Zatôichi (2003)

Also known as "Zatoichi (International English Title)"
Overall Score: 8 out of 10

a classic samurai epic

Starring: Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Ogusu, Yui Natsukawa, Guadalcanal Taka, Daigoro Tachibana, Yuko Daike, Ittoku Kishibe, Saburo Ishikura, Akira Emoto

Director: Takeshi Kitano

Running Time: 116 minutes

US MPAA rating: N/A
UK BBFC rating: 18
Action, Comedy, Drama

On DVD

On DVD

Takeshi 'Beat' Kitano is a director of many colours. The films for which he is best known in the West are his existential yakuza dramas ('Violent Cop', 'Boiling Point', 'Sonatine', 'Hana-Bi', 'Brother'), with their controlled pace and their sudden explosions of violence; but in his native Japan he is much better known as a stand-up comic, and he has also made some fine comic-melancholic films ('A Scene at the Sea', 'Kids Return', 'Kikujiro'); while the poetic sensibility always evident in the background of his films came right to the fore in

DVD Extras: Scene selection; choice of Dolby 5.1/2.0 stereo/dts; optional English subtitles; making-of documentary (40min) featuring behind-the-scenes footage for all the main set-pieces (including a helpful sub-titled commentary by Mark Bryant), interviews with Takeshi Kitano ("it's hard acting with your eyes closed", "comic scenes are indispensable", "traditional Japanese dance isn't very exciting"), Tadanobu Asano (on painful process of learning swordplay techniques), Yui Natsukawa (on fun atmosphere on set), Michiyo Ogusu ("this was a 'Zatoichi' for the 21st century")and Daigoro Tachibana (on difference between stage and screen acting), as well as footage of Kitano's rapturous reception at the 60th Venice International (where 'Zatoichi' won the Silver Lion); trailer; bios/filmographies of Kitano and Asano; stills gallery (divided into production stills/posters/behind-the-scenes). Extras: 6 out of 10

It's Got: Vengeance-seeking geisha siblings, bloody swordfights, lots of blind luck, and tap-dancing.

It Needs: A cataract operation.

Alternatives: 'Blind Fury', DareDevil, 'The Seven Samurai', any of the 26 previous Zatoichi films.

Summary: A rambunctiously entertaining, eccentric combination of superfast swordplay, knockabout humour and stylish surrealism. Overall Score: 8 out of 10

External Links

Official Web Site
Zatôichi at the IMDB

Comments

3 Comments

I like this film. It's handled the right way. It's a good thing I caught it at the Cinemanila Film Festival in my country this year, or else Kill Bill would have been the only bloody movie for me. Now here's my favorite.

Comment by:- o. | | 07 July 2004 | ip: logged

WTF a 8 for this movie what fool made this review this movie deserves a 9!!!!!
goooooood bye

Comment by:- alexander | | 14 September 2004 | ip: logged

The tap dancing scene at the end of the film was a real show stopper. I give this film a 9.

Comment by:- duke3000us | | 30 October 2005 | ip: logged