Cult films discussion: Zatoichi

Fri Feb 06, 2004 3:15 pm by Fear Factor

Ha! I got you beaten, Taw. Just saw it yesterday, my it was such a treat! and funny as hell

. The story is about a blind wandering masseur/ronin (played by Takeshi Kitano, who also directs) who stumble upon a village under siege by two rivaling Yakuza gangs - and when not slicing Yakuza scums, he also solves murders a decade old.

Click here for the official site (Japanese, Flash site). Pay attention to the stompy, percussion-rich beat in the intro Flash, composed by Keiichi Suzuki - I love that piece.

For trailers, click here or if it doesn't work, go to the site and click at the 6th flash button from the right on the bottom of the frame(buttons are in Japanese, but if you hover your mousepointer for a while over the button it'll shift and reveal the word 'Trailer' in English). Or you can see the much inferior English-speaking trailer from Miramax in Apple's QuickTime Trailers page.

Just a bit warning tho, the editing is somewhat unusual, definitely not mainstream Hollywood storytelling. Also featured: gory but cartoony CGI blood and ultraviolence, hinted pedophilic acts, and cross-dressing. Some of you will come out thinking "Wtf was that about?" especially after seeing the closing scene; which will definitely remind you of...um...Riverdance. Weird scene, but very fun and entertaining (I think this is what The Last Samurai lacked, no tap-dancing

)

5 out of 5 stars

Now I just have to wait until its UK release then Taw and Archie can join me oohing and aahing. Yanks are less fortunate, you'll have to wait until June I think.

Edited by - Fear Factor on 2/6/2004 4:13:00 PM

Fri Feb 06, 2004 3:41 pm by freighter fighter

awwww poor yanks

Fri Feb 06, 2004 3:42 pm by Arcon

ok, i watched the trailer...looks mint.
It looks funny, dont know if its a comedy or what. The samurai with bleached blonde hair looks odd (or is it white and my monitor needs a recalibration...i dunno)

Looking forward to seeing it if and when it arrives at a cinema near me.

"when you develop and infatuation for someone, you always find a reason to believe that this is exactly the person for you. it doesn't need to be a good reason..."

Fri Feb 06, 2004 5:11 pm by Indy11

Well, actually, it would more appropriate to call it "ge-ta" or clog dancing. If I saw correctly, those dancers are wearing traditional-ish (but not quite) wooden clogs. And don't forget that Z's trade, being a masseur, also makes him a Buddhist monk/acolyte of sorts.... leastwise, that's the tradition.

Wow. Who would have thought that there would be TLR-ers that like Zato-Ichi.

This character has had many many iterations, tv serieses, movies, etc., and another (actor) who claimed the character as his own even before Kitano's current run. - Shintaro Katsu in the original movie, "Zato-ichi Monogatari" - {Tales of Zatoichi}. That movie is an old one, I think fromthe 60's. Anyway,
Katsu is/was THE Zato-ichi.

....Why the poor Yanks comment?

Edited by - Indy11 on 2/6/2004 5:15:55 PM

Fri Feb 06, 2004 5:19 pm by freighter fighter

cos u gotta wait so long for it to be released in the us

Fri Feb 06, 2004 5:34 pm by Indy11

Oh. Yeah. <sigh> What the hey.

Fri Feb 06, 2004 6:03 pm by H.Q. Victor

It sure beats the american cult classic "Rocky Horror Picture Show"

Finalday

Until that final day. /Keith Green\ (1953-1983)

Fri Feb 06, 2004 7:42 pm by Arcon

what? transelvanian transexual is a bloody legend. Ive got a mate who wont watch that because she's pissed that Tim Curry's legs look better in suspenders than hers. I offered to be the judge of that but she wasnt to pleased...netither was her boyfriend

Fri Feb 06, 2004 8:18 pm by Indy11

Hey Arcon.....

I'm not saying you're like this but..... Hittin' on another guy's girl, in front of that other guy?

Bad things are good
in Bizzaro World

Sat Feb 07, 2004 1:59 am by Tawakalna

looks cool, never heard of it, thx FF! now I have something new to ease my jaded tastes. looks fookin' grrrreat!

Actually it reminds me of a Japanese "Django" in some ways..with a sort of comedy "Ghost Dog" feel. Why do i think that? I dunno...

Edited by - Tawakalna on 2/7/2004 3:06:02 AM

Sat Feb 07, 2004 2:53 am by Fear Factor

Your monitor is fine, Arc. Remember the last time you tried to adjust it to de-green-ify Paris Hilton? same case here: the picture is correct.

@Indy: Yes I know all about Shintaro! I watched him endlessly when I was little and living in Japan with mom - although I did not learn of his name nor even understood the language. All I cared about were the fight scenes.

Sat Feb 07, 2004 6:47 am by Arcon

@Indy: i dont really see the connection with me and the mythical guy from onion but that guy has balls and i like that. As for hitting on her in front of her boyfriend, well i suppose i have balls too.

ahhhhhhhhh, i getcha. Seriously though, its just the way i work. im not just a cheeky ****er online.

@Taw: Ghost Dog is awesome.

"when you develop and infatuation for someone, you always find a reason to believe that this is exactly the person for you. it doesn't need to be a good reason..."

Sat Feb 07, 2004 7:43 am by Tawakalna

dunna worry. Arc, there isnt nothing wrong with hitting on chicks with their b/f s there, it's the band of gold that makes the diff. Until its all signed sealed and delivered, they're fair game

and being a cheeky c*nt makes the world turn round! for me it's sport, makes the day bearable. Besides, respect is earnt, not given...am i not correct on this?

Sat Feb 07, 2004 7:51 am by Indy11

LOL. No Taw, you're not wrong in this.

But you leave out some practical considerations, i.e., the odds of provoking physical encounters with the bf's. Whether one is accomplished in self-defense, not always the way to impress the ladies.

Bad things are good
in Bizzaro World

Sat Feb 07, 2004 2:12 pm by Tawakalna

but even though they will walk off with the b/f, there's almost always the sidelong glance back isn't there? you know the one

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