Best Zatoichi movie

[lemming]

What is the best Zatoichi movie of the series?

[KyFi]

I've only watched the first five released by HVE so far, and I would say that IMO #2 was maybe a bit weaker than the others, 1, 3 and 4 were equally awesome, and #5 (On the Road) would probably be my favorite. The final battle between the two gangs in the dusty, deserted town ranks up there with any action movie, IMO. Also, I've rewound the rice-ball picnic scene about 20 times---incredible filmmaking. The widest spectrum of human emotions and interactions possible all in a span of about 15 seconds.

[orresearch]

The first one is probably the best one, where his character is carefully crafted. The other good ones are "Zatoichi, Jigoku Tabi" where he ran into the villain who never wanted to lose in chess and sword matches, and "Zatoichi, Kesho Tabi" in which he was helping an orphan home.

Cheers,
W

[razorclam]

I've seen the first 8, and part 4 is the best for action. Parts 5 and 6 are also very good. I like them all, but those are my favorites.

[gau dog]

I've seen pretty much all the ones off of IFC and my favorites are:
Zatoichi On the Road
Zatoichi's Revenge
Zatoichi Challenged

I usually see Zatoichi Challenged as the best.

[Tosh]

My favorites -

The Festival of Fire (Nakadai and Katsu is all that needs to be said)

I really liked #8 with the kid and the blind mans pilgrimage.

The first one will always have a place in my heart, especially since it was the first one I saw.

The hve disks sometimes have a coolass poster. I've framed two of them in bamboo so far.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b124/PeelTikis/z.jpg

[KyFi]

That looks great, Tosh. I've thought of doing that with my Zatoichi posters, but never got around to it---I'll have to do it!

[Tosh]

Thanks man, acually my friends mom owns a frame shop, so she did it, I've got a horizontal one on the way.

I wish they did this with all movies, great bonus when spending $ on dvd's.

[Daisho2004]

That is a good idea about the posters, I never thought of the Bamboo.

Now as for the best movie that is tough. I really love them all but "Festival of Fire" I thought was really, really good, and "Zaotichi 89' might have been the highlight of all the movies.

[vengeanceofhumanlanterns]

I can't believe no-ones mentioned Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo.

Any true Zatoichi fan must possess all his films, for pretty much every movie Shintaro Katsu has done kicks ass!

Here's a few of my faves though;

Zatoichi meets Yojimbo
Blind Swordsman's Vengeance (w/ the blind biwa playing priest)
Zatoichi and The Fugitives ( I love this film)
Zatoichi On The Road
Zatoichi Meets The One-Armed Swordsman
Fight Zatoichi Fight!
The Tale of Zatoichi Continues (w/ Tomisaburo Wakayama his real life brother)
Zatoichi: The Festival Of Fire (only because Tatsuya Nakadai is in the film)

I should be receiving Shin No Shikoutei in a couple of days. This film stars Shintaro Katsu and Ichikawa Raizo (Sleepy Eyes Of Death). I can't wait to see this film. It has a warning on the DVD cover of excessive violence. COOL...

[Jushinshin]

I hate to tell you, but the violence is pretty tame in Shin Shikote. There's a couple of limb cleavings, and there's some mass combat sequences, but the violence isn't much of an aspect and the swordplay isn't at the same standard as that of the Zatoichi series.

It's still a good movie though.

[vengeanceofhumanlanterns]

That's too bad.

Hopefully the acting and story make up for it. I just like the idea of seeing those two actors in the same film.

[Jushinshin]

Well, if you like the two of them together...

They're only onscreen together for about two or three minutes. Raizo plays the part of the assassin, Katsu is the emporer of qin.

[The Running Man]

Is the tv series on par in quality as the movies?

[vengeanceofhumanlanterns]

Is it That Bad?

[Daisho2004]

I have all 3 disks of the series that have been released so far and they are Great, most episodes run about 45min. but some of them are better than some of the full length movies, definitely pick them up.

[Jushinshin]

vengeanceofhumanlanterns, it's not bad at all, it's just not an action movie, not by any means.

It's a pompous historical drama, the type of thing that Cecil B. Demile liked to do. It's well staged and the performances are emmaculate, especially Shintaro Katsu's. But there's not that much action, as it's just not a big part of the story (at least not a big part of the way they tell it).

[vengeanceofhumanlanterns]

Thanks Jushinshin, I know I'll appreciate the film.

That's too bad they hype the film though.

[jrcma]

My fave would have to be Zatoichi Meets The One-Armed Swordsman also it was the 1st Zatiochi i saw but i wish the end fight ended in a draw.

[WuxiaFan]

My fave would have to be Zatoichi Meets The One-Armed Swordsman also it was the 1st Zatiochi i saw but i wish the end fight ended in a draw.

Other than Zatoich 1 and 2, my favorites are Zatoich and the Chess Expert and Zatoichi's Cane Sword (forgot the numbers off the top-knot of my head).

[kungpowmaster]

I LOVE Zatoichi movies. I have quite a few. I have not seen them all. I don't know if I can pick a favorite of them all, as to me, they are all quite high quality and great. I liked Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo alot. I thought his last one was very good too. I just can't pick one.

[kungfusamurai]

I would recommend them all, but I'd say leave the '89 movie last because it's not all that great (at least, I didn't like it as much). Some of the early 70s stuff is also kind of weak, but still worth getting. Its the 1960s movies that are the ones to get. Also, the TV series is top notch. Unfortunately, they won't be getting a release here in North America any time soon (except for the first series from '74). They seem to be all well made stories right up to the last season he did it.

KFS

[kungpowmaster]

My 1st Zatoichi was the Katsu's last one. I saw it on sale, and the 1st 2DVD set of the TV series on sale at the same time, and picked them up. I loved it. Then later I saw the Beat Zatoichi on TV, and thought it was very well done as well, though I just like Shintaro a whole lot, in everything I've seen him in, well not much have I seen, beyond his Zatoichis, and Incident at Blood Pass. But anyway, I was bitten by the Zatoichi bug, and bought up all the ones I found on sale at stores and online, and bought the 1-4 box set at Borders, and have been loving every movie of these I have seen. Yes, some are better and stand out more than others, but I just like his character and acting so well, and the swordplay is awesome too.

[lillippa328]

question:


do i have to watch the Zatoichi films in chronological order?ive always wanted 2 start on em, i just found out theres 26 (27 including the terrible looking new one,right?) and I wanted to know if its better 2 start on 1. I need Zatoichi vs One-Armed Swordsmen to complete my OAS collection...

[kungpowmaster]

I would not call the Beat one "terrible", it was very decent, if not quite good, to me. But it's not the classic Zatoichi.

[vengeanceofhumanlanterns]

question:


do i have to watch the Zatoichi films in chronological order?ive always wanted 2 start on em, i just found out theres 26 (27 including the terrible looking new one,right?) and I wanted to know if its better 2 start on 1. I need Zatoichi vs One-Armed Swordsmen to complete my OAS collection...


Not really, but it would be nice. They do tie in together fairly well. Yes you need Zatoichi vs the One Armed Swordsman to cpmplete the collection. It's one of the best of the series IMO.

[vengeanceofhumanlanterns]

Just watched Zatoichi vs Yojimbo (a VHS version I rented from Facets Video years ago with waaay better english translations than AnimEgo's) This film is bleak. The bleakest of the series IMO. An excellent storyline and all the characters in the film deliver. I love this film. Definitely one of my faves of the series.

[daisho2004]

JFYI: Out of the 26 Zatoichi movies made #16 Zatoichi's Pilgrimage is the only one that never got a legit release! If you wondering why I heard it had something to do with his Family and the rights to this one movie, pretty stupid! But Merlin over @SamuraiDVD.com did obtain a remastered print and subtitled it himself, so you need to add that to complete your entire collection.

[jrcma]

What do people think the best Zatoichi fight is?

[daisho2004]

jrcxma: What do people think the best Zatoichi fight is?

This is a very hard question to answer there are so many fights scenes that are great that it really is almost impossible to give you an answer!

[kungfusamurai]

The great thing about the Zatoichi films is that Shintaro Katsu displays the highest quality swordsmanship in all of them. There are some that are more interesting than others, like when he has to go one on one against a Samurai. Those fights usually require multiple swings of the sword, whereas whenever he kills the Yakuza henchmen or the Oyabun (boss), it's one quick swing without much resistance.

One of the more interesting fighting moments I watched recently was in the TV series. I think it was the second last season where the final fight scene starts with him masquerading as a local official Zatoichi had befriended and was being forced to turn in Zatoichi to some corrupt governor and his men. He's wearing the triangle had low, so you can't see his face, he's wearing the man's uniform, and he's got the man's katana in his belt. The men who surround him think it's the official, and then Zatoichi let's loose, fighting with the sword in the normal manner (up instead of down), cutting down about 6 guys! It was really cool, like watching Wakayama Tomisaborou in action. He even does as spin of the sword to turn it backwards and stab the guy behind him. Eventually he starts fighting in the usual manner (sword down), but it was pretty cool for those first 10 seconds watching him fight like his Lone Wolf & Cub brother.

KFS

[vengeanceofhumanlanterns]

Some of his more challenging duels with main adversaries were in Samaritan, I think this is the end fight where he is trying to keep an inspector from killing someone who dosen't deserve to die, the fight is while it's snowing and Zato has a very close call with him. Vengeance was always a personal fave. Meets the One Armed Swordsman is really good fighting throughout. The Chess Expert is great too. His fight with his actual brother tomisaburo in The Chest Of Gold, being dragged about by him while on horseback is pretty good too. There are a few more I can't remember them right now, but they are all pretty good. The Tv series, as kungfusamurai pointed out, is really good.

[jrcma]

yeah thank 4 tellin me the best fight.

any other people may suggest their favourite fights as well.

[daisho2004]

Again this is just a matter of preference you have to watch them all and decide which one you like the best. We all have our favorite movies so its only natural we all have our favorite fight scenes. I think Zatoichi 89' had some of the best fight scenes as well as being in my opinion one of the best films. Also "Festival of Fire" was great.

[odioustrident]

I don't know anything about Zatoichi films. Do the HK/Taiwanese Zatoichi movies have a different choreography style or more action compared to the Japanese stuff?

[jrcma]

How good is the 2003 Zatoichi?

[daisho2004]

Totally different type of Zatoichi movie more darker I liked it, but again you'll either hate it or love it! Nothing like the originals.

[jrcma]

Totally different type of Zatoichi movie more darker I liked it, but again you'll either hate it or love it! Nothing like the originals.

from a trailer i see there is a lot more blood.

[vengeanceofhumanlanterns]

The episode I was referring to was actually Zatoichi Challenged. The government official samurai who wants to destroy the young artist insists on carrying out his duty. The end fight is one of the very best in the series. the fights where zato looks like he may very well lose the duel are of course the more entertaining. But, it wasn't Samaritan, though a good film, it was Challenged I thought had one of his best fight scenes. real good story too.

[WuxiaFan]

from a trailer i see there is a lot more blood.

ZATOICHI (2003) was one of my all time favorites. Beat's Zatoichi is different than Katsu's, but I thought he did a great job. The blood is all CGI, which is why a lot of people don't like it. Ultimately, Shintaro Katsu IS Zatoichi.