Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: You would expect a movie like this to be much more interesting. Two renowned actors playing their seminal roles, meeting each other in an action movie reminiscent of the Clint Eastwood-Lee Van Cleef era. Instead, the movie is tedious, dwelling on a depressed and irascible Yojimbo and a character conflict that is more annoying than significant. When Yojimbo and Zatoichi square off against each other, it's hard to explain why they'd really want to -- it certainly isn't for bragging rights or honor or to ensure that the good guys win. The ultimate resolution of the story and discovery of the hidden treasure is somewhat interesting, I suppose, but hardly makes it worthwhile to sit through the length of the movie. The only real reason to see the movie is for the curiosity factor of catching Zatoichi and Yojimbo together. I understand there is one other movie that pairs the two of them -- perhaps it is more worth seeking out.

Rating:
Summary: Shintaro Katsu Shines Again
Review: Zatoichi and Yojimbo fans will love this!

Shintaro Katsu has aged and put on some weight, but the Zatoichi wry humor is still there, as is his lightning sword-play.

Toshiro Mifune remains his Yojimbo double-dealing self.

Together, they are lost souls, trying to survive in a miserable world filled with crooks, scoundrels, and murderers. Try as they may, their humanity keeps peeping through.
It is refreshing to have enjoyable story plots instead of the continual escalating into stupid absurdity seen in most sequels these days.