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Japanese Movie Poster - Zatoichi Breaking the Gate, Fine Art Giclee Print, 16x20

List Price: $41.99 By: Art.com Amazon Marketplace: 1 new & used starting at $39.99

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• Print Title: Japanese Movie Poster - Zatoichi Breaking the Gate
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• Size: 16 x 20 inches

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Editorial Review:

Art.com is the world's largest retailer of art prints, posters, photographs, and framed artwork. With our huge selection of over 200,000 prints, you'll easily find the perfect piece for your home, office, or classroom. Our art is printed on quality paper and custom framed by our team of professionals. Visit our Amazon store today at www.amazon.com/artdotcom to find Special Offers and search for products based on 'Artist Name' and 'Subject Categories' such as Movie, Music, Vintage, TV, Children, Travel, Kitchen, Museum Art, Animals, Floral, Motivational, and Sports. Art.com is dedicated to providing you with high quality products and service by offering you 100% satisfaction guaranteed. We ship internationally to over 80 countries. Decorate your home today with your favorite pictures that express and celebrate your distinct tastes.

Zatoichi Blind Swordsman:The Samarita

List Price: $19.98 By: Chambara Amazon Marketplace: 7 new & used starting at $6.64

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Excellent filming for 1968. More drama than action. 4 out of 5 stars.
43 of 52 people found this review helpful.

This is just one of many in this series. If you like Japanese culture in the samurai era then you might find this entertaining. The main character Zatoichi is a blind wandering masseur. He has connections with gangsters who usually seek him for his ability with his cane sword others fear him for the same reason. Zatoichi is a very lovable character. you will find yourself wanting to see his many other adventures. I would recommend this video for anyone adding to their foreign film collection.

#18: DARKER AND MORE REALISTIC VILLIANS 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

One of the major differences in this Zatocihi episode from previous ones is that the "bad-guys" seem to be more realistic in this film. In many of the past Ichi films the villians seemed liked bumbling idiots. In this one, director Kimiyoshi Yasuda, who directed several of the Zatocihi episodes, gives the villians a more realistic feeling. Also, the film is quite brutal. And although there is the standard Zatoichi fare that follows almost all of the episodes, this one stands out with just a little bit more in violence.[Such as chopped off limbs]

One of the greatest actors in Japanese cinema is also in the film: [Takashi Shimura] of "Ikiru" fame stars as Dr.Junan. It is always a treat to see him in any film. And especially in the Zatoichi series. The cinemantography is not as good as many of the earlier episodes, or the later ones for that matter. Little of the Japanese countryside is shown in the film. Also, there is less humor from Ichi that had become his established trademark in earlier episodes. And as for Ichi's cane-sword, well fans of his will not be disappointed in his usual high body count at the end of the film. I found the film highly enjoyable [not great] but enjoyable, and would recommend it to all.

Zatoichi - The Blind Swordsman (Vol. 1)

Amazon Price: $14.49 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Media Blasters - Model: TSDVD-0542 Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $4.20

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great Yakuza TV series 5 out of 5 stars.
16 of 16 people found this review helpful.

After making 25 films as Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Shintaro Katsu the owner of Katsu Productions decided to move to Television for 4 seasons. The exact same as his films except cut down to 45 minutes & full screen. These are a rare special treat as they are not even released in Japan yet.

here's a review of the episodes:

Episode 1: A Challenge of Chance (46 min)
Ichi (Shintaro Katsu) visits the mining village of Ashido where a cold and calculating yakuza boss named Yasaburo is forcing the locals out of their businesses and jobs. He joins an aging sword master once known as Tatsu the Sword Thrower in aiding Oshin, a young female in protecting her business from Yasaburo and his henchmen. Ichi's biggest challenge is in figuring out how to keep from getting shot by a rifleman in Yasaburo's employ.

Episode 2: The Flower that Bloomed with the Lullaby (47 min)
Ichi befriends Taro, a small boy selling persimmons to pay for his ailing grandfather's medicine. It comes to light that the boy is the son of a wealthy silk merchant and Ichi agrees to escort him home. But a local yakuza boss is after a reward for the boy's return, as is Inosuke, an unemployed gambling dealer who convinces his wife to stall Ichi's progress while he arranges to collect the reward.

Episode 3: A Memorial Day and the Bell of Life (47 min)
Ichi puts a stop to an attack by hired ronin on a rival yakuza family, saving the frightened son but not his widowed mother. He also spares the life of Monji, a grateful ronin who begins following Ichi. Monji attempts to prod Ichi into a duel, but the blind swordsman has vowed not to draw his sword for 12 hours on this day in memory of his dead mother. As Monji bides his time, the two strike an unlikely bond as they encounter the daughter of a ronin killed by Ichi and help the widow's son take revenge.

Episode 4: The Kannon Statue that was Tied (47 min)
A corrupt official takes advantage of two rival yakuza families feuding over the planned relocation of a sacred Jizu statue by taking money from both and plotting their destruction. A petty conman also steps forth to convince one of the yakuza bosses that he knows Zatoichi and can get the notorious blind swordsman to help their cause. It's a lie so he sets out to convince the first anma (masseuse) he finds to act the part. Little does he know that his first choice is the real Ichi. Ichi's thoughts are preoccupied by other concerns, however, specifically in helping a young woman recently released from prison reunite with her three-year old daughter.

Episode 5: The Heartless Man, Touched by Compassion (47 min)
Ichi meets a streetwise young boy, whose drunken father has accumulated debts that may force the boy's elder sister to be sold into prostitution. Ichi steps in to pay back the debt through gambling, but the greedy father strikes a deal with the yakuza that puts both his children and Ichi in trouble. If that's not bad enough, Ichi finds himself forced to duel a skilled and righteous swordsman, who is desperately trying to raise enough money to pay for medical treatment to restore his sister's sight.Not much needs to be said about the series' writing. It's up to par with the feature films and actually seems to work better on the small screen. Zatoichi was always episodic in nature, which makes it a perfect fit for an ongoing TV series. All the writers did was trim the fat. One slight disappointment is a lack of any reoccurring characters beyond Ichi and any sort of evolving relationship that could go with them. With 90 minutes, there's time enough to keep introducing new characters, but cut that in half and the writing has to get creative to flesh out characters. Amazingly, it gets done through a variety of techniques, but it only amplifies Ichi's drifter lifestyle and general alienation.

Editorial Review:

The first four Hour long episodes on a 2 disc set.10/3/1974 A Challenge of Chance directed by Kazuo Mori10/10/1974 The Flower that Bloomed with the Lullaby directed by Yoshiyuki Kuroda10/17/1974 A Memorial Day and The Bell of Life directed by Shintaro Katsu10/24/1974 The Kannon Statue That Was Tied directed by Kenji MisumiSystem Requirements:Running Time 240 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 631595054286 Manufacturer No: TSDVD-0542

Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 2 - The Tale of Zatoichi Continues

Amazon Price: $17.99 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Home Vision Entertainment Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $4.66

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol 2 5 out of 5 stars.
23 of 23 people found this review helpful.

In the early seventies, I was enamored of the Zatoichi and Sword of Vengence movies produced in Japan, and viewed at the Toho Brea Theatres in Los Angeles. When the Toho closed down, these movies were lost to me and others. Now, they are back, on DVD, with Japanese wording and good subtitles! Thank you for making these great works of Movie History available again! Everything about them is excellent!! 10 stars would be better!!

Editorial Review:

The wild success of The Tale of Zatoichi demanded a sequel and star Shintaro Katsu was only too happy to reprise his role as the traveling masseur and blind swordsman. Star Katsu and director Kazuo Mori flesh out the enigmatic Ichi in this outing, creating a more haunted and less conniving character who prefers to keep his identity shrouded and his sword sheathed. Nonetheless the peace-loving swordsman is reluctantly and repeatedly forced to fight when he's attacked by a government goon squad, a gang of hoodlums, and an angry one-armed swordsman whose interest in Ichi is purely personal. This action-packed entry, which ultimately brings our hero back to the site of his previous film for the furious climax, practically revels in the concentrated bursts of Ichi's lightning attack.

The newly restored DVD features a small stills gallery, a fold-out insert with an essay by Tatsu Aoki (a self described "Ichi Freak"), and four collector cards. --Sean Axmaker

Gojoe: Spirit War Chronicle

Amazon Price: $26.99 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Media Blasters - Model: TSDVD-0413 Amazon Marketplace: 41 new & used starting at $1.39

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

An interesting movie, with some caveats 4 out of 5 stars.
25 of 25 people found this review helpful.

This is a beautifully directed movie, by notable director Sogo ISHII. But it is definitely NOT an "action packed epic" as described by Amazon. And the fight scenes are unusually and imaginatively depicted, but they are not "extraordinary" in the usual sense. In short, this is not an action movie nor is it a traditional samurai or martial arts film. It is really a metaphysical fantasy film. "Gojoe" is to samurai films as "Blueberry" is to westerns.

I am annoyed that it is getting poor reviews by people who were expecting some sort of Wu-Tang Baby Cart Master Killer blood and guts actioner. But it's not their fault that this film is incorrectly marketed.

People who will enjoy this movie:
- fans of director Sogo Ishii's slower paced films, e.g. "Angel Dust"
- fans of other foreign cinema especially Japanese cinema, e.g. Rashomon (although I would never claim it is in the same league as such a classic)
- those who like cerebral, beautifully shot films
- people with an interest in Japanese mythology or Shinto, but okay with it addressed on an obviously simplified level

People who are looking for the following should avoid this movie:
- action (though there is some)
- fast pace
- linear story
- everything spelled out and explained
- humor
- romance

The high points of this film include the beautiful imagery, intense slow-burn acting of Daisuke RYU as Benkei, good performances by all the supporting cast, pretty nifty costumes, a really awesome climax.

Oddly enough, I found Tadanobu ASANO, who I usually love, to be only so-so in this film. Maybe it was his bad hair.

The reason I give this film only a 4 is that it really is a bit long. Nonetheless, Media Blasters did do the right thing by including the full international version, instead of the cut version.

The DVD features are great, with both the original Japanese dialogue, nicely done subtitles, an English dub track, and some nice "making of" featurettes.

This is an interesting, unique film but only for the right audience.

Editorial Review:

Starring Tadanobu Asano (Ichi the Killer Zatoichi 2003) and Masatoshi Nagase (Pistol Opera Suicide Club) Members of a warrior clan are being mysteriously beheaded at Gojoe Bridge. A former Buddhist monk and his grave robbing sidekick set out to unmask and destroy the powerful evil forces that lurk at Gojoe. A lavishly produced special effects-filled super-charged samurai fantasy!System Requirements: Running Time 137 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE UPC: 631595041385 Manufacturer No: TSDVD-0413

Handmade Black Zatoichi Sword - 42 Inches

By: TradeMarkCommerce - Model: 00-7X113 Amazon Marketplace: 2 new & used starting at $101.42

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Editorial Review:

Features: Functional sword comes with fully sharpen blade. Beautiful carbon steel blade with hamon. High quality lacquered black scabbard (saya) and handle. Grooves on one side of handle for blade orientation. Includes custom wooden sword box with engraving and cloth sword bag. Most accurate Zatoichi sword replica. Unique addition to your handmade sword collection. 42" Overall. 29" Blade. 10.5 Handle. Hand forged carbon steel blade. Includes sword bag and wooden box.

Handmade Black Zatoichi Sword - 42 Inches

By: TradeMarkCommerce - Model: 00-7X113 Amazon Marketplace: 2 new & used starting at $101.42

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3
C

Editorial Review:

Features: Functional sword comes with fully sharpen blade. Beautiful carbon steel blade with hamon. High quality lacquered black scabbard (saya) and handle. Grooves on one side of handle for blade orientation. Includes custom wooden sword box with engraving and cloth sword bag. Most accurate Zatoichi sword replica. Unique addition to your handmade sword collection. 42" Overall. 29" Blade. 10.5 Handle. Hand forged carbon steel blade. Includes sword bag and wooden box.