In cinematic terms, zatoichi is somewhat akin to james bond. Zatoichi in us theaters july 23, 2004 starring takeshi kitano, michiyo ogusu, taka gatarukanaru, yuko daike. Jul 23, 2004 the plot is labyrinthine and involves zatoichi helping siblings restore their family honor, but its really just there to put those soontobechoppedup dobadders in the heros way. Director takeshi kitano takes on japanese cinematic legend zatoichi.
Zatoichi is available to watch and stream, buy on demand at amazon, vudu online. They release takeshi kitanos blind swordsman epic, zatoichi, this summer uncut and subtitled. In japanese w english subtitles the last zatoichi movie i uploaded was the masseuse first. Zatoichi is a sightless fighter who wanders through feudal japan in the guise of an itinerant masseur. The blind masseurswordsman comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming. Introduced in the early 1960s, zatoichi is now an archetypal character in japanese film, inspiring dozens of films and numerous television shows. Adventures of a blind man is the ninth film in the series.
Zatoichi throws in his lot with the swordcarrying gangsters, and. Zatoichi is a 19th century blind nomad who makes his living as a gambler and masseur. Oct 26, 2015 ichis investigation into these injustices uncovers a corrupt alliance between government officials and criminals, putting the blind swordsman on a bloody path of retribution in one of the series. The blind swordsman, a box set from the criterion collection, assembles the 25 films starring shintaro katsu as a samurai. One of those rather crazy japanese films that is quite hard to access. Since so many older films were being remade in the 2000s it was only natural that someone would do zatoichi. Zatochi is about a blind swordsman who comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and meets two women one that looks like a. Home vision entertainment plans on releasing three more zatoichi movies in october 2002. Zatoichi s moment of serenity is interrupted by a band of thugs.
Now its the first color movie of the blind swordsman. Unlike most trained swordsmen and retainers, the adherence to a code of conduct is not part of his nature because no one would hire a blind swordsman, so one assumes the bushido code was not stressed in his training. Older, wiser but still a wandering loner, the blind, peaceloving masseur ichi seeks a peaceful life in a rural village. The blind swordsman box set gets our highest recommendation and damn well deserves it. Released 1989, zatoichi stars shintaro katsu, kanako higuchi, takanori jinnai, ryuutaro gan the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 57 min, and received a score of out of 100 on metacritic. Kitano reviving zatoichi is akin to clint eastwood deciding to take over as the lone ranger, and the disparity between the directors singular vision and the demands of the genre often throw his the blind swordsman. He has a code, but enforces it according to his own rules. Zatoichi news, posters, trailers, images, cast and plot.
Leave it to the japanese to come up with somebody like zatoichi, the blind master swordsman who was played by the beloved shintaro katsu in 26 films between 1962 and 1989, as well as 100 television episodes based on the character. Zatoichi is a 2003 japanese samurai dramaaction film, directed, written, coedited by and starring takeshi kitano beat takeshi in his 11th directorial venture. All hail the genius of shintaro katsu for creating such a nonstop movie hero. While wandering, zatoichi discovers a remote mountain village at the mercy of ginzo, a ruthless gangleader. The 2003 remakecontinuity reboot of zatoichi known in the anglosphere as the blind swordsman zatoichi or takeshi kitanos zatoichi, the legendary blind swordsman of japanese folklore. Apr 30, 2008 zatoichi music video to the song rise by flobots. Zatoichi is a blind wanderer who makes a living by gambling and giving massages in 19thcentury japan. The name zatoichi is a conflation of zatonoichi, which translates literally into ichi the masseur. Zatoichi, the outlaw the blind swordsman s rescue zatoichi breaks jail director. His recent film was zatoichi, the blind swordsman 2003, a remake, a homage, and a wry take on one of the most popular series of films from japan in the 1960s and 1970s. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a fictional character featured in one of japan s longestrunning series of films and a television series that are both set during the late edo period 1830s and 1840s. Zatoichi by director takeshi kitano featuring himself in the classic role. Zatoichi has a distinguished reputation as a swordsman and sukegoro thinks he is money well spent.
Directed and starred by takeshi kitano, who uses his full trademark trippy style to tell an adventure of the master swordsman, with gorn, humour and. Kitano stars as the blind wanderer with a distinctive red cane and a shock of platinum blonde hair. From 1962 to 1989, zatoichi, played by the endearingly gruff shintaro katsu. Zatoichi embodies the kinds of contradictory elements that make takeshi kitano japans most intriguing contemporary actordirector. Zatoichi monogatari, directed by kenji misumi, is the first film of a classic japanese samurai drama saga starring shintaro katsu as zatoichi, a character created by kan shimozawa. Shigezo responds by hiring a ronin of similar repute, miki hirate shigeru amachi. Zatoichi, in which the director and star, takeshi kitano, revives the venerable hero of japanese action cinema. The film is a revival of the classic zatoichi series of samurai film and television dramas. He starred in 24 more zatoichi films between 1962 and 1973, 100 episodes of a zatoichi tv series between 1974 and 1979 and one final sendoff in 1989 s zatoichi. Zatoichi, zatoichi released in the us as the blind swordsman. Far from being a stodgy period epic, the movie also touches on issues of gambling addiction, transvestitism, and child prostitution. Zatoichi pics, images, clips, trailers, production photos and. It was originally released by the daiei motion picture company later acquired by kadokawa pictures. When hes caught in the middle of a power struggle between two rival yakuza clans, his reputation as a deadly defender of the innocent is put to the ultimate test in a series.
Zatochi is a artistic samurai film thatll leave some unhappy due to its distracting slow pace plot and action that moves too fast for some to enjoy. He plays, as usual, a man with an impassive face, few words, and sudden bursts of action that end in a few seconds. The blind swordsman 9 bluray deluxe set the colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. Zatoichi enters a town on the eve of the new years festival. The blind masseur swordsman comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming family, he meets two women with their own agenda.
Shintaro katsu kanako higuchi takanori jinnai ryuutaro gan. However, behind this humble facade, he is a master swordsman gifted with a lightningfast draw and breathtaking precision. This originally minor character was developed for the. The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by novelist kan shimozawa. Shintaro katsu took his final bow as zatoichi, the nomadic blind swordsman. Katsus original was, typically, a comic variation on the standard samurai drama. Poised before a foe, zatoichi keeps his eyes calmly closed, yet his other senses are pure, his strokes thrilling in their razory suddenness. Zatoichi 1989 after his release from jail, a lone warrior shintaro katsu becomes caught up in a bloody war between rival yakuza clans. Zatoichi s vengeance displays one of the most interesting aspects of zatoichi as a character. Zatoichi you are looking for exciting, humorous and atmospheric movies about with samurai, martial arts, one man army, violence, gang, good versus evil and gang war themes of action, comedy and crime genre shot in japan. Zatoichi takeshi kitano stars as the blind wanderer with a distinctive red cane and a. If you know of a title thats missing from this list even if its not found on mydramalist please let me know, and ill add it. I was reminded of the gratifying shockforce of lees fleet savagery when i saw the blind swordsman.
Steven seagal fight scenes 19881995 above the law the glimmer man duration. Zatoichi takeshi kitano, about zatoichi the blind swordsman. With takeshi kitano, tadanobu asano, yui natsukawa, michiyo yasuda. With shintaro katsu, kanako higuchi, takanori jinnai, ryutaro gan. Kitano throws most of his signature directorial style out the window, moving the camera and cutting like he. Zatoichi takeshi kitano tadanobu asano michiyo ohkusu 2004 a master swordsman beat takeshi battles a formidable ronin tadanobu asano and a deadly clan terrorizing villagers. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a fictional character featured in one of japans longestrunning series of films, as well as a television series. As the legendary blind swordsman zatoichi, beat takeshi takeshi kitano, left. Softlyspoken, he makes a living as a masseur and by gambling, but his humble, shuffling facade masks a lightningfast, deadly swordsman. This script was refilmed in america as blind fury, 1989 18. The blind masseur zatoichi is hired by yakuza gangleader sukegoro eijiro yanagi as he thinks that war is inevitable with the rival yakuza shigezo ryuzo shimada. Kitano is known here in the states primarily for his dark yakuza pictures violent cop, sonatine, fireworks, brother, but he is also a comedian as beat takeshi, which is the name he performs under, author and television personality in his. But the coolest thing of all is that each zatoichi disc comes with four trading cards showing our favorite blind swordsman in all his various guises. Rutger hauer starred in a 1989 hollywood version, blind fury.
The colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. As this iconic figure, the charismatic and earthy shintaro katsu became an instant superstar, lending a largerthanlife presence to the thrilling adventures of a man who. Aug 09, 20 zatoichi the blind swordsman began life as the subject of a 1948 essay by writer kan shimozawa, which chronicled the life of an actual blind vagabond who travelled japan in the mid19th century, during the final years of the feudal shogunate reign. Despite a formulaic plot and underdeveloped characters, zatoichi is an enjoyable movie from beginning to end. Donald richie, in his enthralling memoirs the japan journals 19472004, went so. Set in the age of rouge samurai, shintaro katsu stars as ichi, a blind masseur, gambler, a gangster, lady charmer, deadly swordsman, and all around kind scoundrel. Zatoichi the blind swordsman began life as the subject of a 1948 essay by writer kan shimozawa, which chronicled the life of an actual blind vagabond who travelled japan in the mid19th century, during the final years of the feudal shogunate reign. Seeing kitanos film, i was only aware of one other zatoichi film, not the series. Zatoichi pictures and movie photo gallery check out just released zatoichi the blind swordsman. This plot, however conventional it may sound, plays quite differently in. Its kitano who directs and stars in the blind swordsman. The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by novelist kan shimozawa this originally minor character was developed for the screen by daiei film now kadokawa daiei studio.
The final 1989 film, zatoichi the blind swordsman is missing, possibly due to rights issues, as is the television series. Zatoichi zatoichi 2003 2003 2004 office kitanomiramax miramax beat takeshi rules, and aside from the blonde hair choice, he is virtually perfect in the role as the new ichi. Production stills and liner notes are also included. Not every zatoichi film qualifies as great cinema, but even when the series falters a bit, every single one of these films is still well worth your time. He played the role of blind masseur zatoichi in a series of 25 films between 1962. Its actually a plot point when hattori and ichi face off. He takes the baby in search of its father and finds the childs aunt, who is about to be forced into prostitution for want of a payment the dead mother was bringing. Both are set during the late edo period 1830s and 1840s. For the record, takashi miike is the fearsome connoisseur of grindhouse violence and yakuza. The plot is labyrinthine and involves zatoichi helping siblings restore their family honor, but its really just there to put those soontobechoppedup dobadders in the heros way. Zatoichi and the chess expert at rotten tomatoes zatoichi the blind swordsman, vol. The blind swordsman movie videos for the full length movie and video clips on mefeedia. When hes caught in the middle of a power struggle between two rival yakuza clans, his reputation as a deadly defender of the innocent is put to the ultimate. Zatoichi was one of the classic period piece franchises in 1960s70s japanese cinema with over 20 releases and a tv series.
Add to that a successful television series and a current remakerethinking by beat takashi, and, obviou zatoichi the blind swordsman, vol. Zatoichi, the outlaw the blind swordsmans rescue zatoichi breaks jail director. Zatoichisonatine dvd, 2004, 2disc set, bonus feature. The real surprise is beat taking on the role of zatoichi the blind masseur with a sword hidden in his walking stick is an iconic figure in japanese film. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a 2003 japanese samurai dramaaction film, directed, written, coedited by and starring takeshi kitano beat takeshi in his 11th directorial venture. All of the films are presented in their original aspect ratios of about 2. Katsu, who appeared in 26 of these films before his death in 1989. That is if james bond were a 19th century blind swordsman who wanders the backwoods of japan aiding helpless villagers oppressed by. Set in postfeudal japan, zatoichi is the story of a wandering blind masseur who is also a master swordsman.
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