THE TALE OF ZATOICHI / THE LIFE AND OPINIONS OF MASSEUR ICHI / ZATÔICHI 1 (ZATÔICHI MONOGATARI). Viewed on Streaming. Restoration/ preservation = nine (9) stars; cinematography = seven (7) stars; set design = six (6) stars; choreography = two (2) stars. Think you've seen every flavor of Japanese movie sword swinger? How about a self-taught amateur who is also blind? And very deadly! Director Kenji Misumi deploys Tokugawa Period Yakuza-gang warfare as a backdrop for a fascinating personality analysis of a masseur turned wandering master of swordplay whose sightless handicap is more of an advantage than a disability. (Perhaps with the help of a little magic?) Misumi's photo-play provides more talk than action and seems to have been adapted from a stage play (or the script writers learned their craft in the live theater?). Interestingly, ancient Yakuza gangs closely resemble those depicted in contemporary films (instead of not being able to shoot straight, they are unable to slash straight and rely on hired swords (usually unemployed samurai)! Acting is consistently good despite terrible choreography. Characters often only have to waive their wooden swords at stunt actors to get them to fall over (the dialog tries to cover this obvious short coming by repeating lines that say sword play is too fast to be seen!). Sound-stage "exteriors" look and sound phony. Cinematography (2.35 : 1, black & white) is mostly well done especially the interior dolly shots. Not so much for panning which serves mainly to induce horizontal vertigo in the viewer wide-screen formats and rapid pans don't play well together!). Subtitles are close enough for Kansei-Ben deliveries. Restoration/preservation is good. Adult make-believe fun. WILLIAM FLANIGAN, PhD.
Review of The Tale of Zatoichi
