Dec 29, 2015 the third entry in the series, new tale of zatoichi may contain a higher body count than its two predecessors, but do not be mistaken. With 25 adventures of shintaro katsus famed blind, wandering swordsman zatoichi recently becoming available through both a remarkable criterion collection box set, and digitally via hulu plus, our team decided it was time to walk down the dusty roads of adventure and watch and discuss the entire legendary chanbara series. These movies are all highly entertaining and a joy to own and watch. You cant go wrong with any zatoichi film even though this one has an illfitting score and. Adventures of zatoichi letterboxd your life in film. It was originally released by the daiei motion picture company later acquired by kadokawa pictures. The colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in. 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. Continuing the line of kickass ichi films, new tale is a definite keeper on. The last 6 films and the tv series were also produced by katsu productions. Zoku zatoichi monogatari 1962 the blind masseur and swordsman, zatoichi. 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. Amazingly, this film totally wouldve worked even without any sort of fight. Zatoichi embodies the kinds of contradictory elements that make takeshi kitano japans most intriguing contemporary actordirector.
It was originally released by the daiei motion picture company later acquired by kadokawa pictures zatoichi s revenge is the tenth episode in the 26part film series devoted to the character of zatoichi. I had not seen a zatoichi film until now, and i feel ive just been introduced to the james bond series for the first time. The final 1989 film, zatoichi the blind swordsman is missing, possibly due to rights issues, as is the television series. 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. The tale of zatoichi is the introduction to zatoichi, a blind yakuza swordsman with a code of honor. And ill get to that in a minute but first, if you have no idea what im talking about well, i envy you. Adventures of zatoichi 1964 the criterion collection. While employing the familiar features of the series impressive swordfighting, humor and the themes of hierarchy and exploitation kimiyoshi yodas films also reminds us of the tragedy and emotionalism of a character like zatoichi. The film looks fantastic on dvd, despite its age, once again in fully. Frequently asked questions how many zatoichi films were made. The film begins with zatoichi using his cunning and his disability to his advantage, as. I am a big fan of the samurai trilogy, yojimbo, throne of blood and of course seven samurai. 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. Adventures of zatoichi is the ninth installment into the zatoichifranchise.
This deluxe set features the string of twentyfive zatoichi films made between 1962 and 1973. The colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. The humble massuer stumbles into to a town or person and brings the corrupt and wicked to justice with his fast and furious swordwork. Adventures of zatoichi is the first film in the series i did not feel was. Zatoichi, zatoichi released in the us as the blind swordsman. 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. He has a code, but enforces it according to his own rules. Adventures of zatoichi was the 9th release in the franchise. The first 20 films were produced and distributed by daiei film except for the 16th film zatoichi the outlaw and the 20th film zatoichi meets yojimbo which were produced by shintaro katsus own company, katsu productions, and distributed theatrically by daiei. Adventures of zatoichi 1964 flickers in timeflickers in time. Zatoichi is a 2003 japanese samurai dramaaction film, directed, written, coedited by and starring takeshi kitano beat takeshi in his 11th directorial venture. Unlike some of the other additions, it doesnt expand on the style.
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. The 25th film was made in 1973, followed by a hiatus of 16 years until katsus last film, which he wrote and directed himself in 1989. 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. With the 20 release of criterions impressive zatoichi box set, it seems that the adventures of blind swordsman and masseur ichi have finally found their way into western pop culture. In his first adventure, zatoichi finds himself caught in the middle of a turf war.
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. You might think that after 8 movies zatoichi might run out of new things to slice in half to scare his enemies, but youd be mistaken. On imdb tv, you can catch hollywood hits and popular tv series at no cost. In the advent of the new years festival, merchants arriving in town are being forced to pay an unfair tax by a yakuza gang in league with a local official.
To clear his name he must find and defeat the real villain. All of the films are presented in their original aspect ratios of about 2. The blind swordsman movie videos for the full length movie and video clips on mefeedia. 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. That does not mean that he will be absent completely from korean cinemas, with the sequel to the outlaws finally taking shape. The films that feature him are variously pulsepounding, hilarious, stirring, and completely offthewall. Watch full episode of adventures of zatoichi japanese.
Hopefully, they gave the character a proper sendoff. The presence of actor shintaro katsu as the blind swordman ensures that each film in the series will be at least enjoyable even. This series includes new restorations, undertaken by the criterion collection and mk2, of the koker trilogy, taste of cherry, the wind will carry us, and rarely screened shorts and documentaries. Zatoichi films is a thing of extraordinary beauty, and finally, it is mine. 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. He plays, as usual, a man with an impassive face, few words, and sudden bursts of action that end in a few seconds. Adventures of zatoichi once again sticks to the tried and tested formula, while adding characters and memorable moments. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free. While they started out by showing several zatoichi the blind swordsman films, they have finally added a film that has a criterion spine number, roman polanskis first film, knife in the water. Adventures of zatoichi the blind swordsman wanders into a town to celebrate the new year. These are three of the most important elements of every zatoichi film, maidens in. Usually when a film series starts getting long, most of the films in the series are mediocre at best, particularly in the later shows. The blind swordsman tries to locate a girls missing father. New tale of zatoichi 1963 wishing to find peace, zatoichi travels to his old village.
However, the film gains importance as the first completely routine. 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. This deluxe set features the string of twentyfive zatoichi films made between 1962. As tensions mount between rival yakuza clans, one boss hires a formidable but ailing ronin as his clans muscle, while the other employs a humble, moral blind masseur named ichi. This deluxe set features the string of twentyfive zatoichi films made between 1962 and 1973, collected in one package for the first time. Either the plot is so generic that they couldnt describe it any way else so they went with the most commonplace title possible, or this entry in the series actually has some fresh and imaginative, well, adventures, to offer. This film is another great installment of the zatoichi series. Okay, there are a lot of things you can count on with zatoichi. Promising to make a delivery for a dying man, the blind swordsman zatoichi comes across the usual crime gangs but also meets a blind monk who brings into question his use of violence. The tale of zatoichi 1962 full movie 123movies free watch online with english subtitles,stream free the tale of zatoichi full movie online on night mode 123movies watch your favorite movies online. A list of the zatoichi films in chronological order. But zatoichi in his run of two dozen films stays good to the end. 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.
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. The tale of zatoichi 1962 the criterion collection. After an artist is threatened by the yakuza into creating valuable but highly illegal pornography, the law aims to execute him. The third film, in 1963, was the first to be filmed in color. It feels like a collage of every typical zatoichi plot point.
New digital restorations of all twentyfive films, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks. Adventures of zatoichi is still a zatoichi film and so its still a fantastic piece of samurai cinema. The films that feature him are variously pulse pounding, hilarious, stirring, and completely offthewall. Shintaro katsu, miwa takada, eiko taki, kichijiro ueda, daimaru. Adventures of zatoichi is a 1964 japanese chambara film directed by kimiyoshi yasuda and starring shintaro katsu as the blind masseur zatoichi. Zatoichis trek through 88 temples to atone for his violent past is interrupted as he stumbles into a village terrorized by a violent yakuza boss. In general, however, the films follow the adventures of the blind.
Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The first film was made in 1962 in black and white. Blind swordsmanmasseuse zatoichi befriends a young woman looking for her father, a village leader who has disappeared. The zatoichi the blind swordsman set ends with zatoichi s conspiracy 1973, but theres no sense of closure like a book as the character moved onto television from 1974 to 1979, and then katsu returned to the role one last time in zatoichi the blind swordsman 1989. Hello, i was seated in my couch searching for something to watch and i remembered that when i was twelve or something i watched a movie but the only thing i remember that the protagonist was a rich boy or something and he fell in love with a girl, the thing is that the girl just tinted her and his finger nails with flowers, petal flowers to find love i think. It seems like a every single village in oldtimey japan has both a corrupt big shot who exploits the common folk and a dude who cheats at dice. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing adventures of zatoichi near you. Aditya roy kapur, disha patani starrer an underwhelming watch.
Zatoichi the fugitive 1963 a yakuza gang targets the blind masseur zatoichi after he defeats. The colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created. Apr 06, 2020 after kickstarting the whole franchise in 1962s the tale of zatoichi, director kenji misumi wouldnt return to the series until two years later for the eight film and the third of 1964, fight, zatoichi, fight, and in the process ended up creating one of the finest adventures for our blind hero. An itinerant blind masseur who also happens to be a lightningfast swordsman. There, he befriends a young woman whose father has gone missing. And shintaro katsu brings author kan shimozawas blind swordsman to vivid life, making the character excitingly, indelibly his own. Janus films is proud to present a touring retrospective spanning abbas kiarostamis nearly fivedecade career. If you like the formula, every film will hold its share of great entertainment for you. And dazzle enemies with his superhuman sword skills. With 25 adventures of shintaro katsus famed blind, wandering swordsman.
Which youd likely tend to feel when you are on your 3rd zatoichi film of 1963. Before, the series had already been enormously popular in japan. Not only have they added this polanski film, but they have gone and added several more films in the zatoichi series, with the only films remaining those that are held by animeigo the films produced in the 1970s. 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.
The tale of zatoichi is the first in a long line of films, detailing the adventures of a blind swordsman. Its completely predictable, overplotted and tiring because its two hours long way too much for a zatoichi film. The film is a revival of the classic zatoichi series of samurai film and television dramas. 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. Adventures of zatoichi isnt one of the best but is still another sounds zatoichi film in the series with its usual charms. The film is currently casting and a late 2020 release is projected. Zatoichi shares a room at the inn with a young woman searching for her vanished father, who disappeared after appealing to the. Ichi takes a clandestine message from a fugitive wanted for murder to the mans sister in a nearby village. First, zatoichi is approached by a mysterious man outside a town and asked to deliver a message to a maid at a local inn. The original series of 26 films featured shintaro katsu as zatoichi. Zatoichi, while fighting off the usual group of gangsters, meets the apprentice of the swordsman who created his blade, who relays bad news about the sword. Zatoichi is one of the great characters of any medieval japanese film, and unusually he is not a samurai himself. The betrayal at the end is absolutely great and well earned.
Ive added links below for the various zatoichi films, but you can find the criterion channel here. With a title like adventures of zatoichi, you can only expect two things. Like bond, zatoichi travels around killing goons who hassle him, touching the faces of pretty girls, but at the same time hinting at an underlying homoerotic tension. Opinion seems somewhat divided as to whether adventures of zatoichi, the ninth film in the popular chanbara series, is a rather routine entry or else among the strongest outings for the sightless swordsman. Aug 25, 20 this week, criterion announced the upcoming release of the whole zatoichi film series in a bluraydvd combo box set, with brand new completely remastered transfers. Zatoichi, having been honor bound to protect the man and his family, must now run against the law. Shintaro katsu, jushiro konoe, miwa takada, yukiji asaoka.
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