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Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 1 - The Tale of Zatoichi Director: Kenji Misumi Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Letterbox Format: Black & White, Widescreen Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Running Time: 96 minutes Studio: Home Vision Entertainment Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Region Code: 1 Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2002-05-14 Buy from Amazon |
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From Amazon.com Zatoichi, the wandering masseur and master swordsman, is a mercenary hero with a difference: he's blind, and no less deadly for it. In his debut, Ichi shuffles into a gangster-run town like a wry con man, fleecing the dim-bulb gambling thugs and sponging off a local mob boss who wants the deadly Ichi on his side in an impending gang war. Released the same year Akira Kurosawa unleashed Yojimbo, stocky Shintaro Katsu's modest and soft-spoken Ichi couldn't be more different from the dynamic Toshiro Mifune's swaggering and arrogant Yojimbo. Director Kenji Misume can't match Kurosawa's searing cynicism or dynamic action, but when Ichi finally lets loose after avoiding conflict for the entire film, his spare, sudden attack makes a startling contrast to the usual flashing swords and furious movements. Zatoichi returned in 25 sequels and a long-running TV series, always played by Shintaro Katsu. The newly restored DVD features a small stills gallery, a fold-out insert with an essay by Tatsu Aoki (a self described "Ichi Freak"), and four collector cards. --Sean Axmaker |
 "Justice is blind, so is the hand that wields the sword""Zatoichi, the Blind Swordsman" is as delicate a film as a feather to a sword. It follows the blind massuer of the title who has taken up the ways of the sword as he visits a gang leader on invitation and gets caught up in the imminent turmoil brewing with rival gang, Sasagawa. The film's plot is nothing new or original as far as the genre is concerned; it's one part "Yojimbo," one part "Sanjuro." However, the vivid focus on characterization leads this film into the realm of the unique. Unlike such films like "Yojimbo," where Toshiro Mifune served as the rough cutting tool to slice up carboard bad guys, Zatoichi brings the focus down to the characters, driving the story with quiet emotion and sub plot rather than rousing music and bloodshed. The film is already onto something interesting with it's quiet, almost enigmatic, blind hero, but then it pits him against an alcholic samurai who is looking for a good final duel to go out on. And what a duel it is, filling the width of the widescreen atop a ragged bridge in the middle of turf war. The only thing that would have made it more dramatic would have been rain, but with the emotions this film grants its characters and the relationships it builds between them, who needs rain? The film steadily progresses into a poetic, moralistic tale of lonliness, destiny, and responsibility for the choices we make in our lives. The story is simple, but it's point is as piercing as the blind massuer's sword. To that degree it's got Kurosawa beat. "Zatoichi, My Hero"I enjoy watching all of these films, especially this one. I appreciate the lack of blood and gore, and the mere two swordswipes the hero uses to take out about four bad guys at once. I'm sure many of us long for a protector like this to vanquish evil in the world. Great acting and directing, with nice humourous elements woven into the tale. I also like that the words are not dubbed over with English. I think subtitles are the best way to go with these films to maintain the intentions and artistry of the filmmakers. "The movie that started one of the most successful series "The one that started it all. Zatoichi (1962) is introduced. The temendous series that followed endeared the blind swordsman to the Japanese hearts. He is a wandering former Yakuza who had become a champion of the common man through his sense of justice and his deadly cane sword. His hightened senses allowed him to prevail with sword and dice alike. Classic Japanese Chambara - one against many - good against evil. Highly enjoyable and a very refreshing moral theme. "Absolutely Beautiful"In today's age, there are so many martial arts movies that glorify the killing, and little of the rest of the package that makes up a martial artist. In my opinion, this film surpassed all my expectations. The emotional depth of this film went far beyond the uninvolving MA films of later generations. I truly enjoyed the sub plots of the movie - especially the friendship that developed between Zatoichi and the man that was supposed to be his enemy, Master Hirata. I recommend this highly to any person who wants to expand their martial arts library.  "Nice Classic Samurai Movie"This first DVD (movie) is the Japanese version of the classic American western. Zatoichi is a blind samurai who is a reluctant member of the yakuza. As such, he is hired by a local yakuza leader to fight in an upcoming war against another boss. The movie is interesting and Zatoichi is an interesting character. That said, there are a few problems. Some of the subplots don't work very well and seem to have been added to fill the movie. From the DVD, I was a bit disappointed with the subtitles. I won't say they are actually domesticated, but they aren't the best. So minor things end up being untranslated. Also, the translators decided that certain terms should just be given the character's name. For example, Zatoichi asks where a certain guy is and the Japanese lady says her "oniisan" (brother) has just stepped away. The translator decided that rather than say "My brother has just stepped away", to just use the brother's name. It may seem a minor point, but the female character is saying that the male character is her brother. That doesn't come across in the subtitles when the character's name is used. Also, the translator decided that when Zatoichi addressed the other samurai with the "-san" honorific, this meant "Master". Well, that's not what he said and not what he meant. Other characters addressed the same samurai with the "-san" honorific and that was ignored. This may be minor, but I like for the subtitles to be accurate yet readable. Bottom line: a nice, classic Japanese movie. Well worth spending time watching. |
