .
• 035 4  This review is from : The Blind Swordsman : Zatoichi / Sonatine Double Feature ( DVD ) I'm a Beat Takeshi ( Kitano ) fan , what else can I say . The man does it again ! I also agree with the others that , If you don't like blood , don't see this film ! Five stars !
• 036 4  I'm a Beat Takeshi ( Kitano ) fan , what else can I say . The man does it again ! I also agree with the others that , If you don't like blood , don't see this film ! Five stars !
• 037 4  OK - I have to admit . . . I haven't watched the whole movie yet . . . . . BUT I love the dance and rhythm scenes ! BY incorporating this bonus to the movie - it got even an old tap dancer like me interested in Zatoichi . Most of the other reviews found the dance scenes ( especially the final one The Festival - out of place ) I - on the other hand - as well as all my dancer's at my dance studio found it exciting and innovative ! We are even trying to use parts of it this year in our recital ! So - if you don't normally watch this type of movie - this is worth checking out ! It's interesting with the subtitles . . . and the dance and / or rhythm scenes are wonderful ! The other parts of the movie that I've watched are fun to see because they seem so genuinely old time traditional Japaneese . . . The clothing , the villages , the people and their obvious place in society . . . The soundtrack is also GREAT music ! I suppose I need to sit down and watch it all !
• 038 4  We take it for granted that kung fu movies will include weightless , acrobatic battles , thus distilling the ideals of that martial art and enhancing them for the cinema . But samurai movies ? They have yet to create a defining visual style . This movie changes that . It has a completely original style . It distills the Samurai essence of the quick strike , the calculated kill . When Zatoichi draws his sword , the movement blinds you , and computer enhanced blood flies . Zatoichi is a visual jewel . It invokes the anime sensibility of creating coolness as an artform , realism be damned , and succeeds brilliantly . Happily , this does not denigrate the plot . Many have compared this movie to a Terantino work , and with justice . However , if I were to compare it to any writer , it would be Wes Anderson . It is a thoroughly modern affair . There is no Kurosawa didacticism here . No one will preach , and the viewer will find no easy moral . There are only characters who , like real men , have good and evil in their soul in varying degrees . Men who will do evil to serve good , and do good to serve evil . There is joy amidst strife , and shameless romanticism beneath the characters ' cold and mechanical speech . I love this movie .
• 039 4  As a long time fan of Japanese Martial Arts flicks and Anime , I found Zatoichi entertaining . The filler was entertaining . I did not feel the film dragged at all , and it kept me pretty well entertained . Hardly used the FF button at all . Until the end . What was with the extended village wide Taiko Drums dance fest ? Kodo does a better job - why dedicate the final 15 minutes or so to it ? Picture Empire Stripes Back - the stupid Ewock singing at the end . Now make it an Ewock dance , drum , singing fest that lasts 15 endless minutes . Annoying it is . That's why this got 4 stars and not 5 .
• 040 4  These two movies represent the cream of the crop in recent Japanese filmmaking , and both represent Takeshi's bizarre ultra-violent yet comical worldview . Takeshi directs and plays the lead role in both films . It's really quite amazing how much talent the man displays ( he also edits the films ) . Definitely world-class cinema . Zatoichi is a remake of one of the most popular Japanese serials of all time . Takeshi plays Zatoichi , a blind masseur and part-time yakuza ( gambling lowlife ) . Zatoichi slices and dices his foes with a concealed sword within his walking cane . Incredible photography and creative use of Stomp-like rhythm routines . Apocalyptically bloody , with masterful battle scenes , Zatoichi will nonetheless make most film fans smile . Sonatine is similarly fun . Taheshi is a mid-level yakusa boss who finds himself sent down to the southern island of Okinawa . Grumblingly he plays along , but when he arrives he realizes he has nothing to do . So he and his yakuza buddies clown around on the beach until they realize the whole trip may have been a set up . This one's a bit older than Zatoichi , but it's no less brilliant . It's kind of like a combination between Takeshi's film Kikujiro ( where a yakuza is stuck taking care of a young boy ) and John Woo's The Killer . Sonatine also comes with some amusing musings from Quentin Tarantino . Fully recommended , and a steal at this price . A +
• 041 4  I would like to point out the positives first . First the action sequences are well done . The moves were quick and decisive and I wasn't disturbed about the fake splashes of blood . The storyline is actually quite interesting as you find him coming into town to battle some gangsters . The actors did an alright job in comparison with what they had to work with . However , the quality of the film does not seem up to par though it was released in 2003 or 2204 . You don't really connect strongly with any of the characters including the blind swordsman . The last tap dance sequence was really unecessary and seemed out of place . It looks like they cut a scene from a completely different movie and just pasted it in there . One poster said one scene doesn't take away form the quality of the film but it does . One scene can ruin a movie - Notice the poster didn't state the scene wasn't bad or didn't belong there . This movie is not as bad as some people are saying but truthfully it's not as good as some people are saying . It is an ok movie . It had good potential and didn't live up to it .
• 042 4  I've been eagerly awaiting this film since I heard of it being made . I'm a big fan of the Original Zatoichi films-which were very groundbreaking in their own right . I'm also a huge Beat Takeshi fan-we just don't see enough of this versatile actor in America . I thought the film was fantastic ! The movie in many respects pays homage to the original ( especially the fact that they left the time frame in the past , instead of making a movie set in modern day-Bravo ! ) but , at the same time the film is new , refreshing , and innovative . Set in the past , the realistic costuming and sets alone is worth the price of admission . One subject I was pleasantly surprised to see tackled was homosexuality , well told in a sad but beautiful sequence that has the child / man geisha dancing . But , on the other end of the spectrum there were many fun to zany parts with the charcter Shinkishi , and , in the movies words , a certified idiot next door neighbor who thinks he's a Samarai-shown for fun but not in a demeaning way . This movie , unlike early Zatoichi films , is not judgemental , it takes more of a voyeristic view . Yes , there were a few odd parts , mainly the end dance sequence-but that's why I LOVE most oriental films-they are totally unpredictable which , IMO , furthers your viewing enjoyment . The fight scenes were fantastic-violently beautiful , a tad bloody , but nothing in relation to most american films . Exciting , funny , poignant , slapstick , samarai and vaudeville rolled into one very different film . Highly recommended 5 stars !
• 043 4  This film is different to me . It's both a swordfighting flick , but also a film that is meant to work against that type . There isn't swordfighting in a glamourized affect . It all seems to be slaughter , or calculated fighting and it's far more cerebral and lethal than I've ever seen before . The blood was a little bit distracting at first , but I think that it would be too disgusting and an annoying impediment in the filmmaking process , so I understand the reaon for these effects . The one thing that I enjoyed the most was the forsaking of swordfighting in the end to tell the story instead . What's also interesting is how he tells the story visually instead of with dialogue , particularly in the scene where the siblings are practicing and it compares the footage of when they were young practicing to present and mixing in shots of the sister's reaction . It says a lot about how she feels for her brother and their predicament . The thing that's extremely strange is the tap sequence which ends the film , it's just weird , but entertaining in a way . That's pretty much the entire film , weird but entertaining . I must also note that it's not really satisfying as an action thriller because the film doesn't really seem interested in that . I think the reason for this is the director , Takeshi Kitano , wanted to shake up what he thought was a stale formula for the series and so he made it differently and made some strong directorial choices about that .
• 044 4  Takeshi Kitano breathes life back into the samurai film genre with this masterpiece . Kitano plays the role of the unassuming blind masseur , Ichi . Ichi has a secret though . Despite being blind , he is a master swordsman . He has a blade concealed within his cane , and he uses his uncanny sense of hearing to guide him in his battles . The way he slices through his foes and then just shrugs it off with a laugh is pure cool . In this movie , Ichi enters a town in which several gangs are battling for power . One gang eventually gains the upper hand and makes life a living hell for the townsfolk . Ichi makes a few connections with the townsfolk , and uncovers a network of crime and corruption . Once equiped with this information , he sets out to deal justice with a quick flash of his sword . Kitano does a great job on this remake . This Zatoichi stands apart from the original . Both Zatoichis can be appreciated as masterpieces of Japanese cinema , and they act as mirrors of the times in which they were produced . One scene that sets Kitano's Zatoichi apart is the final scene . After the main plot has been resolved , the villagers celebrate with a festival . Kitano opts for something new by featuring tap dancers at the festival . It seems a little strange to hear it , but believe me , it works . This seemless blend of the modern with the timeless is what really breathes life into the samurai genre . Another Kitano masterpiece . Check it out .
• 045 4  Please forgive me , as I'm an obvious nutcase and know nothing , but I think this is one of the five or six greatest movies I've ever seen . . . I'm very fond of the whole Blind Swordsman series , and this devestated that , and my favorite filmmaker , on a whole , is Akira Kurosawa . . . or Hitch . . . . . . this is a hell of a thing . . . .
• 046 4  I rather enjoyed all the ever-satisfying revenge-and-justice theme , the lightning quick mass carnage , and a few other quirks of this film . Overall though it was nothing special , just your typical Japanese swordfighting movie ( lots of silent but visually austere / stunning scenes ) though the director , Takeshi Kitano does take more than his fair share of liberties with the genre . Particularly jarring was the final Latin / hip-hop dance routine featuring a stage full of traditionally dressed Japanese in full feudal kimono gear doing some very UN-Japanese tap-dancing and rapid fire free-form gyrations . Would I want to see it again ? Hmm , not sure about that . . . This film gets a hung jury .
• 047 4  To the frustrated film critic wannabe who reviewed and critiqued Kitano's acting , Kitano does pretty damn well for a man who's face was 1 / 2 paralyzed in a motorcycle accident years ago . As a director , he has a unique vision - something the reviewer lacks . As for Katsu , having done in excess of 20 Zatoichi films ( and LITTLE else ) , one would expect a well developed character . The writer might be interested to know Katsu was a serious alcoholic , abusive to his casts , crews and family and not a pleasant guy . He was a great actor and a good film maker but not in Takeshi Kitano's ( or Takeshi Beat's ) league . For those of you who like samurai ( Chambara ) , you will be thrilled . For those of you new to Zatoichi , you are in for a treat ! ( If you like it , you have Katsu's films to see ! ) . For all . . . the last 5 minutes are pure genious and ground breaking from a Japanese point of view and will surprise the hell out of you . You will enjoy this film .
• 048 4  Takeshi Kitano's take on the legendary blind swordsman is a bento box full of surprises . From the electric blonde hair of the title character to the anachronistic yet humorous one-liners to the show-stopping dance number at the end , one is hardpressed to find a more offbeat and entertaining samurai movie . We start off with Zatoichi , travelling as a blind masseuse from town to town . In one particular stop , he gets to defend a lady vegetable vendor from extortionists , teach her ne'er do well nephew some gambling tricks , almost become a victim of two vengeful geishas , a truncated showdown with a ronin and ultimately , finding out who the real big boss of the gang that terrorizes the town . The main story is rich with subplots involving the other characters . The most interesting of which are that of the two geishas . The ronin Hattori's ( Tadanabu Asano ) tale is also tragic and even though the acting is understated , bordering on stoic , you can still emphatize with his dilemma . The pace is rather languid but never boring as it is peppered by suberb , if not brutal , fight scenes ( anime style blood fountains are prevalent - seen also in Kill Bill ) , lines as sharp as a kitana and unpredictable scenes like a Dancer In A Dark-esque rice paddy musical and of course , the tapdancing finale . A definite must-see .
• 049 4  If you saw this film then you already knew what it was about , A blind swordsman . The story , the acting , and everything else were perfect but they messed up in one spot . A lot of the stunts are done digitally and it's obvious that it is digital . It just takes so much of the realism from the film . I suggest watching this film on TV first but this is a pretty good deal since you recieve two films for the price of one .
• 050 4  Good acting makes this power of one samurai story really nice to watch . Stone-cold Tadanobu Asano makes an excellent warrior opposite apparently feeble Takeshi Kitano . The bad guys , the geishas , the aunt , the silly newphew , all of them play a part in making the movie funny , sad , violent , and capable of suspending our real world . A good movie to spend time on .
• 051 4  Wow ! It seem that Takeshi Kitano can do no wrong . This is the one of the latest and most anticipated of his films ( I think the 14th one he's directed ) to go on DVD . It's the retold story of the Blind Swordsman Zatoichi . Who is actally a masseuse , travelling the countryside looking for excietment and a little bloodshed . As with most heroes , trouble usually finds him . Western movies have made a similiar film called ( Blind Fury ) in the 1980 ' s - starring Rutger Hauer , which I also liked - but nowhere near to the extent of Zatoichi ! Its like an anime come to life ! The only disappointing aspect ( If you're one to knitpick about the little things like I do ) , is that there are a few scenes , were the Blood SFX does not seem as realistic as with the rest of the film . But it doesn't really matter . There's something about Takeshi Kitano's film that leave you feeling that there's more to life . Acting - 3 / 5 Blood / Gore - 3.5 / 5 Special FX - 2.5 / 5 Entertainment - 4 / 5 Direction - 4.5 / 5 Yearning for a sequel - 5 / 5 Story - 5 / 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Overall - 4 / 5
• 052 4  I don't know about other reviewers , but I cannot get enough of the Zatoichi episodes starring the late Shintaro Katsu . Even though I have ALL of the Zatoichi motion picture films , and more than half of the television series that Shintaro Katsu acted in during the mid to late 1970s , I was delighted that Takeshi Kitano decided to go ahead with this film . And this despite the fact the Shintaro Katsu died in 1997 . Yes , there will only be one Shintaro Katsu , but I believe that this film is a great homage to him . The Blind Swordsman : Zatoichi is an excellent film . Takeshi Kitano directed , and stars as Zatoichi : Formerly the role of the late Shintaro Katsu . However , the name is where the similarities between these two stars end : other than the fact that both are blind and lethal with a cane sword . This newer version of Zatoichi played by Takeshi Kitano is not the laughable , and playful masseur that Shintaro Katsu so deftly applied to his own character , but rather a dark and ominous former Yakuza , who hunts down his very own former Yakuza with a swift and exacting vengeance . The plot I found to be extremely well done . And the character development of the actors in the film are wonderfully portrayed . I especially liked the role portrayed by the Ronin ( Tadanobu Asano ) who will have an eventual showdown with Zatoichi as the film draws to a close . Not to mention the sub plots that surround this particular Zatoichi episode concerning two siblings out to avenge their families deaths . Now , first of all , do not go into this film expecting the same character that Shintaro Katsu brought to Zatoichi . As I mentioned earlier , there will only be one Zatoichi as far as I am concerned , and that will always be Shintaro Katsu who will be forever immortalized in cinema . However , this too is a great Zatocihi film . Also , for some reason , I could not help but thinking that this is a wonderful end to the Zatoichi films , because for me , this particular Zatoichi film more than measured up . Moreover , on a plus side , this film is further enhanced by the beautiful cinematography and the wonderful soundtrack of the delightful sounds of the of Taiko drums beating in the background . I highly recommend this latest entry of Zatoichi , as it is a fitting tribute to a legendary actor . [ Stars : 5 + ]
• 054 4  For those that don't know Zatoichi is the story of a blind swordsman that spawned many movies and tv shows . One of the most popular samurai series in Japan , this version was not viewed highly in the eyes of many of the original series ' fans when it was announced . Even though Beat Takashi ( one of Japan's most respected actor / writer / director / producer / painter / etc . ) was at the helm of this project many were very skepitical at best and horrified at most when they heard Zatoichi would be a blonde blue eyed Japanese . That all changed when it was released . Disbelievers were amazed at what Beat did with the classic series . Anyway , storyline goes as so . Zatoichi is a blind massuer who wanders from town to town . He is a likeable person and is taken in by a local woman . Soon he is getting involved with yakuza and is discovered to be a master swordsman , despite his vision impairment . Then as in the original series , he meets and befriends a samurai who he is destined to face in battle . The plot isn't A + but it is still great . The music and cinematography on the other hand are A + as is the action . There is a scene in the begining where some angered men who Zatoichi must of pissed off before the movie steal his cane ( which conceals his sword ) and think they now have the upper hand , but of course they are quickly proven wrong . Anyway this is a brilliant interpretation of a series that still stands the test of time . Sonatine is a great movie as well , one of Beat's first projects , but Zatoichi is the main attraction and is what everyone is showing up for . Sonatine is just the dessert or cherry on top . Two great movies for the price of one , it is a deal you can't beat . If you don't believe me and the other's that gave this movie such rave reviews atleast do yourself a favor a go and rent this from somewhere . As soon as you're done watching I guarentee you will come back and purchase this . Also a sequel is currently in the works as I write this and will hopefully be released sometime next year in Japan and soon afterwards in America . This is a gem that can't be missed .
• 055 4  There's something disquieting about Zatoichi - you just don't know how to feel about an invincible swordsman who just happens to be blind . I love Japanese swordfighting movies so , of course , I've seen some of the old Zatoichi films ( no , I haven't seen ALL of them ) . The original Zatoichi frequently acted the buffoon ; this was partially to put his enemies off-guard and partially because he was just a happy-go-lucky guy . This new , updated Zatoichi is much more serious ; he's leaner - and older . He also is a supporting player of this movie , staying on the fringes of the story and only intervening when he's needed . ( The plot itself is similar to the movie Yojimbo . ) He doesn't seem to have anything at stake except an abstract sense of Justice . He still holds his sword in his underhand style , however - it just wouldn't be Zatoichi without it . On the whole , I think that this is a good update of the film franchise , and I wouldn't mind seeing more of them . Swordfighting is more realistic in Japanese films - in that things happen with lightning quickness . The main thing I found annoying in the movie is crude , obvious computer-generated effects . After sword-strokes , animated blood is added so obviously , it looks as if it were hand-drawn . I guess that's just lack of funds - maybe next time they'll have more money .