A blind masseur wanders the japanese countryside, dispensing moral justice and wry advice. Despite the bizarre mix of ingredients, it all looks like the simple result of kitano s boisterous mission to entertain by any means necessary. Chieko saito was a longtime friend of shintaro katsu, the legendary actor who played zatoichi in 26 films, from 1962 to 1989. The blind swordsman the tale of zatoichi continues english subtitled shintaro katsu. Kitano stars as the blind wanderer with a distinctive red cane and a shock of platinum blonde hair. Finally, the zatoichi script is here for all you fans of the second movie by takeshi kitano starring beat takeshi. Takeshi kitanos zatoichi about a million times more cool than daredevil t hat incredible japanese institution, takeshi kitano action maestro, art. While wandering, zatoichi discovers a remote mountain village at the mercy of ginzo, a ruthless gangleader. Beat takeshi kitano directs and plays the title role in this tribute to the wildly popular blind swordsman of japanese cinema who was the hero of more than 20 movies and a television series from the early 60s to the late 80s. Takeshi kitano, both as director and actor in the character of ichi, seems to be blending more modern influences with the older themes.
However, behind this humble facade, he is a master swordsman gifted with a lightningfast draw and breathtaking precision. Guys from bonn to buenos aires who nod off after 10 minutes of yasujiro ozus tokyo monogatari. Zatoichi script transcript from the screenplay andor. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a fictional character featured in one of japans longestrunning. With takeshi kitano, tadanobu asano, yui natsukawa, michiyo yasuda. He plays, as usual, a man with an impassive face, few words, and sudden bursts of action that end in a few seconds.
In the opening scene for example, some yakuza come upon zatoichi takeshi kitano and tell a little boy to steal his sword. Both are set during the late edo period 1830s and 1840s. Zatoichi embodies the kinds of contradictory elements that make takeshi kitano japans most intriguing contemporary actordirector. Explore alternative cinema that captures the spirit and culture of japan while expanding your knowledge of japanese life, history and art. A 2003 film, zatoichi, takeshi kitano directed by, who also starred in the film zatoichi. The blind masseurswordsman comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming family, he meets two women with their own agenda. May 14, 2010 the zatoichi series has long been an entry point for nonjapanese into japanese films. Takeshi kitano was cajoled into making zatoichi by a stripclub owner. Director takeshi kitano sonatine, brother takes on japanese cinematic legend, zatoichi.
A 2003 film, zatoichi, was directed by takeshi kitano who also starred as zatoichi in the film. While revenge is the common driver of most movies in this style, it is rare that a director will dwell on the psychological impact of the violence that inspires the revenge. Beat takeshi kitano is widely considered to be japans foremost media personality. After being released from jail on charges of petty theft, ichi finds. Takeshi kitanos new film takes on a fullyformed character the sightless swordsman zatoichi as played by shintano katsu is the star of some 26 films from his inception in 1962 to 1989 and numerous samurai cliches, and intertwines them to produce a work that blends humour and wisdom, caricature and. Zatoichi 1 hours and 56 minutes movie 2003 blind zatoichi makes his living by gambling and giving massages. Takeshi kitano has always made some people very angry. Zatoichi on the road 1963 the criterion collection. The film premiered on september 7, 2000 at the venice film festival. With its lightningfast swordplay, sleightofhand dice games, and codes of honor upheld and betrayed, this first chapter sets the stage for all the zatoichi adventures to come. Whipfast cuts like zatoichis sword strikes slice through the casually paced and understated cinematography. It premiered on september 3, 2003 at the venice film festival, where it won the prestigious silver lion award, and went on to numerous other awards both at home and abroad. I know, i know, i still need to get the cast names in there and ill be eternally tweaking it, so if you have any corrections, feel free to drop me a line.
Jun 20, 2012 beat takeshi kitano directs and plays the title role in this tribute to the wildly popular blind swordsman of japanese cinema who was the hero of more than 20 movies and a television series from the early 60s to the late 80s. In 2003, takeshi kitano wrote, directed and appeared in a new highbudget zatoichi film, called simply zatoichi zatoichi. In conjunction with the new film, an hourlong documentary on the zatoichi films was shown on tv in japan, called the world of zatoichi a. The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by novelist kan shimozawa. Takeshi kitano, tadanobu asano photo gallery 16 stills german trailer 1. May 26, 2003 events, film aff comments off on the blind swordsman.
Whipfast cuts like zatoichi s sword strikes slice through the casually paced and understated cinematography. The tale of zatoichi 1962 the criterion collection. Mar 19, 2004 takeshi kitanos zatoichi about a million times more cool than daredevil t hat incredible japanese institution, takeshi kitano action maestro, arthouse auteur, slapstick comic and kids. Zatoichi is takeshi kitano s revival of a movie series that spanned decades until the 80s. The film was awarded the silver lion venice film festival in 2003 for best direction. Zatoichi by director takeshi kitano featuring himself in the classic role. Its written and directed by takeshi kitano also known as beat takeshi, and stars him in the title role. Feudal japan in the 19th century is a time of cruel injustice, corrupt clanleaders and violent oppression. But nothing and we mean nothing is better than watching a blind samurai kicking ass in the comfort of your home theater. The zatoichi series has long been an entry point for nonjapanese into japanese films. At 16 years after the last film, zatoichi returns with the same freshness, the same ambiguous internalized morality and the same highly enjoyable swordsmanship fighting some of the best villains of the series including shintaro katsus own son.
Zatoichi 2003 takeshi kitano synopsis, characteristics. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of zatoichi. Limited edition numbered 35mm film cell, 3 art cards and full colour illustrated 12 page booklet with production. He has a code, but enforces it according to his own rules. The result is bloody, with skirmish after skirmish leading to the final fights, when the formerly ambivalent ichi is drawn into the fray. And theres really only one blind samurai worth his salt. This time around, ichi takeshi kitano wanders into a village under siege by rival gangs, just as a talented, young ronin and two justiceseeking geishas tip the balance of one gangs power and paranoia. The itinerant zatoichi comes across a dying man, who begs the masseur to escort a young woman back to her family in edo. Since so many older films were being remade in the 2000s it was only natural that someone would do zatoichi. Beat takeshi kitano directs and plays the title role in this tribute to the wildly popular blind swordsman of japanese cinema who was the hero. And as said above, arguable the most beautiful thing kitano ever has created. Cornered by ginzos ittoku kishibe henchmen, the two geishas are rescued by zatoichi takeshi kitano who dispatches giznos forces with. Zatoichi stars and is directed by takeshi kitano, who drew on his background as a comedian, entertainer and established film maker to win the venice film festival silver lion award for best direction in 2003.
Despite the bizarre mix of ingredients, it all looks like the simple result of kitanos boisterous mission to entertain by any means necessary. While he is known primarily as a comedian and tv host in his native japan, abroad he is known almost exclusively for his work as a filmmaker. But all of this serves to reveal control and skill, like its titular character. To a remote mountain town comes zatoichi kitano, a. Zatoichi 2003 the blind masseurswordsman comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming family, he meets two women with their own agenda. Zatoichi 2003 trailer takeshi kitano tadanobu asano.
But looking past the outer layers, zatoichi is a film where kitano, as always, plays with form and function, experiments with editing here using the films sounds and rhythm as a guide and finally there is the dance act, which just has kitano written all over it. Takeshi kitano biography, movie highlights and photos. A stage version of the director takashi miike zatoichi starred show aikawa. A story about a blind samurai, who wanders the country helping poor people to rid themselves of the evil reign of tyrannizing oppressors. In addition to his work in the film industry he is an active newspaper columnist, an author and poet, and a ubiquitous presence on japanese television where he can be seen in up to eight prime time shows per week. Beat takeshi kitano directs and plays the title role in this tribute to. Shintaro katsu took his final bow as zatoichi, the nomadic blind swordsman, in this martial arts action saga from japan.
It was originally released by the daiei motion picture company later acquired by kadokawa pictures zatoichis flashing sword is the seventh episode in the 26part film series devoted to the character of. Takeshi kitano proves himself to the master of controlling tone, elegantly slipping between camp, pulp, and everything between in this playful yarn. In his 1993 book this is why people hate me he ascribes this to an inclination for blurting out rude truths, the stuff people would never dare mention at school or in their peer group. Since then, with the cute but cloying kikujiro, the entertaining but. As tensions mount between rival yakuza clans, one boss hires a formidable but ailing ronin as his clans musclewhile the other employs a humble, moral blind masseur named ichi. Xvidhls torrent or any other torrent from category. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a fictional character featured in one of japans longestrunning series of films, as well as a television series.
Zatoichi zatoichi le samurai seville signature collection production company. But behind his humble facade, zatoichi is a master swordsman, gifted with lightningfast draw and strokes of breathtaking precision. With shingo katori, takashi sorimachi, satomi ishihara, chieko baisho. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a 2003 japanese samurai dramaaction film, dire cted, written, coedited by and starring takeshi kitano beat. Zatoichi is takeshi kitanos revival of a movie series that spanned decades until the 80s.
A blind master swordsman attempts to lead a quiet life with his wife but he is provoked back into battle. Cult antihero zatoichi is back in a swordfighting adventure written, directed and starring takeshi kitano. To view this video download flash player videos 360 view images zatoichi. The blind swordsman 9 bluray deluxe set the colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. Zatoichi was one of the classic period piece franchises in 1960s70s japanese cinema with over 20 releases and a tv series. Zatoichi is a 19th century blind nomad who makes his living as a gambler and masseur. While it might not be the absolute best of the series it is definitely somewhere in the top 10. Masterclass in paris 32 minutes, making of 40 minutes. Little pleasures, like steaming hot pie pizza or rhubarb, a good comic book, a fine beer, killer klowns, spaghetti westerns or even a giant robot flick. Limited edition numbered 35mm film cell, 3 art cards and full colour illustrated 12 page booklet with production notes by takeshi kitano 2 new interviews with takeshi kitano, interviews with producer masayuki mori, sword fight choregraphers tatsumi nikamoto and hiroaki tokorocostume designer kazuko kurosawa, production. Ichi takeshi kitano aka zatoichi, slices up a couple of roving bandits when they try to intimidate him. Brother is a 2000 gangster film starring, written, directed, and edited by takeshi kitano. Released 2003, zatoichi stars takeshi kitano, tadanobu asano, michiyo ohkusu, yui natsukawa the r movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 55 min, and received a score of 75 out of 100 on metacritic. The honorable swordsman agrees, but in so doing, he catapults himself between two warring yakuza clans, each with its own interest in kidnapping the girl.
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