SummaryDirector Takeshi Kitano takes on Japanese cinematic legend Zatoichi. Kitano stars as the blind wanderer with a distinctive red cane and a shock of platinum blonde hair. Softly-spoken, he makes a living as a masseur and by gambling, but his humble, shuffling facade masks a lightning-fast, deadly swordsman. (Miramax)
Directed By:Takeshi Kitano
Written By:Takeshi Kitano, Kan Shimozawa
The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi
Metascore
Generally Favorable
75
User score
Generally Favorable
7.4
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
75
91% Positive
30 Reviews
30 Reviews
9% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
100
A masterpiece of wry violence and stylized mayhem, The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi turns loose one of Japan's most brilliant film auteurs, Takeshi Kitano, on one of its most enduring pop legends.
88
A boisterous and improbably entertaining action comedy.
User score
Generally Favorable
7.4
75% Positive
36 Ratings
36 Ratings
23% Mixed
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
2% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Jan 3, 2020
10
Takeshi Kitano at his best. Zatoichi is a rivival of a famous Japanese movie series based of the books of Kan Shimozawa. Outside of Japan it is nearly unknown (or at least in my country). Back then I did barely know that a series exists and had to look the rest up. Zatoichi is a blind masseur with unmatched sword skills and sharpened senses that gives him more perception than many others. He is a wanderer that travels trough the country and got drag into this adventure. The movie uses and plays with many stereotypes but in an interesting and entertaining way. There are the Geisha's which travel trough the country to avenge the dead of their parents, there is the ronin (samurai without master) which is even a match for Zatoichi that struggles with his honor and his duty to help his (terminal?) ill wife and there are the townsfolk which gets ripped of by a crime syndicate (Yakuza). This is like a said a strength of this movie. If done incorrect then this would be an awful movie. But it is done in such a way that you care for all characters and want to see the resolve of their stories. Then there is Zatoichi himself. I haven't seen the old movies but Takeshi Kitano gave all in this role: Seriousness, humor, emotion, (self)irony and badassness. Then there are the side characters. All are carefully chosen. I don't know how they did it but I will say that all of them are perfect additions to this movie. I will also praise the costumes, sets and story line. Everything fits together to create something that is bigger than its parts. Overall I hope that this wont be the last Zatoichi movie. Additional Info: Takeshi Kitano made many great movies in his carer that you should definitely watch.
80
Over-plotted and at times incoherent but never dull, this is a stylishly designed, highly entertaining bloodbath full of offbeat comedy and inspired musical moments.
75
More reinvention than remake, this black-humored, blood-soaked adventure is a colorful if impersonal audience pleaser done up in a showy, fluid style with a tongue-in-cheek flair.
75
It feels like one long non-sequitur -- like closing a Charles Bronson film with a disco medley -- but there's an emotional consistency to Kitano's boisterous celebration of movement.
70
A mix-and-match crowd-pleaser that shouldn't add up, but delightfully does.
50
The best part of Zatoichi is its fine sense of rhythm, culminating in a galvanizing clog-dance finish.
Feb 14, 2022
7
There was lots of CGI blood flying around, would have preferred real fake blood. The story was confusing but the bits of it that I understood were really good and interesting. The ending was full of stuff happening. For all of the blood there wasn't much violence like people heads being ripped apart and the like. Worth watching and enjoyable fantasy film full of culture, that needs concentration. I love the musical montage bits and they actually fit into the story and the world. Fantastic film with brilliant characters and wonderful musical interludes... also blood!
Nov 22, 2013
7
The story could be better developed since there are pacing problems, needless secondary characters and a guy who behaves like a geisha. However 'Zatoichi' has a cool protagonist, a dangerous villain and bloody, realistic action. Moreover the acting is good, there are several intense moments and the ending will satisfy your need for retribution. ****
Feb 8, 2020
6
The first and probably only samurai movie i know to use lots of cgi blood. The acting is good. The music incorporates sound effects, interesting. The script is weak, that's hard to overcome. Characters are not very developed and photography is a little monochrome. Also, i always kind of found the blind samurai concept implausible, partly I just don't get the point. Also its more corny than funny to me. And boring.
May 10, 2020
5
Didn't really know what I was getting into. It was OK, but at the same time quite farcical. You could be forgiven for thinking it was a 1980s movie with exceptionally bad CGI on a shoestring budget.
I don't have a lot to base this on, and have read the "Style" of the movie was deliberate, but I do think it could have been a hell of a lot better. On a whole its a shame because some of the fight scenes are pretty entertaining, its the rest of it, literally everything else that misses the mark.
Production Company:
- Asahi National Broadcasting Company
- Bandai Visual Company
- DENTSU Music And Entertainment
- Office Kitano
- Saitô Entertainment
- TV Asahi
- Tokyo FM Broadcasting Co.
Release Date:Jul 23, 2004
Duration:1 h 56 m
Rating:R
Tagline:His Sword Made Him a Hero... His Courage Made Him a Legend. This Summer, Justice is Blind.
Website:
Awards
Awards of the Japanese Academy
• 5 Wins & 9 Nominations
Asian Film Critics Association Awards
• 3 Wins & 6 Nominations
Venice Film Festival
• 4 Wins & 5 Nominations
