Zatôichi **** (2003, Takeshi Kitano, Tadanobu Asano, Yui Natsukawa) – Classic Movie Review 8716

A blind, sword-bearing masseur takes on the gangs that threaten a 19^th century Japanese village in writer-director-star Takeshi Kitano’s gory, feisty, impressive 2003 Japanese movie Zatôichi – one of this fine director’s best.

Takeshi Kitano [Beat Takeshi] commands the screen with great grave power and immense quiet gravity as the master swordsman, blind Zatôichi.

Takeshi Kitano also writes the screenplay, based on the novels by Kan Shimozawa.

Be prepared for strong stylized bloody violence.

It is also known as The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi.

Zatôichi is directed by Takeshi Kitano, runs 116 minutes, is made by Office Kitano, Asahi National Broadcasting Company, Bandai Visual Company, DENTSU Music And Entertainment, Saito, Tokyo FM, Shochiku, is released by Artificial Eye (UK) and Miramax (US), is written by Takeshi Kitano, is shot by Katsumi Yanagishima, is produced by Masayuki Mori and scored by Keiichi Suzuki.

Also in the cast are Tadanobu Asano, Michiyo Yasuda [Michiyo Ohkusu], Taka Guadalcanal, Daigorô Tachibana, Yûko Daike, Yui Natsukawa and Ittoku Kishibe.

Takeshi Kitano is also known for Violent Cop, Boiling Point, Sonatine, Kids Return and Hana-Bi [Fireworks].

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8716

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com