★ 8 / 10
This 17th film in the Zatoichi saga is
Christopher B
This 17th film in the Zatoichi saga is another solid film but several of the premises are repeated from an earlier film including the fulfilling a dying man's…
This 17th film in the Zatoichi saga is another solid film but several of the premises are repeated from an earlier film including the fulfilling a dying man's last wish, protecting a child, and of course angering the local government entities and bringing upon himself their wrath. Zatoichi Challenged is a lot more fun and lighthearted though as the little boy is older than the previous child, who was literally a newborn baby, and provides some funny and comedic relief in their interactions. While not as original as other films in the series there is still a lot to like here and some great moments to find throughout it's running time.
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★ 9 / 10
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[font=Verdana][color=#000000]Zatoichi Challenged starts when a dying woman asks Zatoichi to reunite her son with his father. The blind swordsman, Zatoichi, needs to find the way to the small town of Maebara where the son can be reunited with his father, Shokichi. After reuniting Shokichi with his son Zatoichi discovers Shokichi has been forced to perform illegal activities by the local crime boss. Zatoichi takes on the crime boss, as well as a government Samurai assigned to the case, and of course several local hoodlums in his travels city to city
especially if they decide to pick on blind men.
"That face would kill ladies alright."
Zatoichi movies blend in comedy with great action. Ichi always throws out sarcastic remarks that make you giggle a scene that you did not expect to be funny. When Ichi first arrives in Maebara he is told he needs a letter from the government to enter the city. Ichi states "alright, I'll go sit over there and enjoy the view." In another scene, he wins a bet with a local carpenter who thought he would easily out wit the blind man in order to win a quick $100. When Zatoichi wins the bet, the local man cannot pay. So Zatoichi make him get on all fours like a dog, do three spins, then bark.
"That makes you the underling of an underling."
Another aspect that makes Zatoichi films interesting is the culture. The government sent a Samurai detective to the city of Maebara to bust a ring of gangsters. When Americans think of gangsters we think of drugs, smuggling booze, prostitution, or something along those lines. The local gangsters may have been involved in prostitution to a lesser scale, but the reason the Samurai detective was disperced was to investigate pornographic materials that were being printed on plates. You read that correctly. Shokichi, the childs father, was forced to draw naked women on plates that were then sold to the black market. Most of the people involved in the ring were slain.
"This was a fine room I shared."
In the two Zatoichi movies I have seen action is scarce, when it comes the director brings it. Zatoichi always uses quick moves, sometimes looking clumsy, while not wasting any motions. Zatoichi is very resourceful, intelligent, and funny. Zatoichi films are not non-stop action but have great stories and characters. I will continue to watch his films, and one day hope to see all of them.
Grade: A[/color][/font]
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