Plot: What’s it about?
Zatoichi (Shintaro Katsu) has faced countless powerful enemies, but perhaps none as powerful as Yamikubo (Masayuki Mori). Known as The Boss of Bosses, Yamikubo does whatever he pleases and considers himself above reproach. The man holds himself as an equal to the most powerful men in the world, so he taxes as he sees proper, destroys those oppose him, and does whatever is needed to maintain his position. Zatoichi meets Yamikubo when he ventures to a town known for a trade in females. As soon as the two meet, Yamikubo is impressed with the swordsman and an instant bond is formed. Both men happen to be blind, a trait which both have overcome and enhanced their skills to compensate for. Yamikubo has immense respect for his new friend and even wants to mentor Zatoichi, until a different need arises. The blind swordsman has endeared himself to some of the women he has fought to free, which means that local gangsters, pimps, and even jealous lovers wish to see him dead. So Yamikubo decrees that Zatoichi be put to death, an order which must be carried out to completion. But of course, Zatoichi has more will, skill, and intelligence than Yamikubo has ever faced. Will he be able to escape once again, or does Yamikubo simple have too much power?
This is the twenty-first installment in the Zatoichi series, with star Shintaro Katsu once again back as the blind swordsman. I know, after nineteen sequels you’d think any series would be dead on arrival, but quite the opposite is true with this franchise. I won’t argue that these later movies rival the earlier ones, but I still like these late additions. In The Festival of Fire, we watch as the blind swordsman tangles with yet another corrupt leader, only this time around, the bad guy also happens to be blind. So we have a fresh twist in that regard, but as with other volumes in the series, this one follows the typical formula. That is not bad per se, as this formula is a terrific one that yields great motion pictures. But this is by no means a retread, as ample new elements are brought in to bolster the staple ingredients. Katsu is up to his usual level of screen presence, which means his performance is top notch, of course. The Festival of Fire is darker than most Zatoichi pictures, but keeps the basic tone in line with previous installments. But do expect a less upbeat texture and some nihilism, as this is a dark one, to be sure. The action scenes are awesome though, with some of the best swordplay you’ll see at this point in the series. So all in all, a great addition to the Zatoichi series and one fans will not want to be without.
Video: How does it look?
Zatoichi: The Festival of Fire is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. As with other Zatoichi releases from AnimEigo, this presentation is one that will more than please fans. The print still has some debris, but there isn’t too much and on the whole, the print looks very clean. The colors look bright and while not that rich, it seems to be as intended, as the hues are consistent throughout and don’t appear washed out, per se. No troubles with contrast either, as black levels look sharp at all times. I think fans of the series will be quite pleased, as AnimEigo given this installment a more than solid visual presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
A solid, though unremarkable soundtrack is used here and on the whole, it handles the material in fine fashion. As expected, some hiss, pops, and other signs of wear are evident, but not as many as you might assume. In addition, these errors never become a distraction and as such, I doubt anyone will complain too much. The original Japanese language is preserved, with clean and sharp vocals that never become harsh or muddled. The limits of mono and the material’s age prevent any kind of dynamic presence, but the music and sound effects come through well enough, all things considered. This disc also includes optional English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some character bios, as well as the film’s theatrical trailer.
