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Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 8 - Fight, Zatoichi, Fight

Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 8 - Fight, Zatoichi, Fight

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This is my favorite of the Zatoichi Movies I've seen
Review: -
Usually on Saturdays I catch the Samurai feature (or at least part of it) on IFC while I eat my lunch. While I love Zatoichi movies (I have about 7 on tape and DVD respectively) usually I can't focus on both the subtitles and my lunch at the same time so I usually flip to TBS so I can hear a movie rather than try to read and eat.

This time however I caught Fight, Zatoichi, Fight and was completely enthralled. Any good Zatoichi fan worth their salt doesn't just like the character and the movies because he is a total badarse with his cane sword...it is because he is completely human at the same time. He is fallible and is often more prey to his own emotions than to the regular old scheming Yakuza or ornery samurai warrior. This movie has all the things you like about Zatoichi films. The drama, the emotion, the butt-kicking, the humor. This movie yo-yoed my face like you wouldn't believe...at times I was laughing while the next minute I was feeling quite sad...or heck, even touched. Do you know how hard it is for someone like me to say that?

Anyway, if you like Zatoichi movies, or any movies whatsoever...this is a great one to watch.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: My New Favorite
Review: Having watched these films for the last five years or so, I can't believe I missed this one. It is now my favorite of all the Masseur Ichi films.

Our hero's relationship with the baby he is protecting is very touching. And I love the humor in this one, especially when he does the pseudo-breastfeeding to try to calm the crying child. Ichi's expressions in that scene are priceless. I was also touched by his inability to sleep (because of his protectiveness toward the child) even after he has paid a woman to look after the baby so he can finally get some sleep.

My favorite scene of this film is the gambling one, where Ichi exposes the dice fraud, helping the other underdogs win too. I am again impressed by the lack of gore in this movie, just as I am with the other Zatoichi films. The storyline is classic and well-done. I definitely recommend this one.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Beautiful cinematography; Amazing Choreography
Review: The over 20 films Zatoichi films comprise arguably the most beautiful film series ever made. Every frame is a work of art.
If you like moral ambiguity look elsewhere. The plots are simple but classic fables (i.e.: "fabulous"). Zatoichi, the humble blind masseur, is a 15th century Columbo amiably bumbling along, and is played with great skill by Shintaro Katsu in all films. But when a band of villains threatens some damsel, watch out, as Zatoichi pulls the sword from inside his walking cane. Blind but sensing all movement around him, he becomes a whirling dervish of lethal steel. No villain ever survives, though actual blood is rarely seen.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Beautiful cinematography; Amazing Choreography
Review: The over 20 films Zatoichi films comprise arguably the most beautiful film series ever made. Every frame is a work of art.
If you like moral ambiguity look elsewhere. The plots are simple but classic fables (i.e.: "fabulous"). Zatoichi, the humble blind masseur, is a 15th century Columbo amiably bumbling along, and is played with great skill by Shintaro Katsu in all films. But when a band of villains threatens some damsel, watch out, as Zatoichi pulls the sword from inside his walking cane. Blind but sensing all movement around him, he becomes a whirling dervish of lethal steel. No villain ever survives, though actual blood is rarely seen.


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