Zatoichi was one of the classic period piece franchises in 1960s70s japanese cinema with over 20 releases and a tv series. This criterion box set of all 25 of the early zatoichi movies is a bargain. The colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. The blind swordsman chronological order a list of the zatoichi films in chronological order. Sep 30, 2011 ichi takeshi kitano aka zatoichi, slices up a couple of roving bandits when they try to intimidate him. Hes destined for violent showdowns when he stumbles on two beautiful geishas aven on putlocker watch the blind swordsman zatoichi 2003 in hd 1080p with high speed link. Zatoichi subtitles srt file is movie with the following synopsis the blind masseurswordsman comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming family, he meets two women with their own agenda. The blind masseur and swordsman, zatoichi, learns of a powerful political figures secret and is quickly tailed by a group of killers. But behind his humble facade, zatoichi is a master swordsman, gifted with lightningfast draw and strokes of breathtaking precision. The character zatoichi became globally known to the public through takeshi kitanos 2003 movie, the blind swordsman.
In fact, the samurai who show up in these movies are often venal thugs. Zatoichi meets the onearmed swordsman 1971 full movie. Zatoichi begins life as a straightup samurai movie. Zatoichi embodies the kinds of contradictory elements that make takeshi kitano japans most intriguing contemporary actordirector. Zatoichi ends up making friends with a farmer and her gambling nephew. The movies are on nine discs in a sturdy slipcase along with a small book covering the zatoichi movies. Zatoichi english subtitles at zatoichi is a 19th century blind nomad who makes his living as a gambler and masseur. Blind zatoichi makes his living by gambling and giving massages.
A yakuza gang targets the blind masseur zatoichi after he defeats their group in a wrestling match. Before kitanos movie there were 26 more and a tv series consisting of more than 100 episodes which lasted for four years. Since so many older films were being remade in the 2000s it was only natural that someone would do zatoichi. Compared to other takeshi kitano movies, this one was disappointing. As this iconic figure, the charismatic and earthy shintaro katsu became an. Zatoichi, zatoichi released in the us as the blind swordsman.
Primarily for my own reference as i make my way through the films but may be useful to others also taking the journey along with the blind masseur. Beat takeshi kitano directs and plays the title role in this tribute to the wildly popular blind swordsman of japanese cinema who was the hero of more than 20 movies and a television series from. Zatoichi is the updated version of cult japanese show some decades back. Japanese auteur takeshi kitano, director of such masterpieces as fireworks and sonatine, takes on the iconic character of japans longestrunning and best. Beat takeshi kitano directs and plays the title role in this tribute to. Zatoichi meets the onearmed swordsman full movie watch online zatoichi meets the onearmed swordsman full english full movie zatoichi meets the onearmed swordsman full full movie. The tale of zatoichi released in 1962 would begin a 20 plus film franchise starring shintaro katus as the blind masseuse, gambler, and master swordsman.
The blind swordsman, a 1978 documentary about zatoichi portrayer and filmmaker shintaro katsu, along with a 20 interview with its director, john nathan interview from 20 with asianfilm critic tony rayns. A great film concept with introduction of cgi for the violent scenes. Beat takeshi kitano directs and plays the title role in this tribute to the wildly popular blind swordsman of japanese cinema who was the hero of. Zatoichi wanders into a town run by sinister gangs and a powerful samurai.
The first film introduces all the major elements that would be used in the following movies. Zatoichi subtitles srt file is movie with the following synopsis the blind masseur swordsman comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming family, he meets two women with their own agenda. Shintaro katsu, shigeru amachi, jun hamamura, mayumi ogawa. When coming to a town in control of warring gangs, bunking with a farming family, he meets two women with their own agenda. Set toward the end of the feudal edo period 16031868, the film stars shintaro katsu as zatoichi, an itinerant blind masseurswordsman. Directed and starred by takeshi kitano, who uses his full trademark trippy style to tell an adventure of the master swordsman, with gorn, humour and japanese music galore. Zatoichi embodies the kinds of contradictory elements that make takeshi kitano japans most intriguing contemporary. That includes yakuza gangsters, plenty of gambling, and usually a woman. Beat takeshi kitano directs and plays the title role in this tribute to the wildly popular blind swordsman of japanese cinema who was the hero of more than 20 movies and a television series from the early 60s to the late 80s.
Zatoichi meets the onearmed swordsman 1971 connects with the shaw brothers series of hong kongproduced movies directed by prolific director chang cheh. Zatoichi is one of the great characters of any medieval japanese film, and unusually he is not a samurai himself. Zatoichi is a 2003 japanese samurai dramaaction film, directed, written, coedited by. Zatoichi you are looking for exciting, humorous and atmospheric movies about with samurai, martial arts, one man army, violence, gang, good versus evil and gang war themes of action, comedy and crime genre shot in japan. This originally minor character was developed for the. Sep 30, 2011 beat takeshi kitano directs and plays the title role in this tribute to the wildly popular blind swordsman of japanese cinema who was the hero of more than 20 movies and a television series from. As we are about to see though, that was just the tip of the iceberg. Wishing to find peace, zatoichi travels to his old village but only finds trouble when he ends up in a love triangle and finds old. Zatoichi by director takeshi kitano featuring himself in the classic role. The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by novelist kan shimozawa. Zatoichi, the blind masseur and undefeatable swordsman, is caught in turf war between rival gangs, becomes a wanted man when he learns of a lords dangerous secret, returns home to discover his teacher has been working for kidnappers, and seeks vengeanceon a powerful ronin, dueling with his most skilled samurai.
The blind swordsman stars japanese screen legend beat takeshi in an actionpacked, awardwinning film that has been compared to kill bill. Set toward the end of the feudal edo period 16031868, the film stars shintaro katsu as zatoichi, an itinerant blind masseur swordsman. The blind swordsman zatoichi 2003 full, full movie online free, the blind swordsman watch whole entire movies or. There he meets many characters like the siblings on a mission, a samurai who is hired by the gang, as well as an unlucky gambler who befriends the blind swordsman. This film is a shebang, a fullscale show, complete with everything. Sep 30, 2011 with his preternatural sense of hearing, zatoichi takeshi kitano listens to the sound of the dice and realizes that they have been switched. Starring beat takeshi kitano, tadanobu asano, michiyo okusa, and yui natsukawa. Ichi is a blind masseuse ambling from town to town until some injustice or threat cause him to reveal his incomparable swordplay and samuraistyled sense of honor. On the whole, this isnt a great samurai movie like the ones of yore. However, behind this humble facade, he is a master swordsman gifted with a lightningfast draw and breathtaking precision.
Eventually, he offers to help two siblings who want. The 2003 remakecontinuity reboot of zatoichi known in the anglosphere as the blind swordsman zatoichi or takeshi kitanos zatoichi, the legendary blind swordsman of japanese folklore. Immediately sensing an ambush, zatoichi strikes first. Shintaro katsu, yaeko mizutani, masayo banri, tomisaburo wakayama. A blind swordsman named zatoichi has come to defend innocent townspeople who are being forced to pay the yakuza gang excessive amounts of money in exchange for protection. Kitano stars as the blind wanderer with a distinctive red cane and a shock of platinum blo. As this iconic figure, the charismatic and earthy shintaro katsu became an instant superstar, lending a largerthanlife presence to the thrilling adventures of a man who. A collection of some of the greatest moments from the world of zatoichi, the blind chinese man who uses a can opener to fight muslims.
This movie came bundled with another takeshi kitano film, sonatine, which i actually have seen twice through the years. Visit this page to know more about the blind swordsman zatoichi. Katsu shintaro stars as zatoichi, the blind swordsman, in seven of his finest adventures all presented in full color anamorphic widescreen. Zatoichi is a 2003 japanese samurai dramaaction film, directed, written, coedited by and starring takeshi kitano beat takeshi in his 11th directorial venture. When he arrives in a village torn apart by warring gangs, he sets out to protect the townspeople. The blind masseur swordsman comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming family, he meets two women with their own agenda. Here a blind swordsman goes to a small town controlled by a ruthless gang and abuses the people there. Sep 06, 2003 zatoichi is the updated version of cult japanese show some decades back. The tale of zatoichi was a cultural phenomenon in japan in the 1960s, spawning 25 sequels, a 112episode tv series and a remake. Meanwhile a long lost love of zatoichi s returns to his life. The blind swordsman movie videos for the full length movie and video clips on mefeedia. He plays, as usual, a man with an impassive face, few words, and sudden bursts of action that end in a few seconds. Zatoichi meets an infamous blind leader of a gangster organization as he contends with a gloomy ronin widower.
Download zatoichi the blind swordsman vol 1 pdf online. Director takeshi kitano takes on japanese cinematic legend zatoichi. Hes destined for violent showdowns when he stumbles on two beautiful geishas avenging their parents murder. Blind traveler zatoichi beat takeshi is a master swordsman and a masseur with a fondness for gambling on dice games. Despite a formulaic plot and underdeveloped characters, zatoichi is an enjoyable movie from beginning to end. Sep 06, 2003 blind zatoichi makes his living by gambling and giving massages. Oct 26, 2015 ichis investigation into these injustices uncovers a corrupt alliance between government officials and criminals, putting the blind swordsman on a bloody path of retribution in one of the series. Promising to make a delivery for a dying man, the blind swordsman zatoichi comes across the usual crime gangs but also meets a blind monk who brings into question his use of violence. He has a code, but enforces it according to his own rules. Zatoichi begins life as a straightup samurai movie, evolves into a slapstick comedy and ends as a rousing, tapdancing musical. The wandering swordsman helps two geishas seek revenge in a town run over by criminal gangs. Colorful, rich with action and wonderfully choreographed, takeshi kitano takes on the classic samurai character with his own brand of. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a fictional character featured in one of japan s longestrunning series of films and a television series that are both set during the late edo period 1830s and 1840s. Blind swordsman zatoichi sword this sword was popularized by the blind swordsman, zatoichi, its a fulllength straight katana called chokuto, disguised as a simple walking stick just like in the film series.