This film is one of this year’s best martial arts/action visual spectacle which you will see. In recent times, the Far East has come up with some of the most visually imaginative films, from ’’The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’’ to ’’The Hero’’.
Over the weekend I was relaxing, after another tough racquetball tournament. Packing the ice over the sore right shoulder and sipping a Sam Adams lager, the phone rang. Long story short, it was my cousin from California and he told me to check out, ’’Zatoichi’’, a Japanese Samurai film, filled with innovative action scenes. I rented the DVD and believe me, any person who likes action or not, can watch this flick. However 2 things to note before I go forward, one the film is in Japanese with English subtitles. Second is there are some really violent scenes, with some gore.
Background
Zatoichi is the hero of many eponymous films over 2 decades in Japan in the 60’s and beyond.
Recently, inventive Japanese actor/director Takeshi Kitano decided to make his version of the classic character. However he wrote an original story, new characters and a very distinct cinematographic presentation.
The Plot
Zatoichi is a blind masseur. But he is also one of the most deadliest swordsman and an amateur gambler. He has got great instinct and reflexes. He comes to a small village, in the late 1800’s, which is ruled with an iron fist by Ginzo. Ginzo hires the expert Ronin Hattori as his bodyguard.(For the people who have’nt seen De niro’s film or do not know Japanese, Ronin is a Masterless Samurai warrior, or a warrior for hire).
Zatoichi meets with a few interesting characters including two Geishas, seeking revenge for the murder of their family. As Ginzo tightens his stranglehold of the village, he and his men come to the inevitable showdown with Zatoichi. On one hand you have the master Samurai Hattori, an ultimate warrior and on the other Zatoichi, seeking vengeance.
My Take
The story is kind of a simple vigilante plus tragic revenge story. But the screenplay and presentation of the film is what sets this film apart. For one the setting, this is a period peice around a time when Samurais were coming to the end of their reign. The grisly mayhem, which Kitano creates, is mixed with some poignant scenes involving flashbacks of some of the major characters.
Kitano who like Chow Yun Fat, has been linked with the more traditional Japanese/Asian gangster mob films with guns, makes a very graceful transformation into this period action film. The major characters, like the mob boss seeking domination, are well written. The flashback of the 2 Geishas trying to win over the help of Zatoichi is excellently shot. The kids who play the Geishas in the flashback, show some amazing poise.
The scenes at the gambling house, with the blind Zatoichi and the inveterate gambler Shinkichi are hilarious. However the main coup-d’etat is brought by Hattori the Samurai who’s wife is terminally ill. As the primary antagonist seeking his destiny with Zatoichi, Hattori steals all the scenes he is in. His grim brooding presence with smouldering anger inside is terrific. He has got some real terrific action scenes where goes after the enemies of Ginzo, especially the battle in the open fields.
Takeshi Kitano as Zatoichi has carried the film. As the silver blonde haired, slightly stooped old blind man with the ominous red cane containing his sword, Zatoichi is magnetic. He doesn’t appear in all the scenes, but he carries any scene he is in, be it action or comedy or drama.
The Action Scenes
For anyone who has seen films like ’’Kill Bill Vol 1& 2 ’’ or ’’ Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’’, know that a distinctive action style is key. Here in Zatoichi, the action scenes are dynamic, lightning quick. Rather than jump on to long drawn action scenes with CGI graphics, wire drawn stunts, here the action is very realistic and in blinding speed, with the lazer flows of the Samurai sword it is brutal. The violence is excellently shot, however it is gory in places.(Dont tell me I did’nt warn you !!)
But the action coupled with excellent story-telling makes this one of this year’s must watch films and why it was so highly acclaimed.
Cast
Takeshi Kitano .... Zatoichi/Ichi (as Beat Takeshi)
Tadanobu Asano .... Hattori Genosuke
Michiyo Ookusu .... Aunt O-Ume
Gadarukanaru Taka .... Shinkichi
Daigorô Tachibana .... Geisha O-Sei
Yuuko Daike .... Geisha O-Kinu
Yui Natsukawa .... O-Shino, Hattori’s Wife
Ittoku Kishibe .... Ginzo
For more info:
URL: https://zatoichi.co.uk
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