Adventures of zatoichi zatoichi sekisho yaburi directed by kimiyoshi yasuda. The first half of this film was slow but ending makes up for it. Interestingly, wakayama is the reallife brother of shintaro katsu and later gains fame starring in the popular lone wolf samurai film series. All of the films are presented in their original aspect ratios of about 2. It was originally released by the daiei motion picture company later acquired by kadokawa pictures. The final 1989 film, zatoichi the blind swordsman is missing, possibly due to rights issues, as is the television series.
Adventures of zatoichi 1964 miwa takada as saki imdb. There, he befriends a young woman whose father has gone missing. The presence of actor shintaro katsu as the blind swordman ensures that each film in. Blind swordsmanmasseuse zatoichi befriends a young woman looking for her. Adventures of zatoichi is a 1964 japanese chambara film directed by kimiyoshi yasuda and starring shintaro katsu as the blind masseur zatoichi. The tale of zatoichi was released in japan on april 12, 1962. Adventures of zatoichi 1964 aka zatoichi sekisho yaburi. The tale of zatoichi released in 1962 would begin a 20 plus film franchise starring shintaro katus as the blind masseuse, gambler, and master swordsman. Zatoichi treks to a village that has always been a favorite spot of his, only to discover that its become a living hell, plagued by feuding father and son yakuza as well as the younger crime bosss bodyguardtoshiro. 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. 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 come. Unlike some of the other additions, it doesnt expand on the style. Sep 16, 2015 this list tries to track down not only the greatest, but also the most essential zatoichi films which brought this formula to live, tried to improve it or varied it intelligently. In contrast to most of the movies in this longrunning series, adventures of a blind man, by the very nature of its plot, offers a look into the.
Hbos watchmen is poised to be a giant hit, but that doesnt mean season 2 is coming. The first film introduces all the major elements that would be used in the following movies. Mar 10, 2017 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. Primarily for my own reference as i make my way through the films but may be useful to others also taking the journey along with the blind masseur. The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by novelist kan shimozawa this originally minor character was developed for the screen by daiei film now kadokawa daiei studio. Adventures of zatoichi 1964 flickers in timeflickers in time. Adventures of zatoichi 1964 adventures of zatoichi. The two women he helps and the interconnectedness of their stories make this a much better. Hes blind, so his trade is being a masseur, who travels and earns money as he goes. First, zatoichi is approached by a mysterious man outside a town and asked to deliver a message to a maid at a local inn. Zatoichi wants to celebrate new years eve peacefully in a town next to a mountain where a lot of artists, businessmen and comedians have gathered. That includes yakuza gangsters, plenty of gambling, and usually a woman.
Adventures of zatoichi nrh after a lowkey 8th installment, yasuda brings back katsus righteous anger, in an episode haunted by broken families and the promise of a new year. Chambara entertainmentvideo action of honolulu held the original vhs release rights to the zatoichi film series numbers 120, though it only released some of them. This is so far the best ive seen in the series thanks in large part to a darker tone than the previous two. The blind swordsman wanders into a town to celebrate the new year. This series of zatoichi the blind masseurswordsman of old japanese samurai ronin era is a hero tale.
Zatoichi and the fugitives, zatoichi hatashijo is a 1968 japanese chambara film directed by kimiyoshi yasuda and starring shintaro katsu as the blind masseur zatoichi. He made 24 installments between 1962 and 1973, and made the last one 16 years later in 1989. These are three of the most important elements of every zatoichi film, maidens in distress, yakuza, and corrupt officials. The blind swordsman the adventures of zatoichi english subtitled.
On the road is the fifth episode in the 26 part film series devoted to the character of zatoichi. While not one of the best of the zatoichi series, most consider it one of the lower points, its still a good film and one that touches a little on ichis past a little bit as well. The tale of zatoichi 1962 the criterion collection. Aug 16, 2017 the adventures of zatoichi the blind swordsman. Fight, zatoichi, fight 1964 letterboxd your life in film. Adventures of zatoichi 1964 flickers in timeflickers. Director kenji misumi made every scene look like a panel of manga, misumi, took its time with every scene, he never rush any conversation, he let the film breath so i could admire the beautiful black and white cinematography that outdoors. This criterion box set of all 25 of the early zatoichi movies is a bargain. Together the two films form a sort of diptych, not just picking up and resolving plot lines but mirroring themes in a way that deepens both films. Mistress of evil tops the weekend, but falls short of expectations 20 october 2019 box office mojo. The tale of zatoichi 1962 letterboxd your life in film. As the immensely successful zatoichifranchise enters its ninth installment, there is always the question of what can be done further with a.
On the road, zatoichi kenkatabi is a 1963 japanese chambara film directed by kimiyoshi yasuda starring shintaro katsu as the blind masseur zatoichi, originally released by the daiei motion picture company now known as kadokawa pictures. As he helps her investigate the disappearance, zatoichi also becomes involved. The colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. It was rereleased and retitled darkness is his ally in 2004. If you like new tale of zatoichi you are looking for exciting, rough and serious movies about with samurai, martial arts, kidnapping, murder, adventure, gangsters and crimes themes of action, adventure and drama genre shot in japan. Adventures of zatoichi was the 9th release in the franchise. The film summoned the most sequels of a samurai film. Beat takeshi kitano directs and plays the title role in this tribute to the wildly popular blind swordsman of japanese cinema who was the hero of more than 20. And shintaro katsu brings author kan shimozawas blind swordsman to vivid life, making the character excitingly, indelibly his own. The second film, the tale of zatoichi continues, appeared later in 1962 though the story is set almost exactly a year after the first one. Adventures of zatoichi once again sticks to the tried and tested formula, while adding characters and memorable moments.
The film was followedup with the tale of zatoichi continues in 1962. The tale of zatoichi is the introduction to zatoichi, a blind yakuza swordsman with a code of honor. The blind swordsman tries to locate a girls missing father. Adventures of zatoichi 1964 the criterion collection. The first two of 17 installments in a sterling new video and dvd series, the tale of zatoichi and the tale of zatoichi continues set his irresistible mythos into motion, with simple stories and swift action scenes that capture the spirit of oldfashioned serial adventures. Not every zatoichi film qualifies as great cinema, but even when the series falters a bit, every single one of these films is still well worth your time. Fight, zatoichi, fight 1964 directed by kenji misumi. In the same film, he meets another woman, the illfated otane, who likewise in zatoichi the fugitive betrays him, even as zatoichi persists in refusing to credit her betrayal. As he helps her investigate the disappearance, zatoichi also becomes involved with another young woman who is trying to help her brother, who has murdered someone at about the same time and place as the missing man was last seen. May 17, 2018 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 come.
Blind swordsmanmasseuse zatoichi befriends a young woman looking for her father, a village leader who has disappeared. Nov 25, 20 in the same film, he meets another woman, the illfated otane, who likewise in zatoichi the fugitive betrays him, even as zatoichi persists in refusing to credit her betrayal. Zatoichi may avoid stepping in a pile of shit, but still gets pissed in the face in this, the 8th part in the story about zatoichi. Adventures of zatoichi 1964 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. While the tale of zatoichi went on to inspire and give life to a long series of films that sum up zatoichi and his life and adventures, the film was a little slow at times as it had to develop. The blind swordsman movie videos for the full length movie and video clips on mefeedia. Chinese entry for the best foreign language filmhuang xiaoming. Adventures of zatoichi is the ninth film of the franchise based upon the blind masseur. Masseur ichis flashing sword zatoichi abare dako 1964.
Returning director kimiyoshi yasuda and screenwriter shozaburo asai masterfully weave together a variety of narrative threads and tonal registers. Zatoichi meets yojimbo after a twoyear absence from screens, the blind swordsman returns in one of his best adventures. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a fictional character featured in one of japans longestrunning series of films and a television series that are both set during the late edo period 1830s and 1840s. You might think that after 8 movies zatoichi might run out of new things to slice. Adventures of zatoichi the blind swordsman wanders into a town to celebrate the new year. Adventures of zatoichi aka adventures of a blind man kimiyoshi yasuda in the ninth movie of the zatoichi series, the astounding blind swordsmanmasseur zatoichi uncovers a plot of murder and intrigue when he goes to kasama town to celebrate the new year. This is a list of all the zatoichi movies starring shintaro katsu. On the road with zatoichi the current the criterion. Set in the 19th century, the film has kitano himself as the blind masseur and itinerant wiseguywarrior zatoichi, a legendary character familiar in japan from tv specials and movies starring.
This list tries to track down not only the greatest, but also the most essential zatoichi films which brought this formula to live, tried to improve it or varied it intelligently. On the road the movie adventures of zatoichi the blind swordsman japanese weng subs. And in fight, zatoichi, fight zatoichi goes lone wolf and cub on us while trying to avoid all the people he has pissed off the previous films. As this iconic figure, the charismatic and earthy shintaro katsu became an instant superstar, lending a largerthanlife presence to the thrilling adventures of a man who. Adventures of zatoichi 1964 directed by kimiyoshi yasuda. 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. Amazon teams with sxsw to stream a onetime online film festival for 10 days that will be free to anyone w an amazon account. The presence of actor shintaro katsu as the blind swordman ensures that each film in the series will be at least enjoyable even as the style and quality of the. Movie trailer for takeshi kitanos adaptation of zatoichi. 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. His blindness makes it acceptable for him to share rooms with women and even, on occasion zatoichi and the chest of gold, 1964, to slip into the bath with them. Does not include remakes and other similarly related films, just the original film series.
The movies are on nine discs in a sturdy slipcase along with a small book covering the zatoichi movies. Of the original zatoichi films, this is probably my second favorite film. Reviewed in the united states on september 10, 2017. Adventures of zatoichi 1964 adventures of zatoichi 1964. He made 24 installments between 1962 and 1973, and made the. The blind swordsman box set gets our highest recommendation and damn well deserves it. If you like the formula, every film will hold its share of great entertainment for you. A list of the zatoichi films in chronological order. Zatoichi meets yojimbo 1970 the criterion collection. Filminfos zu zatoichi meets the onearmed swordsman 1971. Still while being honorable, funny and a ladys man. The key role of the samurai killer, jushiro, is played by tomisburo wakayama who at the time went by the name of kenzaburo joh.
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