Zatoichi’s Flashing Sword (Zatoichi abare tako)
Directed by Kazuo Ikehiro
Written by Shozaburo Asai and Minoru Inuzuka; story by Kan Shimozawa
1964/Japan
Daiei Studios
First viewing/FilmStruck
[box] Zatoichi: [after trapping Yakuza Boss Yasugoro into a corner] They say when you stutter like that, you’re ready to be killed.[/box]
Still eating these Zatoichi movies up!
Blind Ichi is wounded by gunfire. A gentle girl and her good guy yakuza boss father nurse him to health. Ichi must protect them against a rival gang that wants to steal their ferry business. This he does with gusto.
I’ve been thinking about similarities between these and the Bond franchise. Charismatic hero – check; babe magnet – check; invincible – check. Of course in every other way they couldn’t be more different. My favorite part may be that despite all the violence there is never really any doubt that good will prevail over evil. This one has one of the most thoroughly evil yakuza bosses yet.
Clip
For a lady supposedly not into Japanese period action pieces Z seems to have found a chink in your amore heh heh
I don’t know how you got the idea I’m not into Japanese period pieces. Japanese cinema is so much more than Ozu though he is tops with me. Anyway, the Zatoichi movies so far are a guaranteed hit with me and I still have 19 left!
“action” was the key word ya Ozunatic he he…..and yeah there’s a swag of “Z” movies left.
By the way the Miike modern “Z” I thought was pretty good
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363226/
the last scene is a real surprise from left field and hugely enjoyable………is actually clipped to youtube but I won’t provide the link (unless asked) as I feel it is best seen first time as a surprise IMHO.
The Miike sounds like fun!