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| screenplay = Takeshi Kitano
| screenplay = Takeshi Kitano
| based_on = {{based on|''Zatoichi'' (novel)|[[Kan Shimozawa]]}}
| based_on = {{based on|[[Zatoichi]]|[[Kan Shimozawa]]}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
| starring = {{plainlist|
* Takeshi Kitano
* Takeshi Kitano
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| editing = {{plainlist|
| editing = {{plainlist|
* Takeshi Kitano
* Takeshi Kitano
* Yoshinori Ōta
* Yoshinori Ota
}}
}}
| studio = {{plainlist|
| studio = {{plainlist|
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| language = Japanese
| language = Japanese
| budget =
| budget =
| gross = $32.3 million<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=zatoichi.htm |title=The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] }}</ref>
| gross = $34.2 million<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=zatoichi.htm |title=The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] }}</ref>
}}
}}
{{nihongo|'''''Zatoichi'''''|座頭市|Zatōichi}} (released in the US as '''''The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi''''') is a 2003 Japanese [[Jidaigeki]] [[action film]], directed, written, co-edited by and starring [[Takeshi Kitano]] ("Beat" Takeshi) in his 11th directorial venture.<ref name=filmpdf/> Kitano plays the role of the blind swordsman.
{{nihongo|'''''Zatoichi'''''|座頭市|Zatōichi}} (released in the US as '''''The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi''''') is a 2003 Japanese ''[[jidaigeki]]'' [[action film]], directed, written, co-edited by and starring [[Takeshi Kitano]] ("Beat" Takeshi) in his eleventh directorial venture.<ref name=filmpdf/> Kitano plays the role of the blind swordsman, with [[Tadanobu Asano]], [[Michiyo Okusu]], [[Yui Natsukawa]], Guadalcanal Taka, [[Daigoro Tachibana]], Yuko Daike, [[Ittoku Kishibe]], [[Saburo Ishikura]], and [[Akira Emoto]] in supporting roles.


The film is a [[Reboot (fiction)|revival]] of the classic ''[[Zatoichi]]'' series of [[samurai]] film and television dramas. It premiered on 2 September 2003 at the [[Venice International Film Festival]], where it won the prestigious [[Silver Lion|Silver Lion for Best Director]] award, and went on to numerous other awards both at home and abroad. It also stars [[Tadanobu Asano]], [[Michiyo Okusu]], [[Yui Natsukawa]], Guadalcanal Taka, [[Daigoro Tachibana]], Yuko Daike, [[Ittoku Kishibe]], [[Saburo Ishikura]] and [[Akira Emoto]].
A [[Reboot (fiction)|revival]] of the classic ''[[Zatoichi]]'' series of [[samurai film]] and television dramas, the film premiered on 2 September 2003 at the [[Venice International Film Festival]], where it won the prestigious [[Silver Lion|Silver Lion for Best Director]] award, and went on to numerous other awards both at home and abroad.


==Plot==
==Plot==
The film's plot follows a traditional theme, with Zatoichi (a blind swordsman) coming to the defense of townspeople caught up in a local [[yakuza]] [[gang|gang war]] and being forced to pay excessive amounts of [[protection money]]. Meanwhile, Zatoichi befriends a local farmer and her gambler nephew and eventually offers his assistance to two [[geisha]] siblings (one of whom is actually a man) who are seeking revenge for the murder of their parents. The siblings are the only survivors of a robbery and massacre that was carried out on their family estate ten years ago. They soon discover the people responsible for the murders are the same yakuza wreaking havoc on the small town.
The film's plot follows a traditional theme, with Zatoichi (a blind swordsman) coming to the defense of townspeople caught up in a local [[yakuza]] [[gang|gang war]] and being forced to pay excessive amounts of [[protection money]]. Meanwhile, Zatoichi befriends a local farmer and her gambler nephew and eventually offers his assistance to two [[geisha]] siblings (one of whom is actually a man) who are seeking revenge for the murder of their parents. The siblings are the only survivors of a robbery and massacre that was carried out on their family estate ten years ago. They soon discover the people responsible for the murders are the same yakuza wreaking havoc on the small town.


After slicing his way through an army of henchmen with his sword, Zatoichi defeats the yakuza's bodyguard, a powerful [[rōnin]], in a duel. Zatoichi later wanders into town and confronts the yakuza bosses, killing the second-in-command and blinding the elderly yakuza boss (who had been masquerading as a bumbling old waiter up until this point) after surprising him by opening his eyes. The film ends with a dance number led by noted Japanese [[tap dance]] troupe ''The Stripes'', and Zatoichi walking down a trail and tripping over a rock, saying "Even with my eyes wide open, I can't see anything."
After slicing his way through an army of henchmen with his sword, Zatoichi defeats the yakuza's bodyguard, a powerful [[rōnin]], in a duel. Zatoichi later wanders into town and confronts the yakuza bosses, killing the second-in-command after surprising him by opening his eyes and blinding the elderly yakuza boss (who had been masquerading as a bumbling old waiter up until this point). The film ends with a dance number led by noted Japanese [[tap dance]] troupe The Stripes, and Zatoichi walking down a trail and tripping over a rock, saying: "Even with my eyes wide open, I can't see anything."


==Cast==
==Cast==
Line 64: Line 64:


==Production==
==Production==
Kitano revealed that he was approached by others to create the film and therefore differed from his own techniques and followed the common filmmaking process in order to please them and make a pure-entertainment film.<ref name="AV Interview">{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/article/takeshi-kitano-13882 |title=Takeshi Kitano Interview |publisher=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=2004-08-11 |access-date=2015-12-13}}</ref>
Kitano revealed that he was approached by others to create the film, and therefore differed from his own techniques, following the common filmmaking process in order to please them and make a pure-entertainment film.<ref name="AV Interview">{{cite web |date=2004-08-11 |title=Takeshi Kitano Interview |url=https://www.avclub.com/article/takeshi-kitano-13882 |access-date=2015-12-13 |website=[[The A.V. Club]]}}</ref>


This film marks Kitano's first collaboration with composer [[Keiichi Suzuki]], ending an 11-year streak with [[Joe Hisaishi]]. The director said he made the decision feeling that the film needed percussion-based music and that Hisaishi is not a flexible composer, and also suggested that Hisaishi had become too expensive for him. Costumes were created by [[Kazuko Kurosawa]].<ref name="Midnight Interview">{{cite web|url=http://www.midnighteye.com/interviews/takeshi-kitano/ |title=Midnight Eye interview: Takeshi Kitano |website=[[Midnight Eye]] |date=2003-11-05 |access-date=2015-12-13}}</ref>
This film marks Kitano's first collaboration with composer [[Keiichi Suzuki]], ending an eleven-year streak with [[Joe Hisaishi]]. The director said he made the decision feeling that the film needed percussion-based music, and that Hisaishi is not a flexible composer, and also suggested that Hisaishi had become too expensive for him. Costumes were created by [[Kazuko Kurosawa]].<ref name="Midnight Interview">{{cite web|url=http://www.midnighteye.com/interviews/takeshi-kitano/ |title=Midnight Eye interview: Takeshi Kitano |website=[[Midnight Eye]] |date=2003-11-05 |access-date=2015-12-13}}</ref>


Kitano used [[Computer-generated imagery|digital technology]] to increase the gore of the fights.<ref name="hunter">{{cite news|last=Hunter|first=Stephen|title=Blind Fury: A New Vision Of Zatoichi|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2004/08/06/blind-fury-a-new-vision-of-zatoichi/78e839d7-7d95-4011-ae47-44c9a856eab4/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=August 6, 2004|access-date=August 19, 2021}}</ref>
Kitano used [[Computer-generated imagery|digital technology]] to increase the gore of the fights.<ref name="hunter">{{cite news|last=Hunter|first=Stephen|title=Blind Fury: A New Vision Of Zatoichi|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2004/08/06/blind-fury-a-new-vision-of-zatoichi/78e839d7-7d95-4011-ae47-44c9a856eab4/|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=August 6, 2004|access-date=August 19, 2021}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
===Box office===
The film grossed {{USD|23.8 million}} in Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://variety.com/2015/film/box-office/japan-box-office-cinderella-1201499704/|title= Japan Box Office: 'Cinderella' Wins Fourth Weekend|author= Mark Schilling|date= May 18, 2015|access-date= May 22, 2015|work= variety}}</ref> Peter Bradshaw of ''[[The Guardian]]'' gave ''Zatoichi'' 4 out of 5 stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/mar/19/takeshi-kitano|title=Zatoichi - Film |work=The Guardian|first=Peter|last=Bradshaw|date=19 March 2004}}</ref> Jasper Sharp of [[Midnight Eye]] praised the film as "pure cinematic magic".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.midnighteye.com/reviews/zatoichi/|title=Midnight Eye review: Zatoichi (2003, Takeshi KITANO)|website=[[Midnight Eye]]|first=Jasper|last=Sharp|date=6 October 2003}}</ref> Allan Tong of ''[[Exclaim!]]'' said, "when Zatoichi is on screen, the film erupts with brilliant fury in unforgettable action sequences".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/TIFF/zatoichi-takeshi_kitano-2|title=Zatoichi - Directed by Takeshi Kitano - TIFF Reviews - exclaim.ca|work=Exclaim!|first=Allan|last=Tong|date=October 2003}}</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' praised the film while comparing it to ''[[Yojimbo]]'', ''[[Sanjuro]]'' and ''[[Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance]]''.<ref name="hunter"/> On review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film had a approval rating of 86% based on 124 reviews.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/zatoichi_2003/ |title=Zatōichi (2003 film)|work = [[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=September 1, 2017 }}</ref>
The film grossed {{USD|23.8 million}} in Japan.<ref>{{cite web |author=Schilling |first=Mark |date=May 18, 2015 |title=Japan Box Office: 'Cinderella' Wins Fourth Weekend |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/box-office/japan-box-office-cinderella-1201499704/ |access-date=May 22, 2015 |work=Variety}}</ref>
===Critical response===
On review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], ''Zatoichi'' had a approval rating of 87% based on 127 reviews and an average rating of 7.2/10. The website's critical consensus states: "Colorful, rich with action and wonderfully choreographed, Takeshi Kitano takes on the classic samurai character with his own brand of cinematic flair".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/zatoichi_2003/ |title=Zatōichi (2003 film)|work = [[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=September 1, 2017 }}</ref> [[Metacritic]] assigned the film a weighted average score of 75 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-blind-swordsman-zatoichi?ftag=MCD-06-10aaa1c | title=The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi | website=[[Metacritic]] }}</ref>

Peter Bradshaw of ''[[The Guardian]]'' gave ''Zatoichi'' four out of five stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/mar/19/takeshi-kitano|title=Zatoichi - Film |work=The Guardian|first=Peter|last=Bradshaw|date=19 March 2004}}</ref> Jasper Sharp of ''[[Midnight Eye]]'' praised the film as "pure cinematic magic".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.midnighteye.com/reviews/zatoichi/|title=Midnight Eye review: Zatoichi (2003, Takeshi KITANO)|website=[[Midnight Eye]]|first=Jasper|last=Sharp|date=6 October 2003}}</ref> Allan Tong of ''[[Exclaim!]]'' said: "When Zatoichi is on screen, the film erupts with brilliant fury in unforgettable action sequences".<ref>{{cite web |last=Tong |first=Allan |date=October 2003 |title=Zatoichi - Directed by Takeshi Kitano - TIFF Reviews |url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/TIFF/zatoichi-takeshi_kitano-2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210230928/http://exclaim.ca/film/article/zatoichi-takeshi_kitano-2 |archive-date=December 10, 2015 |work=Exclaim!}}</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' praised the film, while comparing it to ''[[Yojimbo]]'', ''[[Sanjuro]]'' and ''[[Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance]]''.<ref name="hunter"/>


==Awards==
==Awards==
* 2003, September 6, [[Venice Film Festival]], [[Silver Lion#Silver Lion for Best Direction|Silver Lion for Best Direction]], Venice<ref name=filmpdf/><ref name=web-jpn>{{Cite web|url=http://web-jpn.org/trends/arts/art031111.html|title=ドメインパーキング|website=web-jpn.org}}</ref>
* 2003, September 6, [[Venice Film Festival]], [[Silver Lion#Silver Lion for Best Direction|Silver Lion for Best Direction]], Venice<ref name=filmpdf/><ref name="web-jpn">{{Cite web |title=Silver Screen Success |url=http://web-jpn.org/trends/arts/art031111.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041126172717/http://web-jpn.org/trends/arts/art031111.html |archive-date=November 26, 2004 |website=web-jpn.org}}</ref>
* 2003, Audience Award Leone Del Pubblico, Venice<ref name=filmpdf>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kitanotakeshi.com/pdf/1104143218_zatoichi_pk_uk.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-08-24 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174640/http://www.kitanotakeshi.com/pdf/1104143218_zatoichi_pk_uk.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* 2003, Audience Award Leone Del Pubblico, Venice<ref name="filmpdf">{{Cite web |title=Zatoichi |url=http://www.kitanotakeshi.com/pdf/1104143218_zatoichi_pk_uk.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303174640/http://www.kitanotakeshi.com/pdf/1104143218_zatoichi_pk_uk.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-03 |access-date=2009-08-24 |website=kitanotakeshi.com}}</ref>
* 2003, September 14, 28th International [[Toronto International Film Festival]], Audience Award AGF People's Choice Award, Toronto<ref name=filmpdf/><ref name=web-jpn/>
* 2003, September 14, 28th International [[Toronto International Film Festival]], Audience Award AGF People's Choice Award, Toronto<ref name=filmpdf/><ref name=web-jpn/>
* 2003, [[London Film Festival]]<ref name=filmpdf/>
* 2003, [[London Film Festival]]<ref name=filmpdf/>
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{Official website}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0363226|title=Zatoichi}}
* {{IMDb title|0363226}}
* {{jmdb title|2003|ea003020|Zatoichi}}
* {{jmdb title|2003|ea003020|Zatoichi}}
* {{Amg movie|292957|Zatoichi}}
* {{Amg movie|292957}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|zatoichi_2003}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|zatoichi_2003}}


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[[Category:2003 action films]]
[[Category:2003 action films]]
[[Category:Japanese action films]]
[[Category:Japanese action films]]
[[Category:Samurai films]]
[[Category:2000s samurai films]]
[[Category:Yakuza films]]
[[Category:Yakuza films]]
[[Category:Films about blind people]]
[[Category:Films about blind people]]
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[[Category:Cross-dressing in film]]
[[Category:Cross-dressing in film]]
[[Category:Films about child prostitution]]
[[Category:Films about child prostitution]]
[[Category:Films about disability in Japan]]
[[Category:2000s Japanese films]]
[[Category:2000s Japanese films]]
[[Category:Films about disability]]
[[Category:Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award winners]]
[[Category:Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award winners]]
[[Category:Films scored by Keiichi Suzuki]]

Latest revision as of 14:25, 14 August 2024

Zatoichi
Japanese theatrical release poster
Directed byTakeshi Kitano
Screenplay byTakeshi Kitano
Based onZatoichi
by Kan Shimozawa
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyKatsumi Yanagishima
Edited by
  • Takeshi Kitano
  • Yoshinori Ota
Music byKeiichi Suzuki
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 2 September 2003 (2003-09-02) (Venice)
  • 6 September 2003 (2003-09-06) (Japan)
Running time
116 minutes
CountryJapan
LanguageJapanese
Box office$34.2 million[1]

Zatoichi (座頭市, Zatōichi) (released in the US as The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi) is a 2003 Japanese jidaigeki action film, directed, written, co-edited by and starring Takeshi Kitano ("Beat" Takeshi) in his eleventh directorial venture.[2] Kitano plays the role of the blind swordsman, with Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Okusu, Yui Natsukawa, Guadalcanal Taka, Daigoro Tachibana, Yuko Daike, Ittoku Kishibe, Saburo Ishikura, and Akira Emoto in supporting roles.

A revival of the classic Zatoichi series of samurai film and television dramas, the film premiered on 2 September 2003 at the Venice International Film Festival, where it won the prestigious Silver Lion for Best Director award, and went on to numerous other awards both at home and abroad.

Plot

[edit]

The film's plot follows a traditional theme, with Zatoichi (a blind swordsman) coming to the defense of townspeople caught up in a local yakuza gang war and being forced to pay excessive amounts of protection money. Meanwhile, Zatoichi befriends a local farmer and her gambler nephew and eventually offers his assistance to two geisha siblings (one of whom is actually a man) who are seeking revenge for the murder of their parents. The siblings are the only survivors of a robbery and massacre that was carried out on their family estate ten years ago. They soon discover the people responsible for the murders are the same yakuza wreaking havoc on the small town.

After slicing his way through an army of henchmen with his sword, Zatoichi defeats the yakuza's bodyguard, a powerful rōnin, in a duel. Zatoichi later wanders into town and confronts the yakuza bosses, killing the second-in-command after surprising him by opening his eyes and blinding the elderly yakuza boss (who had been masquerading as a bumbling old waiter up until this point). The film ends with a dance number led by noted Japanese tap dance troupe The Stripes, and Zatoichi walking down a trail and tripping over a rock, saying: "Even with my eyes wide open, I can't see anything."

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Kitano revealed that he was approached by others to create the film, and therefore differed from his own techniques, following the common filmmaking process in order to please them and make a pure-entertainment film.[3]

This film marks Kitano's first collaboration with composer Keiichi Suzuki, ending an eleven-year streak with Joe Hisaishi. The director said he made the decision feeling that the film needed percussion-based music, and that Hisaishi is not a flexible composer, and also suggested that Hisaishi had become too expensive for him. Costumes were created by Kazuko Kurosawa.[4]

Kitano used digital technology to increase the gore of the fights.[5]

Reception

[edit]

Box office

[edit]

The film grossed US$23.8 million in Japan.[6]

Critical response

[edit]

On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, Zatoichi had a approval rating of 87% based on 127 reviews and an average rating of 7.2/10. The website's critical consensus states: "Colorful, rich with action and wonderfully choreographed, Takeshi Kitano takes on the classic samurai character with his own brand of cinematic flair".[7] Metacritic assigned the film a weighted average score of 75 out of 100, based on 33 critics, indicating "generally favourable reviews".[8]

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave Zatoichi four out of five stars.[9] Jasper Sharp of Midnight Eye praised the film as "pure cinematic magic".[10] Allan Tong of Exclaim! said: "When Zatoichi is on screen, the film erupts with brilliant fury in unforgettable action sequences".[11] The Washington Post praised the film, while comparing it to Yojimbo, Sanjuro and Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of Vengeance.[5]

Awards

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi". Box Office Mojo.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Zatoichi" (PDF). kitanotakeshi.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-08-24.
  3. ^ "Takeshi Kitano Interview". The A.V. Club. 2004-08-11. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
  4. ^ "Midnight Eye interview: Takeshi Kitano". Midnight Eye. 2003-11-05. Retrieved 2015-12-13.
  5. ^ a b Hunter, Stephen (August 6, 2004). "Blind Fury: A New Vision Of Zatoichi". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  6. ^ Schilling, Mark (May 18, 2015). "Japan Box Office: 'Cinderella' Wins Fourth Weekend". Variety. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
  7. ^ "Zatōichi (2003 film)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  8. ^ "The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi". Metacritic.
  9. ^ Bradshaw, Peter (19 March 2004). "Zatoichi - Film". The Guardian.
  10. ^ Sharp, Jasper (6 October 2003). "Midnight Eye review: Zatoichi (2003, Takeshi KITANO)". Midnight Eye.
  11. ^ Tong, Allan (October 2003). "Zatoichi - Directed by Takeshi Kitano - TIFF Reviews". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on December 10, 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Silver Screen Success". web-jpn.org. Archived from the original on November 26, 2004.
[edit]