bletcherstonerson
Yes, I am probably the only viewer that did not like this film, and for one reason...superman jumping ability. I hate that effect. When I see this in films trying to be gritty, it evokes such puerile rage that I feel like burning the world down. Seriously...it's a stupid film effect, used in this movie when the one armed swordsman flies up in the trees, and up the mountain side, one time he does it with a young child in tow, AMAZING!!!!! The reason I kept this at a 5, reasoning that it is still a Zatoichi movie, and that element is still great , however viewers are used to better films than this. I also am a believer that you can't throw the baby out with the bath water. Most of this film is likable, but the descent into cinematic laziness with the super jumping is ridiculous and turns a good story line of disconnected cultures and languages into a Saturday morning cartoon. Don't get me wrong, there are great performances in this movie, and if I were a viewer that could bypass the Chinese art of flying , then I would give this film a 9. Still, it is worth watching and renting, but I would avoid shelling out 19.99, the lowest price I have seen..to own it, no matter how rare.
USSEnterpriseF
Every culture has it's own fictional world that some obsess and linger in. America has James Bond, a film series spanning over 20 films and 6 actors! Japan has Zatoichi! But, the difference is that only one actor is synonymous with Zatoichi, and that's Shintarô Katsu. And even though the series has it's share of clichés (as do all long running movie series) that are even present in this film Zatoichi has a message that resonates through all his films, and that is one of how to treat people. In this Outing he is paired with The One-Armed Swordsman (Jimmy Yu Wang), another famous Asian Swordsman who hails from Shaw Bros. of China.This film which features amazing and thrilling action sequences also has a thoughtful side as frustrating scenes between Zatoichi and The One-Armed Swordsman take place, as neither can understand or interpret each others speech which leads to misunderstandings and eventual tragedy. Zatoichi encounters The One-Armed Swordsman with a child in hand that he has rescued from a band of Samurai. But Zatoichi follows and helps the two until he returns from getting food to only find them gone. They are wanted, and Zatoichi is forced to brutally fight to save the lives of those affected. With this film you do not come away with a fully mesmerized Summer Blockbuster mood, but it makes you go away with a sad and epic feeling that is induced by the films exciting and symbolic ending that proves the depth of this series' theme - "Treat others as you want to be treated"
chriscoates
One of the more accessible films in the series due to its simpler story (two heroes ally themselves against an evil but then find themselves on different sides due to a mis-understanding). Though the Zatoichi films often vary in style and in tone, the themes (treat others as you would wish to be treated, be true to your word, gamble within your means, etc), remain constant. Here, the language barrier between Zatoichi and The One-Armed Swordsman (one is Chinese, the other Japanese), is a theme that will have had a greater resonance for its native audience rather than those in the west, but the story works well just as a straight-forward adventure yarn. Shintarô Katsu is as reliably great as ever. By turns dynamic and exacting with the sword, warm of heart with the just and needy, steely and unmerciful of the greedy and vindictive. Zatoichi is one of the great movie heroes. Shintarô Katsu, one of the great heroic actors. If you haven't seen these films then you could do worse than start here.
masercot
I haven't seen a bad Zatoichi movie yet!This movie has the standard lost child and yakuza; however, it also has a conflict between two forces of good. It's very frustrating for those of us who like black and white battles. It also humanizes the characters (as if Zatoichi could be more humanized).No spoilers here. If you've enjoyed other Zatoichi's, you won't be disappointed by this one.
AD
