Since then, with the cute but cloying kikujiro, the entertaining but. Sep 30, 2011 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. All 17 takeshi kitano movies ranked from worst to best. Watch zatoichi, the blind swordsman 1989 movie videos for the full length movie and video clips on mefeedia. Zatoichi zatoichi 2003 31 subtitles downloaded 1214 times. Zatoichi embodies the kinds of contradictory elements that make takeshi kitano japans most intriguing contemporary actordirector. Zatoichi, the blind swordsman 1989 movie full length. It is his good heart that guides him to have such skills in the face. A list of 26 films compiled on letterboxd, including the tale of zatoichi 1962, the tale of zatoichi continues 1962, new tale of zatoichi 1963, zatoichi the fugitive 1963 and zatoichi on the road 1963. See more of japanese film online with english subtitles on facebook. 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. Zatoichi at larges audio presentation, which is the original japanese audio track, is about on par with animeigos other titles.
He plays, as usual, a man with an impassive face, few words, and sudden bursts of action that end in a few seconds. Nov 25, 20 not every zatoichi film qualifies as great cinema, but even when the series falters a bit, every single one of these films is still well worth your time. Distribution of these films was done by dainichi eihai zatoichi goes to the fire festival, zatoichi meets the onearmed swordsman, toho zatoichi at large which toho also coproduced with katsu productions, zatoichi in desperation, and zatoichi at the blood fest, and shochiku which released katsus last zatoichi film in 1989. The longestrunning 26 films and most successful series in japanese film history featured an unlikely hero, the blind masseur and gambler, zatoichi. Zatoichi at large is a 1972 japanese film directed by kazuo mori. Primarily for my own reference as i make my way through the films but may be useful to others also taking the. At first this plays like a typical zatoichi running gag of kids picking on the blind man, but later we learn who the belligerent little boy is and the rationale behind his grudge against ichi. He paints the moving tale in poetic images of nature, energetic tracking shots and deeply saturated colors. With shintaro katsu, rentaro mikuni, hisaya morishige, etsushi takahashi. But for a matinee idol, he receives a decidedly modest introduction. Sep 16, 2015 zatoichi and the chest of gold was the first zatoichi film shot by brillant cinematographer kazuo miyagawa cameraman, for example, on rashomon. Beat takeshi kitano directs and plays the title role in this tribute to the wildly popular blind swordsman of japanese. After being recruited by the oyabun sukegoro eijiro yanagi, he befriends ronin hirate miki shigeru amachi who is suffering from tuberculosis. Zatoichi and the fugitives season 1, episode 18 080968 zatichi confronts a corrupt police official and an outlaw gang to free a young woman enslaved in a silk mill.
He feels honorbound to find the childs family, and discovers they have problems. Zatoichi at large the 1972 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. Zatoichi 1989 stream and watch online after his release from jail, a lone warrior shintaro katsu becomes caught up in a bloody war between rival yakuza clans. Zatoichi is a masterfullymade, highly entertaining film. Zatoichi comes across a pregnant woman dying from sword wounds and helps deliver her baby. Mar 10, 2017 zatoichi is a criticallyacclaimed recent entry in a decadeslong japanese media franchise, but i regrettably found it to be rather poor, with limp, meandering pacing and fun yet uninteresting. Blind zatoichi makes his living by gambling and giving massages. Unfortunately, they are fighting on opposing sides. From here, the film evolves into one of the wilder rides in the zatochi series, including such quirky touches as a mysterious child who follows ichi and pelts him with rocks, monkey performances, and an unexpectedly hilarious take on the ronin. Honor bound, he sets out to find the nextofkin who he discovers have their own problems. The darkness is his ally 16 years after zatoichis conspiracy, effectively the final film in the series, and a decade after the tv series that followed, shintaro katsu returned to the character as both director and star in a twilight sequel as the final word on the.
The operators of this scam are played by reiji shoji and utae shoji, a popular comedy team who also make a cameo as the quarreling innkeepers in zatoichi goes to the fire festival. Also known by the alternate titles zatoichi the blind swordsman or zatoichi. Between 1962 and 1974 there were 25 zatoichi films made. The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by novelist kan shimozawa. Masseur ichi enters again, the blind swordsmans return is the third film in the series. There are japanese pop culture references throughout and spoofs of many films including ghostbusters, the fly, ultraman, lone wolf and cub and zatoichi.
The colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. This second zatoichi film picks up the pace, featuring bigger action. Later theres a proper dice game scene distinguished by a sultry female dealer. The zatoichi series has long been an entry point for nonjapanese into japanese films. On the road, zatoichi meets a dying pregnant woman and delivers the child moments before she passes. Director kenji misumi made every scene look like a panel of manga, misumi, took its time with every scene, he never rush any conversation, he let the film breath so i could admire the beautiful black and white cinematography that outdoors. 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 tale of zatoichi is the introduction to zatoichi, a blind yakuza swordsman with a code of honor.
This criterion box set of all 25 of the early zatoichi movies is a bargain. Guys from bonn to buenos aires who nod off after 10 minutes of yasujiro ozus tokyo monogatari. Both are set during the late edo period 1830s and 1840s. An exciting and surprisingly emotional first chapter in the 20 plus entry long filmic saga of zatoichi, the blind swordsman. The sixteenth zatoichi film is the first effort from its stars own katsu. In japanese w english subtitles the blind swordsman continues on his journey and encounters a dying pregnant woman. Nanny mcphee and the big bang 2010 online subtitrat hd. Zatoichi is a criticallyacclaimed recent entry in a decadeslong japanese media franchise, but i regrettably found it to be rather poor, with limp, meandering pacing and fun yet uninteresting. A final, sort of anniversary, revisionist zatoichi film was made in 1989. Expertly portrayed by shintaro katsu for well over a decade, the zatoichi character became an instant favorite with this, the very first installment. Zatoichi is no retread of past glories its his first period film, set in the 19th century but it restores the sublime mix of introspection and stillness interspersed with brief, bloody. Zatoichi tv series, zatoichi 25 film criterion collection. Being the kindhearted man zatoichi is, he sets our to find the babys next of kin.
Nanny mcphee and the big bang online subtitrat nanny mcphee. Add to that a successful television series, and, obviously, with that many hours of entertainment devoted to one character, what was created was nothing less than a. Does not include remakes and other similarly related films, just the original film series. Zatoichi finds himself in a small village a village caught in a gang war where he befriends a farmer and her nephew. Watch zatoichi at large full movie in hd visit movie 54284 blind masseur and master swordsman zatoichi finds a robbed and fatally. The blind swordsman box set gets our highest recommendation and damn well deserves it. Zatoichi at large 1972 full movie download full hd youtube.
A list of the zatoichi films in chronological order. Refine see titles to watch instantly, titles you havent rated, etc. The last 2010 unclassified shingo katori, takashi sorimachi, satomi ishihara, mike han director. A total of 26 films were made from 1962 to 1989, and then there was also beat takeshis zatoichi in 2003 and zatoichi. Zatoichi at large, zatoichi goyotabi is a 1972 japanese film directed by kazuo mori. May 14, 2010 the zatoichi series has long been an entry point for nonjapanese into japanese films. The movies are on nine discs in a sturdy slipcase along with a small book covering the zatoichi movies. Not every zatoichi film qualifies as great cinema, but even when the series falters a bit, every single one of these films is still well worth your time. 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. 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. However, behind this humble facade, he is a master swordsman gifted with a lightningfast draw and breathtaking precision.
Zatoichi at large 1972 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. I had seen this before, but revisiting it to kick off a marathon of every film in the series, i was reminded of just how well made and especially well shot and performed this was. In another example of life imitating art in kitanos films, he would go on to direct a zatoichi film 8 years later. See more ideas about samurai, movies and japanese film. Japanese film online with english subtitles posts facebook. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a fictional character featured in one of japans longestrunning series of films, as well as a television series. Zatoichi may be blind but that physical impairment doesnt stop him from being a master masseur and an even better swordsman. In his first adventure, zatoichi finds himself caught in the middle of a turf war between two yakuza clans. It was released in the united states by toho international with english subtitles in september 1973. This means that there is nothing inherently wrong with it, unless one is expecting a great stereo experience. A list of the 25 original films with shintaro katsu from 1962 to 1973 and the 5 contemporary remakes, including the unaffiliated american film. Zatoichi at large s audio presentation, which is the original japanese audio track, is about on par with animeigos other titles. The tale of zatoichi 1962, zatoichi monogatari story. It was the 23rd film in the zatoichi film series and the first distributed by toho, while all others were distributed by daiei.