Beat Takeshi takes his fascination of Yakuza culture, a decade in the making, with an established franchise and creates a memorable representation of the blind swordsman.
Between 1989 and 2003, Takeshi grew into his directorial seat, improving script, settings and emotion tied in with comedic timing from his past career. Sometime mid 90s, he took a Lynchian approach where sound design reigns supreme. In Zatoichi, his 11th directorial film, each scene has meticulous sound design. The background soundtrack also uses the natural materials throughout. Why? It is a relevant point to how the blind have their secondary senses enhanced.
That said, the story is an archetypical jidaigeki and Zatoichi plot. Zatoichi is wandering into a new village, and is introduced to empathetic characters who were either abused by the local Yakuza boss or is caught up in a death cycle. Zatoichi befriends someone local who takes him in, gambles, kills some people and has to defend himself against the gambling house’s bodyguard. Standard plot, explained in a modern television fashion. I like it because it fits into a 2-episode Zatoichi Monotagari story.
Entertaining in general, re-watchable as well. The CGI used however has not aged well. I’d like a 4K remaster, but that’s probably not going to happen. The ending curtain call is also a highlight:
Rescreened April 12, 2023 with special help.
