Review of Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman

Introduction

Zatoichi is one of Japanese cinema`s most iconic and enduring characters. A nomadic blind swordsman, he featured in 25 films from 1962 to 1973, followed by a television series which ran between 1974 and 1979, and the character became synonymous with the actor who played him, Shintaro Katsu. After a 10-year hiatus from the character and 15-years since the last movie entry, Katsu would revisit Zatoichi one more time - also taking on the responsibility of directing - in this, 1989`s `Zatoichi`, the final film in the series, and the first to bear the simple eponymous title. Presumably, the full title of this DVD as `Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman` is to distinguish it from the 2003 film in which Takeshi Kitano would take on the late Katsu`s mantle, slip into the famous kimono and deliver a new spin on the much-loved icon.

The blind Zatoichi is a wandering masseuse, now much older, who makes his living from gambling in the many gambling houses in Edo period Japan. When he uses his disability to fool others into a false sense of security and win big at one Yakuza joint, he finds himself the target of multiple assassins who are after the bounty that`s been put on his head. Befriending a travelling samurai painter, Zatoichi ends up wandering into the middle of a Yakuza power struggle, where his unparalleled swordfighting abilities gain the attention of powerful men who`d like nothing more than to have the blind swordsman on their side.

Video

Anamorphic 1.85:1, the visuals are fairly low contrast and have a muddy complexion. There`s some noticeable dirt on the print, but there have been much worse transfers of prints from this period, and this one, aside from a general sense of murkiness, doesn`t fare too badly.

Audio

Decent Dolby Digital 2.0 that`s clear with no obvious signs of distortion. Some of the sound editing and music choices (soft-rock ballad?) leave a lot to be desired, though.

Features

Not a dicky bird.

Conclusion

It`s all too obvious that `Zatoichi` is a late entry in a long running series of films. While Shintaro Katsu seems very comfortable in the role of the lovable rascal, the plot is all to pot, with a fairly workmanlike samurai tale, little character exposition, gestures to events in previous films and, dishearteningly, a distinctly unwelcome sense of having to work things out for yourself, or as yo mamma might say, "some damn lazy-ass storytelling". It`s never, initially at least, actually made clear that the Yakuza gang have it in for Zatoichi; in fact they appear to bear no ill will to the folk-hero. But watching him tear apart a gang of assassins, one has to assume someone sent them. And you`re left assuming his new samurai friend, as he contemplates pulling his sword on the old man, was instructed to bring back Zatoichi`s head by his new Yakuza bosses, but again, there`s nothing in the narrative to support this until much later in the film. But that said, the story here is so simple that it doesn`t take much deciphering, although it feels significantly stretched beyond its means to meet the two-hour running time.

Also questionable is the action. While there is notable slicing and dicing, it`s infrequent enough to leave you wandering if what you`re actually watching is a period drama, and while furious and violent with geysers o` guts, each fight is simply a case of Zatoichi being surrounded by overwhelming odds before whipping out his cane-sword, lopping off limbs (and the odd nose), and watching as his opponents fall to the floor clutching their bits in unison. The big showdown at the end - as there`s always a one of those - is little more than an extension of this on a bigger scale, but by involving all the main characters in one final bloodsoaked hurrah, it has the sensation of being much more exciting. The character of Zatoichi is played to perfection by Katsu, although with over 25-years to get it right, it`d have to be. There`s no nobility or stoic heroism in the man, he`s just a warm-hearted rogue who always seems to end up in the wrong place at the wrong time. The simplicity of the role and way it`s played makes the main protagonist sufficiently endearing and only the off-pacing makes the experience a slight wade, ultimately enough to make this final Zatoichi film worth looking in on if you happen upon it. But considering some of the samurai flicks the late-eighties produced make this last film in the popular series look a little tame and a tad dull, you`d probably be better hunting down the earlier Zatoichi titles to fulfil your bloodlust.