La légende de Zatoïchi - La lettre

This was my first exposure to Zatoichi series, which I think numbers 27 movies. My biggest problem was that the movie deposits you into the story without any explanation. My disorientation could be because I am unfamiliar with the Japanese culture and Zatoichi could be well-known there. Anyhow, after the first ten minutes, the movie is pretty easy to follow because it has the same structure as the classical western: stranger comes to a town with a problem, rids the town of the problem and then leaves. There are twists that aren't surprising and one that is. I have to say that the sword fights are very different than what I was expecting. Each fight lasted approximately five seconds. Even the fight with a really good swordsman lasted only 30 seconds, if that. The tactic of the vanquished standing very still for a little while until he collapses, was a good one and managed to be effective throughout the whole movie. The best fight was when Zatoichi prevented three thugs from ascending a staircase by pretending to be just a clumsy blind man. The fact that the film is very short, helps out a lot but in the end the movie only seems like an episode in a TV series. I guess I will have to see more of the series to really understand it.

This is the ninth in the series of Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman movies and I am sick of the generic titles. This one could've been titled Zatoichi's New Year instead. However, that wouldn't be right either. The new year is supposed to be promising and a time of celebration. This one is a let down and ends on a down note. It's not a good movie to watch for the new year.

Zatoichi himself is upbeat in the beginning and wants to see the sunrise from Mt. Myogi for the new year. The local entertainers and merchants are upbeat about putting on a festival and making money.

However, their optimism is soon doused by the local yakuza gang who brings a proclamation of exorbitant taxes by the corrupt tax official. They will barely make enough to survive, so some think of pulling out. Then Zatoichi is fortunate to be put up with three nice women in their room. He meets a lovely maiden who is looking for her father. Another is trying to protect her brother who got involved with the local gang and was set up as the patsy. Zatoichi is his usual self -- drinking sake, eating, gambling, giving massages, being humble and fighting and killing most of the bad guys.

He later meets the town drunk who is crafty and tells him a tale to remind him of his own father. Could this old man be Zatoichi's long lost father? This story builds drama with interesting characters and a big cast, and it pulls you in, but I was expecting a much better ending. There's no payoff at the end despite Zatoichi seeing the sunrise as there are just too many unresolved emotions and loose ends.

I love the Zatoichi movies, though I have found that because they made so many and the plots tended to blend together so often, it is hard to distinguish them apart. I would give all of them about the same score of a 7 or an 8--with 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).

Of the original Zatoichi films, this is probably my second favorite film. The two women he helps and the interconnectedness of their stories make this a much better than average blind swordsman movie. Give it a watch.

Adventures of Zatoichi is the ninth film of the franchise based upon the blind masseur. Zatoichi wants to celebrate New Year's Eve peacefully in a town next to a mountain where a lot of artists, businessmen and comedians have gathered. However, they are soon informed that the local intendant plans on asking forty percent of their profits. This isn't the only bad news as Zatoichi must share his room with two beautiful but desperate women. One is looking for her father who mysteriously disappeared about a month ago. The other one secretly meets her brother who was tricked into committing a crime for the local intendant, just to be captured and sent into exile and who managed to escape to have his revenge. Zatoichi wants to help the two women and put an end to the local intendant's abusive reign of terror.

One element I liked about the movie was the intriguing cast of characters. The two resilient and strong women aren't as flat and stereotyped as in other films of the franchise and one actually cares about their fates. Two other interesting characters are two gymnast boys who occasionally help Zatoichi and the two women and are a welcome change if compared to the kids that usually just make fun of the blind swordsman in the other movies. Zatoichi also has to face two quite intriguing swordsmen hired by the local intendant. One of them is frustrated by his low salary and decides to avoid fighting Zatoichi. The other one is a disillusioned man from a poor family who only wants to fight Zatoichi because he sees a valuable opponent in him. Another intriguing character is an old drunkard who reminds Zatoichi of his own father.

This leads to another strong element of the story. This film gives us some more background information about Zatoichi. It tells us how he got separated from his father when he was just five years old and how he desires to meet him again. The movie exposes Zatoichi's desire to have a normal life with a normal family as he grows tired of his life as a criminal and drifter. The film adds some depth to an already intriguing protagonist.

Another element to appreciate is the movie's atmosphere. The diversified locations include traditional Japanese inns, shady bars and dark guard stations. The numerous colorful artists, businessmen and comedians are also interesting to watch. The movie is filmed with much precision and beautiful backdrops. Especially the final scenes with sword fights in the snow and a rising sun above a mountain are particularly beautiful. The film finds the right balance between gloomy backdrops and beautiful settings.

However, the film also has a few minor flaws. The story is nicely developed and unfolds smoothly but it's hardly surprising and lacking fresh elements. Most twists are quite predictable and only the side story between the blind masseur and the local drunkard tries to add something new to the franchise. Another problem is that the sword fights aren't particularly interesting. They are often brief and repetitive and especially the final showdown is slightly underwhelming.

In the end, Adventures of Zatoichi is a good average entry in the franchise as it neither stands out negatively or positively. Those who are familiar with the franchise will like this film for sure. Those who aren't familiar with it yet shouldn't start here and either watch the very first film or the contemporary remake with Kitano Takeshi.

Blind Swordsman: Adventures of Zatoichi (1964)

aka Zatoichi sekisho yaburi

*** (out of 4)

The blind swordsman (Shintaro Katsu) returns, this time helping a young woman track down her missing father. This is so far the best I've seen in the series thanks in large part to a darker tone than the previous two. Once again, the story of a blind swordsman works well and keeps the viewing interested and the fight scenes are extremely well done this time out.

Available on DVD or IFC shows it often.