Hey folks, Harry here... Well, it definitely seems like Takeshi Kitano's night... First, the reviews from Toronto have been sterling... and then the news from Venice was pure sterling silver as Beat picked up the Silver Lion for Best Director at the Venice Film Festival for ZATOICHI!!! He's got to be the most talented game show host that has ever lived. He's just gotta be.... Here ya go...
Here is a little review of Zatoichi
“Even with my eyes open, I can’t see a thing.”
Takeshi Kitano’s ‘eye opening’ Zatoichi premiered at the Elgin Theatre here in Toronto today. It was an amazing film which had a buzz around it ever since it was put up for top prize at the Vennes film fest last week.
I won’t go into to much detail on each scene, but every fight sequence is so fast paced, eye popping and bloody, that you just can’t imagine it could get any better. From the first fight scene to the last you get everything you ever wanted out of Zatoichi. The scene in the rain is truly amazing, with so many unique deaths, that you wonder how Kitano thought of them. Of course if you aren’t into the blood you can always have a few laughs along the way. Shinkichi who is the comic relief in the film is so funny that he steals some of the scenes away from Zatoichi. The actor who plays Zatoichi is wonderful throughout the entire film. Especially when we get close to the end of the film, and everything falls into place.
The film was an easy movie to sit through, but there were some people who kept looking back at the projector about 15 minutes from the end of the film. Then some people even started yelling. Why you ask? Because the frame was screwed up and the projectionist was either eating a sandwich or out to lunch. It lasted a good 3 minutes but he finally got it fixed, a small clap was given to him for this accomplishment.
Zatoichi is a film that must be seen. I had never seen one of Kitano’s films before and I was amazed at how fun and exciting it was to experience it here at the film fest. This was my first screening of the fest and hope the others can stand up to this great work of art.
Thx
Craig
And now for the more SPOILER-FILLED review by Michael Hodge...
Harrigan,
I'm one of them lucky Toronto people to have seen Beat Takeshi's remake of Zatoichi at the Elgin theater in Toronto this afternoon. I have things to add to the two previous reviews, but I'll focus on the viciously cool violence and the various ways people are killed in the film. Semi-major spoilers to be included.
"Six million ways to die, choose one."
To add to the previous reviews, it's noteworthy to mention that there is a copious amount of CGI used in this film. Almost all the impalings, dismemberments, flesh slashes and blood flow were done in CGI. Unless you were eagle-eyed like me, you'd miss it. It was that well done, and done in a manner that was surgically subtle. There are also two major bombshells about Zatoichi at the end of the film which I'd be please to spill. See the capitalized sentence at the end of this mini review. Don't bother reading it if you plan to see this film, however long from now. IT WILL RUIN THE END OF THE FILM FOR YOU.
Violence spoilers ahead. You have been warned.
I was pleased to find that this film was a satirical masterpiece that managed to poke fun at itself, and nearly poke out its own eye at the same time. This film is dangerous, man. It's funny and lethal all wrapped up into one big bloody package. The cinematic style is recognizably chambara, and is consistent with the slash 'em up flicks you've seen before. There are some instances where you're bursting to protest after you've seen the impossible happen, like the scene where the ronin (Tadanobu) is approached by the local yakuza and offered a job as a bodyguard. As a way of demonostrating his skills, the ronin draws and spins his sword into a blur, chops the rope hanging from the yakuza boss's belt and plants the sword into the ground between the big and middle toe of the man, all without drawing a single drop of blood. The level of violence approaches that of the Lone Wolf and Cub series.
This movie is nightmare-inducing. The various ways in which people are killed is astounding. The most memorable for me was a scene in which Zatoichi was challenged by another of the local gangs and one of the thugs was carrying a bamboo rod. The gangster swings the rod at Zato and Zato counters with his sword, splitting the rod clean down the center. Zatoichi then leans into his sword, pushing it down the entire length of the rod and down the entire lenth of the man's arm, first severing fingers, then a hand, then an arm. It was tremendous. Of course you could pick out the CGI material by the incongruity of the shading. There are times when the CGI work doesn't jive with the lighting of the scene.
For those of you that have seen Taboo (Gohatto), you would instantly recognize Tadanobu as the stoic Tashiro in that film. Aside from being straight, he is no different in Zatoichi. There is a very terminator quality about him. He is downright lethal, and it's no surprise that he carelessly dispatches people in this film without bliinking an eye.
Blood. Lots of blood. Heads roll a whole lot in this film, and the guysers of blood add to the feel of brutality. Eyes are cut out, people are stabbed in the back and butted with the blunt end of the sword. People get stomped on a whole lot too, little boys are fondled by grown men and little girls prostitute themselves.
By the way, the musical score wasn't the hiphop as some suggested. It was more a combination of traditional Japanese tyco drumming and proto-futuristic drum and bass. It was quite well done.
Despite all the violence, it wasn't overdone. The film's plot was quite captivating. AND NOW FOR THE TWO BOMBSHELLS..
.LLOR _______ EROFEB TSUJ ___ YREV EHT TA _____ NWO SIH NO _______ _____ DNA ____ A REVO _____ EH DNA _____ TNS'I IHCIOTAZ.
Michael Hodge
Toronto, Canada
