|
Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 6 - Zatoichi and the Chest of GoldRating:
Release Date: 29 April, 2003 Retail Price: $19.95 OUR Price: $17.99 You SAVE: $1.96! Cast: |
Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 6 - Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold Reviews
#6: A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY
This 6th entry of Zatoichi finds the anti-hero Ichi paying his repects at the grave of a samurai he killed by mistake three years prior. It was self-defense, nonetheless, he feels remorse. A young girl hiding behind the trees overhears this self-confession: She was the samurai's sister. Jump ahead in the film, and we come to the villagers who have saved up 1000 Ryo in tax money. After 3 years of bad harvest they have finally been able to scrape enough together to satisfy the intendant. Or have they?
Enter a sadistic bullwhip weilding Ronin named Jushiro [Tomisaburo Wakayama] the main antagonist in the film. (The real life brother of Shintaro Katsu--who also appeared in Zatoichi episode #2.) And he's pretty darn sadistic as Jushiro; and with a pretty unhealthy hatred of Zatoichi. However, he sure plays the sadistic role to the hilt. He does not care about the 1000 ryo, even when offered to him. He wants Zatoichi. Jushiro's hatred for Ichi is because he looks down on him as a low-life masquerading as a swordsman. How many other arrogant villians have we seen like this already? Ah, when will they ever learn?
Ichi is blamed for taking the missing 1000 ryo's, and he resolves to clear his name. The intendant, with the help of Jushiro are already at work however scheming to take the money, tax the people again, and do away with Zatoichi. This always sounds easy over those drinks of saki. But Ichi has a surprise for them. There is a really funny part in the film, where Zatoichi and Jushiro wager on a bet. [I'll let you watch that--it's hilarious, even by Ichi standards] I'll write no more, watch the film, you will enjoy it. The music is good, the cinematography is great, the plot is excellent and the acting is terrific. Highly recommend.
I finally decided get into the zatoichi series
I actually decided to watch lone wolf and cub first but am going to have to sneak a few more of these in.
I guess I thought it was Chang Cheh who introduced us to these types of movies but I can see now that some of my favorite movies ever like one armed swordsman are just good ripoffs of Zatoichi. This guy is wher it started. Well, the wong fei-hong movies come first in terms of martial arts, but Zatoichi has to be the first person on screen you could really look up to because of the heroic deeds that he does. Not just doing the good deeds, but the way he slices through everybody is beautiful. Being a kung fu fan I need a good final fight but wasn't really expecting one with how old this is but was pleasently surprised.
I can't believe I thought it was the chinese that started all this, but I was way wrong. When Shintarô Katsu hit the screen, he may not have been the first but was far and away the best for it's time. THE JAPANESE EVEN SEEM TO HAVE INVENTED TEH OPENING STAGED FIGHTING SEQUENCES!!!
The movie is anamorphically widescreened and when they say the picture is remastered Home Vision Entertainment is not lying one bit.
So I have to say that my first Zatoichi experience was breathtaking, funny, touching, and very exciting.
More Customer Reviews (5 total)
You like Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 6 - Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold?
|
© 2004, 2005, 2006 DVD Booty | Don't Plunder Our Cache of Booty, Matey!
Hosting made possible by donations from Debt Angel, Federal Student Loan Consolidation, and Debt Management
