Zatoichi Darkness Is His Ally DVD with Ryuutarï¿½ Gan, Kanako Higuchi, Takanori Jinnai (Unrated) +Movie Reviews

Still Great

Martial Arts Damsel | Cypress, Texas United States | 12/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After so many years of playing the role of "Zatoichi" Katsu Shintaro still manages to put out a stellar performance is the reluctant hero "Ichi". His character has grown much older now but still roams the back roads seeking peace but always running into opposition from both the law and the gangsters (yakuza). In the midst of all this he is still trying to help out the less fortunate. Yes there's is less fight scenes but the theme of good conquering evil against all odds is still there. A must for fans of this series."

A Great Zatoichi!

Crowfuzz | Baker City, OR United States | 01/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I loved this movie! quite the best Zatoichi I've seen. very adult in it's theme, the love scene was the best yet. I also enjoyed the fight scenes. the sense of continuity from the other stories in the Blind Swordsman series is important to me as well and was extremely well done. the character of Zatoichi really lives in this movie.

what I did have a problem with was receiving two defective DVDs in a row.

:(

Amazon was good enough to take them back. but I was scared off of a third replacement.

"

Zatoichi ! The final battle!

Crowfuzz | 03/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the final Zatoichi movie and perhaps the best . Shintaro Kutsu (Zatoichi) died in 1997 of throat cancer. This movie made in 1989 shows an aging, graying Katsu with a raspy voice. It appears the cancer was known at that time. However in no way does the film suffer in action or quality. It exceeds the previous movies! It appears that he knew this was to be the last and went ALL THE WAY to make this a grand production.

Zatoichi comes to a town in turmoil with 2 bosses competing for control of the town. Add in one corrupt local official,a hired artistic assassin, 2 lovely women, and you have the largest Zatoichi production.

Zatoichi, a blind traveling massuer, wanders the country side getting into trouble everywhere he goes. With a heart of gold, and sword of steel he slices his way through the bad guys, dozens at a time. After 25 previous movies, he is the master of the cane sword by this time in his life. He may be in his best physical form of any of the movies. This, his 26th Zatoichi film, does contain some blood and some gore (earlier ones had little or none). There is also a brief sexual incounter in this film (mild by todays standards). This too is unusual for Zatoichi for normally he avoids any close relationship with women because he is a blind man that doesn't stay in any place more then a few days. In his mind he is yakuza (a gambler...today yakuza means gangster).

The DVD is well done and of good quality. There are some trailers and some photos of Zatoichi posters as extras. Of all the Zatoichi films, all except #14 have been released, I have not been disappointed in any so far. The first two are B&W with some audio distortion and loss of picture quaility. The newer films (like this one) are in great shape. Zatoichi is a humble mix of morals, kindness, justice, action, comedy,...oh yeah...throw in a little blood trailing a flashing sword! At his death Shintaro Katsu may have been the most famous Japanese actor ever. Only Toshiro Mifune was close."

#26: AN EXCELLENT AND FOND FAREWELL

Ernest Jagger | Culver City, California | 08/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 26TH and final Zatoichi episode from 1989 brought an end to this wonderfully long odyssey starring the late Shintaro Katsu. Since the beginning of the series in 1962, Zatoichi defined the humble swordsman who tried to live the Bushido code--only to be foiled by his fellow yakuza; or encountering evildoers who preyed upon the innocent. And as a blind character in the series, all too often Zatoichi too was preyed upon by those who would try and take advantage of a blind man. Only he was no ordinary blind man. Zatoichi's flashing sword brought about swift and exacting vengeance on any who would foolishly attempt to cross paths with him. And this final film was no exception.

This final installment of Zatoichi is an excellent film. The acting and cinematography are outstanding. In this film we find an older and much greyer Zatoichi. The last Zatoichi full-length feature film was in 1973, however, Shintaro Katsu did a television series as Zatoichi with 100 episodes up until 1979. In this film Zatoichi's sword is as lethal as ever. And the ending of the film proves this. We also see Zatoichi being betrayed by a friend due to the price that was placed on his head: One who supposedly lived by the Bushido code.

The action sequences are terrific, and Zatoichi is just as fast as ever. I really liked this final episode of the peace-loving Zatoichi who is content to just be left alone; and yet cannot, due to the fact that he is Zatoichi and his reputation is too great for him to ever be left alone in peace. And more importantly, where the main theme in the film is that once again good-conquers-evil. I highly recommend this film to everyone, and especially to all Zatoichi fans. A must see."

Not the 2003 Beat Takeshi Zatoichi but the 1989 version.

Ernest Jagger | 03/08/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is the 26th Zatoichi episode by Shintaro Katsu. He wrote, directed and starred in this version. It follows the same plotline and has Zatoichi pursued by various groups. The action is intermixed with a simple story which drives the action. The fight scenes are quick and are the bloodiest and goriest in the series. There is a climatic fight scene at the end where Zatoichi takes on over 50 opponents and has him running, hiding and fighting in an almost abandoned village. There are some moments of humour but not as much as in other films in the series. If you like Shintaro Katsu's Zatoichi, then I'd recommend this film for you but don't be fooled by the current editorial review which says that this film is Beat Takeshi's 2003 version of Zatoichi."

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	Zatoichi - Darkness Is His Ally Actors: Ryuutarô Gan, Kanako Higuchi, Takanori Jinnai, Tsurutaro Kataoka, Yukio Katô Genres: Action & Adventure, Indie & Art House, Drama UR 2004 1hr 56min Studio: Media Blasters Inc. Release Date: 02/24/2004 Run time: 116 minutes
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