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. Zatoichi, having been honor bound to protect the man and his family, must now run against the law. This is the fourth entry in the series by director kenji misumi, the man who directed the inaugral zatoichi film as well as the lone wolf and cub series. Saddled with one of the series more arcane plots, zatoichi challenged makes up for it by looking absolutely stunning. If you thought messing with a lions cub was a bad idea, just wait until you mess with a kid under zatoichis protection. Of the original zatoichi films, this is probably my second favorite film. Zatoichi challenged 1967 stream and watch online moviefone. Zatoichi is a criticallyacclaimed recent entry in a decadeslong japanese media franchise, but i regrettably found it to be rather poor, with limp, meandering pacing and fun yet uninteresting. While there really isnt any gambling in the film, there is a nice sequence where ichi has to guess. Charles bronson death wish all 5 films every shot fired in chronological order duration. The film was followedup with the tale of zatoichi continues in 1962. I was put off by a musical number near the beginningvery 1960s.
I will not give them away, but both are satisfying in a unique way. While staying at an inn, ichi shares a room with a sick woman and her child, ryota. With shintaro katsu, jushiro konoe, miwa takada, yukiji asaoka. This movie would later be adapted into the rutger hauer film blind fury, a truly mediocre film that had to really stretch to come up with situations where a swordsman would be of any use in the modern world.
The director is wellpracticed in bringing together than many established elements required for a zatoichi film and has never bluntly thrown them together out of necessity in any of his entries. Released 1967, zatoichi challenged stars shintaro katsu, miwa takada, mikiko tsubouchi, jushiro konoe the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 26 min, and received a score of out of 100 on. After arriving in the town, ichi finds out that the father has been forced by a local boss to create illegal pornography to pay off his gambling debts. Despite the bizarre mix of ingredients, it all looks like the simple result of kitanos boisterous mission to entertain by any means necessary. A list of the 25 original films with shintaro katsu from 1962 to 1973 and the 5 contemporary remakes, including the unaffiliated american film. The story behind the boys father is rather interesting as a glimpse into japanese. Determined to bring father and son together, zatoichi pits his skills against the gangsters and a ronin who is not entirely what.
In an empire ruled by fear, the peoples only hope is the ultimate weapon. Zatoichi tries to unrest the mob rule over a small village all while the gang leaders bodyguard is actually the yojimbo, secretly taking the gang down from the inside. If you like the formula, every film will hold its share of great entertainment for you. The final fight in this film is beautifully filmed and is among one of the best i have ever seen. Zatoichi s spurting blood road is the seventeenth film in the series. In this movie, zatoichi shares a room with a dying mother and her child. 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.
Add to that a successful television series and a current remake by beat takashi, and, obviously, with t zatoichi the blind swordsman, vol. After an artist is threatened by the yakuza into creating valuable but highly illegal pornography, the law aims to execute him. Ichis opponent is also his friend, a tubercular samurai who wants to check out with style but needs a little help from the. Fight, zatoichi, fight, zatoichi kesshotabi is a 1964 japanese chambara film directed by kenji misumi and starring shintaro katsu as the blind masseur zatoichi. The 1989 film blind fury featuring rutger hauer as a blind swordsman in contemporary america is based on zatoichi challenged 1967, the 17th film in the series of 26. The tale of zatoichi was released in japan on april 12, 1962. Register so you can access movie recommendations tailored to your movie taste. It was originally released by the daiei motion picture company later acquired by kadokawa pictures. Promising her that he will hand over her baby to its father, the blind masseur embarks on an adventure both sentimental and beset by perilous action. The film is a revival of the classic zatoichi series of samurai film and television dramas.
Using his lightning sword, zatoichi takes on the crime boss in a relentless blend of action, violence, and comedy that makes zatoichi challenged one of the best in the longrunning series. Older, wiser but still a wandering loner, the blind, peaceloving masseur ichi seeks a peaceful life in a rural village. This scene is from the tale of zatoichi, the first film in the series. Zatoichi may avoid stepping in a pile of shit, but still gets pissed in the face in this, the 8th part in the story about zatoichi.
The series has also had wide spread influences on nonjapanese films. One of the high definition channels we get is the kung fu channel. Refine see titles to watch instantly, titles you havent rated, etc. The blind swordsman movie videos for the full length movie and video clips on mefeedia. It is very gratifying to see zatoichi in a fatherly role. If you thought messing with a lions cub was a bad idea, just wait until you mess with a kid under zatoichi s protection. Fight, zatoichi, fight 1964 letterboxd your life in film. In zatoichi challenged that foil is a child on the road with ichi. Shintaro katsu appears on screen as zatoichi for the last time. Zaotichi agrees to take the boy to his far away father. Even though few films are as predictable as a zatoichi, this one unravels a little differently with both subplots. Thats the simple premise behind this classic episode directed by top zatoichi sensei kenji misumi, who always does the best chambara movies starring kids see also fight, zatoichi, fight and lone wolf and cub. The iconic mysterious stranger that always appears at the start and end of zatoichi films has a larger.
An itinerant blind masseur who also happens to be a lightningfast swordsman. When hes caught in the middle of a power struggle between two rival yakuza clans, his reputation as a deadly defender of the innocent is put to the ultimate test in a series. Zatoichi 2003 film in 2003, takeshi kitano wrote, directed and appeared in a new highbudget zatoichi film, called simply zatoichi zatoichi. Its an above average episode which is entertaining from start to finish. One of the best zatoichi films but not similar to the others.
Tangled sea1epis4 \\challenge of the brave full streaming english. Coming attractions for you 2020s most anticipated movies. They were generally light hearted affairs with little sprinklings of darker subject matter. But when the son and father meet, zatoichi finds out that the father has been forced to work for gangsters. The colours are bright and crisp and full advantage is taken of the panavision lens. In this scene from zatoichi challenged 1967, one of my favorites in the series, a kabuki performance troupe zatoichi is traveling with is bullied by a yakuza bosss henchman. This pairing elicits just the right combination of emotion and personality from the blind swordsman, giving his character added depth and feel. Her dying wish is that ichi take her son to his father, an artist living in a nearby town.
Zatichi reunites a father and son, but now he must take on the fathers new boss a local yakuza leader. The third zatoichi film, and the first in color, the new tale of zatoichi is packed with action and some great battle scenes and displays of zatoichi s drawing skills as he splits more candles in. A loose sequel film to katsus zatoichi with a female protagonist, ichi, was released in 2008. Mar 10, 2017 zatoichi is a criticallyacclaimed recent entry in a decadeslong japanese media franchise, but i regrettably found it to be rather poor, with limp, meandering pacing and fun yet uninteresting. I would give all of them about the same score of a 7 or an 8with a few exceptions the return of the original in 1989 was a terrible and depressing movie, while the new zatoichi movie starring beat takeshi is probably the best of any zatoichi movies. If you like this film i would suggest looking into katsus oshi samurai series which continues the atmosphere. And in fight, zatoichi, fight zatoichi goes lone wolf and cub on us while trying to avoid all the people he has pissed off the previous films. Still while being honorable, funny and a ladys man. Zatoichi takeshi kitano a blind, nomadic samurai whose sword has made him a hero and whose courage has made him a legend. The film summoned the most sequels of a samurai film.
A dying woman begs zatoichi to reunite her son with the father he has never met, but when the blind masseur searches for the man, he discovers that he has been forced by a local yakuza boss to pay off his gambling debts in an unusual way. Zatoichi, zatoichi released in the us as the blind swordsman. Ichi takes a road trip with a young boy named ryota after promising the boys dying mother to escort him to his father. Determined to bring father and son together, zatoichi pits his skills against the gangsters and a ronin who is not entirely what he seems. Zatoichi challenged is not the best installment, but it is a good one without question, is. It has a great story and great acting and some of the best martial art weapons action you will ever see.
However, the movie quickly settles into an engaging plot. A dying woman begs zatoichi to reunite her son with the father he has never met, but when the masseur searches for the man, he discovers that he has been forced by a local yakuza boss to pay off his gambling debts in an unusual way. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a fictional character featured in one of japans longestrunning series of films and a television series that are both set during the late edo period 1830s and 1840s. Cinema bushido zatoichi challenged vs blind fury by matthew whitaker. 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. It was originally released by the daiei motion picture company later acquired by kadokawa pictures zatoichi challenged is the seventeenth episode in the 26part film series devoted to the character of. This eighth zatoichi feature is an excellent showcase for star shintaro katsu, who evinces an extraordinary physical and emotional range as the blind. Fight, zatoichi, fight 1964 the criterion collection. The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by novelist kan shimozawa this originally minor character was developed for the screen by daiei film now kadokawa daiei studio. Add in another great score from akira ifukube and youve got one of the best of the zatoichi.
Zatoichi challenged, zatoichi chikemurikaido is a 1967 japanese chambara film directed by kenji misumi and starring shintaro katsu as the blind masseur zatoichi. Zatoichi challenged is the seventeenth entry in the japanese franchise about the blind masseur, skilled swordsman and lowly yakuza. Inventive and bold, this film shines with pristine picture and theaterquality sound on bluray disc. The colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. Reviewed in the united states on december 28, 2007. A dying woman begs zatoichi to reunite her son with the father he has never met, but when the masseur. Watch zatoichi challenged english subtitled prime video. Zatoichi challenged msmichel the 17th entry in the long running series is an excellent story where our hero is once again plunged into a world of corruption, misplaced honour and familial anguish. Zatoichi fans will find this one of the most enjoyable in the series. A long the way they meet up with a band of travelers who allow them to ride along part of the way. Also, an american reimagining called blind fury was made in 1989, starring rutger hauer, based off of the 17th zatoichi film, zatoichi challenged.
They take a movie and then play it over and over again for weeks. Zatoichi challenged is actually set in medieval japan, which is where all samurai films should be set. Zatoichi challenged 1967 kenji misumi on allmovie in this japanese actioner, the brave blind. Challenged is now my second favorite zatoichi film next to pilgrimage. Zatoichi the new tale of zatoichi 1963 rotten tomatoes. Pretty good martial arts films challenges thoughts stars youtube 2016 movies movies. This film is based on zatoichi challenged 1967, the 17th film in the original series. Zatoichi is a 2003 japanese samurai dramaaction film, directed, written, coedited by and starring takeshi kitano beat takeshi in his 11th directorial venture. The dry run marks the first underwhelming franchise entry weve had in a while. Nov 28, 20 trailer for the massive 25film boxset, zatoichi. Dec 16, 2007 facebook0tweet0 when you are stuck at home thanks to a wet and icy storm you see a lot of tv. In this japanese actioner, the brave blind swordsman zatoichi is assigned to escort a little boy to his fathers home. Zatoichi in desperation was the first time the star took the directors chair, and it was a bleak as hell, psychedelic film unlike any other in the series. It is a shame that misumi did not direct more entries for the zatoichi series, but that is a saving grace as well.
But zatoichi never backs down, even if death looms from all directions this is the seventeenth volume of zatoichi, but as usual, the series shows no signs of losing its sharp edge. Cb zatoichi 1 scanner internet archive html5 uploader 1. Apr 07, 2016 this scene is from the tale of zatoichi, the first film in the series. While on the road, zatoichi befriends a young mother right before she is savagely murdered. Im glad i have this film in my collection and i hope to have all the zatoichi films. Colorful, rich with action and wonderfully choreographed, takeshi kitano takes on the classic samurai character with his own brand of. Publication date 20160307 topics bushido, cinema, film, samurai, zatoichi, blind, film, kitana, cane sword, blind fury, rutger hauer language.
The interplay between zatoichi and the young boy he becomes protector slows down the film a bit. Ichi deserves more empathy and respect in this film. Find showtimes, watch trailers, browse photos, track your watchlist and rate your favorite movies and tv shows on your phone or tablet. Apr 12, 2010 from the film zatoichi, darkness is his ally. The next and last in the series zatoichi film is back to the standard look.
In zatoichi challenged, our favorite blind swordsman is once again on the road. Zatoichi challenged 1967 a blind swordsman shintaro katsu battles yakuza after reuniting a widower with his son. The iconic mysterious stranger that always appears at the start and end of zatoichi films has a larger role here and is an interesting character. Zatoichi challenged is not the best installment, but it is a good one without question, is one of the more unusual episodes.
847 957 737 69 1382 1504 1175 1293 520 613 613 457 688 1537 1499 1021 713 1107 563 20 1258 965 413 656 984 275 102 1476 866 489 1279 319 1449 1354 844 222 165 1442 776 874