Zatoichi

[GOBOY]

Zatoichi

there is something like 27 movies ,the newest was 2003

Zatoichi seems to be only a harmless blind anma (masseur) who wanders around the country making his living by gambling; however, he is also highly-skilled in swordsmanship, specifically iaijutsu. He does not carry a traditional katana, instead using a well-made shikomizue (cane sword).
i have watched all 27 .they were all subbed
do a search at wikipedia.for more info on it.

[Jason Moore]

Zatoichi was great, but my favorite was the zatoichi 2 movie...that was good!

[Bladeaddict]

i wish i had that movie... lolz...i've never seen it=(
where can i get it?

[Jason Moore]

I found mine at blockbuster for like 6 dollars..:cheesy:

[Firehand10k]

fivestarlaser.com has a few

http://www.fivestarlaser.com/shop/movies/scan/MM=98f9362bd88eadeb70f78cc5471a68ea:266:295:38.htm l?mv_more_ip=1&mv_nextpage=dvdlg&pf=prefix&mv_arg=

and yesasia.com i think may have more but I'm having trouble getting in there tonight. If you want I also know where to get region free DVD players w/ upconvert to HD for about $60 +shipping

[Brian Brazier]

You can find most of the Movies on Overstock and Amazon, as well as the Tv Series dvd's, also there is a new zatoichi (he has the red sword and white hair) which is very good.

[Jason Moore]

That is the zatoichi I am talking about!

[RedZorak]

If you get the new Beat Takeshi Zatoichi... it usually comes with another Takeshi film called "Sonatine." Watch this film. Three times. And then cry yourself to sleep;)

[Brian Brazier]

I like all the different versions, but Shintaro Katsu is still my favorite, he plays the nieve smartass so well

[Jason Moore]

If you get the new Beat Takeshi Zatoichi... it usually comes with another Takeshi film called "Sonatine." Watch this film. Three times. And then cry yourself to sleep;)

That Sonatine was pure garbage...:horseplop:

[Brian Brazier]

I guess I got a diffent version mine only came withe Beat Takeshi Zatoichi, looks like I'm not missing anything though

[RedZorak]

That Sonatine was pure garbage...:horseplop:

The be honest... I fell asleep the first time I saw it. It has it's ups and downs as do all of his films. He does have a really weird style of filming too. But the ending to "Sonatine" is just too messed up...

[alant]

Wasn't there a television series?

[GOBOY]

not that i know of. only the 27 movies .and 26 of them with the same guy playing Zatoihi

[alant]

According to Wikipedia:

"The television series of Zatoichi ran for four seasons, with Shintaro Katsu in the lead role."

I think it's in video stores with several episodes on each CD. Maybe 1/2 hour episodes?

[Brian Brazier]

Yes there is a TV Series as well as The Blind Swordsman Movie Series, not all of the TV series is on DVD yet, but the first 6 (maybe more) are, you can pick them up on Amazon.com just do a search for zatoichi television

[Brian Brazier]

link to the first 4 Tv Series box set http://www.amazon.com/Zatoichi-Blind-Swordsman-Vols-1-4/dp/B000O7864G/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/104-5744431-9683957?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1189536613&sr=8-3, $30 vs. buying the individual for $20 each

[Richard Johnson]

Katsu also plays a samurai cop in the Hanzo the Razor trilogy. A totally different view.

[bobO]

hey guys my first post here,Hello,anyway I watch zato every sat morning on the ifc channel.Great stuff,I just got netflix and stocked up on booku movies I'll try to keep a review up of the good ones.I've got the whole lone wolf series coming , can't wait.

[Jason Moore]

Welcome to the forum BobO! I am always looking for good Samurai movies, but find that most fall short on either story or action...

[Justice]

One of my favorites is the 1989 version Shintaro Katsu directed himself. I read a review saying he was a slower, less action based role in this one so I avoided the movie for a while, but the person who reviewed it was either blind as an anma or was used to Crouching Tiger type movies. Shintaro Katsu was very quick, extremely agressive, and choreographed the fights incredibly well, much better than the original run of Zatoichi films.

[Nanshoji]

I saw one of the old zatoichis, He was a massure, and the last fight he killed a samurai and was cut on the shoulder, but he lived. My favs would be the zatoichi I mentioned, as well as The Last Samurai, The Shoguns samurai, and Seven Samurai. If Im not mistaken, RedZorack, your avatar is from Seven Samurai.

[RedZorak]

Sounds like you've seen the new Zatoichi with Beat Takeshi... however it might be one of the old ones (I haven't seen them all). Yes, my avatar is Seven Samurai.

[rick]

I loved that movie seven samuri it was subbed but still awsome