Production Year: 2003 - Action/Adventure - Director: 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano - Original Language: Japanese - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:'Beat' Takeshi Kitano, Ookusu Michiyo, Taka Gadarukanaru
Takeshi Kitano, best known for such gangster films as VIOLENT COP, BOILING POINT, and BROTHER, makes his first period drama with ZATOICHI, an updating of the classic Japanese... more
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Advantages: Dazzling fight scenes coupled with an absorbing storyline. Disadvantages: None to mention.
Zatoichi is a blindman, a masseur by trade. However, Zatoichi holds a secret. He is a master swordsman, able to strike with surgical precision.
Set in feudal Japan, this remake sees Zatoichi wander to a country village, where he helps a woman farmer carry her crop of vegetable to her home. As a way of thanks, she offers Zatoichi a place to stay. During his stay at her home, he finds out that a criminal gang, the Ginzo gang, has taken over the village, ... ...gambling friend. During this meeting, Zatoichi learns that the two Geishas are on a hunt for the murderers of their family, the Narutos. It comes to light that certain members of the Ginzo gang are the ones responsible for the slaughter of the Naruto family.
As the Ginzo gang tighten their grip over the village, and destroy all opposition, Zatoichi is forced to react. In the final showdown, who will be victorious?
This remake of the famous Zatoichi ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Great Presentation and plenty of extras Disadvantages: Pricey
...He plays the role of Zatoichi superbly, the blind swordsman/masseur. Zatoichi parades as a masseur earning his living in that fashion (apart from gambling). Kitano portrays him has being a rather humble individual, but behind that shroud of humility lies a deadly swordsman who is a match for any human being.
Zatoichi wanders into a remote village at the mercy of the ruthless Ginzo, a gang leader. He then meets an old woman whose abode he stays in, ... ...There are a few light hearted moments in the film, none more so than the ending, but overall, the tone of the movie is finely balanced, always having a sort of "action/adventure" theme to it. The fight scenes are awesome, the swordplay is fantastic. The blood may seem a little too "CGI" but that was the intention of the director, to reduce the impact of the numerous on screen kills. The movie contains 5.1 sound, and the DVD video quality is great, ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Actor(s): 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano, Ookusu Michiyo, Taka Gadarukanaru
Director(s): 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano
Genre: Action & Adventure
Classification: 18 years and over
Production Year: 2003
Running Time: 1 hour 51 minutes
Video Category: World Cinema Feature Film
Country Of Origin: Japan
Plot: A retelling of the Zatoichi samurai epic. The blind master swordsman Zatoichi finds himself in a town in fear of a criminal gang.
Release details
DVD Region: Region 0 (All Regions)
Studio(s): ARTIFICIAL EYE; WORLD CINEMA
Release date: 24/01/2005
No of Discs: 2
Catalogue No: ART 281 DVD
Barcode: 5021866281308
Producer: Masayuki Mori, Tsunehisa Saito
Author: Kan Shimozawa
Languages
Main Language: Japanese
Subtitle Language: English
Technical information
Special Features: Limited Edition Film Cell, 3 Art Cards, Booklet, Two Interviews With Takeshi Kitano, Interviews With The Technical Team, Takeshi Kitano Masterclass, Making Of Documentary, Stills And Poster Galleries, Theatrical Trailer, Filmographies
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound: DTS, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0
Dubbing Sound: DTS Japanese Dolby Digital 5.1 Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 Japanese
DVD Description
Takeshi Kitano, best known for such gangster films as VIOLENT COP, BOILING POINT, and BROTHER, makes his first period drama with ZATOICHI, an updating of the classic Japanese character portrayed by Shintaro Katsu in movies and television from 1962 to 1989. Zatoichi is a blind samurai who shuffles from town to town, righting wrongs with his remarkable sword hidden within his cane. He is also a masseuse who likes to gamble. Kitano serves as director, writer, co-editor, and star of the film, playing the protagonist under his acting name, Beat Takeshi. This version of Zatoichi, based on the stories of Kan Shimozawa, is more violent than the earlier series, as Kitano strives to make it more realistic. He has also infused a clever sense of humour, while cinematographer Katsumi Yanagishima adds beautiful depth of field to many scenes. When Zatoichi arrives in a small town, he unknowingly walks into a classic tale of revenge, as two women plot to kill the men who murdered their family. As Zatoichi becomes more involved, an eventual showdown with young samurai Hattori (Tadanobu Asano, who excelled in Takashi Miike's very violent ICHI THE KILLER) is inevitable. ZATOICHI is thrilling filmmaking at its best, an endlessly entertaining samurai epic from a man who fully understands the genre and is not afraid to take it to the next level.
Professional reviews
Review: "...KILL BILL? Zatoichi could wipe the floor with him!" (Empire, )
"...Fantastic... breathtaking and hugely enjoyable..." (Jonathan Ross) (Film 2004, )
