Zatoichi

Japan 2003, 111 minutes
Dir. Takeshi Kitano
In Japanese with English subtitles
Rating: [R16]
Genres: Foreign Cinema, Action/Adventure / Martial Arts

Feat. Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano

Aroview: Actor-director-cult hero Takeshi Kitano stylishly revives a hero of well-known Japanese mythology and scores his most broadly appealing and internationally successful film to date.

As the eponymous blind swordsman, Takeshi delights in the role he was destined to play, acting as the great moral leveller as he unassumingly slices and dices his way through the corrupt underbelly of feudal Japan. Fervently sticks to blood-spurting genre tradition, but executed with the master’s deft precision and unwaveringly cool, leaves the dir. of a certain "Kill Bill" to eat his heart out.

NZ International Film Festival 2004

Member Reviews

Average rating (Good Enough). Showing 1-3 of 3 member reviews.

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3 stars (Good Enough) Zatoichi is a blind Japanese masseur and itinerant wise-guy warrior who encounters yobs and bullies who prey on his supposed vulnerability. Slapstick comedy that slightly over-rides a more serious and sad storyline. Holds your attention though. ~GenXGirl
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4 stars (Very Good) One of my favourite modern-day samurai films, although essentially a reboot of the old 'blind samurai' series, this is an interesting mix of martial arts, drama, and music, with plenty of references to other films and some memorable original moments. ~Tom H
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3 stars (Good Enough) ~Anonz