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Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman [The Criterion Collection #679]

Posted By: Someonelse
Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman [The Criterion Collection #679]

Zatoichi the Fugitive (1963) + Zatoichi on the Road (1963)
DVD9 | VIDEO_TS | NTSC 16:9 | 01:27:42 + 01:26:09 | 7,77 Gb
Audio: Japanese AC3 1.0 @ 384 Kbps | Subtitles: English
Genre: Action, Adventure | The Criterion Collection #679



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Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman [The Criterion Collection #679]

Zatoichi the Fugitive (1963)
2,35:1 | in Japanese with English Subs | 01:26:09

Director: Tokuzô Tanaka
Stars: Shintarô Katsu, Miwa Takada, Masayo Banri

The legendary blind warrior discovers love and money have created divided alliances in this classic samurai film. After defeating a angry stranger he meets along the road, blind nomad Zatoichi (Shintaro Katsu) learns that a bounty is being offered for his head; despite the danger to himself, Zatoichi visits the mother of his victim and offers to help support her. As Zatoichi tries to find out why a price is being offered for his life, he discovers a community has been torn apart by violent feuding from rival bands of criminals – and that one of the bloodthirsty killers who has been drawn to this ugly contest is now the husband of Gajuro, a woman he once loved. Will Zatoichi fight to free his love, or will he search out the man who wants him dead?



Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman [The Criterion Collection #679]

MASSEUR ICHI, THE FUGITIVE (1963) is the fourth in the series of Japanese swordplay films devoted to the exploits of Zatoichi, the blind swordsman whose super-hearing and sensitivity enabled him to perform impressive feats of derring-do. This entry is somewhat slower-paced and less action-packed than would become the norm in later Zatoichi films (which would continue to be produced through 1973). There is only one major swordfight, near the very end, but at least it's a spectacular one, with Zatoichi (Shintaro Katsu) slashing opponents right, left, front and back, although the spurting bloodshed which would soon become a distinct feature of samurai films is noticeably absent here. Zatoichi himself is also considerably less superhuman than he appears in later films.

Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman [The Criterion Collection #679]

Instead, the emphasis is Zatoichi's role as mediator in a conflict between gang bosses in a town he is visiting solely to pay respects to the mother of a gang member he'd killed who'd been seeking the ten gold coin bounty on Zatoichi's head. The complex interrelationships among the characters center chiefly around two young women, one of them a former lover of Zatoichi's who is now the wife of a sword-for-hire seeking to sell his services to one of the wily bosses. Zatoichi sides with the underdog, Sakichi, who'd reluctantly inherited his father's territory but would rather marry the other young woman, Onobu (Miwa Takada), the pretty young daughter of the innkeeper, a once-powerful gang boss bearing a powerful grudge because he'd lost his territory to Sakichi's father. The gang bosses pressure the vulnerable Sakichi to use Zatoichi's trust to set a trap for him. The stage is then set for a series of confrontations that culminate in the final battle.

Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman [The Criterion Collection #679]

It may be slow going for most action and swordplay buffs, but it has a formal beauty that later films in the series dispensed with in favor of more visceral thrills. The polished camerawork, largely on location, gives us stately compositions focused on the characters and their relationships. A sparing score by venerated composer Akira Ifukube adds a touch of class. Samurai films of the time routinely boasted such visual and aural elegance long before the audience demanded more bloodshed and a more excessive approach in later films (see, especially, the "Lone Wolf and Cub" series).
IMDB Reviewer
Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman [The Criterion Collection #679]


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Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman [The Criterion Collection #679]

Zatoichi on the Road (1963)
2,35:1 | in Japanese with English Subs | 01:27:42

Director: Kimiyoshi Yasuda
Stars: Shintarô Katsu, Shiho Fujimura, Ryûzô Shimada

In this Japanese actioner a sightless swordsman and masseur living in feudal Japan begins working for a feudal lord preparing to battle his enemy. The swordsman is en route to his new employers when he is set upon by three of the enemy's men. The blind fellow's companion is killed, but he is able to hold his own and kill the raiders. He then listens to the request of a dying man and escorts a young woman to the home of her parents. She is kidnapped, but by using his super-sensitive powers of perception the swordsman saves her. More battle ensues, but in the end he gets the girl safely to her home.



This being the fifth entry in the Zatoichi series, the series has taken on an expected form. Once again, Zatoichi finds himself in the middle of a gang war and tries to do the right thing. The right thing in this case is to spirit a young maiden back to safety in Edo and away from a rapacious samurai.

Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman [The Criterion Collection #679]

Zatoichi is firmly in control in this entry of the series. This is not always the case. But here, Zatoichi is comfortable, confident, and intimidating. Both gangs treat Ichi with the utmost respect (at least to his face) because of his fighting prowess. This fact is punctuated in the scene where Ichi tries to get the gang war started by asking the other side to send up a challenger to fight one on one. There are no takers!

Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman [The Criterion Collection #679]

The young maiden is lovely Mitsu (Shiho Fujimura). It's easy to see how Ichi falls for this cute, helpless maiden. Although in the end, Ichi doesn't think he is good enough for her, because she is the daughter of a wealthy merchant.

Each good entry in the series has one or two scenes which are unforgettable. For me, the dragonfly scene in On the Road is unforgettable. A lovely moment of a spring day turns suddenly violent for only a few seconds and then peace is restored. How many times do we see villains leap at Zatoichi when he has fallen or is on the ground? That turns out to be a fatal mistake!

Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman [The Criterion Collection #679]

Overall it's a good entry in the series. It's good to see Ichi get some respect and the love of a charming lady. It's sad to see him march off by himself at the end of the film. Why Zatoichi, why?
IMDB Reviewer
Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman [The Criterion Collection #679]

Special Features: None

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