Search - Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vols. 5-8 on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 4/2/2024...

Old school fighting customs!

Not as good as Volumes 1-4

James Min | Hawaii, USA | 02/10/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Volume 1 especially was good. Even through volume 4 was good. I had high hopes for this set. However, the story line/plots just weren't as compelling as the first 4. For an example, volume 1 has a renown samurai who has developed a terminal illness meeting Zatoichi while fishing and get to admire each other and become friends before finding out that they each are staying at opposing lords' homes who are about to go to war with each other. The samurai and Ichi end up dueling at the request of the samurai who knows that his days are numbered and didn't want to end his life at the hands of scoundrels but by someone he admired like Ichi. Ichi was humble while menacing throughout the 4 volumes. However, from volume 4 the movies start out with scenes of Ichi in action killing several men while telling them witty stuff. I felt that the character had changed a bit. Out of volumes 4-7, volume 7 had a compelling storyline. The others were just drawn out TV show in quality."

Zoto

James W. Cowan | Denver, CO. United States | 04/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Blind Swordsman series is fantastic. IFC started showing these every Friday last year. (Has since stopped)
I recorded 18 of them... All of the ones they showed. I am now buying the 10 or so that where not shown.
Very well made. Try to watch them in order.
"

Full of fun, drama and sadness...

Michael Valdivielso | Alexandria, VA | 12/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Instead of breaking down the review into four parts, one for each film, let me just list WHY you should buy this set. The Japanese method of movie making is to put MORE money into the sequels, to keep the characters, to try to link the plots so there is continuity between movies. They use the same actors for the same characters, they try to get the best writers and the experienced directors. In other words, the movies get better.
And you can tell. There is lots of humor but also they are playing with the art of the colored film. New opening scenes, camera angels, blood spraying sword slashes - we finally see blood in this set. The music, the story lines, the settings are all well thought out, crafted, and made with care. The wind blowing dust across the streets, the busy crowds in the background, the feeling that the story is happening in the real world and not some stage.
Movies 5 to 8 total about 5 hours and 39 minutes, with some extras in the form of trailers and some photo stills."