Plot: What’s it about?
The blind swordsman and masseur Zatoichi (Shintaro Katsu) has been called to the home of a wealthy, powerful family to provide his services. Not as a samurai of course, but as a masseuse and although he doesn’t know it yet, the family has a secret that it will do anything to keep under wraps. The family’s head is the lord and while he runs an empire, employs numerous samurais, and holds some serious power, his mind has become troubled and he now suffers from intense madness. But his affliction is not known outside of his house, as word of this ailment would cause his empire to topple and that would be tragic. So when Zatoichi discovers this situation, his life is soon in danger and in order to maintain the secret, the family sends some samurais to silence him. Zatoichi is able to overcome and escape however, taking refuge inside a local brothel and soon, he forms a bond with one of the prostitutes. At the same time however, the local gangsters are on watch for him and an old rival, a one-armed samurai seeks to settle the score with Zatoichi. With enemies on all sides, can Zatoichi battle back and manage to overcome the odds?
Although this second Zatoichi isn’t as intricate as the original, it has a solid storyline, some nice fight scenes, and all the usual series trimmings. As the first film served as an introduction of sorts, the filmmakers were able to take this second picture right into the fray and that means more action, as well as a look into the blind swordsman’s mysterious past. The sequences with the one-armed samurai are terrific and make for a most interesting duel, as both men have been crippled in some way, yet both remain sharp and highly dangerous. As should expected, the character of Zatoichi is revealed a little more in this second visit, but as I mentioned before, this is more of an action installment, as opposed to character development based. The same kind of dark humor is also present in this movie, which keeps things moving and mixes up the content, including some cool moments with gangsters and beautiful women. This sequel has solid direction, some excellent performances, and more than a couple memorable scenes, so for a change, it actually equals the original in most respects. As such, fans of the series will not want to pass this one by, as it is well crafted and a lot of fun to watch.
Video: How does it look?
The Tale of Zatoichi Continues is presented in a 2.35:1 widescreen transfer, which is not enhanced for widescreen televisions. This release is better than expected and has less wear than the disc for The Tale of Zatoichi, was looked rough in numerous places. The print has some nicks and grain, but remains quite clean most of the time and when compared to previous editions, almost looks like a brand new movie. The contrast has some moments of less than perfect balance, but black levels come across well enough, with no detail loss or murkiness. I knew this sequel would look as good as the original film, but it seems as though the materials were in a little better shape, as this looks cleaner and sharper than the original picture.
Audio: How does it sound?
A solid, though unremarkable mono option 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 original theatrical stills.
