Zatôichi: The Last

I'm a huge Zatoichi fan. I have been watching the series since I was a kid and own every film that came out on both VHS and later on DVD. Although I'm a hardcore fan I do enjoy different interpretations of the franchise like Kitano's 2003 remake and the Ayase Haruka version - Ichi which was not a rip off, by the way. but a spin off since it tells the story of Zatoichi's student, Ichi. The real rip off was Crimson Bat the blind sword-woman (1969) that was trying to cash in the popularity of the Zatoichi franchise at the time.

So okay I watched Shingo's verison of Zatoichi and it indeed different not in a good way. They strayed from the original spirit of the Zatoichi films and frankly I didn't like it. Shingo of SMAP is probably the least appropriate person to do Zatoichi. Shingo's Ichi is too clean shaven and too lanky and does not have the swagger of Zatoichi. Even his acting as a blind man is unconvincing and over done. Zatoichi is a rugged yakuza gambler but a member of a boy band.

You see, what made a Zatoichi flick , a great Zatoichi flick are three important elements 1) Flashy tightly woven sword play 2) Snarky humor and charisma from either Zatoichi himself or the supporting characters 3) A straight forward story about good vs evil with a clear resolution (bad guys die).

Certainly Zatoichi is all about the sword play right? The original had chuck full of it. Kitano's Zatoichi had some great sword fights (the final showdown between Ichi and the Ronin) with lots of CG blood. Even Ayase's Ichi also has some fantastic sword play as well.

Unfortunately Shingo's version falls short. As the first reviewer mentioned the fight scenes were not very good. Shingo's Zatoichi did not feel like a deadly blind iaido expert but a clumsy old man who can barely hold a sword. Both Katsu's (the original Ichi) and Kitano's Ichi feigned helplessness but can instantly switch to menacing if the situation called for it. In comparison, Shigo's Ichi, although younger, seem to be going senile. Instead of lighting fast sword strikes which is the signature of Zatoichi's fighting style, Shingo's Ichi seem to be just flailing around with his cain sword and the unfortunate bad guy just happen to be there. Honesty, I want to kick the fight choreographer in the face.

How about humor? Even the sober version of Kitano's Zatoichi had lots of humor in it supplied mostly by the supporting and colorful cast (Tap dancing farmers? Cross dressing Geishas? Come on!). Unfortunately Zatoichi the Last had none - in fact this is probably the most depressing Zatoichi I've watched.

Okay what about the plot? In one of the films of the original series, Zatoichi and the Doomed Man, Zatoichi first discovered the sea in his travels yet in this reiteration Zatoichi's hometown is a fishing village! The whole plot is somewhat confusing and disjointed. The way the stories and loose ends were resolved was not as satisfying as the original and even the newer remakes like Kitano's 2003 version.

All in all, if you are curious then I can't stop you but beware, this version of Zatoichi not only falls short but it falls off a very high cliff and breaks its neck on the sharp rocks below. If you want to watch a fairly modern version of Zatoichi I suggest Takeshi Kitano's Zatoichi which is closer to the source material. Or better yet do yourself a favor and watch the original.

This interpretation of the character of Zatoichi was sincerely awful, with all his stumbling and bumbling. His swordmanship sucked, too. Absolutely nothing like Shintaro Kastu who brought a quiet dignity and class to the role.

And the sound editing was horrid. This movie will go on my list of Movies For The Blind.

I am a huge fan of the original Zatoichi movies, played by the late great Shintaro Katsu. Anyone who is familiar with his take on Zatoichi, will remember the wandering masseuse with a penchant for gambling, and cutting down hordes of opponents with his lightning fast cane sword. Katsu's Zatoichi was boisterous, funny, lonely but possessing a big heart, always willing to stand up for the little guy.

This movie is a very different take from the Zatoichi that most of us are familiar with. Shingo Katori plays him as a family man, with a wife, a home and community to go back to. He is still standing up for oppressed victims, still able to fight against incredible odds. The big difference there is a lack of humor or swagger, not as many fight scenes, mostly a depressing story. The plot is a bit confusing as times, whereas in the original series and movies, the story was simple and straightforward, with clear villains and victims, and a clear path to resolution of conflicts (by killing all of the guilty parties).

I have enjoyed the other Zatoichi films (2003 Takeshi Kitano's version, and the 2008 Ichi female rip-off) for they were similar to the old movies (at least in spirit) but I felt that this movie had taken the series into a more dramatic and serious path, much different than from the lighter and flashier type that most of us are used to and comfortable with. Do not watch this movie if you are expecting the same chanbara of the old Zatoichi films. But if you don't mind a more grown-up and realistic version, then give it a shot.

Up until I saw "Zatoichi: The Last", I thought the final Shintarô Katsu Zatoichi film (returning 27 years after the first film in the series) was the most unnecessary. That 1989 film found the legendary blind swordsman in prison--broken and only a shadow of his old self. Well, in "Zatoichi: The Last" it's even worse. He's not a shadow of his old self...he's simply NOT Zatoichi and it's a film that fan's can't help but hate.

This long and humorless film finds Zatoichi vowing to stop fighting and finally settle down after the murder of his wife. He goes to a crappy village full of farmers and fishermen. Surprise, surprise...soon baddies show up and beat up, rape and rob these poor people. Oddly, though, it sure takes a long time for enough to be enough and for Zatoichi to chop the baddies to pieces. And, since the film has "The Last" in its title, you can pretty much figure out how it's all going to end. No surprises here.

For folks who have never seen the films before this, I'd score this one a 6. It's depressing, overly long but worth seeing. For fans, I'd give this one a Zero if it was possible. This new Zatoichi acts and looks NOTHING like the original. Katsu's version which he played for 31 films was funny at times, likable and grizzled. This incarnation is just not this character in any way. A terrible slap in the face of fans.

By the way, I sure would have loved to have seen Takeshi Kitano return for another Zatoichi film. His 2003 Zatoichi film actually DID capture the spirit of the older films AND infused some freshness as well. So I am NOT against seeing a Zatoichi film without Shintarô Katsu---but the character must be consistent and in the spirit of the original films.

I can't imagine why this film was made ,if your a fan of the early Zotochi's from the 60's or the brilliant film made in the early 2000's it's actually flabbergastingly bad .No plot no story no fun no nothing I was warned but didn't listen so I'm warning you give it a miss you'll regret nothing