Product Details

• Actors: Shintarô Katsu, Jushiro Konoe, Miwa Takada, Yukiji Asaoka, Mikiko Tsubouchi
• Directors: Kenji Misumi
• Writers: Kan Shimosawa, Ryozo Kasahara
• Producers: Eiji Nishizawa, Ikuo Kubodera, Masaichi Nagata
• Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: Japanese (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: Unrated
• Studio: Homevision
• DVD Release Date: August 24, 2004
• Run Time: 87 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0002DB54U
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,173 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  #9 in	Movies & TV > Art House & International > Asian Cinema > Japan > Samurai Films
  #34 in	Movies & TV > Classics > International > Japan
  #46 in	Movies & TV > Art House & International > Asian Cinema > Japan > Action & Adventure

• For more information about "Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 17 - Zatoichi Challenged" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

• This is item 16 in The Zatoichi Series.

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A dying woman begs Zatoichi to reunite her son with his father, who is working in a small town. But when the son and father meet, Zatoichi finds out that the father has been forced to work for gangsters. Using his lightning sword, Zatoichi takes on the crime boss in a relentless blend of action, violence, and comedy that makes Zatoichi Challenged one of the best in the long-running series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a Great Movie, October 25, 2001

By	Mark Judge (Azle, Tx United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Zatoichi - Zatoichi Challenged (English Subtitles) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An orphan boy and forbidden pottery, August 27, 2005

By	Zack Davisson "All Good Things" (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zatoichi Challenged, June 7, 2002

By	Raymond Stansberry (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zatoichi - Zatoichi Challenged (English Subtitles) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

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.