Zatoichi (Jap movie)

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Credit and my thanks to Lynx (1st to post a reply on this blog) for allowing me to post the following review of his on Jap film, Zatoichi.

Bear in mind that he watched this in Singapore (e.g. reference to "NC-16 ", which is a local film classification).

ZATOICHI
Opening paragraph:
"With my eyes wide open, yet I cannot see..." Quoted from Zatoichi in
this movie of conflicts. Classified as action adventure samurai movie,
it is also a bloody funny comedy with heart-wrenching serious moments.
Comes complete with a local village idiot and idiotic, bumbling
sidekick
(i.e. typical Hollywood movie). But this is executed brilliantly and is
good entertainment.

Storyline:
A blind masseur, Zatoichi, whose sword cuts oppoents down faster than
chopping carrots, decides to retrench the local blood-sucking
authorities, a yakuza gang after some appeals.

Technicals:
Lots of blood in this movie - sprays, droplets and fountains of it
(enough to make a vampire's knees grow weak and the young lady beside
me
to cringe, "This is only a NC-16 movie" to her female companion). The
silliness in the amount blood is intended by the director to make the
movie cartoonish and unrealistic for the audience. Reduce the
seriousness. This is a irreverent commercial film from director Kitano
Takeshi, who is more well known for arty films.

Do not dismiss this as a typical bloodfest movie. Comical parts include
the "synchronised" farming and "synchronised" fighting. The slapstick
humour is good due to excellent build-up and good acting and is going
to
make you ROTFL (i.e. the gambling scene). There are dance scenes like
any normal samurai movie but with a twist... watch for the performances
by The Stripes.

Flashbacks are often used but are not easily recognisable. Regard scene
as a flashback if the same character you have seen, is appearing in a
totally different environment. Flashbacks are important as they are
used to deliver the "seriousness" in this movie.

Language used in this period movie is standard Tokyo Japanese.

Keywords to understand this movie:
Irreverent. Non-conforming. Different. Consumer entertainment.

Hunks: Tadanobu Asanou as Genttori Hasuke (the bodyguard, yojimbo).
Babes: Geisha in red kimono? :P

Things/scenes to watch out for:
The first 10 minutes! Do not miss the synchromised farming!
Gambling scene. Some guy trying hard to listen to win.
"Don't make eyes at me!"
"It depends on your face." During bathtub conversation.

Ratings: NC-16. Violence. No nudity

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