Scanialara You won't be disappointed!

Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.

Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

gkbazalo This is the 15th Zatoichi installment and one of the best in my opinion. The color cinematography is beautiful, especially a scene where Zatoichi approaches his adversaries at night in falling snow. Eijirô Tono (the innkeeper in Yojimbo who befriends Mifune) does a great job as Senzo the swordmaker, who it turns out was the maker of Zatoichi's sword. The plot is typical Zatoichi but the characters are better drawn than usual. The swordplay seems better than usual as well. There is also a little more humor and its very well done. Instead of the mysterious stranger who Zatoichi always has to fight after he wipes out all the evil Yakuza bosses and corrupt government officials, there is a comical gambler character who challenges Zatoichi to a dice "dual". Highly recommended for Zatoichi fans.

Brian Ellis In the beginning of this installment of the Zatoichi series, Zatoichi comes across a dying man, who only gives his name, before he dies. Zatoichi then accidentally kills a raven, which he says is a bad omen for things to come. Unfortunately, almost an hour of the movie goes by before these events are revisited. What the viewer sees in the meantime is a lot of plot about how Zatoichi is weary of his lifestyle and that his cane sword's useful life is coming to an end (the cane sword is not a walking cane with a mini blade hidden at the end, like the westerner that I am thought it would be, it is just a walking stick that serves as a sheath for the sword). Once all that is done, then the typical Zatoichi film begins. There is a town in fear of an evil mob boss (who is more fleshed out than in the other films), a young woman in trouble and a huge battle at the end which features a nifty scene with a barrel. The last 40 minutes of this film rank up there with the best of the other Zatoichi films but it's the hour before that sinks this film.

panicwatcher This is one of the best Zatoichi movies. It has lots of humor, great action scenes and a history of Zatorichi's sword. Zatoichi gives up his sword when he discovers it is about to fail. Later, when gang of swordsmen attack him he must defend himself with just his bamboo cane. In another fight he defends himself against a knife attack with his pipe. After he gets a sword back, he finds himself sealed in a barrel by his attackers. But he defeats the attachers by stabbing through the barrel.The best scene in the movie is Zatoichi doing a crazy song and dance about trying to catch ducks. Because it is completely out of character for Zatoichi, it is very funny. But at the same time you have to appreciate how good the performance is. When the dance is over, Zatoichi proceeds to "accidentally" insult the gang leader by mooning him, ignoring his offer of sake and then spilling sake on him.The underlying story line is the same as most Zatoichi films. The villagers are being exploited by a violent gang and corrupt leader. Zatoichi kills enough bad guys until the town is saved.

John Seal This is a fairly sedate but still interesting entry in the series. Zatoichi discovers that his trusty blade is about to break, and he decides to settle down as a domestic servant rather than risk losing his life and his sword. Naturally a spanner is thrown in the works by another naughty warlord, and complications ensue.