Product Description

With more killer swordsmanship, romance and action packed drama, the Blind Swordsman is back in the first color episode of the Zatoichi series. Masseur Ichi returns to his home village to discover that the teacher who trained him has been hiring out his skills with the sword to a ruthless gang of kidnappers. Meanwhile the mentor’s sister offers herself in marriage to our hero who must decline on account of his many enemies and the danger that would bring to any woman Ichi was known to love.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #77996 in DVD
• Brand: Image Entertainment
• Released on: 2002-10-22
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Color, Dubbed, DVD, Letterboxed, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: Japanese
• Subtitled in: English
• Dubbed in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 91 minutes

Amazon.com
Masseur Ichi, the blind master swordsman who became a cultural phenomenon under the gentle touch of Shintaro Katsu, finds you can't go home again in the first color film of the long-running adventure series. Redemption waits just out of reach when his old master's sister offers herself to the humble hero, but his corrupt master (who has thrown his lot in with a local gang of bandits) will have none of it. The hearty reunion turns sour and a showdown is inevitable. Quieter and calmer than the previous films, this entry emphasizes the metamorphosis of Ichi from jovial scoundrel to tragic hero while still delivering the short, swift swordfights that highlight the series. Ichi's reluctance to enter battle is matched only by his fierce, fatal attack: a fight with Ichi rarely lasts more than a single searing stroke. The fold-out insert features trivia and a recap of previous films. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews

Better Subtitles
The 3rd volume of the Zatoichi series of movies continues where the last one left off. Zatoichi returns home and meets up with his old sensei. However, his homecoming is marred by the fact that the brother of one of the men Zatoichi had to kill previously wants revenge. To make matters worse, his sensei's sister wishes to marry Zatoichi, but the way of the sword may prove to be greater than love.

The translation quality of the third volume is improved over the previous two movies. As such, some Japanese honorifics make it into the subtitles and rather than translate Japanese words for brother/sister into character names, they are translated as brother/sister. So that's a big improvement. I hope this trend continues in the next movies.

As for the movie, it is another good one. I'm normally not a fan of old movies, but there is just something about this samurai series that I really enjoy. Shintarou Katsu does a fantastic job as Zatoichi. The sword work is really something to see.

Bottom line: I really recommend this title for fans of samurai anime titles or who are interested in Japanese culture. If you are looking for a pretty good action/adventure flick with a bit of romance (similar to old American westerns), then this may be the title for you.

Zatoichi #3
I really appreciate Home Vision Entertainments production of the Zatoichi movie series. Each release has been an excellent presentation of Zatoichi. As a Japenese Samurai Movie fan I think that this series of DVD's is the best. The character of Zatoichi is very compelling and each story helps you identify with this Blind Swordsman who is always trying to do good for others. The examples of Japenese culture during this time period is very beautiful and detailed. Shintaro Katsu displays a wide range of emotions as Zatoichi and his display of swordmanship is excellent.

Another good zatoichi film
Man what can I say. This is the fourth Zatoichi film I have ordered and it was just as good as the others. In this one he meets his old fencing teacher, but hey I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone. Suffice it to say these are great movies. Well acted and filmed with some incredible choreography in the sword fights. If you like martial arts films or like westerns where a lone guy brings justice to the wicked you will like these movies.
And these movies are well made they are not those cheap chinese kung fu flicks, but well produced and acted films. They are Japanese films and of much higher quality.Try one you will like it.