But for a matinee idol, he receives a decidedly modest introduction. Blind swordsmans canesword is the fifteenth film in the series. Zatoichi is a 19th century blind nomad who makes his living as a gambler and masseur. 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. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a fictional character featured in one of japan s longestrunning series of films and a television series that are both set during the late edo period 1830s and 1840s. Inspired by the swords seen in the popular movie blind fury, these zatoichi stick swords feature a walking stick with a functional katana blade. 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 early 60s to the late 80s. Adventures of zatoichi 1964 the criterion collection. 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. The wandering swordsman helps two geishas seek revenge in a town run over by criminal gangs. Download zatoichi the blind swordsman full movie video. But behind his humble facade, zatoichi is a master swordsman, gifted with lightningfast draw and strokes of breathtaking precision.
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. 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. This series of zatoichi the blind masseurswordsman of old japanese samurai ronin era is a hero tale. Seeing kitanos film, i was only aware of one other zatoichi film, not the series.
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. Massage was a common occupation for many blind people in the old days. 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. Zatoichi embodies the kinds of contradictory elements that make takeshi kitano japans most intriguing contemporary. Blind zatoichi makes his living by gambling and giving massages. Zatoichi, zatoichi released in the us as the blind swordsman. Zatoichi embodies the kinds of contradictory elements that make takeshi kitano japans most intriguing contemporary actordirector. Zatoichis moment of serenity is interrupted by a band of thugs. Some people are having an arrow shooting contest, when zatoichi walks up and humbly picks up the bow. He plays, as usual, a man with an impassive face, few words, and sudden bursts of action that end in a few seconds. However, behind this humble facade, he is a master. 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 traveler zatoichi beat takeshi is a master swordsman and a masseur with a fondness for gambling on dice games.
Ichi is a blind masseuse ambling from town to town until some injustice or threat cause him to reveal his. Zatoichi, the blind masseur revisits a village he has fond memories of, only to find that much has changed. With takeshi kitano, tadanobu asano, yui natsukawa, michiyo yasuda. Zatoichis revenge finds the blind swordsman visiting one of the villages of his youth the place where, under his mentor hikonoichi, he first learned to be a masseur. The blind swordsman zatoichi is to japanese cinema what james bond is to american cinema. Blind swordsmans vengeance is the thirteenth film in the series. 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.
Zatoichis cane sword, zatoichi tekkatabi is a 1967 japanese chambara film directed by kimiyoshi yasuda and starring shintaro katsu as the blind masseur zatoichi. This series of zatoichi the blind masseur swordsman of old japanese samurai ronin era is a hero tale. The blind swordsman wanders into a town to celebrate the new year. It was originally released by the daiei motion picture company later acquired by kadokawa pictures. Hes blind, so his trade is being a masseur, who travels and earns money as he goes. The colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. 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. Samurai cinema presents katsu shintaro as zatoichi, the blind swordsman, in seven of his finest adventures, all presented in full color anamorphic widescreen. 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. Zatoichi begins life as a straightup samurai movie, evolves into a slapstick comedy and ends as a rousing, tapdancing musical. The blind swordsman chronological order a list of the zatoichi films in chronological order. But behind his humble facade, zatoichi is a master swordsman, gifted with.
However, behind this humble facade, he is a master swordsman gifted with a lightningfast draw and breathtaking precision. When he arrives in a village torn apart by warring gangs, he sets out to. However, behind this humble facade, he is a master sw. Shintaro katsu portrays the legendary zatoichi, a blind masseur who lives by the yakuza code and answers his foes with a deadly cane. Zatoichi sonatine dvd, 2004, 2disc set, bonus feature. The blind swordsman, a box set from the criterion collection, assembles the 25 films starring shintaro katsu as a samurai. His recent film was zatoichi, the blind swordsman 2003, a remake, a homage, and a wry take on one of the most popular series of films from japan in the 1960s and 1970s. Zatoichi zatoichi 2003 2003 2004 office kitanomiramax miramax beat takeshi rules, and aside from the blonde hair choice, he is virtually perfect in the role as the new ichi. Step aside, kill bill, the real bodycount movie of the year is about to begin. That did make it a little unrealistic, but the action was definitely original. Returning director kimiyoshi yasuda and screenwriter shozaburo asai masterfully weave together a variety of narrative threads and tonal registers.
One of my favorite japanese movie series is zatoichi, the blind swordsman. The film is a revival of the classic zatoichi series of samurai film and television dramas. This title is currently not available to stream on digital platforms. Director takeshi kitano takes on japanese cinematic legend zatoichi. The blind swordsman drops you right into the action. A group of samurai gangsters are sent to dispose of the blind swordsman. Zatoichi the 2003 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. I had a feeling the series had hit a creative slump near the beginning of outlaw.
Blind swordsman stick swords for sale swords direct. He has a code, but enforces it according to his own rules. Zatoichi you are looking for exciting, humorous and atmospheric movies about with samurai, martial arts, one man army, violence, gang, good versus evil and gang war themes of action, comedy and crime genre shot in japan. The blind masseurswordsman comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming family, he meets two women with their own agenda. 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. I am writing again about one of my favorite subjects. There, he befriends a young woman whose father has gone missing.
Zatoichi takeshi kitano tadanobu asano michiyo ohkusu 2004 a master swordsman beat takeshi battles a formidable ronin tadanobu. One of the most popular heroes in japanese cinema, zatoichi the blind swordsman inspired 26 feature films, more than 100 tv episodes, and countless comics and collectibles. Apr 30, 2008 zatoichi music video to the song rise by flobots. Kitano throws most of his signature directorial style out the window, moving the camera and cutting like he. Blind swordsman s vengeance is the thirteenth film in the series.
Zatoichi is a 2003 japanese samurai dramaaction film, directed, written, coedited by and starring takeshi kitano beat takeshi in his 11th directorial venture. Zatoichi takeshi kitano tadanobu asano michiyo ohkusu 2004 a master swordsman beat takeshi battles a formidable ronin tadanobu asano and a deadly clan terrorizing villagers. This originally minor character was developed for the. Introduced in the early 1960s, zatoichi is now an archetypal character in japanese film, inspiring dozens of films and numerous television shows. But one of the gangs has just hired a ronin, a masterless samurai, whose fighting skill may equal the blind swordsmans. Zatoichi takeshi kitano, about zatoichi the blind swordsman. The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by novelist kan shimozawa. Colorful, rich with action and wonderfully choreographed, takeshi kitano takes on the classic samurai character with his own brand of.
Download zatoichi the blind swordsman vol 1 pdf online. Zatoichi in us theaters july 23, 2004 starring takeshi kitano, michiyo ogusu, taka gatarukanaru, yuko daike. Blind swordsman s canesword is the fifteenth film in the series. The others were shooting at large targets from a good distance. And if that wasnt bad enough, a strange and deadly onearmed samurai tomisaburo wakayama, shintaro katsus reallife brother also wants to track down zatoichi, although his reason for doing so is far more personal.
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