Zatoichis pilgrimage is the fourteenth episode in the franchise about the skilled gambler, blind masseur and fast swordsman. He made 24 installments between 1962 and 1973, and made the last one 16 years later in 1989. It was originally released by the daiei motion picture company later acquired by kadokawa pictures zatoichis pilgrimage is the fourteenth episode in the 26part film series devoted to the character of. Watch zatoichis pilgrimage english subtitled prime. Zatoichi at large, zatoichi goyotabi is a 1972 japanese film directed by kazuo mori. In the beginning of the film, zatoichi is on a pilgrimage to visit the eightyeight shrines on shikoku.
While the tale of zatoichi went on to inspire and give life to a long series of films that sum up zatoichi and his life and adventures, the film was a little slow at times as it had to develop. Watch zatoichi meets the onearmed swordsman full movie. Zatoichi the new tale of zatoichi 1963 rotten tomatoes. In the vein of zatoichi on the road, pilgrimage is deeply infused with spaghetti western dna. Watch zatoichi challenged english subtitled prime video. In the same film, it should be noted, he does not hesitate to slice off a thiefs hand as exemplary punishment. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events.
The recent zatoichi dvd releases by home vision entertainment make this an ideal time for any interested viewers to pick up zatoichi at the starting. A dying woman begs zatoichi to reunite her son with the father he has never met, but when the masseur searches for the. It was originally released by the daiei motion picture company later acquired by kadokawa pictures. But as always, trouble isnt far behind, and the blind swordsman soon finds himself defending a widow from the selfinterest of ruthless thugs and despicable townsfolk. The 14th entry in the long running series was simply the best up to that point. Surprisingly, the movie that came to mind while watching zatoichis pilgrimage was not another samurai film, but rather a fistful of dollars. Troubled by his violent past, zatoichi begins a journey to a series of shrines for a dose of cleansing spirituality. Next film in the series starts off the ones i havent seen yet. Apparently, director quentin tarantino was interested in directing a remake. Watch zatoichis pilgrimage english subtitled prime video. It is the twentyfirst of a series of films featuring the blind swordsman zatoichi. The main character is based on a fictional character, a blind masseur and swordmaster. Not every zatoichi film qualifies as great cinema, but even when the series falters a bit, every single one of these films is still well worth your time.
Not long after this, japanese director takeshi kitano created his own updated version of the series, the blind swordsman. Zatoichis pilgrimage troubled by his violent past, zatoichi begins a journey to a series of shrines for a dose of cleansing spirituality. Criterions 25 film zatoichi boxset includes the film here, zatoichis pilgrimage, in its first ever stateside release on home video. See the full list of zatoichis pilgrimage cast and crew including actors, directors, producers and more. In zatoichis pilgrimage, he undertakes a series of shrine visits in atonement for past killings. It was the 23rd film in the zatoichi film series and the first distributed by toho, while all others were distributed by daiei. Everything on the brand new criterion channel streaming service. The only usual thing about this film is the number of dead which like all other. After hes ambushed in a small village terrorized by a gang of thieves, the legendary blind swordsman zatoichi shintaro katsu is forced to kill a young man in selfdefense. Zatoichis pilgrimage is a 1966 japanese chambara film directed by kazuo ikehiro and starring shintaro katsu as the blind masseur zatoichi.
The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by novelist kan shimozawa. On the road, zatoichi kenkatabi is a 1963 japanese chambara film directed by kimiyoshi yasuda starring shintaro katsu as the blind masseur zatoichi, originally released by the daiei motion picture company now known as kadokawa pictures. Zatoichis pilgrimage begins as a sea voyage, and the water theme repeatedly makes its way into the plot. Zatoichi and the fugitives film complet vf, zatoichi and the fugitives. Samovarkov ichi seeks out on a pilgrimage to 81 temples, exploring spirituality to atone for his bloody past. Itinerant masseur and master swordsman, the blind zatoichi, is near the village of his teacher, hikonoichi, so he decides to visit. The last, noting that the film is ultimately chanbara swordfighting entertainment, similar to the dark knight and other hollywood comic book movies that try for darkness and depth but still have cg action at their center.
In the hope of realizing his quest, a rider less horse follows the blind swordsman to where hes most needed suggesting that zatoichi may have already found his destiny. The third zatoichi film, and the first in color, the new tale of zatoichi is packed with action and some great battle scenes and displays of zatoichis drawing skills as he splits more candles in. Zatoichi questioning his own legacy leaves for a pilgrimage to the 88 shrines but winds up once again facing a bandit leader and his gang while protecting an innocent woman and her village, shot in beautiful widescreen featuring vibrant colour and solid editing this may be the best looking entry as well. Shintaro katsu, michiyo yasuda, kunie tanaka, hisashi igawa, masao mishima, jotaro senba, ryutaro gomi, isao yamagata, saburo date ichi seeks out on a pilgrimage to 81 temples, exploring spirituality to. Its a good average episode with some positive and a few negative points. The tale of zatoichi 1962 the criterion collection. On the road is the fifth episode in the 26 part film series devoted to the character of zatoichi. Shintaro katsu and isao yamagata in zatoichis pilgrimage 1966 michiyo yasuda in zatoichis. The only usual thing about this film is the number of dead which like all other zatoichi films litter the towns. Zatoichi and his wife return to their hometown to lead a normal life. Zatoichis pilgrimage rewatched by david letterboxd. Zatoichis pilgrimage 1966 zatoichis pilgrimage 1966. Our hero zatoichi sails to one of the distant islands to begin a pilgrimage to a total of.
Zatoichi, zatoichi is a fictional character featured in one of japans longestrunning series of films and a television series that are both set during the late edo period 1830s and 1840s. The blind swordsman box set gets our highest recommendation and damn well deserves it. The elements of drama and danger, the essential stable of characters that populate and prove so important to every zatoichi film are just so well honed and involving in this film. He learns of hikonoichis recent robbery and murder and the imprisonment of his virginal daughter, osayo, in a brothel. Zatoichis pilgrimage 1966 a blind swordsman shintaro katsu confronts his spirituality to atone for his bloody past.
Frequently asked questions how many zatoichi films were made. A reluctant warrior must deal with love and revenge in this, the 14th film in the zatoichi series. Troubled by his violent past, zatoichi begins a journey to a series of shrines for a. The zatoichi series is one of my favorite of all time. What a great and rare treat as this 14th film in the. According to ancient lore, the weinstein brothersmiramax optioned the rights to the movie years ago for quentin tarantino to do a potential remake that never materialized. Film complet vf, zatoichi and the fugitives streaming complet vostfr, zatoichi. Zatoichis trek through 88 temples to atone for his violent past is interrupted as he stumbles into a village terrorized by a violent yakuza boss. Allinall an excellent story and as usual very well told. Zatoichi s pilgrimage is a film about the toll that even righteous violence takes on the people burdened with perpetrating it and the guilt that comes with being such a person. Zatoichis pilgrimage is the legendary lost zatoichi that went unreleased in the united states until 20. On the road with zatoichi the current the criterion. Originally, quentin tarantino and miramax acquired the rights to the film planning for a dvd release using. Zatoichis pilgrimage season 1, episode 14 081266 troubled by his violent past, zatichi embarks on a pilgrimage to a series of seaside shrines, but bandits interrupt his spiritual journey.
Without choice, zatoichi is forced to hold the sword once again. This list tries to track down not only the greatest, but also the most essential zatoichi films which brought this formula to live, tried to improve it or varied it intelligently. Our hero zatoichi sails to one of the distant islands to begin a pilgrimage to a total of 88 shinto shrines. Zatoichis pilgrimage aka zatoichi 14 1966 remastered. New tale of zatoichi is pretty much perfect, a great samurai film, and, i think, better than the first zatoichi movie. Zatoichi goes to the fire festival is a 1970 japanese chambara film directed by kenji misumi and starring shintaro katsu, who also produced and cowrote the script. As tensions mount between rival yakuza clans, one boss hires a formidable but ailing ronin as his clans musclewhile the other employs a humble, moral blind masseur named ichi. The blind swordsmans pilgrimage, zatoichis ocean voyage cast. Zatoichis pilgrimage 1966 the criterion collection. The colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. Mark schilling of the japan times criticized zatoichi.
With its lightningfast swordplay, sleightofhand dice games, and codes of honor upheld and betrayed, this first chapter sets the stage for all the zatoichi adventures to come. The only usual thing about this film is the number of dead which like all other zatoichi films litter the towns streets by the end of judgement day. Shintaro katsu appears on screen as zatoichi for the last time. This is a list of all the zatoichi movies starring shintaro katsu. Zatoichi 2003, which was released to theaters and dvd in the u. The blind swordsmans pilgrimage you are looking for exciting, rough and serious movies about with samurai, village, adventure, martial arts, island, heroes and destiny themes of action, adventure and drama genre shot in japan. But for a matinee idol, he receives a decidedly modest introduction. A focus on smug lively villains recalls indio and his gang, while the finale is a dusty swordplay standoff.