The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (2004)
Much better than a swift kick in the Crouch.
Starring: |
Takeshi Kitano
|
Released In: |
2004 |
Rated: |
R |
Reviewed By: |
Adam Mast |
Grade: |
B |
God bless Japan. No one can make a martial arts adventure quite like them. They have a flow and tone about them that very few American film makers have been able to duplicate. In Zatoichi, writer/director/actor Takeshi Kitano brings legendary Zatoichi back to the big screen (this character hadn't appeared in a film since 1989) in a vibrant, musical, blood-soaked ball of
cinematic fury.
Kitano is Zatoichi, a blind swordsman/warrior who finds himself engaged in battle when he enters a small town to find it run by ruthless villains. Now just because Zatoichi is blind, makes him no less a master of steel and he
proves his worth through numerous breathtaking sword fighting sequences which left me awestruck.
For those of you familiar with this character, I'm probably describing something that you're already well aware of. This legendary swordsman is all new to me and upon doing research, I discovered that many silly movies I saw years back were inspired by this character including that dopey Rutger Hauer movie Blind Fury.
The sword fights on display in this Zatoichi film are impressive even though several slice em' up dice em' up moments smacked of CGI. This hardly matters however, for Kitano's timing and kinetic pacing make most of the action here
more than worth it. I especially liked a sequence in which a fight ensues on a rocky creek edge. As victims fall to their deaths, their blood is washed down the rocks and into the water by the falling rain. While violent, there is also something very poetic about the fashion in which these action sequences are staged.
What's more, the unexpected musical numbers that pop up in this picture are extraordinary, particularly the show stopping finale.
Kitano's performance is a beautifully nuanced one. He comes across as unassuming, but the second he springs into action, I bought every minute of it. He's absolutely enthralling. Kitano is assisted by an outstanding technical crew that bring this colorful world to life, most notably his editor and cinematographer.
Zatoichi is the ultimate tale of good vs. evil, but more than anything it was just an enjoyable time at the movies.
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