A blind swordsman shintaro katsu returns a newborn to its father. Fight zatoichi fight was the eighth film in the franchise. Fight, zatoichi, fight, zatoichi kesshotabi is a 1964 japanese chambara film directed by kenji misumi and starring shintaro katsu as the blind masseur zatoichi. True, the story about a reluctant tough guy caring for a baby had been done a million times before, yet due to the impressive talent of shintaro katsu it acutally manages to become the most moving entries. Zatoichi the new tale of zatoichi 1963 rotten tomatoes. The seventh entry, zatoichis flashing sword is the second zatoichi film to be directed by kazuo ikehiro, with cinematography duties this time out going to yasukazu takemura. The tale of zatoichi is the first in a long line of films, detailing the adventures of a blind swordsman. The seventh entry, zatoichi s flashing sword is the second zatoichi film to be directed by kazuo ikehiro, with cinematography duties this time out going to yasukazu takemura. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a fictional character featured in one of japans longestrunning series of films, as well as a television series.
Ichi is a blind masseuse ambling from town to town until some injustice or threat cause him to reveal his. They dont have the most demanding continuity but they build on each other and zatoichi grows as a character throughout them. Whereas the information about the blind masseur and master swordsman has been sparse for many films in the series, kenji misumi s fight, zatoichi, fight. There are great moments of comedy here, as when the child tries to pass a stone off to. 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. Shintaro katsu, nobuo kaneko, gen kimura action adventure adventure drama. However, craving respect, he learns the way of the sword and becomes a yakuza gangster.
A list of 26 films compiled on letterboxd, including the tale of zatoichi 1962, the tale of zatoichi continues 1962, new tale of zatoichi 1963, zatoichi the fugitive 1963 and zatoichi on the road 1963. Fight, zatoichi, fight 1964 the criterion collection. 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. Both are set during the late edo period 1830s and 1840s. A variation of the plot had actually been used before in the 8th zatoichi movie fight zatoichi fight where he also found a baby with a.
The tale of zatoichi is the introduction to zatoichi, a blind yakuza swordsman with a code of honor. An exciting and surprisingly emotional first chapter in the 20 plus entry long filmic saga of zatoichi, the blind swordsman. The tale of zatoichi was released in japan on april 12, 1962. The film begins with zatoichi using his cunning and his disability to his advantage, as. Overview of fight, zatoichi, fight, 1964, directed by kenji misumi, with shintaro katsu, nobuo kaneko, gen kimura, at turner classic movies.
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. The blind swordsman meets the pickpocketed ko hizuru takachiho who agrees to join ichi on his way to return the baby to its father. The colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. Discover what genre fight, zatoichi, fight, 1964, directed by kenji misumi, with shintaro katsu, nobuo kaneko, gen kimura, belongs at turner classic movies. Promising her that he will hand over her baby to its father, the blind masseur embarks on an adventure both sentimental and beset by perilous action. Mar 19, 2004 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. Fight, zatoichi, fight 1964 frankenstein conquers the world 1965 friends 2011. 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. It was originally released by the daiei motion picture company later acquired by kadokawa pictures zatoichis revenge is the tenth episode in the 26part film series devoted to the character of zatoichi. The third zatoichi film, and the first in color, the new tale of zatoichi is packed with action and some great battle scenes and displays of zatoichi s drawing skills as he splits more candles in. By this time, even though it was still early on in the series, there was a formula that all the movies followed.
I had seen this before, but revisiting it to kick off a marathon of every film in the series, i was reminded of just how well made and especially well shot and performed this was. The film summoned the most sequels of a samurai film. The film starts with zatoichi graciously giving up his escort to a woman with a newborn baby so that she can rest on her journey. The first half of the film does much to pump up the characters charm, as he forms a bond with the boy and shows off his softer side. Things start off with zatoichi coming across a pregnant woman whod just been attacked. Still while being honorable, funny and a ladys man. Ive seen about half of them and im a big fan of zatoichi the fugitive, zatoichi and the chest of gold, fight zatoichi fight, and zatoichi and the chess expert. It was originally released by the daiei motion picture company later acquired by kadokawa pictures.
Zatoichi is no retread of past glories its his first period film, set in the 19th century but it restores the sublime mix of introspection and stillness interspersed with brief, bloody. The movies are on nine discs in a sturdy slipcase along with. The blind swordsman, a box set from the criterion collection, assembles the 25 films starring shintaro katsu as a samurai. Fight, zatoichi, fight akfilmfan while the story isnt very complex, the mix of pathos, humor, and katsus performance make this 8th film a very delightful change of pace for the series. A list of the zatoichi films in chronological order. Zatoichis revenge is just as enjoyable and exciting as the 9 films that preceded it, but lacks enough individual moments to make it stand out. Directed and starred by takeshi kitano, who uses his full trademark trippy style to tell an adventure of the master swordsman, with gorn, humour and japanese music galore. A total of 26 films were made from 1962 to 1989, and then there was also beat takeshis zatoichi in 2003 and 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. This criterion box set of all 25 of the early zatoichi movies is a bargain. Zatoichi and the chess expert season 1, episode 12 122365 zatichi befriends a chessloving wandering samurai and helps a young girl accidentally wounded in a sword fight. Zatoichi is a blind masseur a disability looked down upon in japanese society at that time. Fight, zatoichi, fight 1964 letterboxd social film. The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by novelist kan shimozawa. Sep 16, 2015 from its premise, fight, zatoichi, fight may seem like the most sentimental, if not outright clicheed film in the series. 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. While not as cinematic as the previous episode, this entry does provide the usual dosage of humor, panache, and action including a memorable underwater attack wherein. It was originally released by the daiei motion picture company later acquired by kadokawa pictures zatoichi and the fugitives is the eighteenth episode in the 26part film series devoted to the. A blind master swordsman attempts to lead a quiet life with his wife but he is provoked back into battle. 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. Immediately sensing an ambush, zatoichi strikes first. This eighth zatoichi feature is an excellent showcase for star shintaro katsu, who evinces an extraordinary physical and emotional range as the blind.
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. From its premise, fight, zatoichi, fight may seem like the most sentimental, if not outright clicheed film in the series. Fight, zatoichi, fight 1964, zatoichi kesshotabi story. This deluxe set features the string of twentyfive zatoichi films made between 1962 and 1973, collected in one package for the first time. The third zatoichi film, and the first in color, the new tale of zatoichi is packed with action and some great battle scenes and displays of zatoichis drawing skills as he splits more candles in. There is little action in this film, still some, but fight, zatoichi fight is more a film showcasing zatoichis soft side and love of innocent children and enjoyment of peace.
The film was followedup with the tale of zatoichi continues in 1962. And while the final fight is powerful to watch, the most stunning sequence involves a simple but tensionedfilled game of dice. Judd reid 100 man fight official documentary extra content duration. When we meet ichi, he has already decided to leave that life behind and go straight but his former life always come back to haunt him either because someone. Primarily for my own reference as i make my way through the films but may be useful to others also taking the.
The premise, zatoichis journey with an infant in tow, might seem on the corny side, but the storyline works well and this proves to be another solid installment. Watch zatoichi at large english subtitled prime video. A 2003 film, zatoichi, was directed by takeshi kitano who also starred as zatoichi in the film. A stage version of zatoichi directed by takashi miike starred show aikawa. After discovering who the guilty parties are an accomplished chinese martial artist named wang kang and his youthful attendant zatoichi finds them and discovers that the pairs mixed up with a dangerous bunch of terrorist samurai who murdered the boys parents. The previous film in the series, zatoichis flashing sword was a slight let down, but were back on track with fight, zatoichi, fight. On the road with zatoichi the current the criterion. May 18, 2016 judd reid 100 man fight official documentary extra content duration. 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. The film was awarded the venice film festival s silver lion for best direction in 2003. Aug 05, 2004 zatoichi is no retread of past glories its his first period film, set in the 19th century but it restores the sublime mix of introspection and stillness interspersed with brief, bloody. 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.
The eighth entry in the series follows zatoichi s quest to protect a newborn baby after the babys mother was killed by members of the yakuza who attacked a palanquin believing it to be carrying ichi. With shingo katori, takashi sorimachi, satomi ishihara, chieko baisho. With his preternatural sense of hearing, zatoichi takeshi kitano listens to the sound of the dice and realizes that they have been switched. Zatoichi meets the onearmed swordsman social film discovery. Zatoichi is a blind massage therapist and swordsman who finds out that something troubling is taking place on the outskirts of town. 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. 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. It starts off like a regular zatoichi film, then this 3rd entry in the series introduces his master, excellent drama, and a conflict zatoichi who is torn between who he is and who he wants to be. Her last words were to take the baby to her father. 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 2003 remakecontinuity reboot of zatoichi known in the anglosphere as the blind swordsman zatoichi or takeshi kitanos zatoichi, the legendary blind swordsman of japanese folklore. It helps that the child in question is a bit older than the last time ichi played babysitter in fight, zatoichi, fight.
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