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Zatoichi:
The Blind Swordsman on DVD
reviews
by Bill Hunt and
Todd Doogan of The
Digital Bits
Zatoichi
on DVD (Index)
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Zatoichi
1 - The Tale of Zatoichi
(Zatoichi Monogatari)
1962 (2002) - Daiei Studios (Home Vision)
Film Rating: B+
Ichi is one of the best samurai out there. He's blind, ragged and
poor. Those who have heard his name whispered fear him. But to those
meeting him for the first time, he's nothing more than a schluby
yakuza gambler, who travels from village to village handing out
massages to pay his living expenses.
What his true motivations are, no one really knows.
From 1962 to 1989, only one actor played what came to be Japan's
most known and loved samurai hero: Shintaro Katsu. Katsu was a great
actor, a legendary producer and, to all who knew and loved him, a
great friend. With Ichi, Katsu created a brilliant screen hero.
There are 26 films in the Zatoichi
series. This is his first adventure.
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Here,
we find Ichi in the middle of a historically true turf war, played
against each side and wanting nothing to do with either. But when an
honorable ronin becomes involved in the war, Ichi finds himself
drawn into the conflict more out of honor than anything else. Will
Ichi live to rub another shoulder, or has he met his match?
Home Vision, little sister of Criterion, is doing these films very,
very proud on DVD. This film looks good, even if it's not
anamorphic. Yes, there are some slight print issues here and there,
but this is an old film from another country. This is probably the
best it's going to look here in Region 1, unless someone gets around
to doing a new, remastered anamorphic transfer. Quite frankly, we've
seen much worse film elements come out of Japan, so we can live with
this for now. The sound is also decent. It's a 2.0 mono track, but
it's tight with the picture and it works. The extras are light - you
get a stills gallery and a sheet of collector's cards. Better than
nothing, right?
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Zatoichi
2 - The Tale of Zatoichi Continues
(Zoku Zatoichi Monogatari)
1962 (2002) - Daiei Studios (Home Vision)
Film Rating: B+
As the title suggests, this is a full-on and direct sequel to the
first film in the series. Most of the other sequels in the
Ichi series don't connect with
each other, but The Tale Continues
actually picks up with the original story a short time later. Ichi,
it seems, is still at odds with the families from the first film.
Adding to the drama, a mysterious one-armed man from Ichi's past
shows up and challenges Ichi to an all-out duel "to end all
duels". Samurai films fans should take note - the one-armed
samurai here is played by Tomisaburo Wakayama, brother of Katsu and
star of his very own samurai film series: Lone
Wolf and Cub (available on DVD from AnimEigo).
Once again, the video transfer is non-anamorphic, but good, with
only minor print damage here and there. Sound is 2.0 mono, and it
supports the film well enough. The extras are light, and are exactly
the same format as the first disc: a gallery of stills and a sheet
of collector's cards.
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Zatoichi
3 - New Tale of Zatoichi
(Shin Zatoichi Monogatari)
1963 (2002) - Daiei Studios (Home Vision)
Film Rating: B+
Something I haven't mentioned yet but should: the first two
Ichi films were in ever-lovin'
black and white. But here, we see Ichi in his first glorious color
adventure. And he's in love.
Coming home for the first time in a very long while, Ichi finds
that things have changed a little bit. His old teacher is not the
nicest guy in the world, and his teacher's sister is betrothed to a
man she doesn't really want to marry. Remembering her affection for
Ichi, she asks Ichi to marry her instead. Of course, being a blind
man makes Ichi a pariah and this, in terms of family honor and her
brother's dignity, can't be allowed.
Continuing the line of kick-ass Ichi
films, New Tale is a definite
keeper on DVD. It's really cool seeing Ichi
in color for the first time, and director Tokuza Tanaka's
composition - his use of the widescreen format - is truly genius
here. That's particularly great for you widescreen TV owners, 'cause
this is the first Home Vision Ichi
title in anamorphic widescreen. As you would expect, it looks truly
great. The sound is still 2.0 mono, but it's fine too. Extras are
also the same as before: production stills and a collector's card
set.
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We
should note that these reviews are really meant to be touchstones
for you, simple guides to lead you into the world of
Zatoichi. We could go on and
on about character motivation and historical context, but when it
comes right down to it, none of that is really important. The less
you know about these wonderful films going in, the more fun you'll
have exploring their worlds on your own. Not every
Ichi film is great, and we'll
let you know when the series falters. But you should definitely know
that every one of the Zatoichi
films is worth your time. You simply can't go wrong with these gems.
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Zatoichi
4 - The Fugitive
(Kyojo Tabi)
1963 (2002) - Daiei Studios (Home Vision)
Film Rating: B-
Just as I say not all Ichi
films are great, here's one of the weaker films in the series. But,
hey... a weak Ichi is still a
good Ichi.
Entering the township of Shimonita, Ichi learns that he's a wanted
man. He also learns that the woman he loved and lost as a youth has
taken up with a ruthless ronin, who has sworn to take Ichi's head
for a reward. When things spiral out of even Ichi's control, he lets
his sword do the talking and it seems no one from the village will
walk away without being cut by his blade.
This one is a bit slower going than the first three films here.
Still, it's definitely worth checking out, as it has some good
moralizing on Ichi's part and some nice character development.
As with all the other anamorphic Home Vision Ichi
films, this one looks great. It sounds good too, even in 2.0 mono.
Again, extras include production stills and the card sheet.
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Zatoichi
5 - On the Road
(Kenka Tabi)
1963 (2002) - Daiei Studios (Home Vision)
Film Rating: A
Back from the slight slump that was The
Fugitive, Ichi returns in Grade A form. Here, he's sworn
to protect the life of a young girl. As is usually the set-up for
the Zatoichi series, without
any real allies, Ichi finds himself in the middle of a bloody turf
war. Normally, he's hesitant to get involved, but this time he plays
ball and, in the end, turns in one of the greatest climax battles
since Seven Samurai.
On the Road is by far the best
of the first five films in this series. It starts off red hot and
just keep getting hotter. You really can't miss out on this one.
The anamorphic transfer looks gorgeous and the 2.0 mono sound
supports the film just fine. Extras include more stills and the last
in the series of collector cards.
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Zatoichi
6 - Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold
(Zatoichi Senryo-Kubi)
1964 (2003) - Daiei Studios (Home Vision)
Film Rating: B
After paying his respects at the grave of a man he accidentally
killed, the legendary blind swordsman Zatoichi (played in top form
as always by Shintaro Katsu) arrives at a village where the
impoverished locals are in mid-celebration. It seems they've finally
gathered enough money to pay off their heavy tax burden - a great
relief to everyone in this drought-stricken area. At first, they
invite Ichi to join in their fun. When the money is stolen by a
group of samurai thugs, however, the villagers blame Ichi too,
thinking that he's in on the heist. Desperate to clear his name,
Ichi swears to find those responsible and return the money. But it
won't be easy. First, Ichi has to investigate a local and much loved
boss, who has gone into hiding. Then he'll have to tangle with those
thugs... including one of his toughest adversaries yet - a samurai
by the name of Jushiro who wields a dangerous bullwhip as skillfully
as a sword.
Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold
is arguably the most theatrical of all the Ichi films. Its stylized
opening credit sequence recalls the Bond film intros, for example.
Chest of Gold is also the
first film in the series to graphically depict violence. When swords
fly here, so does the blood.
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For
these reasons alone, the film would be interesting. Making it even
more so are Ichi's face-offs with Jushiro, first over a game of
chance and later on the field of battle. Ichi buffs will be
interested to know that Jushiro is played here by Katsu's real-life
brother, Tomisaburo Wakayama, who would later star in the Lone
Wolf and Cub series of films (produced by Katsu).
The video on this DVD is a welcome anamorphic widescreen, and looks
surprisingly good despite the film's age. The audio is presented in
2.0 mono, in the original Japanese with optional English subtitles
(all of these DVDs, both from Home Vision and AnimEigo, feature the
original Japanese audio with various English subtitle options). The
extras here include a trio of theatrical trailers (for the previous
film in the series, On the Road,
as well as this film and the next entry, Zatoichi's
Flashing Sword) and a folded, collectible Zatoichi poster
inserted in the case.
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Zatoichi
7 - Zatoichi's Flashing Sword
(Zatoichi Abare Tako)
1964 (2003) - Daiei Studios (Home Vision)
Film Rating: B-
The plot this time is a little thinner than most of the Ichi films,
and that's saying something. But what Zatoichi's
Flashing Sword lacks in plot, it more than makes up for
in humor, action and cinematic style. It also has one of the best
opening scenes in the series (which later influenced a scene in The
Karate Kid with Mr. Miyagi). There's no flies on ol'
Ichi.
Ichi is, as ever, on the run from gangsters, when he's shot in the
back by a thug who's trying to prove his worth. When Ichi comes to,
he finds that he's being cared for, and that a kind passerby left
money for him out of the goodness of her heart. Hoping to repay this
kindness, Ichi tracks his benefactor down, and learns that she's the
beautiful daughter of a local boss. The boss is generous and well
liked by his people, but a rival, corrupt boss is determined to
steal his business. And so Ichi once again finds himself taking
sides in yet another turf war.
This is another excellent anamorphic widescreen transfer,
especially given the film's age. But the 2.0 mono audio isn't quite
up to the quality of the other Home Vision DVDs, with music that
often sounds distorted. Thankfully, the dialogue is unaffected.
Extras-wise, the disc provides trailers for this film as well as
Chest of Gold and Fight,
Zatoichi, Fight. Also included is a new collectible
poster.
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Zatoichi
8 - Fight, Zatoichi, Fight
(Zatoichi Kessho-Tabi)
1964 (2003) - Daiei Studios (Home Vision)
Film Rating: B+
Fight, Zatoichi, Fight finds
our favorite masseur and swordsman once again on the run. This time,
he's being pursued by a ruthless band of samurai who have been hired
to kill him. Thinking they've got Zatoichi cornered, they instead
kill a young woman, who is returning to her husband with her infant
son. Ichi, feeling responsible for the woman's death, resolves to
deliver the child safely into the arms of its father.
Naturally, the samurai aren't about to give up, and they continue
to harass him. Complicating matters further, along the way, Ichi
also saves the life of another young woman, who's been scratching
out a living has a petty thief. To pay back his kindness, she
reluctantly agrees to accompany Ichi on his way to help him care for
the child. But as they get closer to their destination, each of them
becomes more and more attached to the baby, and starts to think of
it as an opportunity to start over and lead a better life.
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The
image of the deadly dangerous swordsman we know Zatoichi to be is in
sharp contrast to the sweet, humble and even loving fellow he
becomes in the presence of a single child. That tells you a great
deal about who Ichi really is - far more than would the kind of
exposition you'd get in a Hollywood film. And though you'd think the
child would be a handicap in battle, Ichi once again shows just how
good he really is, dispatching multiple enemies without breaking so
much as a sweat... and all while changing a diaper. This is classic
Ichi, and a great entry in this series. Film trivia buffs should
also know that it was the inspiration for the Rutger Hauer flick
Blind Fury.
The film looks fantastic on DVD, despite its age, once again in
fully remastered anamorphic widescreen. The audio is the expected
2.0 mono, and while there are some distortions (particularly with
regard to the music), the DVD still sounds better than some of the
others in the series. Extras include another collectible poster,
along with original theatrical trailers for this film, Zatoichi's
Flashing Sword and the next chapter, Adventures
of Zatoichi.
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Zatoichi
9 - Adventures of Zatoichi
(Zatoichi Sekisho-Yaburi)
1964 (2003) - Daiei Studios (Home Vision)
Film Rating: C+
There's nothing like a new year to kick-start a new round of greed,
political corruption and financial graft. At least that's what Ichi
learns after he steps into the middle of a bureaucratic plot to suck
every possible coin from the pockets of the kind folks of a small
village.
Ichi wanders into the company of an escaped criminal, who asks that
Ichi find his sister in the next town and give her a letter. Ichi
agrees and heads into town. Once he gets there, he finds the place
deep in preparations for the New Years celebration. Ichi befriends
most of the performers, including two young tumblers who act as his
eyes for the majority of the film. Ichi eventually takes lodging in
a crowded inn, where he shares a room with a woman named Saki. As it
happens, Saki is on a mission to find her missing father. Soon, Ichi
discovers how his new roommate is connected to both the escaped
criminal and the political corruption. Naturally, in his effort to
save her life, he raises the ire of a samurai keen to best the
legendary blind swordsman.
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Adventures
of Zatoichi was the last of four films released back to
back in 1964. This isn't the best of the bunch but, as we've said
before, even a bad Ichi flick is better than most other films out
there. The best part of this film is the supporting actors. Many are
played by legendary Japanese comedians, which makes for a colorful
cast of villagers that deliver a good bit of humor and slapstick.
You know... I haven't seen the new Beat Takashi version of
Zatoichi, but from what I've
seen in the trailers, I imagine this film had a big influence on it.
Mastered with a new anamorphic widescreen transfer, the film look
great on disc. It sounds good too, with its respectably solid 2.0
mono audio track. The scant extras include trailers for
Fight, Zatoichi, Fight,
Adventures of Zatoichi and
Zatoichi's Revenge, as well as
another poster that's suitable for framing.
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Zatoichi
on DVD (Index)
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