Zatoichi ★★★½ The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi 2003 (R) Versatile and popular filmmaker Kitano (who also takes on the lead role under his actor's pseudonym) kicks butt as a legendary 19th-century samurai (an iconic figure in Japanese film and TV). The blind masseur/gambler hides his sword in his walking stick and the plot, such as it is, involves loner Zatoichi helping out geisha Okino (Daike) and her cross-dressing brother Osei (Tachibana) in their quest for revenge on the Ginzo gang, who slaughtered their family and who are now threatening the local peasants. Which makes a good excuse for Zatoichi to challenge the gang and their own formidable samurai Hattori (Asano). Lots of stylized violence and some slapstick gags; Japanese with subtitles. 115m/C DVD. JP Tadanobu Asano, Takeshi "Beat" Kitano, Michiyo Ogusu, Guadalcanal Taka, Daigoro Tachibana, Yuko Daike, Ittoku Kishibe, Saburo Ishikura;
Director:
Takeshi "Beat" Kitano;
Writer:
Takeshi "Beat" Kitano;
Writer:
Katsumi Yanagijima;
Cameo:
Keiichi Suzuki.
