The 2003 remakecontinuity reboot of zatoichi known in the anglosphere as the blind swordsman zatoichi or takeshi kitanos zatoichi, the legendary blind swordsman of japanese folklore. Zatoichi script transcript from the screenplay andor. The discs best aspect, without a doubt, is the audio presentation, which is featured here on a 2. Zatoichi is one of the great characters of any medieval japanese film, and unusually he is not a samurai himself. The movie had an unusual start as zatoichi runs into a woman on a bridge who offers him some advice about where to go.
Well, unless the next and final one tops it, which would be difficult. Adventures of zatoichi was the 9th release in the franchise. Zatoichi in desperation 1972 the criterion collection. But zatoichi in his run of two dozen films stays good to the end. In total there are six trailers on this dvd, the most of any animeigo title, including. After having witnessed this soulshattering monster of a film, it truly seems unbelievable that zatoichi started as a family. Zatoichi goes to the fire festival, zatoichi in desperation, lone wolf and cub. Being the kindhearted man zatoichi is, he sets our to find the babys next of kin. This scene is from the tale of zatoichi, the first film in the series. This criterion box set of all 25 of the early zatoichi movies is a bargain. After accidentally causing an old ladys death, zatoichi seeks out her daughter to atone for the tragedy, consequently getting into all sorts of trouble. The festival of fire is a solid release, minus the bare bones nature of the disc, which utilizes what the dvd format is capable of in terms of video quality. He helps her deliver her baby before she passes away.
Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. Zatoichi faces a desperate battle to free a woman from a geisha house. One of the most popular heroes in japanese cinema, zatoichi the blind swordsman inspired 26 feature films, more than 100 tv episodes, and countless comics and collectibles. Zatoichi is a criticallyacclaimed recent entry in a decadeslong japanese media franchise, but i regrettably found it to be rather poor, with limp, meandering pacing and fun yet uninteresting. A sightless samurai in 19thcentury japan helps two sisters get revenge on the gang that murdered their parents. The film was followedup with the tale of zatoichi continues in 1962. The blind swordsman zatoichi is a cultural icon in japan, with hundreds of television episodes and over twentyfive feature films devoted to the beloved character. Both are set during the late edo period 1830s and 1840s. Here, zatoichi is hired to give a massage to a powerful political official who, he discovers, is mentally illa secret that the noblemans retinue is determined to keep at any cost. He was certainly going for a different look and style and got it. The tale of zatoichi 1962 the criterion collection. From the get go, this is very different film from its predecessors. Primarily for my own reference as i make my way through the films but may be useful to others also taking.
The movies are on nine discs in a sturdy slipcase along with a small book covering the zatoichi movies. But for a matinee idol, he receives a decidedly modest introduction. Zatoichi in desperation is the most somber and darkest zatoichi film that i have seen in the series, both in terms of photography and plot. The third zatoichi film, and the first in color, the new tale of zatoichi is packed with action and some great battle scenes and displays of zatoichis drawing skills as he splits more candles in. The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by. This second zatoichi film picks up the pace, featuring bigger action sequences, tighter plotting, and a mysterious. Ichis opponent is also his friend, a tubercular samurai who wants to check out with style but needs a little help from the. Always fighting for the underdog, noble zatoichi sets out to keep a girl from becoming a prostitute. Zatoichi tries to save a maiden in distress in this sequel to the popular series about a blind samurai swordsman who moonlights as a masseur. Zatoichi in desperation 1972 directed by shintaro katsu. Zatoichis conspiracy zatoichi at the blood fest 1974.
Zatoichi in desperation 1972 zatoichi accidentally causes the death of an elderly woman and sets out to find her daughter. It was originally released by the daiei motion picture company later acquired by kadokawa pictures zatoichi challenged is the seventeenth episode in the 26part film series devoted to the. The final film in the long running series, at least it was before the two television series featuring katsu. Usually when a film series starts getting long, most of the films in the series are mediocre at best, particularly in the later shows. Cult director and star takeshi kitanos revival of the longrunning japanese series. I know, i know, i still need to get the cast names in there and ill be eternally tweaking it, so if you have any corrections, feel free to drop me a line. When hes caught in the middle of a power struggle between two rival yakuza clans, his reputation as a deadly defender of the innocent is put to the ultimate. Zatoichi the new tale of zatoichi 1963 rotten tomatoes. Zatoichi in desperation was directed by shinataro katsu zatoichi, and while i admire his work as an actor greatly, i found this film to be possibly the worst of the series i have seen. With its lightningfast swordplay, sleightofhand dice games, and codes of honor upheld and betrayed, this first chapter sets the stage for all the zatoichi adventures to. The tale of zatoichi was released in japan on april 12, 1962. Zatoichi in desperation, the penultimate film of the original film series, is definitely my favourite.
Having said this, zatoichi in desperation cannot be called a terrible film. A list of the zatoichi films in chronological order. He plays, as usual, a man with an impassive face, few words, and sudden bursts of action that end in a few seconds. The dvd is a must for any zatoichi fan, while new adopters to the long. Zatoichi in desperation is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2. Zatoichi embodies the kinds of contradictory elements that make takeshi kitano japans most intriguing contemporary actordirector. Shintaro katsu appears on screen as zatoichi for the last time. Directed and starred by takeshi kitano, who uses his full trademark trippy style to tell an adventure of the master swordsman, with gorn, humour and japanese music galore. The zatoichi series has long been an entry point for nonjapanese into japanese films. He has a code, but enforces it according to his own rules. Then the local yakuza gangsters are demanding a 40% fee from performers during the new years ceremonies. Zatoichi in desperation 1972 zatoichi in desperation. But nothing and we mean nothing is better than watching a blind samurai kicking ass in the comfort of your home theater.
A blind master swordsman attempts to lead a quiet life with his wife but he is provoked back into battle. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a fictional character featured in one of japans longestrunning series of films, as well as a television series. Its interesting that shintaro katsu, who plays zatoichi, was the director. Guys from bonn to buenos aires who nod off after 10. Released 2003, zatoichi stars takeshi kitano, tadanobu asano, michiyo ohkusu, yui natsukawa the r movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 55 min, and received a.
Older, wiser but still a wandering loner, the blind, peaceloving masseur ichi seeks a peaceful life in a rural village. A tale of innocence corrupted by sadistic, sleazy criminality, the film is propelled by easy rideresque editing and a trippy seventies funk score by kunihiko murai. First, zatoichi is approached by a mysterious man outside a town and asked to deliver a message to a maid at a local inn. It seems that the problem with zatoichi in desperation is a problem that plagues many series, and that is the problem of trying to keep things fresh and original. Like every katsuscripted zatoichi film, zatoichi in desperation lacks a coherent plot, yet it is truly a film that has to be seentobebelieved and shows just how far the series as evolved from its initial outing. Region 1 zatoichi in desperation animeigo 2005 region 2 new zatoichi story. The tale of zatoichi proved so popular that a followup went into production the same year. Zatoichi in desperation is the twentyfourth motion picture in the series, with star shintaro katsu back in the lead and behind the camera as director. Zatoichi and the fugitives season 1, episode 18 080968 zatichi confronts a corrupt police official and an outlaw gang to free a young woman enslaved in a silk mill. In japanese w english subtitles the blind swordsman continues on his journey and encounters a dying pregnant woman. Zatoichi challenged, zatoichi chikemurikaido is a 1967 japanese chambara film directed by kenji misumi and starring shintaro katsu as the blind masseur zatoichi. 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. Finally, the zatoichi script is here for all you fans of the second movie by takeshi kitano starring beat takeshi. Star shintaro katsu sits in the directors chair for this psychedelic and unremittingly bleak entry in the zatoichi series, which is unlike any other in its grindhouse grimness.
Little pleasures, like steaming hot pie pizza or rhubarb, a good comic book, a fine beer, killer klowns, spaghetti westerns or even a giant robot flick. As tensions mount between rival yakuza clans, one boss hires a formidable but ailing ronin as his clans musclewhile the other employs a humble, moral blind masseur named ichi. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of zatoichi. A tribute to the combat scenes and shintaro katsus deftness and all around awesomeness in the first 5 movies of the zatoichi series. The film summoned the most sequels of a samurai film.
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