Plot: What’s it about?
As a man prepares to die, he passes on some cash and instructions to Zatoichi (Shintaro Katsu), who happened upon the man. His last wish is that the money is delivered to Taichi, though no further information was given. As he travels to find this Taichi, Zatoichi encounters a blind priest, who makes his living as a musician. He is able to tell a lot about Zatoichi, especially that he is no normal blind man. The priest is simple enough, but for some reason, his comments cause a stir in Zatoichi. The two men venture into the town of Ichinomiya, where the blind swordsman runs into the Taichi he has sought. Taichi resides in an inn run by his mother, who turns out to be the widow of the dead man and the mother of Taichi. Zatoichi then learns that Ichinomiya has turned from serene town to a dark, corrupt town. The yakuza have taken over the streets and for the locals, the town has become quite dangerous. A man named Boss Gonzo is the main crook of Ichinomiya, his men shaking down the local merchants to absurd degrees. The blind swordsman befriends a woman named Cho, who has been forced into prostitution by Gonzo’s henchmen. Zatoichi longs to settle the score with Gonzo, but he is persuaded to leave his violent ways in the past. But when Cho’s former lover arrives and vows to kill him, can Zatoichi lay down his sword?
This thirteenth volume in the Zatoichi series isn’t one of the best, but it is solid and provides ample entertainment. The premise is a throwback to earlier films in the series, yet the movie doesn’t feel recycled in the least. The story is by no means given the short shrift, but in this installment, the focus is on the action. A dynamic battle on a narrow bridge is the highlight, but Zatoichi’s Vengeance supplies several memorable conflicts. The visuals here are a notch or two above the usual series entry, which is perhaps why the action scenes stand out so much. A plain vanilla fight filmed with immense skill can be a spectacle, so when a high level battle is filmed with that skill, there is no limit to how effective the scene can be. But Zatoichi’s Vegeance is not a parade of senseless violence, as even Zatoichi himself questions his violent tendencies. His conscience is explored at length in this picture, though of course, he always returns to his sword. His faith in his lifestyle is shaken by a blind priest, but he struggles through his inner demons and when the chips are down, he comes through in grand fashion. All the classic Zatoichi elements are on showcase here, in a solid and enjoyable installment. As usual, Home Vision’s disc looks and sounds terrific, so this is more than recommended to fans of the series.
Video: How does it look?
Zatoichi’s Vengeance is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. The image here is quite good, with a clean source print to start us off. A few nicks and some minor grain can be seen, but these defects never amount to much. I’ve seen a couple of other home video releases of this movie and rest assured, this treatment is a vast improvement over previous releases available to fans. The colors have solid brightness, but remain natural in scope, while flesh tones come off as warm and consistent. I found contrast to be good also, thanks to well balanced black levels and accurate detail at all times. This movie has some great visuals, so I am pleased that Home Vision has issued such a great presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
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 audio technology at the time 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 the film’s theatrical trailer.
