A legendary figure in Japan is Zatoichi - the blind masseur with healing hands and a swift sword. The boss of a major crime syndicate orders his lieutenant to bring a rogue gang of drug traffickers in line, a job that gets passed on to his long-suffering subordinate. Several yakuza from Tokyo are sent to Okinawa to help end a gang war. All in one evergreen collection: 10 animated specials you've grown up with and loved -- including 3 new to DVD! Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman 9 Blu-ray Deluxe Set The colossally popular Zatoichi films make up the longest-running action series in Japanese history and created one of the screen’s great heroes: an itinerant blind masseur who also happens to be a lightning-fast swordsman. https://www.criterion.com/boxsets/1012-zatoichi-the-blind-swordsman About this list: A list of the Zatoichi films in chronological order. (From IMDB) Blind Zatoichi makes his living by gambling and giving massages. The colossally popular Zatoichi films make up the longest-running action series in Japanese history and created one of the screen’s great heroes: an itinerant blind masseur who also happens to be a lightning-fast swordsman. Five years after surviving the all-out war between the Sanno and Hanabishi crime families, former yakuza boss Otomo now works in South Korea for Mr. Chang, a renowned fixer whose influence extends into Japan. Determined to help the desperate residents of a village, Zatoichi seeks justice through revenge! The blind traveler Zatoichi (Beat Takeshi) is a master swordsman and massage therapist who likes to play dice. The boy does so and is rudely sent away without payment for his deed. In 19th Century feudal Japan, the nomadic blind masseuse Zatoichi (Kitano) is a man with a secret. A Japanese gangster is exiled to Los Angeles where his brother lives with a small but respectable multi-racial gang, who he inspires to expand their influence. The war then escalates and the Tokyo drifters decide to lay low at the beach. The film's plot follows a traditional theme, with Zatoichi (a blind swordsman) coming to the defense of townspeople caught up in a local yakuza gang war and being forced to pay excessive amounts of protection money. Zatoichi wanders into a town run by sinister gangs and a powerful samurai. Ichi is a blind masseuse ambling from town to town until some injustice or threat cause him to reveal his … View production, box office, & company info. Nishi leaves the police in the face of harrowing personal and professional difficulties. A relatively minor incident causes tensions to rise between Chang Enterprises and the faraway powerful Hanabishi. "The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi" embodies the kinds of contradictory elements that make Takeshi Kitano Japan's most intriguing contemporary actor-director. Most believable performance as a blind person? The growing conflict gets out of hand and ignites a ferocious power struggle... See full summary ». intlpress@aol.com. A young, naive boy sets out alone on the road to find his wayward mother. Shop with confidence. As a kid, I watched any movie I could with big explosions. An aging blind man (Takeshi Kitano) sits resting along a dusty road. His sword made him a hero... his courage made him a legend.. Zatôichi is a 19th century blind nomad who makes his living as a gambler and masseur. Kitano set out to create his own story, his own character, and his own version - simply using the legend of Zatoichi as the most basic blueprint from which to start. The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi Blind Zatoichi makes his living by gambling and giving massages. However, behind this humble facade, he is a master swordsman gifted with a lightning-fast draw and breathtaking precision. Kitano plays the role of the blind swordsman. Zatoichi (座頭市, Zatōichi) (released in the US as The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi) is a 2003 Japanese samurai drama/action film, directed, written, co-edited by and starring Takeshi Kitano ("Beat" Takeshi) in his 11th directorial venture. 2003 116min In an empire ruled by fear, the people's only hope is the ultimate weapon: Zatoichi - a blind, nomadic samurai whose sword has made him a hero and whose courage has made him a legend. All of the films are presented in their original aspect ratios of about 2.35:1 across nine dual-layer Blu-rays and 17 single and dual-layer DVDs (the 18th DVD is … 1. Zatoichi (Takeshi Kitano) is a blind wanderer who makes a living by gambling and giving massages. Eiga-mura, Kanami, Kanae-chô, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima, Japan. The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi. The final 1989 film, Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman is missing, possibly due to rights issues, as is the television series. The leader of a gang of thugs bribes a child to take the man’s cane away from him. Zatoichi wanders into a town run by sinister gangs and a powerful samurai. But behind his humble facade, Zatoichi is a master swordsman, gifted with lightning-fast draw and strokes of breathtaking precision. But behind his humble facade, Zatoichi is a master swordsman, gifted with lightning-fast draw and strokes of breathtaking precision. Was this review helpful to you? From Wings to Parasite, here's a look back at all of the Best Picture Oscar winners in the history of the ceremony. I tend to make the second one after I've finished struggling with the up'p'loads Zatoichi16 and 20 ;) (2003). [9], https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=zatoichi.htm, http://www.kitanotakeshi.com/pdf/1104143218_zatoichi_pk_uk.pdf, "Japan Box Office: 'Cinderella' Wins Fourth Weekend", "Midnight Eye review: Zatoichi (2003, Takeshi KITANO)", "Zatoichi - Directed by Takeshi Kitano - TIFF Reviews - exclaim.ca", http://web-jpn.org/trends/arts/art031111.html, Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zatōichi_(2003_film)&oldid=998185791, Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Articles with Japanese-language sources (ja), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Some may complain about how this Zatoichi isn't consistent with the original Zatoichi, but that was done by design. Costumes were created by Kazuko Kurosawa. Zatoichi on the Road (1963) ", Kitano revealed that he was approached by others to create the film and therefore differed from his own techniques and followed the common filmmaking process in order to please them and make a pure-entertainment film. New Tale of Zatoichi (1963) 4. The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi is intended to be equal parts action epic and lighthearted comedy. Kitano stars as the blind wanderer with a distinctive red cane and a shock of platinum blonde hair. Summary: Director Takeshi Kitano takes on Japanese cinematic legend Zatoichi. It premiered on 2 September 2003 at the Venice International Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Silver Lion for Best Director award, and went on to numerous other awards both at home and abroad. It also stars Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Okusu, Yui Natsukawa, Guadalcanal Taka, Daigoro Tachibana, Yuko Daike, Ittoku Kishibe, Saburo Ishikura and Akira Emoto. Beat Takeshi, a prominent actor, meets a lookalike named Kitano, who is a struggling actor, but after the meeting, Kitano's dreams take a violent, surreal turn. Zatoichi - The Blind Swordsman. Written by When he arrives in the city, controls the fighting gangs and is afraid of a farming family, he meets two women with their own program. He deserves credit for creating something new and innovative, even when working with an old story. Cast: Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Yasuda, Taka Guadalcanal Blind Zatoichi makes his living by gambling and giving massages. Some years ago I watched the movie The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi and enjoyed it, though it did not match my expectations. Guadalcanal Taka as Shinkichi, gambler nephew of Oume. Zatoichi wanders into a town run by sinister gangs and a powerful samurai. They soon discover the people responsible for the murders are the same yakuza wreaking havoc on the small town. He is vastly amused at private jokes. A violence prone police officer discovers that his colleague is trafficking drugs. Soon he finds an unlikely protector in a crotchety man and the two have a series of unexpected adventures along the way. The lives of a young, hearing-impaired and gloomy couple are fulfilled after the boy holds interest in surfboarding. But behind his humble facade, Zatoichi is a master swordsman, gifted with lightning-fast draw and strokes of breathtaking precision. Zatoichi (座頭市, Zatōichi) (released in the US as The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi) is a 2003 Japanese samurai drama/action film, directed, written, co-edited by and starring Takeshi Kitano ("Beat" Takeshi) in his 11th directorial venture. Find great deals on eBay for the blind swordsman zatoichi and zatoichi: the blind swordsman criterion. Zatoichi excels because of its break with conventions, mixing humour, dance, slapstick, and theatre with an otherwise tense and violent plot. Meanwhile, Zatoichi befriends a local farmer and her gambler nephew and eventually offers his assistance to two geisha siblings (one of whom is actually a man) who are seeking revenge for the murder of their parents. Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman. Zatoichi wanders into a town run by sinister gangs and a powerful samurai. What is the reason Zatoichi has blonde hair? Duels, wit and a touch of zen! You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Use the HTML below. Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? 161 likes. Blind Zatoichi makes his living by gambling and giving massages. said, "when Zatoichi is on screen, the film erupts with brilliant fury in unforgettable action sequences". [3], This film marks Kitano's first collaboration with composer Keiichi Suzuki, ending an 11-year streak with Joe Hisaishi. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. 18 of 25 people found this review helpful. Zatoichi later wanders into town and confronts the yakuza bosses, killing the second-in-command and blinding the elderly yakuza boss (who had been masquerading as a bumbling old waiter up until this point) after surprising him by opening his eyes. The Tale of Zatoichi (1962) Not Rated | 95 min | Action, Adventure, Drama. Blind Zatoichi makes his living by gambling and giving massages. The siblings are the only survivors of a robbery and massacre that was carried out on their family estate ten years ago. Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman series. Title: The director said he made the decision feeling that the film needed percussion-based music and that Hisaishi is not a flexible composer, and also suggested that Hisaishi had become too expensive for him. Softly-spoken, he makes a living as a masseur and by gambling, but his humble, shuffling facade masks a lightning-fast, deadly swordsman. [4], The film grossed US$23.8 million in Japan. Rated R for strong stylized bloody violence, Mark Gill To Direct ‘Ravens’, Chronicling The Life Of Legendary Japanese Photographer Masahisa Fukase, Film Review: Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman (1971) by Kimiyoshi Yasuda, Film Review: Hanzo the Razor: Sword of Justice (1972) by Kenji Misumi, Movies That Were Written, Directed, and Starring by The Same Artist, Favorite Chanbara (aka Samurai Cinema) Film, TIFF — Best People's Choice Award Winner (2000-Present). Zatoichi wanders into a town run by sinister gangs and a powerful samurai. As the police launch a full-scale crackdown on organized crime, it ignites a national yakuza struggle between the Sanno of the East and Hanabishi of the West. The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi subtitles. Cult anti-hero Zatoichi is back in a sword-fighting adventure written, directed and starring Takeshi Kitano. He plays, as usual, a man with an impassive face, few words, and sudden bursts of action that end in a few seconds. In a gambling joint, Zatoichi and trustworthy young friend Shinkichi meet up with a couple of geishas. The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi subtitles. [2] Kitano plays the role of the blind swordsman. [8] On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film had a positive approval rating of 86% based on 124 reviews. But behind his humble facade, Zatoichi is a master swordsman, gifted with lightning-fast draw and strokes of breathtaking precision. 2003, Audience Award Leone Del Pubblico, Venice, This page was last edited on 4 January 2021, at 05:56. The film ends with a dance number led by noted Japanese tap dance troupe The Stripes, and Zatoichi walking down a trail and tripping over a rock, saying "Even with my eyes wide open, I can't see anything. I watch martial arts movies from time to time, but usually not for the plot or character development. What a fantastic return to form for Japanese director and creative renaissance man, Takeshi Kitano. He's destined for violent showdowns when he stumbles on two beautiful geishas avenging their parents' murder... Duels, wit and a touch of zen! Okinu and her sister Osei have come to town to avenge their parents' murder. The dance scene at the end is phenomenal and very directly (and intentionally) reminds movie goers that you are there to be entertained. The best film I've seen this year and among Kitano's best, and that's saying a lot. Two disquieted junior baseball players seek revenge on the local yakuza for attacking their coach. Spiraling into depression, he makes questionable decisions. Behind his humble facade, Zatoichi is a master swordsman. Introduced in the early 1960s, Zatoichi is now an archetypal character in Japanese film, inspiring dozens of films and numerous television shows. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for THE BLIND SWORDSMAN: ZATOICHI - SONATINE - DOUBLE FEATURE DVD at the best … Blind traveler Zatoichi (Beat Takeshi) is a master swordsman and a masseur with a fondness for gambling on dice games. But behind his humble facade, Zatoichi is a master swordsman, gifted with lightning-fast draw and strokes of breathtaking precision. Zatoichi’s moment of serenity is interrupted by a band of thugs. The colossally popular Zatoichi films make up the longest-running action series in Japanese history and created one of the screen’s great heroes: an itinerant blind masseur who also happens to be a lightning-fast swordsman. The film is a revival of the classic Zatoichi series of samurai film and television dramas. The gang leader then chides the man for having his precious cane taken away so easily. The colossally popular Zatoichi films make up the longest-running action series in Japanese history and created one of the screen’s great heroes: an itinerant blind masseur who also happens to be a lightning-fast swordsman. Check out our editors' picks for the movies and shows we're excited about this month, like Mortal Kombat, "Them," and Stowaway. [7] Allan Tong of Exclaim! As this iconic figure, the charismatic and earthy Shintaro Katsu became an instant superstar, lending a larger-than-life presence to the thrilling … 2. AKA: Takeshi Kitano's Zatoichi, Zatoichi, Zatoichi FR. AKA: Scheherazade Tell Me a Story, Bleach Movie 4 Hell Chapter / Hell Verse, the harem, Egri Csillagok, The Twilight Samurai. He's destined for violent showdowns when he stumbles on two beautiful geishas avenging their parents' murder... Duels, wit and a touch of zen! Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. Zatoichi was a blind swordsman whose adventures were celebrated in Japan via a series of long-running films and TV specials starring the legendary Shintaro Katsu. [5] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave Zatoichi 4 out of 5 stars. Zatoichi the Fugitive (1963) 5. This film breaks the art-house tradition by going for the jugular with its entertainment value, yet it never stoops to the level of Hollywood triteness. Despite his quiet nature, he is a highly trained samurai … [6] Jasper Sharp of Midnight Eye praised the films as "pure cinematic magic". In many ways, it fails and succeeds in both departments. The Blind Swordsman: Zatôichi needs his rest. A montage with scenes taken from Zatoichi 1 till 10. A list of 26 films compiled on Letterboxd, including The Tale of Zatoichi (1962), The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (1962), New Tale of Zatoichi (1963), Zatoichi the Fugitive (1963) and Zatoichi on the Road (1963). 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