The blind swordsman movie videos for the full length movie and video clips on mefeedia. The tale of zatoichi released in 1962 would begin a 20 plus film franchise starring shintaro katus as the blind masseuse, gambler, and master swordsman. The colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. The zatoichi films totally revolutionized the martial arts film industry in hong kong. The blind swordsman 9 bluray deluxe set the colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. After a bloody mission to deliver a large sum of money. An itinerant blind masseur who also happens to be a lightningfast swordsman. Zatoichi the blind swordsman, 1989 check out zatoichi. Zatoichis conspiracy zatoichi at the blood fest 1974 rotten. Mar 31, 2016 a collection of some of the greatest moments from the world of zatoichi, the blind chinese man who uses a can opener to fight muslims. Hopefully, they gave the character a proper sendoff. The top movies of 1973 list is calculated by community movie ratings and members top movies list. So this film marks the 25th film in a period of 12 years. As a result, katsus zatoichi starred in no less than 26 films between 1962 and 1989 a.
Aug 16, 2017 the adventures of zatoichi the blind swordsman. He also encounters a boyhood friend, shinbei, who now is wealthy and appears not to remember zatoichi. Nov 14, 2016 on the road, zatoichi meets a dying pregnant woman and delivers the child moments before she passes. The criterion collections zatoichi the blind swordsman is an impressive set that presents the 25 films that debuted from 1962 to 1973 in the longestrunning action series in japanese cinema. This movie was followed by a television series consisting of four seasons and exactly one. In the 1960s he starred simultaneously in three longrunning series of films, the akumyo series, the hoodlum soldier series, and the zatoichi series.
Zatoichi shintaro katsu tetsugoro, boss rentaro mikuni tobei, constable hisaya morishige denjuro etsushi takahashi yae naoko otani seiji osamu sakai gunroku renji ishibashi dramatic performer kazutsuru tanabe. This criterion box set of all 25 of the early zatoichi movies is a bargain. The festival of fire, zatoichi meets the onearmed swordsman 1971, zatoichi at large 1972, zatoichi in desperation 1972, and zatoichi at the blood fest 1973, as zatoichi s conspiracy. The movies are on nine discs in a sturdy slipcase along with a small book covering the zatoichi movies. On the road, zatoichi meets a dying pregnant woman and delivers the child moments before she passes. In 1989, one last feature film aired on the big screen. It is his good heart that guides him to have such skills in the face. He switched to acting because he noticed it was better paid. I would rank zatoichi conspiracy higher than several of the earlier films in the series, but the japanese public must have had enough by this point.
Film editing by yoshiharu hayashi production design by seiichi oota assistant directors umeo minamino. Green berets ultralight bug out bag with gear recommendations duration. Zatoichi the blind swordsman the criterion collection. Zatoichi has no idea who this is but when he comes upon a small town harassed by gangsters, he finds that taichi was the mans young son. Honor bound, he sets out to find the nextofkin who he discovers have their own problems. The final 1989 film, zatoichi the blind swordsman is missing, possibly due to rights issues, as is the television series. In this japanese actioner, the brave blind swordsman zatoichi runs across a childhood comrade. Zatoichi at large was one of the very last movies released in the franchise. Zatoichi at large 1972 on the road, zatoichi meets a dying pregnant woman and delivers the child moments before she passes. Along his travels he also met a blind monk who makes zatoichi question his murderous lifestyle. It was released in the united states by toho international with english subtitles in september 1973.
See more ideas about the criterion collection, movies and popular. 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. Zatoichi the blind swordsman the criterion collection bluray. Frequently asked questions how many zatoichi films were made. The blind swordsman the criterion collection cover illustration. The 25th film was made in 1973, followed by a hiatus of 16 years until katsus last.
In an empire ruled by fear, the peoples only hope is the ultimate weapon. 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. This deluxe set features the string of twentyfive zatoichi films made between 1962 and 1973. In trying to help the town, zatoichi kills some gangsters and becomes a hero to the boy. Oct 27, 2015 zatoichi returns to his home village for the first time in over ten years to find much has changed and that corruption abounds. Sep 16, 2015 this list tries to track down not only the greatest, but also the most essential zatoichi films which brought this formula to live, tried to improve it or varied it intelligently. Watch zatoichi at large english subtitled prime video.
Digital restoration of all twentyfive films, with uncompressed monaural soundtracks. On the other hand, zatoichi at large, has all the same elements present in zatoichi in desperation, and yet not only does it work, it also pushes the quality of the zatoichi series up a notch or two. The quality for the first of these, from zatoichi at large 1972, is really bad too and even fades out and back in awkwardly meaning a film source was probably used. Zatoichi films is a thing of extraordinary beauty, and finally, it is mine. Zatoichi at large 1972 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
After the producers and directors in hong kong saw the first zatoichi film, they immediately ramped up the realism of their films. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. Zatoichi, the blind masseur and undefeatable swordsman, is caught in turf war between rival gangs, becomes a wanted man when he learns of a lords dangerous secret, returns home to discover his teacher has been working for kidnappers, and seeks vengeanceon a powerful ronin, dueling with his most skilled samurai. Shinbei seems to be interested in repaying the villagers debts. Things start off with zatoichi coming across a pregnant woman whod just been attacked. With 25 adventures of shintaro katsus famed blind, wandering swordsman zatoichi recently becoming available through both a remarkable criterion collection box set, and digitally via hulu plus, our team decided it was time to walk down the dusty roads of adventure and watch and discuss the entire legendary chanbara series. Top movies of 1973 list, best movies 1973 page 24 by.
Until 1973, no less than twentyfive entries were released. That includes yakuza gangsters, plenty of gambling, and usually a woman. Zatoichi comes across a pregnant woman dying from sword wounds and helps deliver her baby. The tale of zatoichi was released in japan on april 12, 1962. Zato is the lowest rank for a blind person and ichi is his name. Zatoichi the outlaw 1967, zatoichi meets yojimbo 1970, zatoichi at the fire festival 1970, as zatoichi. If you like zatoichi at large you are looking for atmospheric and semi serious movies about with samurai, martial arts, sword, adventure, gangsters, crimes and pregnancy themes of drama, action and adventure genre shot in japan. Zatoichi at large 1972 zatoichi the outlaw 1967 zatoichi at large 1972. The film summoned the most sequels of a samurai film. Zatoichi, the famed blind swordsman, returns to his home village for the first time in many years. The second half of the film is fast paced and has an interesting story. 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. 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.
The cue from zatoichi in desperation 1972 also sounds to be in slightly poor shape as well, which is rather unfortunate as the composer did some interesting work for the series. Capping off zatoichi s feature film era before he made the transition to television in 1974, this chapter is suffused with melancholy, closing the series on a note of seriousness and emotional heft that it has well earned. A 2003 film, zatoichi, was directed by takeshi kitano who also starred as. Zatoichi and the fugitives film complet vf, zatoichi and the fugitives streaming. Shintaro katsu appears on screen as zatoichi for the last time. All of the films are presented in their original aspect ratios of about 2. Zatoichi at large was released in japan on 15 january 1972 where it was distributed by toho. Being the kindhearted man zatoichi is, he sets our to find the babys next of kin.
This is a list of all the zatoichi movies starring shintaro katsu. Criterion films from the 70s page 2 list challenges. The last 6 films and the tv series were also produced by katsu productions. Japanese cult anti hero zatoichi is back in a swordfighting adventure written, directed and starring takeshi kitano. Zatoichi may be blind but that physical impairment doesnt stop him from being a master masseur and an even better swordsman. Zatoichi returns to his home village for the first time in over ten years to find much has changed and that corruption abounds. In japanese w english subtitles the blind swordsman continues on his journey and encounters a dying pregnant woman.
The first film introduces all the major elements that would be used in the following movies. Inventive and bold, this film shines with pristine picture and theaterquality sound on bluray disc. Chuji is a robin hoodstyle folklore figure who has starred in many chambara films and previously appeared in the flesh in zatoichi and the. It tells how zatoichi meets a dying pregnant woman on the road who got attacked and robbed by an unknown assailant. If you like the formula, every film will hold its share of great entertainment for you. Their confrontation is predictable, but zatoichi takes out a host of yakuza to eventually confront his childhood friend. Zatoichi at large is the twentythird entry in the japanese franchise about the blind masseur, skilled swordsman and lowly yakuza with a strong moral compass whose words speak louder than his actions. And while this child is the most obnoxious yet, the cast of characters we have to keep up with range from misfire the festival performers to engaging the widowed man. Zatoichi, zatoichi released in the us as the blind swordsman. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The films that feature him are variously pulsepounding, hilarious, stirring, and completely offthewall. Kazuo mori zatoichi goyotabi aka zatoichi at large 1972. Her last words were to take the baby to her father. Matt kindt zatoichi makes friends with a dangerous chess player, while fending off angry yakuza and bloodthirsty relatives out for revenge, and trying to save a sick child.
This 25th and last film is a great closure to the ichi character and portrays our ichi. The zatoichi the blind swordsman set ends with zatoichi s conspiracy 1973, but theres no sense of closure like a book as the character moved onto television from 1974 to 1979, and then katsu returned to the role one last time in zatoichi the blind swordsman 1989. He feels honorbound to find the childs family, and discovers they have problems. 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. Zatoichi at large, zatoichi goyotabi is a 1972 japanese film directed by kazuo mori. Fortunately, the superperceptive zatoichi soon takes care of him and his gang. The tale of zatoichi continues is the second entry in the popular, longrunning zatoichi series. Zatoichi is a 2003 japanese samurai dramaaction film, directed, written, coedited by and starring takeshi kitano beat takeshi in his 11th directorial venture. A list of 25 films compiled on letterboxd, including zatoichi goes to the fire festival 1970, zatoichi and the chest of gold 1964, zatoichi the fugitive 1963, fight, zatoichi, fight 1964 and zatoichi and the fugitives 1968. One of criterions bestever home video releases, zatoichi. Its interesting that the series pauses at this point.
In the 20 online coop game warframe, there is a katana stance called. Zatoichi takeshi kitano a blind, nomadic samurai whose sword has made him a hero and whose courage has made him a legend. Shintaro katsu began his career in entertainment as a shamisen player. Flickchart the 100 best detective films of all time. Its a story of greed and the story is being sown by zatoichi s childhood friend, who has returned to the village at the same time as zatoichi. Zatoichi s conspiracy msmichel the final film of the original series is a solid entry that broke no new ground but did provide one of the best fight sequences in the entire saga. The first 20 films were produced and distributed by daiei film except for the 16th film zatoichi the outlaw and the 20th film zatoichi meets yojimbo which were produced by shintaro katsus own company, katsu productions, and distributed theatrically by daiei. The film has been released under alternate titles, including the blind swordsman on a mission. He is befriended by omiyo, who had the same wetnurse as zatoichi. He helps her deliver her baby before she passes away. The blind swordsman box set gets our highest recommendation and damn well deserves it.
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