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Rating: 
Summary: Good sequel to the first Zatoichi DVD
Review: After watching and enjoying the first Zatoichi DVD, I decided to buy the second installment. I'm glad I did because its even better than the first.
After being hired to massage a distinguished lord, Zatoichi discovers a secret that could ruin the lord's clan. This sets the story in motion as the lord's retainers send thier samurai and local gangsters after the blind masseur. In this movie we learn a little bit of Ichi's past. In fact a mysterious rival from his past turns up. We are also treated to more of Shintaro Katsu's excellent swordmanship which is even better in this movie than the first.
Rating: 
Summary: ZEN WARRIOR ROCKS
Review: Criterion in association with Janus Films has exquisitely remastered the first two of 26 sequels in the life and adventures of Japan's most popular and enduring cinematic hero, Zatoichi, the blind swordsman. A common man with an extraordinary skill and an even greater moral imperative.
"THE TALE OF ZATOICHI CONTINUES" is Volume Two of The Blind Swordsman series. Features revved up action, a lethal love triangle and a freaky one-armed samurai. When Zatoichi realizes that the lord who has hired him is going insane -- a madness, that if made public would topple his empire and the livelihood of his samurai warriors -- he flees a wanted man pursued by the mad lord's samurais and hired yakuza mercenaries. Zatoichi manages to escape until he is forced to confront his old foe -- the one armed warrior (played by Kenzaburo, Shintaro Katsu's brother who changed his name to Tomisaburo Wakayama and starred as Itto Ogami in the "Lone Wolf and Cub" series). This is a great series that has been hotly desired by an eclectic group of samurai videophiles who call themselves "Ichi Freaks." With the release of the newly restored, widescreen DVDs and the smoother translated subtitles, their number will certainly grow.
Rating:
Summary: Classic
Review: First and foremost I would advise that any viewer who wants to add Zatoichi to their list of movies , do so by watching the first one.There are many values from this , the main one being the character outlines mean little if you have not followed him as he strolls through life, being the man he is I beleive it is crucial for the viewer to first understand much about him before watching this one. Zatoichi's Cane Sword was a very exciting film with lots of plots and twists around every turn,duckhunt dancing and of course the beloved kindhearted yet deadly Zatoichi. Need I say more? I awaited this one for a long time and was mighty pleased with it when I first saw it and any Zato fan would be advised to add this one to the collection. I will not give away any of the movie because I had to buy it as well. Regardless what some might say about the man verse the myth I would say that these are plainly ,some of the best films I have ever seen. Some like to spend time putting down a man's life work with a few harsh words when the true fact is that they themselves are the ones they speak of. In Shintaro Katsu's case let us relish in the true beauty of one man's work and the undying gift he left all of us......ZATOICHI..............
Rating:
Summary: Great Samurai Story & Series
Review: I really appreciate Home Vision Entertainments production of the Zatoichi movie series. Each release has been an excellent presentation of Zatoichi. As a Japenese Samurai Movie fan I think that this series of DVD's is the best. The character of Zatoichi is very compelling and each story helps you identify with this Blind Swordsman who is always trying to do good for others. The examples of Japenese culture during this time period is very beautiful and detailed. Shintaro Katsu displays a wide range of emotions as Zatoichi and his display of swordmanship is excellent.
Rating:
Summary: Another great installment
Review: The second in the series developes Ichi even more, he can be truly kind to the lower classes but has disdain for the general samurai class as a whole but has much respect for what he considers honorable men. He can be kind and then brutal in seconds, his mind weighs heavy on his deeds as seen when he is thinking of his samurai friend Master Hitaro Miki, whom he had to kill. This installment is another must have, can't wait for the rest.
Rating:
Summary: Series Gets Better and Better
Review: This is the second in a series of 20-plus films about traveling masseur, petty gangster, and deadly swordsman Zatoichi. This film looks a tad better than the first one. HVE is to be commended for putting these films out in a widescreen format as well as trying to restore them to their original luster. After all, this is a nearly 40 year old movie! This film builds on some of the characters and situations from the first one so it's advisable to get that one first. One thing about this series is that it relies on as much dialogue as it does action. Zatoichi is a likable rogue, but he's not turned into a total scoundrel. If you're serious about collecting Japanese cinema, as well as good martial arts films, then the Zatoichi films are a must buy. Trivia Note: the one armed samurai in this film is played by Shintaru Katsu's real life brother-Kenzaburo Jo, who later took the name Tomisaburo Wakayama and went on to play the character Itto Ogami in the "Lone Wolf and Cub/Shogun Assassin" series.
Rating:
Summary: Quality Zatoichi
Review: Wow... I have all the Zatoichi movies on VHS and I have never seen quality transfer like this. Its extremely hard to transfer older movies like this to DVD because of the picture quality on the originals.... They did an awesome awesome job! The movie on top of that is just plain amazing as well.
If your looking at the review and wondering what Zatoichi is?
Well these are genre films. Very well put together with quality acting and wonderful cinematography for its time. The way that Shintaro Katsu can create a character is beyond the capabilities of 99% of the actors today. Well thats just my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: Top notch Ichi.
Review: Yet another good offerring in the Zatoichi series of films. About the only thing I can offer that I have not seen mentioned before in any of the reviews is that this one is a fair bit shorter than part one but it has quite a bit more action than the first. At any rate, and most importantly, if you liked the first, you will like the second as well as the rest of the recent releases on dvd( of which they are apparantly going to release the first seventeen films in the Zatoichi series.). Also, a company called animeigo has the rights to a few of the later Zatoichi films and are supposedly planning on releasing them in the near future as well.
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