Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #164225 in DVD

Customer Reviews

not fair to compare?
Maybe not fair to compare to earlier Zatoichis but this movie is awesome. The tap dance scene at the end of the movie is moving. The costumes, the acting, the sets, the action and architecture are all first rate. I've only visited Japan during the 20th and 21st centuries. For a visit to the 19th this film works fine.

OK, but lacks the essense of the original character.
It's probably not fair to compare this film to the original series of movies and tv shows from which this movie pays homage, but for me the comparison is unavoidable. I've had the privilage of being recently introduced to the Zatoichi character and have viewed the first 5 of the film series plus the final Zatouchi film of 1989. Though all of these films seem to follow a similar theme, these viewing have allowed me to understand and relate to the character a bit. I've come to know why this blind swordsman was so extraordinary and much beloved. This Kitano film, while good for what it is, shows none of the essense of what made Zatoichi so special. In this film, he becomes little more than a blind avenger skewering anyone in his path. With very little provacation, I might add. The film was very well made, though, and it's worth viewing if for nothing more than to enrich appreciation of the original film series.