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Zatoichi Movie Review by Retro
Posted by:I had read that Zatoichi was yet another variation of Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo(the other's being Fistful of Dollars, Last Man Standing with Bruce Willis and Inferno a.k.a Desert Heat with Jean Claude Van Damn). This is not entirely true, while the story does borrow elements of the Yojimbo plot, there are enough differences to warrant it a fresh tale. With the thought of Yojimbo planted in my head however (which I have not seen, nor any Kurosawa film), I was expecting a heavy and violent samurai epic. What a delight it was to find that acclaimed writer/director Takeshi 'Beat' Kitano(also none of whoms films I had seen before), who also takes the role of the title character, took a lighthearted and jovial approach to the film.
Zatoichi is an aged blind wanderer who makes a living by gambling and giving massages. Coming to a remote mountain town dominated by two feuding clans, who, in turn fight a third, more ruthless gang, Zatoichi befriends an un-lucky gambler as well as two geisha sisters, out to avenge the death of their slane parents. All three parties have grievences against one or the other gangs, though Zatoichi's past is never revealed, and it is he to which the others seek help.
It may be the language barrier, but I found it a minute difficulty keeping track of which gang did what, but in the end it doesn't seem to matter, the story is still kept simple enough not to get greatly confused. Being old and blind, yet also the title character, one is aware that Zatoichi is gonna be packin' some serious skills with the sword, disguised as his cane, let me just say, he not only has speed, but precision as well. The violence is more stylised than realistic, with the fountains of blood common in most samurai films kept to a bare minimum. Some of the fights are played for humour, but the serious encounters are kept serious. My only problem is that there are no real challenges for Zatoichi, his skills far surpass those of the gang members, who are easily dispatched despite their number, so there is no grand battle against the odds, and the one showdown against the only other character of whoms skill rivals that of Zatoichi, a ronin samurai hired as bodyguard to one of the gang bosses, is over all too quickly. Still, they are great to look at, and might have turned out too predictable had Kitano chosen to go the more traditional route, of which he does not. That being said, the entertainment value is such that one can overlook the flaws.
There are some really nice touches to the film, the way elements of the visuals are integrated into the score, farmers at work with their hoe's, builders hammering and sawing, is a marvel to behold. And you will find yourself grinning when you least expect it, Kitano seems to have a sly way of putting humour in almost all aspects of this film. Watch for one masterstroke of a gag right at the very end.
Zatoichi is an aged blind wanderer who makes a living by gambling and giving massages. Coming to a remote mountain town dominated by two feuding clans, who, in turn fight a third, more ruthless gang, Zatoichi befriends an un-lucky gambler as well as two geisha sisters, out to avenge the death of their slane parents. All three parties have grievences against one or the other gangs, though Zatoichi's past is never revealed, and it is he to which the others seek help.
It may be the language barrier, but I found it a minute difficulty keeping track of which gang did what, but in the end it doesn't seem to matter, the story is still kept simple enough not to get greatly confused. Being old and blind, yet also the title character, one is aware that Zatoichi is gonna be packin' some serious skills with the sword, disguised as his cane, let me just say, he not only has speed, but precision as well. The violence is more stylised than realistic, with the fountains of blood common in most samurai films kept to a bare minimum. Some of the fights are played for humour, but the serious encounters are kept serious. My only problem is that there are no real challenges for Zatoichi, his skills far surpass those of the gang members, who are easily dispatched despite their number, so there is no grand battle against the odds, and the one showdown against the only other character of whoms skill rivals that of Zatoichi, a ronin samurai hired as bodyguard to one of the gang bosses, is over all too quickly. Still, they are great to look at, and might have turned out too predictable had Kitano chosen to go the more traditional route, of which he does not. That being said, the entertainment value is such that one can overlook the flaws.
There are some really nice touches to the film, the way elements of the visuals are integrated into the score, farmers at work with their hoe's, builders hammering and sawing, is a marvel to behold. And you will find yourself grinning when you least expect it, Kitano seems to have a sly way of putting humour in almost all aspects of this film. Watch for one masterstroke of a gag right at the very end.
Reviewed by Site Member, Retro
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