34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a Great Movie, October 25, 2001
I have seen 4 of the Zatoichi movies and have never been dissapointed in any of them. This Movie is no exception. It has a great story and great acting and some of the best martial art weapons action you will ever see. The final fight in this film is beautifully filmed and is among one of the best I have ever seen. I'm glad I have this film in my collection and I hope to have all the Zatoichi films. Not only is the action great but the filmwork, writing and acting are all excellent in these films.
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29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An orphan boy and forbidden pottery, August 27, 2005
This review is from: Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 17 - Zatoichi Challenged (DVD)
Poor old Zatoichi picked the wrong room for the night. Staying at an inn, he is forced to share a room with a sick woman and her son. Within minutes, the woman dies in Zatoichi's arms, and begs him to take the boy to his father, and artist named Shokichi. And the journey begins.
"Zatoichi Challenged" ("Zatoichi chikemuri kaido" or "Zatoichi's Spurting Blood Road") is a complex story, with many mini-stories within the quest for Shokichi. Along the way, the two meet a Kabuki troupe who find themselves in the middle of a contest between two rival bosses. A strange and powerful Samurai seems to cross Ichi's path at many random points. Leaving the Kabuki troupe, Ichi and the boy find Shokichi, but then discover a spiderweb of corruption and intrigue, as Shokichi is forced to design illegal pornographic pottery that is sold at a high price to collection lords. The identity of the mystery Samurai is revealed. A showdown is inevitable.
The dual-natured story of "Zatoichi Challenged" is unusual, but interesting. The connecting thread is the growing affection between Zatoichi and the boy, an affection that must eventually be severed. As Zatoichi knows, he is no fit father figure, and the boy's real family must be found and protected.
There is a great final duel between Zatoichi and the mystery Samurai, even more impressive that the usual movie-ending slaughter as Ichi destroys 30-40 mooks at a go. The mystery Samurai is powerful, honorable, and perhaps more skilled than the blind masseur himself. It is really up in the air as to who will win, and the the consequences will be.
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35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Zatoichi Challenged, June 7, 2002
Let me start out by saying that If I knew about this, Shintaro Katsu would have gotten props from me a long time ago for his superb swordsmanship. Zatoichi Challenged was one of my absolute favorite episodes. Lush scenery, easy to follow plotline, and some of the most unparalleled REALTIME swordplay that this aspiring swordsman has EVER seen. To put it bluntly, this whole series is simply eye-popping. A fair warning to those who don't like to miss much with their movies: When watching ANYTHING from this series.........DON'T BLINK.
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