Zatoichi

One type of film that always seems to entertain is the martial arts flick. Whether it is a highly polished artistically sublime piece of art or something intended for s broken down neighborhood grind houses these movies brings out the kid in all of us. The action, intrigue and yes, just a touch of romance makes these movies extremely satisfying to watch. It is not just the action that defies gravity breaking most of the laws of nature but the stories typically based on themes that speaks directly the core of what makes us human; power, loyalty, honor and dedication. Even the villains are frequently bound to an ancient, unbreakable code of conduct. In some ways this is similar to one of the attractions that audiences have with classic films about organized crime. The ‘Blind Swordsman series not only contains all the elements of the traditional Martial arts movie but add something extra for the audiences to cheer; Zatoichi, a protagonist who kicks butt blind. Rooting for the underdog is not only an American tradition it tends to have universal appeal. The film considered here, Zatoichi, is typical of all the installments in the series but there is nothing routine about it. There is a drive here that is captivating. The story is engrossing, able to pull the viewer in even apart from the world class action. This is not only one of the best films in its genre I have seen in quite some time it is one of the better movies across the broad to come around in a long time. When you add to the quality displayed in the craftsmanship of the film the fact that it is released in Blu-ray the high definition audio and video makes this edition something worth watching. It is more than passively viewing the movie; you will experience it as a complete sensory treat.

‘Zatoichi: the Blind swordsman’ is one of the longest running and most successful action franchises in Japan encompassing some 26 films and over one hundred television episodes. Set in the turbulent Edo period of Japanese history; an era as rich in story telling potential as our old West, this franchise never disappoints its many fans. The film reviewed here is a big budget reboot of the series and retains every bit of the excitement as the original. One aspect of the production is Takeshi Kitano returning for his eleventh time in this illustrious, career defining role. The original novels that started this trend came from Kan Shimosawa and are converted to the screen here by Takeshi Kitano, who also directs and stars. This does give him far more in the way of experience than most of the film makers in this genre. He is a true renaissance man with talent running the gamut from acting to writing, direction, editing and cinematography. One of the many honorifics applied to Kitano is being compared to the famed auteur Akira Kurosawa. In his work as an actor you might recognize his nom de voyage, Beat Takeshi. The story has a foundation that reverberates through much of Japanese cinema; the lone stranger protecting the innocent peasants from the fearful grip of a group of ruthless gangsters. In this tale wandering expert swordsman, Zatoichi happens upon a small community caught in the middle of a Yakuza gang war. The mobsters are demanding exorbitant amounts of extortion from the honest workers making them fear for their lives. Zatoichi befriends a local woman who owns a small famer along with her nephew, a hapless gambler. Zatoichi eventually agrees to help a strange pair of geisha that happen to be a young woman, Okino (Yuko Daike), and her transvestite brother, Osei (Daigoro Tachibana). They have been harboring a grudge for ten years seeking revenge for the murder of their family.

At times the plot comes across a bit too thickly formulated and dense but with the stylized action more than makes up for it. This is greatly enhanced by the cool demeanor projected by Zatoichi. In some respects he is then Asian counterpart to Clint Eastward’s famous ‘Man with no name’ character. Initially he looks like anyone that just breezed into town but he is not an ordinary drifter; he lives by a strong code of ethics and has the lethal moves to back it up. In the face of extreme danger he retains his unshakable collected façade. The juxtaposition of his platinum locks and red cape his short sword flashes out making quick work of any foeman that opposes him.

With the judicious use of period costumes and exception cinematography featuring the landscape the film is visually stunning. This aspect is very evident with this Blu-ray edition. The color palette is brilliant and perfectly balanced. The audio provides a sweeping soundstage that envelopes the viewer completely.

Posted 06/29/2010