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Zatôichi (2003)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
6 September 2003 (Japan)
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Tagline:
His Sword Made Him a Hero... His Courage Made Him a Legend. This Summer, Justice is Blind.
Plot:
The blind masseur/swordsman comes to an town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming family, he meets two women with their own agenda. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
21 wins
&
10 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(9 articles)
Thor’s Warriors Three Confirmed
(From Screen Rant. 17 November 2009, 9:01 AM, PST)
Marvel Locates The Warriors Three for Thor
(From FilmSchoolRejects. 16 November 2009, 9:45 PM, PST)
(From Screen Rant. 17 November 2009, 9:01 AM, PST)
Marvel Locates The Warriors Three for Thor
(From FilmSchoolRejects. 16 November 2009, 9:45 PM, PST)
User Comments:
A absolutely enchanting film!
more (168 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Takeshi Kitano | ... | Zatôichi / Ichi (as Beat Takeshi) | |
| Tadanobu Asano | ... | Hattori Genosuke | |
| Michiyo Ookusu | ... | Aunt Oume | |
| Gadarukanaru Taka | ... | Shinkichi | |
| Daigorô Tachibana | ... | Geisha Seitaro 'Osei' Naruto | |
| Yûko Daike | ... | Geisha Okinu Naruto | |
| Yui Natsukawa | ... | O-Shino, Hattori's Wife | |
| Ittoku Kishibe | ... | Boss Inosuke Ginzo | |
| Saburô Ishikura | ... | Boss Tashichi Ogi | |
| Akira Emoto | ... | Tavern Owner Pops | |
| Ben Hiura | ... | Tavern Gramps | |
| Kohji Miura | ... | Lord Sakai | |
| Hideboh | ... | Dancing Farmer (as The Stripes) | |
| Ron II | ... | Dancing Farmer (as The Stripes) | |
| Suji | ... | Dancing Farmer (as The Stripes) |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Takeshi Kitano's Zatoichi (International: English title) (informal title)
The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (USA)
Zatoichi (International: English title)
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The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi (USA)
Zatoichi (International: English title)
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MPAA:
Rated R for strong stylized bloody violence.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
116 min
Country:
Language:
Colour:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Switzerland:16 (canton of Zurich) |
Brazil:18 |
Canada:18A (Ontario) |
Iceland:16 |
Portugal:M/16 |
Argentina:13 (DVD rating) |
Sweden:15 |
Argentina:16 |
Australia:MA |
Canada:14A |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-18 |
France:-12 |
Germany:16 |
Hong Kong:III |
Ireland:18 |
Italy:T |
Japan:R-15 |
Netherlands:16 |
New Zealand:R16 |
Norway:18 |
Peru:14 |
Philippines:R-13 |
Singapore:NC-16 |
South Korea:15 |
Spain:13 |
Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) |
UK:18 |
USA:R
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
"Zatô" was the lowest of the four official ranks (kan'i) within the Tôdô-za - the Kyôto-based guild for the blind established early in the Muromachi Period (1392-1573), and abolished in 1871 (the fourth year of the Meiji Restoration). The three other ranks, in ascending order, were "kôtô", "bettô", and "kengyô" - as in Shiranui kengyô (1960).
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Grindhouse (2007)
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FAQ
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Zatoichi is the updated version of cult Japanese show some decades back.Here a blind swordsman goes to a small town controlled by a ruthless gang and abuses the people there. 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 is the first ever Takeshi Kitano film I have ever seen and I got to say it turned out to be a rather pleasant surprise. Prior to this I have heard so much about Kitano's work and was really expecting to see a really good film. Add to that every samurai film I see normally gets compared to Kurosawa's works like Rashomon, and Ran which of course are tough acts to follow. I thought the film was well made in many aspects. The cinematography was really beautiful and well made. The costumes like most period films were finely crafted and were beautiful. The scoring was also very good.
I always find it rather hard to laugh in a film that is non-English. I guess I always believed that humour doesn't always transcend different cultures. What may be funny for one may seem rather dull in another. This film however debunks that thought. I found myself laughing over a lot of scenes in the film. Even in scenes where you do not think there could be a funny moment Kitano is able to deliver one just to break the tension a little.
The fight scenes in this film were also well planned and I though it was done realistically but not necessarily done to shock the audiences with bucket loads of blood and mangled body parts. It was effective but not too disturbing.
I also thought that the overall story of the film was good. I was particularly interested with the story of the siblings and it's eventual resolution at the end of the movie.
Takeshi Kitano's Zatoichi is a great film which now ranks as one of my and hopefully it will be to other people. I'm already anticipating the next film from this great film and will also look for some of his earlier works.