The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi

Miramax Films | Release Date: July 23, 2004

7.4	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 44 Ratings

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DeanomiteFeb 8, 2020

The first and probably only samurai movie i know to use lots of cgi blood. The acting is good. The music incorporates sound effects, interesting. The script is weak, that's hard to overcome. Characters are not very developed andThe first and probably only samurai movie i know to use lots of cgi blood. The acting is good. The music incorporates sound effects, interesting. The script is weak, that's hard to overcome. Characters are not very developed and photography is a little monochrome. Also, i always kind of found the blind samurai concept implausible, partly I just don't get the point. Also its more corny than funny to me. And boring.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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Dimitris01Nov 22, 2013

The story could be better developed since there are pacing problems, needless secondary characters and a guy who behaves like a geisha. However 'Zatoichi' has a cool protagonist, a dangerous villain and bloody, realistic action. Moreover theThe story could be better developed since there are pacing problems, needless secondary characters and a guy who behaves like a geisha. However 'Zatoichi' has a cool protagonist, a dangerous villain and bloody, realistic action. Moreover the acting is good, there are several intense moments and the ending will satisfy your need for retribution.
argonautis.eu… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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Kai82Jan 3, 2020

Takeshi Kitano at his best. Zatoichi is a rivival of a famous Japanese movie series based of the books of Kan Shimozawa. Outside of Japan it is nearly unknown (or at least in my country). Back then I did barely know that a series exists andTakeshi Kitano at his best. Zatoichi is a rivival of a famous Japanese movie series based of the books of Kan Shimozawa. Outside of Japan it is nearly unknown (or at least in my country). Back then I did barely know that a series exists and had to look the rest up. Zatoichi is a blind masseur with unmatched sword skills and sharpened senses that gives him more perception than many others. He is a wanderer that travels trough the country and got drag into this adventure. The movie uses and plays with many stereotypes but in an interesting and entertaining way. There are the Geisha's which travel trough the country to avenge the dead of their parents, there is the ronin (samurai without master) which is even a match for Zatoichi that struggles with his honor and his duty to help his (terminal?) ill wife and there are the townsfolk which gets ripped of by a crime syndicate (Yakuza). This is like a said a strength of this movie. If done incorrect then this would be an awful movie. But it is done in such a way that you care for all characters and want to see the resolve of their stories. Then there is Zatoichi himself. I haven't seen the old movies but Takeshi Kitano gave all in this role: Seriousness, humor, emotion, (self)irony and badassness. Then there are the side characters. All are carefully chosen. I don't know how they did it but I will say that all of them are perfect additions to this movie. I will also praise the costumes, sets and story line. Everything fits together to create something that is bigger than its parts. Overall I hope that this wont be the last Zatoichi movie. Additional Info: Takeshi Kitano made many great movies in his carer that you should definitely watch.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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TchaikovskyFeb 20, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This one of the last the Takeshi's Kitano's masterpieces, and one of the last great film's about the feudal japan well about samurai. Good Takeshi's performance as a blind Samurai. the action is very good a polished film and entertainsing.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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ShockingMay 15, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It has taken me some time, but after watching this a few times over the past few years, I understand it and appreciate it more. At first, I didn't get the bleached hair; I didn't get the profound deviation from the Shintaro Katsu series of movies that made me want to see this movie to begin with. However, once I realized that this was in no way an attempt to try to re-do or out-do Mr. Katsu's portrayal of this character, I started to appreciate it as its own movie. I began to like the supporting actors, and I even began to appreciate the dance number finale'. My only real complaints are with the CGI blood in the fight scenes. It was poorly done (think unfinished) and a distraction to the eye. Less blood and more use of angles would have greatly improved the visual effect of the scenes for me.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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JamesMDec 11, 2005

Takeshi Kitano's masterpiece. You must see this film.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

RirenJan 30, 2007

An unflinching revival of the Zatoichi series, this movie requires no knowledge of prior films, or even Japanese film history - though every drop of knowledge helps. All you really need to know is that this is an expert's product in the An unflinching revival of the Zatoichi series, this movie requires no knowledge of prior films, or even Japanese film history - though every drop of knowledge helps. All you really need to know is that this is an expert's product in the new kind of film, that which will do whatever it wants whenever it wants. What Zatoichi does that others fail at is earn at or amuse with everything it decides to do, from dance scenes to fight scenes, from innuendo to philosophy. It's not as pretty as Hero or Curse of the Golden Flower, nor are its actors as internationally recognizable - but it is considerably better at doing almost everything that those two movies do, short the wire teams. Give it a try, and bring your friends.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

MaxPayneIsGodMay 10, 2020

Didn't really know what I was getting into. It was OK, but at the same time quite farcical. You could be forgiven for thinking it was a 1980s movie with exceptionally bad CGI on a shoestring budget.
I don't have a lot to base this on, andDidn't really know what I was getting into. It was OK, but at the same time quite farcical. You could be forgiven for thinking it was a 1980s movie with exceptionally bad CGI on a shoestring budget.
I don't have a lot to base this on, and have read the "Style" of the movie was deliberate, but I do think it could have been a hell of a lot better. On a whole its a shame because some of the fight scenes are pretty entertaining, its the rest of it, literally everything else that misses the mark.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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HellHoleHorrorFeb 14, 2022

There was lots of CGI blood flying around, would have preferred real fake blood. The story was confusing but the bits of it that I understood were really good and interesting. The ending was full of stuff happening. For all of the blood thereThere was lots of CGI blood flying around, would have preferred real fake blood. The story was confusing but the bits of it that I understood were really good and interesting. The ending was full of stuff happening. For all of the blood there wasn't much violence like people heads being ripped apart and the like. Worth watching and enjoyable fantasy film full of culture, that needs concentration. I love the musical montage bits and they actually fit into the story and the world. Fantastic film with brilliant characters and wonderful musical interludes... also blood!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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