Change Your Image
![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMzUzNDAyOTYwMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwODg0Mzc1NDE@._V1_SY100_SX100_.jpg)
michaelgallegos8
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Zatôichi monogatari (1962)
座頭市 (Zatōichi)
From 1962 until 1989, 26 film series and a 100 Japanese television series, some in black and white, were produced.
Similar themes run through the stories yet each seems refreshingly dramatized. The later movies began to use special effects (blood) rather more seriously during sword fights - something I personally think was unauthentic and therefore, unconvincing. But, I still love the stories of the fictional character, Zatoichi.
Subtitles for us who do not understand Japanese is helpful but sometimes simplistic, and often get in the way of appreciating visual story nuance and acting. The solution I could not avoid is to watch the films as often as needed to later watch with minimal or no subtitle help. This is recommended.
So, simplistic subtitles is a good thing because as you watch again, virtually ignoring the easy English, your mind easily sophisticates nuance, subtext, very subtle humor, and your eye can take in the vistas of the Japanese island, the modes of dress, and the differences between classes of people which are story-driving themes.
The culture of the era is easily understood because, for example, women walk like 21st century women models walk: toe first and then foot in front of next foot. However, the action is observed in a way that causes one to think it a cultural standard of the Edo era and not of this century.
Every detail is authentic including the desired sharpness and blink-of-eye swiftness of sword blade that cuts so clean and fast, there is no blood residue on the blade. So when you see a scene and think, "Aw; there's no blood on the blade," with some exceptions, that's how sharp an Edo era swordsman kept the blade – life and death depended on its reliable swift surprise. And so, that is why the use of special effects blood is not authentic. The only exception known to me is when battles lasted for hours because the blade against flesh and bone would dull allowing blood and residue to adhere, somewhat, to the blade. Sharpness of blade was as culturally significant as the mode of a woman's walk.
Returning to benefits of repetition, I've discovered there seem to always be, as part of the story's spine, small but integral roles for children, animals, and music which reveal characters' character, mores, and preferences. Subtle themes transition viewers to subtle/not so subtle humor and events that rally reasons why swordsmen attack Zatoichi.
Zatoichi is a lone Hero living during the Japanese Edo period of 1630 until 1868. Am surmising Zatoichi roamed Japan during the 1820s, 30s, or 40s. This is based on historical accuracies of the films' well-established inns and places to eat along well-marked roads walked by many of the characters behind which is set beautiful Japanese landscapes.
The roadways were vital for communication, to farmers, and others getting goods to markets; roadway paths provided the same purpose as America's Interstate System. The Japanese system included wooden directional sign posts firmly positioned into the ground. Though some directions and names were painted, important city and village directions were carved into the wooden posts.
During the Edo period, politics and peasants were at extreme opposing ends of the spectrums of power and money which always flowed to political coffers by way of taxation, over-taxation, graft, theft, gambling, and debauchery.
The vacuum in the middle created "middle men" who became nationally known as Yakusa: organized criminals who skimmed people's wages, taxes, anything, and took advantage of those who could not defend against their Samurai skills.
Once honorable, but now without a master, they were in need of employment, shelter, and food. Political stability caused changes such that, Samurai, instrumental in stabilizing Japan, were now not needed.
Most were laid off and were known as Ronin. Many became unsavory types who joined or formed a Yakusa. Many held long, lingering anger because of losing the high social status of Samurai.
They were no longer able to live as Samurai or honorable men. Having lost honorable employment, shelter, food, and the brotherhood of honor, they felt unfairly treated and took resent on people unable to resist. At least now, money was available, they were able to eat and sleep somewhere, and serve a Yakusa Boss.
They angrily and unhappily survived the loss of social stature. They began to survive eating their insides out with hatred and jealousy toward anyone better than they, or anyone whom they perceived as acting or even thinking were better than they. Why they did this: they only knew weaponry, martial arts, and war fighting. Their knowledge was more an instinct to survive than it was a will to live. They knew nothing of kindness except through their small window of the Samurai Code which they hypocritically enforced on people who lived as farmers. Once many were honorable Samurai, then Ronin, and now, thugs.
Enter Zatoichi, living amongst the anguish of people in the middle who, lose their lively hoods, lives, happiness, and hopes to antagonistic, evil men.
Zatoichi is blind. An exquisite swordsman. Honorable. Gambler. Traveling masseuse. Regrets his necessary Yakusa relationships but finds hospitality from a few Yakusa Bosses who are also honorable.
He dreams of a peaceful existence, means no harm to anyone, is not mean spirited, is often set upon by rivals who seek his death. He is brought into people lives because of his compassion to help people in need of relief from oppression. He's a sucker for doing the right thing, kids, some animals make him uncertain and he likes to sing and play the shamisen, a musical instrument of 3 stings played with a large plectrum.
And the sword fights! All I can say is, don't mess Zatoichi !! Enjoy these films. I don't know anywhere else to see the TV series except on YouTube; all seem excellent tales. Many are black & white; all I've seen are subtitled.
The Usual Suspects (1995)
The usual Suspects
I'm prejudiced. I love m00vies. I have no problem with belief and/or the suspension thereof! So, you probably suspect, I've an inclination to 10-star The Usual Suspects.
Have to start with title: it reveals you are probably going to get involved in crime. You do.
The story: takes you through a journey of twists and turns and twists and turns you again - you think, or may have been lead to think a thing, but alas; it's not what you think and therefore the unexpected keeps you interested in riding through.
The Cast: excellent story tellers all. There are probably ten characters whose part of this story are pivots to the way the story turns and twists. In a way, its hard to follow, but that's criminology 101: no criminal wants to be followed! And if something catches you as seemingly, correctly, logically easy to follow, you are right! he he heeehh ...
Sit back and enjoy this m00vie. :)