Plot: What’s it about?
Zatoichi (Beat Takeshi) is a master swordsman, one who could duel a dozen men and stand his ground. His blade is well known, as is his blindness, which makes his skill all the more impressive. Zatoichi wanders from town to town, taking in a modest income from gambling sessions and massages. Yes, he not only wields a blade, but he has gifted hands and puts them to use. When he arrives in a mountain village, he quickly learns that gang leader Ginzo runs the town, though not everyone approves of his tactics. Zatoichi encounters two geishas who seek to avenge their parents’ deaths, but no sooner does the meeting take place than Ginzo has his men on Zatoichi’s trailer. Will Zatoichi have to square off with Ginzo and his men and if so, can even his blade hold fast against such enemies?
As a fan of the original Zatoichi series of films and television, I was interested to see what Takeshi Kitano’s vision of the beloved character would entail. In his tribute to the classic series Zatoichi, Takeshi crafts another incredible motion picture. He pays immense tribute to the original in tone and execution, but also puts his own spirit into the production. As a massive fan of the Zatoichi series, I was glad to see Takeshi involved in the revisit from the start. This movie is a great example of what a masterful filmmaker Takeshi is, as both a director and as a star. I normally dislike remakes and re-imaginings, but Kitano finds a great balance in Zatoichi and delivers a worthy tribute to the classic blind swordsman series.
Video: How does it look?
The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is one dynamic visual effort, a transfer that really shines in high definition. The image shows off remarkable depth, which means detail sparkles and even the finest of detail can be seen here. The colors look great as well, if a little off here and there. Nothing to be concerned about, but there is a slight bit of color inconsistency. No problems with contrast however, which leaves us with one fantastic presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
In a disappointing turn of events, the original Japanese soundtrack has only a Dolby Digital 5.1 option, while the English dub track is DTS HD 5.1. This is a severe let down, but I chose to listen to the original soundtrack, despite the lack of a lossless option. This sounds just like the DVD, of course. The intense battle scenes make you duck the blades and wipe the blood off your clothes, thanks to skilled use of the surrounds. These action scenes have the most power, but normal scenes exhibit surround presence also, such as the various sounds as the town is explored. The music adds in some depth also, while dialogue is clean and never provides an instant of concern. This is a good soundtrack, but a lossless option would have added so much more. This disc also includes a Spanish language track, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a brief featurette, as well as some cast interviews.
