Zatôichi to yôjinbô (1970)'s comments

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Siskoid

After putting out 2-4 movies a year through the '60s, the Zatoichi took a break in 1969, and so had to(?) be brought back in 1970 by star Shintarō Katsu's production company (their first Zatoichi installment since Outlaw) with Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo. The oversatured blacks I didn't like in Outlaw are back; though it's not quite as gory, it's still pretty bloody; and there's a new wrinkle, the celebrity team-up, with guest-star Toshiro Mifune playing a shade of the kind of bedraggled samurai he played for Kurosawa. Watch for more of these in the series' last leg. With two big chambara stars sharing the screen, it's no surprise this is the longest film in the series at almost two hours, and as such, it has one of the most convoluted plots. There are many villains, sub-villains, allies, sub-allies, and characters with shifting loyalties in this quest for hidden gold, and you're forgiven for losing the plot at times. Not without its joys given the talent involved, but Ichi returning to his home village should have felt more personal.

3 years 8 months ago

dpka

Bluray version 116 minutes.

4 years 12 months ago