The director Kenji Misumi was a prolific film maker from the Rising Sun Empire, and specialized in mostly Samourai features. This kind of movie is always the same, more or less same schemes provider, blood sword battles, honor, friendship, loyalty, sorrow, some humor from time to time. All those elements together, melted, giving something typical from Japanese movies plots, all genres confounded, even yakuzas or even horror films. Plots are always a bit complex to follow, especially from Western Europe audiences, nothing to do with Hollywood spirit for instance. This ZATOICHI series could be compared with BABY CART movies; same kind of lead errant character, fighting all kinds of enemies. If you are a samourai films lover, this movie will enchant you, if not, just watch it and then you'll have an idea of what it is. If you are reluctant to those films, get away from it. But this one is rather enjoyabe and not too long. My "trick" to appreciate all those all alike films and schemes if to find and then analyze the "villain" of the story, the one our lead hero will have to fight against in the end. For me the villain is the most fascinating element in those stories, never the lead.
Review of Zatoichi Challenged
