Plot: What’s it about?
Zatoichi (Shintaro Katsu) has wandered the lands time and again, doing whatever needed to be done. His word has been as strong as thick oak, even when he has suffered great pains in order to fulfill his promise. So as he delivers the infant of a woman on death’s doorstep, he promises to carry out her last wishes and is determined to follow through. Zatoichi is able to see the child through the harsh delivery conditions, but as expected, the mother perishes. In her dying moments, she asked the blind swordsman to take the infant to its father, in the town of Shiobara. The journey will not be brisk or simple, but Zatoichi is a man of his word and come whatever, he will make sure the baby is handed over to the father. But the situation becomes complicated when he reaches Shiobara, as the father is nowhere to be found. He entrusts the infant to father’s sister, Oya-e and the two strike up an instant friendship. So when the local yakuza moves in on the woman’s inn and vows to turn it into a brother, Zatoichi decides to step in. He further enrages the yakuza when he demands local performers be allowed to work without taxation. Tetsugoro, the yakuza boss, puts a price out on the blind swordsman, then the baby’s father returns home. When a misunderstanding could lead to bloodshed, can Zatoichi iron out the situation?
A lot of movies have sequels, numerous movies have multiple sequels, and some films even spawn franchises. In the case of Zatoichi, a franchise would be an understatement, since the original film inspired over twenty sequels and over one hundred television episodes. In other words, this is not just a bunch of movies, Zatoichi is a cultural icon and even all these years later, the character remains beloved around the world. Zatoichi at Large is the twenty-third film in the series, so can Zatoichi still have a sharp blade this deep into the series? The blind swordsman has more edge than you’d expect, but Zatoichi at Large is not one of the best installments. Then again, any series with so many volumes is certain to hit some speed bumps. And just to be clear, this is still a solid movie and fans of the series should be satisfied. I just wouldn’t rank it with the finest installments, as the plot is a tad thin and we’ve seen so much like this. I mean, if you’ve seen twenty-two other episodes with the same character, then some overlap is unavoidable. This film does throw out an unexpected moment or two however, such as when Zatoichi breastfeeds an infant. The usual blend of drama, action, and humor is present, with a lot of violent battles and bloodshed. I can recommend this to anyone who enjoys Zatoichi films or samurai cinema in general.
Video: How does it look?
Zatoichi at Large is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. AnimEigo jumped through hoops to make sure this treatment was top notch, using a new 35MM print and various enhancement techniques. AnimEigo has worked to reduce film grain and defects, as well as enhance the colors and contrast, which provides us one hell of a visual treatment. The print looks good, which allows for a sharper than expected image at all times. I found colors to be bright and bold, but within a natural scope, while flesh tones seem normal throughout. The contrast is well handled also, as black levels look stark and refined, so detail is solid from start to finish. I knew this would look good, but I didn’t expect it look this good, so kudos to AnimEigo on their efforts.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original Japanese language track is preserved here, in a solid, but basic presentation. I have no real complaints to lodge here, especially given the age of the material, but the audio just isn’t that memorable. But the basic elements come across well, which is what counts, so I guess we shouldn’t complain much. The dialogue is clean and crisp, while music and sound effects also sound good. I didn’t detect much in the way of age related flaws, but a few minor defects pop up here and there. This disc also includes English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some character profiles, an assortment of production notes, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
