Zatoichi At The Blood Fest Reviews

Blood Fest

This is the last of Shintaro Katsu's Zatoichi movies. Unlike many samurai slashers this one takes it's time to establish Zatoichi's carachter and his relationship with his sibling as well as with Shinbei his former best friend and now sucessful merchant. The film also dwells on the exploitation of the working class farmers by corupt officialdom and rapacious capitalists.

When the slashing starts it is as brutal and as visualy stunning as any of it's predecssors and is more effective because it's placed in the emotional context of a personal and political betrayal by Shinbei. Zatoichi's carachter is a nice balance of the drunken womanizing gambler and the moral protector. The action takes place in Zatoichi's home town and has the feeling of a wanderer coming to the end of his pilgrimage.

INTRESTING

INTRESTING MOVIE, BUT NO MATCH FOE THE LATESST VERSION OF SATOICHI

Zatoichi returns to his hometown after a long absence and finds of course that things have changed. He meets up with a few travelling youngsters who play a vaguely comic role, although the males almost manage to drown him in a swamp. Luckily, the good-looking female is around to pull him out. The story is the familiar one of good peasants being put upon and overtaxed by corrupt local officials and a good stirring sword fight at the end to sort it all out. On the whole I found it slightly tamer than some of his movies, although the odd hacked off hand flies around now and then. Still enjoyable, still the best of its type.

really good movie, brillant, a sight fest for the eye and the ear. A superb sword classic absolutely to be seen...

Blind Fury

Takes a while to get going, but when the swords start slashing it gets good.

killing!

what a lot of it. good swordmanship from old zatoichi.

considering that he is blind i find it a marvell that he can actually kill all those people

High Art it is not - an excellent entertainment with a disregard for pc human rights which would gladden the Home Secretary's heart - if he has one, it is. A most enjoyable film. Hooray for the (post war) Japanese.