The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (2003)

Release date: 2003-09-06
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
Director: Takeshi Kitano
Production Co: Asahi National Broadcasting Company, Bandai Visual Company, DENTSU Music And Entertainment
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Rating: 7.5/10
Length: 1h 56min

Storyline

Blind Zatoichi makes his living by gambling and giving massages. But behind his humble facade, Zatoichi is a master swordsman, gifted with lightning-fast draw and strokes of breathtaking precision. Zatoichi wanders into a town run by sinister gangs and a powerful samurai. He's destined for violent showdowns when he stumbles on two beautiful geishas avenging their parents' murder... Duels, wit and a touch of zen! Cult anti-hero Zatoichi is back in a sword-fighting adventure written, directed and starring Takeshi Kitano.

Plot Keywords

hit on the head, shot in the chest, slashing, slaughter, stabbed in the back, stabbed in the chest, stabbed in the hand, stabbed in the throat, stabbed in the heart, stabbed to death, strangulation, suicide, thunderstorm, severed hand, severed finger, rampage, male female relationship, kimono, little boy, male nudity

Short Review

This film is a shebang, a full-scale show, complete with everything you would happily pay to see: costumes, tattoos, scratchy folk music, gambling in saki dens. You will eat it up.