Product Description

Once again Ichi finds himself the object of deadly pursuit. While travelling to a village where the local gang leader wants to hire him as a bodygaurd, a rival gang attacks Ichi and his companion. After negotiating safe passage for himself only, the blind masseur encounters a dying man trying to help a servant girl escape after being raped by a feudal lord. Agreeing to help the girl get back to her family, Zatoichi realizes he will have to take on both gangs to make it through.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19506 in DVD
• Brand: Image Entertainment
• Released on: 2002-10-22
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, Letterboxed, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: Japanese
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 85 minutes

From the Back Cover
Zatoichi helps a girl escape a lascivious feudal lard and two deadly yakuza gangs in the fifth installment of the Blind Swordsman series. While traveling to a village where the local gang leader wants to hire him as a bodyguard, Ichi and his companion are attacked by a rival gang. After negotiating safe passage for himself, the blind masseur encounters a servant girl trying to escape after being raped by a feudal lord. Agreeing to help the girl get back to her family, Zatoichi realizes he'll have to take on both gangs to make it through.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Movie!
I was a little hesitant about buying this dvd. I have watched samurai movies in the past but found them too slap stick, boring or dramatic with the only good parts being the fight scenes. But never the less once I popped in the dvd and watched the first 10 minutes, I was hooked. The story lines are basically the same but make no mistake these are good quality movies. The directors do a great job in balancing the right amount of humor, fight scenes and acting dialogues so the movies are never boring and they are quite funny. Shintaro Katsu is a "natural" in these films and I would highly recommend any other Zatochi films with him in it.

Shintaro Katsu was one of the greatest actors ever
A great entry into the Zatoichi series, there are some awesome fight sequences in this movie and it is very in depth and relfective. All the Zatoichi films I've seen start off without much action, focusing more on building an enviroment that is beleivable and a story that is captivating. Masseur Ichi on the Road satisfies on all levels, truly a testament of what a film should be- an art form that draws the watcher into its carefully laid out story and has him emerge feeling enlightened. With all the hollywood trash being released nowadays all people want is a quick fix of special effects and shallow romance scences. A good story is no longer a necessity and is a nearly forgotten art. The Zatoichi series reminds us what film making is really about.

Zatoichi #5
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.