Sep 30, 2011 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 movies and a television series from. But behind his humble facade, zatoichi is a master swordsman, gifted with lightningfast draw and strokes of breathtaking precision. Taiwanese animation can be traced back to 1954s black and white animation wu song fights the tiger. This film is a shebang, a fullscale show, complete with everything you. Donnie darko was released in 2004 on friday, july 23, 2004 in nationwide movie theaters. There is a set being released on march 8, but i think it is just a collection of zatoichi discs previously released by animeigo. Japan societys latest monthly classics film series the doubleedged sword. Zatoichi is a blind anma or masseur common occupation for the blind in that era that travels the countryside, never stopping for long in one place. This film was enjoyable it was only at the end that it got a bit strange a bit like a. Zatoichi meets yojimbo zatoichi the outlaw, aka the blind swordsmans rescue zatoichi goes to the fire festival zatoichi at large zatoichi in desperation zatoichis conspiracy zatoichi meets the onearmed swordsman. The film is a revival of the classic zatoichi series of samurai film and television dramas. That did make it a little unrealistic, but the action was definitely original.
When her foster mother is framed for the murder of a political leader, sheena and a newsman, vic casey are forced to flee while pursued by the mercenaries hired by the real killer, who hopes to assume power. Ichi is a blind masseuse ambling from town to town until some injustice or threat cause him to reveal his incomparable swordplay and samuraistyled sense of honor. Blind swordsman s vengeance is the thirteenth film in the series. He plays, as usual, a man with an impassive face, few words, and sudden bursts of action that end in a few seconds. Zatoichi 2003 takeshi kitano at an event for the blind swordsman.
Zatoichi begins life as a straightup samurai movie, evolves into a slapstick comedy and ends as a rousing, tapdancing musical. An englishlanguage remake of theo van goghs award winning 1996 dutch film, blind date is the story of an estranged couple who are desperately trying to reconcile after the tragic death of their daughter. With a resume consisting of two hundredplus screenwriting credits over the last sixty years. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a 2003 japanese samurai dramaaction film, directed, written, coedited by and starring takeshi kitano beat takeshi in his 11th directorial venture. New yorks japan society is hosting a series of nine 60sera samurai film screenings featuring leading genre stars shintaro katsu and raizo ichikawa. 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. Both of these films include bonus dvd features, including an introduction to. Blind swordsman zatoichi, jailed briefly, is implored by another prisoner to aid him in proving his innocence of a crime for which he is sentenced to death. Zatoichisonatine dvd 2004, 2disc set double feature new. Blind swordsman goes where no samurai has gone before. Zatoichi the blind swordsman film by takeshi kitano dvd 2003 newsealed japan r2.
The tale of zatoichi is the first in a long series of samurai movies centered around the blind gambler and masseur turned lowly yakuza who has a strong moral compass and makes us feel empathic not because he is blind and underestimated but because he is brave and honest as he always tries to do the right thing. His 1st critical achievement in the western is at hirokazu koreedas maborosi 1995, where he played a guy who inexplicably throws himself before a teach, widowing his wife and orphaning his baby son. Find great deals on ebay for zatoichi and zatoichi criterion. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. So, i feel like it was necessity that i could join the film. As this iconic figure, the charismatic and earthy shintaro katsu became an instant. Salary, married, wedding, spouse, family asano tadanobu is a japanese film actor. Zatoichi jigoku tabi zatoichi and the chess expert dvd.
Zatoichi is a 2003 japanese samurai dramaaction film, directed, written, coedited by and starring takeshi kitano beat takeshi in his 11th directorial venture. Like hes done in some of his gangster movies sonatine and sentimental kid comedies. Important events, famous birthdays and historical deaths from our searchable today in history archives. Charting the tarantino universe the new york times. He doesnt seek out fights, but doesnt back down when he knows he must confront his foe. The final 1989 film, zatoichi the blind swordsman is missing, possibly due to rights issues, as is the television series. Katsu inhabits the soul of the character and is zatoichi. Japan societys monthly classics film series delivers 9. A blind, master swordsman wanders into a town controlled by sinister gangs and becomes involved with two geishas who seek to avenge their parents murders. Zatoichi is reluctant to get involved, because he knows how often such involvement has led to trouble in the past. Oct 09, 2012 the blind masseur and former samurai zatoichi takeshi kitano is drifting and arrives in a small village dominated by three tyrannical lords, inosuke ginzo ittoku kishibe, tashichi ogi saburo.
Does not include remakes and other similarly related films, just the original film series. Download or listen to free movies, films, and videos this library contains digital movies uploaded by archive users which range from classic fulllength films, to daily alternative news broadcasts, to cartoons and concerts. A sightless samurai in 19thcentury japan helps two sisters get revenge on the gang that murdered their parents. A seasoned mobster goes on a peacekeeping mission when he suspects his boss is.
United states july 23, 2004 nationwide united states. Mainly, asano is remembered along with his personality in electric dragon 80,000 v with the portrayal of. Behind this unassuming appearance is a master swordsman, which combined with super human hearing makes him virtually unstoppable very few throughout the series get the better of him. The village is split with rival gangs, one of whom hires a troubled but talented samurai to wipe the others out. When the 25th zatoichi movie was completed and television began to overtake film production, katsu moved the character to television, using the same standing sets and shooting the episodes on 16mm.
The legendary blind swordsman has been well done over the years but never. Zatoichi yify movies torrent magnet with the blind swordsman. Miramax is hoping that the heightened popularity of hves zatoichi dvds now up to seventeen instalments and ifcs cable screenings will benefit the new movies release. Features the string of twentyfive zatoichi films made between 1962 and 1973, starring shintaro katsu, collected in. If you know of any new streams for the movie the blind swordsman. Zatoichi, then feel free to support anisearch by adding them to our database. Outlaw masters of japanese film, the series screens monthly through may 2010. New listing zatoichi the blind swordsman film by takeshi kitano dvd 2003 newsealed japan r2. Zatoichi you are looking for exciting, humorous and atmospheric movies about with samurai, martial arts, geisha, one man army, violence, gang and good versus evil themes of action, comedy and crime genre shot in japan. Zatoichi is a 19th century blind nomad who makes his living as a gambler and masseur. Turkey 10 october 2004 istanbul filmoctober film week poland november 2004 camerimage film festival indonesia 4 december 2004 jakarta international film festival turkey 17 december 2004. Since so many older films were being remade in the 2000s it was only natural that someone would do zatoichi. Zatoichi, zatoichi released in the us as the blind swordsman.
Chinese wushu is rich and varied, it was developed by the people for selfdefence. Kitano reviving zatoichi is akin to clint eastwood deciding to take over as the lone ranger, and the disparity between the directors singular vision and the demands of the genre often throw his the blind swordsman. His first success worldwide came in hirokazu koreedas maboroshi no hikari 1995. Set in the age of rouge samurai, shintaro katsu stars as ichi, a blind masseur, gambler, gangster, lady charmer, deadly swordsman, and all around kindhearted scoundrel. Most recently in the us, there was the blind swordsman.
The blind swordsman 9 bluray deluxe set the colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. My favorite moment in the film comes at around the halfway point. Everything you need to know about donnie darko movie 2004. Nov 28, 20 trailer for the massive 25film boxset, zatoichi.
In tarantinos screenplay for true romance, christian slaters character sneaks off to a double feature of sonny chiba films the street fighter and return of the street fighter, two. Im a huge zatoichi fan, and this collection had some of the best works in it. Having opened in december, the second installment in the series is zatoichi, the fugitive on friday, january 22 at 7. Zatoichi by director takeshi kitano featuring himself in the classic role. People are both the devil and god, japanese writerdirector kaneto shindowhose 1964 erotichorror classic onibaba you now hold in your handstold an interviewer just a year or so ago, and are truly mysterious.
He arrives in a small village, keeping secret his ability as a swordsman. It was performed and filmed in 2007 and released on home video under the. Kiyoshi kurosawas bright future is slated for a late october release in the us. Blind swordsman goes where no samurai has gone before east. With takeshi kitano, tadanobu asano, yui natsukawa, michiyo yasuda.
Blind zatoichi makes his living by gambling and giving massages. Zatoichi embodies the kinds of contradictory elements that make takeshi kitano japans most intriguing contemporary. Kitano is known here in the states primarily for his dark yakuza pictures violent cop, sonatine, fireworks, brother, but he is also a comedian as beat takeshi, which is the name he performs under, author and television personality in his. Because i feel thor is the beginning of finding my roots, and i found that i have family in america, i want to take my time and put effort on my future work so that foreign people get to know me better, and i also want to enjoy that process itself. Zatoichi wanders into a town run by sinister gangs and a powerful samurai. Returning to the village where a year before he had killed hirate, a muchadmired opponent, zatoichi encounters another swordsman and former rival in love. Discussion of films, questions about the challenge, etc. But ichi discovers that hikonoichi has recently been murdered and his daughter forced into prostitution.
Zatoichi the film is a great take on the decades old property of a masterful blind swordsman in 19th century japan who travels the land helping under the guise of a masseur. Distribution of these films was done by dainichi eihai zatoichi goes to the fire festival, zatoichi meets the onearmed swordsman, toho zatoichi at large which toho also coproduced with katsu productions, zatoichi in desperation, and zatoichi at the blood fest, and shochiku which released katsus last zatoichi film in 1989. The central figure in chambara films is the swordsman, who could be a. Blind swordsmanmasseur zatoichi is pursued by the retainers of a lord who fear that he will reveal a secret weakness of their master. But when the son and father meet, zatoichi finds out that the father has been forced to work for gangsters. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Here a blind swordsman goes to a small town controlled by a ruthless gang and abuses the people there. This film is a shebang, a fullscale show, complete with everything you would happily pay to see. They release takeshi kitanos blind swordsman epic, zatoichi, this summer uncut and subtitled. Popular films such as samurai vendetta and three choice selections from the zatoichi series are coupled with the surreal destinys son. 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. Zatoichi begins life as a straightup samurai movie. Colorful, rich with action and wonderfully choreographed, takeshi kitano takes on the classic samurai character with his own brand of.
While it might not be the absolute best of the series it is definitely somewhere in the top 10. The moment after his debut he began getting many offers employed in the movies and afterwards in the entire year 2003 his function in the flavor of tea can be the set of great achievement in his career. Zatoichi has only one canesword throughout all the films. Then feel free to add a description to our database using our entry form. Jun 02, 2004 the real surprise is beat taking on the role of zatoichi the blind masseur with a sword hidden in his walking stick is an iconic figure in japanese film and tv, as played by shintaro katsu. He has a code, but enforces it according to his own rules. Tanakura confronts zatoichi in front of the yakuza gang leaders. Zatoichi the outlaw dvd 2004 complete katsu shintaro animeigo. Zatoichi the blind swordsman film by takeshi kitano dvd 2003 new. The eastwood of japan, takeshi kitano, tackles one of japan.
Using his lightning sword, zatoichi takes on the crime boss in a relentless blend of action, violence, and comedy that makes zatoichi challenged one of the best in the longrunning series. The blind masseurswordsman comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming family. Asano made his advent in the 1990 movie swimming upstream, though his first major success came in shunji iwais fried dragon fish 1993. His father, an actors agent, suggested he take on what became his first role, in the tv show kimpachi sensei, at the age of 16. Criterion delivers the first 25films of the zatoichi series together for the first time ever on home video in north america on dvd and bluray in this massive 27disc box set. Blind swordsman s canesword is the fifteenth film in the series. His most widely known functions internationally will be the samurai movies gohatto 1999 as well as the blind swordsman. Hes destined for violent showdowns when he stumbles on two beautiful geishas avenging their parents murder. The story, which is loosely based on the first zatoichi movie, follows the. Shintaro katsu portrays the legendary zatoichi, a blind masseur who lives by the yakuza code and answers his foes with a deadly cane. However, behind this humble facade, he is a master sw. There he meets many characters like the siblings on a mission, a samurai who is hired by the gang, as well as an unlucky gambler who befriends the blind swordsman. Zatoichi was one of the classic period piece franchises in 1960s70s japanese cinema with over 20 releases and a tv series.
R odonnell of home vision asked me to mention a big event he held in new york last tuesday to promote the upcoming the blind swordsman. Japan societys monthly classics film series delivers 9 slices of rare 60s samurai cool with a duel dose of masculine mystique. The blind swordsman drops you right into the action. Zatoichi begins life as a straightup samurai movie, evolves into a slapstick. 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. A short plot summary about the movie the blind swordsman. Zatoichi is a masterfullymade, highly entertaining film. A list of the zatoichi films in chronological order. Zatoichi is a classic vagabond out to not save the world, but simply better himself and others around him. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a fictional character featured in one of japans longestrunning series of films, as well as a television series. She is raised by the mystical witch woman of an african tribe.
Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. And after that, youve only got 22 more to go as well as the television series and the ridiculous u. It is so beautifully sure and perceptive in its record of one year in the life of a couple happily married, and their relatives and friends, not so happy. The first film was clearly meant to be left open to a possible sequel, but was meant to stand alone. Shintaro katsu perfectly plays the blind swordsman zatoichi, and i can understand why people say that he is the only one that can play him. The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by novelist. The criterion collection zatoichi the blind swordsman bluray box set. Zatoichi finds himself in a small village a village caught in a gang war where he befriends a farmer and her nephew. The colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. There were 4 other movies released on the same date, including festival express, the bourne supremacy and the blind swordsman. First published in 1970, the story was adapted into six films starring tomisaburo wakayama, four plays, a television series starring kinnosuke yorozuya, and is widely recognized as an important and influential work. Zatoichi is a good humoured blind man who travels making his living from being a masseur. Both are set during the late edo period 1830s and 1840s. Dvd talk 7th annual criterion challenge list thread list thread 30 days of criterion august 31st dusk october 1 dawn, 2014 this thread is for lists only.
At 16 years after the last film, zatoichi returns with the same freshness, the same ambiguous internalized morality and the same highly enjoyable swordsmanship fighting some of the best villains of the series including shintaro. The blind masseur swordsman comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming family, he meets two women with their own agenda. Zatoichi a takeshi kitano film 2004 1 disc version artificial eye. Kozure okami, wolf taking along his child is a manga created by writer kazuo koike and artist goseki kojima. Zatoichi would help many anime and manga fans decide whether they want to watch this show or not. Zatoichi embodies the kinds of contradictory elements that make takeshi kitano japans most intriguing contemporary actordirector. Penek ratanaruangs last life in the universe, in which asano recently won the upstream prize for best actor at the 60th venice film festival. Introduced in the early 1960s, zatoichi is now an archetypal character in japanese film, inspiring dozens of films and numerous television shows. Kitano throws most of his signature directorial style out the window, moving the camera and cutting like he. It was rereleased and retitled darkness is his ally in 2004. More and more movie are legally available through various streaming services.
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