Zatoichi challenged, zatoichi chikemurikaido is a 1967 japanese chambara film directed by kenji misumi and starring shintaro katsu as the blind masseur zatoichi. But zatoichi in his run of two dozen films stays good to the end. This second zatoichi film picks up the pace, featuring bigger action sequences, tighter plotting, and a mysterious. 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. He helps her deliver her baby before she passes away. The movie had an unusual start as zatoichi runs into a woman on a bridge who offers him some advice about where to go. 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 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. 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.
Shintaro katsu appears on screen as zatoichi for the last time. Zatoichi is one of the great characters of any medieval japanese film, and unusually he is not a samurai himself. Cult director and star takeshi kitanos revival of the longrunning japanese series. 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. In total there are six trailers on this dvd, the most of any animeigo title, including. But for a matinee idol, he receives a decidedly modest introduction. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a fictional character featured in one of japans longestrunning series of films, as well as a television series. 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. 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.
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. Zatoichi faces a desperate battle to free a woman from a geisha house. Having said this, zatoichi in desperation cannot be called a terrible film. The final film in the long running series, at least it was before the two television series featuring katsu. A blind master swordsman attempts to lead a quiet life with his wife but he is provoked back into battle. A sightless samurai in 19thcentury japan helps two sisters get revenge on the gang that murdered their parents. He has a code, but enforces it according to his own rules. Zatoichi script transcript from the screenplay andor. 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. Ichis opponent is also his friend, a tubercular samurai who wants to check out with style but needs a little help from the.
Zatoichi goes to the fire festival, zatoichi in desperation, lone wolf and cub. Zatoichi the new tale of zatoichi 1963 rotten tomatoes. This criterion box set of all 25 of the early zatoichi movies is a bargain. Guys from bonn to buenos aires who nod off after 10. 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. 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.
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 in desperation 1972 zatoichi in desperation. After accidentally causing an old ladys death, zatoichi seeks out her daughter to atone for the tragedy, consequently getting into all sorts of trouble. 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. Older, wiser but still a wandering loner, the blind, peaceloving masseur ichi seeks a peaceful life in a rural village. After having witnessed this soulshattering monster of a film, it truly seems unbelievable that zatoichi started as a family. In japanese w english subtitles the blind swordsman continues on his journey and encounters a dying pregnant woman. 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.
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. Then the local yakuza gangsters are demanding a 40% fee from performers during the new years ceremonies. 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. 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 in desperation is the twentyfourth motion picture in the series, with star shintaro katsu back in the lead and behind the camera as director. The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by. The tale of zatoichi proved so popular that a followup went into production the same year. First, zatoichi is approached by a mysterious man outside a town and asked to deliver a message to a maid at a local inn.
This scene is from the tale of zatoichi, the first film in the series. Adventures of zatoichi was the 9th release in the franchise. Zatoichi in desperation is presented in its original aspect ratio of 2. The discs best aspect, without a doubt, is the audio presentation, which is featured here on a 2. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of zatoichi. Zatoichi in desperation 1972 zatoichi accidentally causes the death of an elderly woman and sets out to find her daughter.
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. Region 1 zatoichi in desperation animeigo 2005 region 2 new zatoichi story. Being the kindhearted man zatoichi is, he sets our to find the babys next of kin. Zatoichi in desperation 1972 the criterion collection. 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.
Well, unless the next and final one tops it, which would be difficult. The tale of zatoichi was released in japan on april 12, 1962. The tale of zatoichi 1962 the criterion collection. A tribute to the combat scenes and shintaro katsus deftness and all around awesomeness in the first 5 movies of the zatoichi series. Primarily for my own reference as i make my way through the films but may be useful to others also taking. The film was followedup with the tale of zatoichi continues in 1962. Usually when a film series starts getting long, most of the films in the series are mediocre at best, particularly in the later shows. Zatoichi in desperation, the penultimate film of the original film series, is definitely my favourite.
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. Always fighting for the underdog, noble zatoichi sets out to keep a girl from becoming a prostitute. He was certainly going for a different look and style and got it. The original zatoichi series had almost finished its run when zatoichi in desperation came out in 1972. 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. The zatoichi series has long been an entry point for nonjapanese into japanese films. 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. Zatoichi in desperation 1972 directed by shintaro katsu. A list of the zatoichi films in chronological order. 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. Its interesting that shintaro katsu, who plays zatoichi, was the director. The film summoned the most sequels of a samurai film. But nothing and we mean nothing is better than watching a blind samurai kicking ass in the comfort of your home theater. From the get go, this is very different film from its predecessors.
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