The story follows a blind man named Zatôichi (Takeshi Kitano). We meet him as he takes a break from walking on a dirt road, and a group attempt to rob and murder him. He easily defends himself despite being completely blind. Zatôichi is a master swordsman with a walking stick that transforms into a dangerous sword. Those who underestimate him may end up bloody or missing body parts. Despite his dangerous skills, Zatôichi is a friendly person who enjoys gambling, particularly in dice games, where he can use his heightened hearing to improve his chances of winning.
After arriving in a nearby town, Zatôichi is welcomed and offered a place to stay because of his friendly and helpful nature. However, he soon discovers that the small community is in chaos and misery. The town is entirely controlled by a notorious gang of criminals who bully and extort money from the townspeople. In the past, the gang used to demand large sums of money every month, but recently, their demands have become more frequent and excessive, making it difficult for the residents to make ends meet. As Zatôichi gets to know the community better, he meets a pair of women (Daigorô Tachibana and Yûko Daike) who are seeking revenge for wrongs suffered in their past. When the situation in the town worsens, Zatôichi decides to take a stand and protect his fellow town members with his sword. But as he fights against the gang, he discovers shocking truths about who is secretly in charge of the gangs and controlling them.
The Blind Swordsman: Zatôichi (also known as Zatôichi) is an action film with a crime-filled storyline. All the characters revolve around Zatôichi at the centre. Despite the action and crime, there are also some comedic moments, particularly from the film’s villains, who are often silly and misjudge Zatôichi’s ability as a skilled swordsman. Some of the deaths were also humorous to me. Your enjoyment in this film may depend on your taste in violence as there are unexpected and extreme amounts of blood splattering.
The movie boasts impressive visuals in the fighting scenes and action sequences, and the sword fights are skilfully choreographed, making them a joy to watch. Although some blood splatters appear to be created using CGI, they add a playful tone and enjoyable touch to the violence and shocking deaths. The film’s enjoyable aspects are not limited to well-choreographed action sequences. There are many creative moments behind the camera, and the film is well-shot and well-timed, including some of the movie’s musical numbers.
I enjoyed the plot’s central mystery, which involved uncovering the person responsible for the gang chaos. Zatôichi’s character and backstory were also intriguing. Throughout the film, Zatôichi interacts with several characters who share a common goal, and their actions keep the audience curious. While the action, comedic timing, and slapstick moments keep viewers engaged, some scenes, such as dance sequences and character actions, were prolonged and dragged on for too long, seeming unnecessary and taking up too much screen time.
Overall, if you’re a fan of Asian cinema, you won’t want to miss out on this feature. With lots of violence and bloodshed, the fight scenes are beautifully choreographed. I was pleasantly surprised by the playful and comedic tone of the movie, which added a touch of randomness to a serious storyline. At the heart of the film is a fun mystery that will keep you guessing throughout, especially regarding the villain’s identity. However, some scenes tended to drag on too long, slowing down the movie’s pace and its story. Despite this, Zatôichi is a must-watch for its incredible gory kills and enjoyable creativity.
7.5/10
20th April 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
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