New Zatoichi film coming out

[Gangsterfist]

If any of you have seen any of the original Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman you know how sweet those movies are. Apparently they are making a new one. I haven't found much on it, but here is a link to the trailer:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/zatoichi.html

If you have not seen the originals I suggest you go right out to suncoast and buy them (or at least rent them), because they are badass movies.

[Mr Punch]

It's made.

It was out over here last year.

Haven't seen it yet, might rent it tonight!:p

[Gangsterfist]

****, can you buy it on dvd in japan then?

I really want to see it. I highly recomend the originals.

[jbmmaster]

On saturday on the IFC (Independant film channel) They have all the old samurai movies on and zatoichi is one of them. I would recommend watching zatoichi he's awesome :cool:

[Gangsterfist]

Yeah thats where I saw them all on IFC samurai saturdays.

I want to see the new one though

[[Censored]]

Can you give the name of (or even better, a link to) the new one, in either English or Japanese?

[Gangsterfist]

Here is a link that shows what they are:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-5940386-9051107

[[Censored]]

That link doesn't work. Try clearing your cookies...

Looks like the new DVD is set for release on March 11.
http://us.yesasia.com/en/PrdDept.aspx/pid-1002991839/pname-Zatoichi/code-j/version-all/section-videos/did-160/

[Gangsterfist]

Thats it, but its region 2 so I would have to rip it and burn it as a region 0 or region 1.

There are 12 (possibly more) original movies and I think at least 50 episodes of a TV series of Zatoichi. Its all very very cool.

[Mr Punch]

Well, it turns out I couldn't rent it cos it was always out... all of them...! They like it over here it seems!!

Saw it last night.

Three words: Sugeeh!


He's a bit too invincible, but otherwise, it roxors!

[Ben Gash]

I read a review of it this morning (it's out here at the end of the week). I'll be really interested to see how Takeshi Kitano does a samurai movie.

[GeneChing]

He did the Musashi series, which isn't bad at all for a samurai soap. I've watched a few episodes. Could use more fighting tho, but that's always my criticism. ;)

[Mr Punch]

Originally posted by Ben Gash
I read a review of it this morning (it's out here at the end of the week). I'll be really interested to see how Takeshi Kitano does a samurai movie. Sweet, might go and watch it at the flicks when I get back next month then!

[Mr Punch]

And Gene, this has plenty of rather splendid choreography... plus great build up; the timing to it reminds me very much of Yojimbo or its counterparts from Leone... and on top of that it has some fine light entertainment in the background, but I won't give any spoilers away. The English titles were unusually good, but as usual there was a bit lost in translation if you get the Japanese.

[GeneChing]

I loved the original series, so I really hope this redux is up to par.

[Odin of Wei]

Originally posted by GeneChing
I loved the original series, so I really hope this redux is up to par.
I found that in one movie he was super good.

In another he killed everyone in "sight".

I liked it when he was running though the woods and he had a little baby with him. And they just kept coming at him in the woods (theres so many it's hard to remember just one).

[Gangsterfist]

The thing is Zatoichi is suppose to be a bad @ss. He is suppose to kill tons of people, that is his character. Its not that realisitic but it makes a good movie. If movies were realistic they would be boring.

Have you seen Ong Bak? A lot of those moves in that movie are fight enders. I can't imagine anyone taking a flying elbow to the skull and get back up. It makes a cool movie though.

[Odin of Wei]

Originally posted by Gangsterfist
The thing is Zatoichi is suppose to be a bad @ss. He is suppose to kill tons of people, that is his character. Its not that realisitic but it makes a good movie. If movies were realistic they would be boring.

Have you seen Ong Bak? A lot of those moves in that movie are fight enders. I can't imagine anyone taking a flying elbow to the skull and get back up. It makes a cool movie though.
Thus you shouldn't use movies to teach yourself martial arts. :D

[Nick Forrer]

For anyone who isn't familiar with 'Beat' Takeshi

The man is a true auteur and is (rightly) lionised in Japan, following in the tradition of other great Japanese directors like Ozu and Kurosawa. I would recommend any of his films (in which he always stars as a clint eastwood esque 'man with no name' type with a propensity for dishing out extreme helpings of violence) but particularly

'Sonatine'
The truly brilliant 'Hana bi'
and 'Violent cop'

Regards

[Mr Punch]

He's OK.

He stands out because he's not as insipid as the vast majority of Japanese movie makers with their syrupy sentimental crap. He's not so much lionized as a typically idolized 'talent': over here over-exposure is a common phenomenon and does not equate to lionization... but mainly he's an unavoidable pain in the arse; every time I turn on the TV in the evening he is on one of the channels. This is not an exagerration! And most the time he's merely a typical obnoxious oyaji *******. And furthermore, a most Japanese people I've spoken to about him (which is a lot!) can't stand him.

He's been typecast in some appalling crap too, such as Battle Royale.

Fpr people who like that seamy, violent side of Japanese movie lore, try Sabu's Monday. It's a bit different.

But overall, I like his movies, even if he ****es me off rather.

Sonatine is poetic.
Jiro no Natsu is not so typical, and poetic in a different way.
And Zatoichi is a change in pace also, but very enjoyable.

My gripe about it wasn't that he was invincible, just that even with Yojimbo, The Good The Bad and the Ugly, Fistful of Dollars, Payback (and Pointblank), Conan, The Gladiator, even Superman, Batman, Spiderman et al, you know they're gonna prevail, but they at least have one weakness, one point where you can almost convince yourself they're going to lose, and sometimes where they get injured or beaten up... with Zatoichi, even being blind is no weakness!!! Just tripping over, or putting his clothes on inside-out... some foible would have been nice!

Anyway, it's still good.

[Ben Gash]

Mat, I thought Battle Royale was excellent, remeniscent of the best comic strips and classic sci fi short stories.

[Odin of Wei]

Originally posted by Ben Gash
Mat, I thought Battle Royale was excellent, remeniscent of the best comic strips and classic sci fi short stories.
Yes, I heard alot good things about that movie.
I seen only the beginning of it, but it seems good.

And I see Brother, that was really good.

And I seen Kikurijro...I highly recomend that one, it touched my heart and made me cry. :D /:(

Only odd thing I noticed about the guy is that...he walks a bit werid. Like he just got off a horse.:eek:

[Mr Punch]

I thought it was gash...

No offence!

:D ;)

The script was straight out of the most boring, trite teenage romance manga beloved of 36 year-old OLs (Office Ladies) with fetishes for Kitty-chan knickers who never made it out of high-school hell. YMOV!

It may have looked cooler over there, but if you actually understood what the hell they were talking about you would recognize it ain't no Lord of the Flies, and it ain't no Heart of Darkness either! It had its cool bits, but not many.

Beat walks funny cos he was half paralysed in a drunk motorbike accident.

[Odin of Wei]

Originally posted by Mat
I thought it was gash...

No offence!

:D ;)

The script was straight out of the most boring, trite teenage romance manga beloved of 36 year-old OLs (Office Ladies) with fetishes for Kitty-chan knickers who never made it out of high-school hell. YMOV!

It may have looked cooler over there, but if you actually understood what the hell they were talking about you would recognize it ain't no Lord of the Flies, and it ain't no Heart of Darkness either! It had its cool bits, but not many.

Beat walks funny cos he was half paralysed in a drunk motorbike accident.
Oy?....

What movie are you talking about there? Kikurjro? Office Ladies?...noooo! :eek:

Seems like you know some japanese flicks, do you reconize my avatar, it's from my most favorite movie. :cool:

[Mr Punch]

Nah, not Kikujiro no Natsu, back to Battle Royale.

I know a few Japanese movies, being as I live here with me Japanese gf, get by in the lingo, and know a movie fashion designer and a Japanese actor in two movies out this summer. But actually, not that many, and I don't recognize your avatar! :eek:

[Odin of Wei]

Originally posted by Mat
Nah, not Kikujiro no Natsu, back to Battle Royale.

I know a few Japanese movies, being as I live here with me Japanese gf, get by in the lingo, and know a movie fashion designer and a Japanese actor in two movies out this summer. But actually, not that many, and I don't recognize your avatar! :eek:
Dead or Alive.

The best movie EVER! :cool:

The most random ending in it that I have ever seen.:D

[norther practitioner]

lol

true dat.

[Gangsterfist]

Originally posted by Odin of Wei

Dead or Alive.

The best movie EVER! :cool:

The most random ending in it that I have ever seen.:D

They made a sequel to DOA and its hiliarious. At the end they form like voltron.

[Odin of Wei]

Originally posted by Gangsterfist


They made a sequel to DOA and its hiliarious. At the end they form like voltron.
There was three sequels...and your talking about DOA Final (the 3rd and...obviously final one).

I happened to see all 3 and own the first DOA on DVD.

I have very different opinions on all three. You know what I think about the 1st movie.

But I found the second DOA: Birds, to be a bit boring and a bit drawn out. Miike (the director) tried to have this movie more of a comdey but didn't really work...some parts it did...SOME parts...and you can see how hard he tried at it. :rolleyes:

The 3rd had some sweet action in it. Some may think he over used the CGI too much but it looks really good, ok story too. But the ending just ruined the whole movie. When they did turn into a robot it was really gay....literally. :(

I was very mad with the other two...but the actor in my avatar is my favorite actor...he's just got that angry mug look in the whole movie...never seen Stallone or Mr. Governer of Cail. look that cool. :cool:

But Miike REALLY ****ed me off with Fudoh...don't get me started. :p

[Mr Punch]

I'll look out for that. Cheers.

[SanSoo Student]

Visitor Q has to be the worse, when I saw that...just blew my mind away.

[Ben Gash]

Saw The Returner this week. Seriously cool, and I was really impressed with the production values.

[Nick Forrer]

Saw Zaitochi last night

Fuc-king brilliant- funny, moving, stylish, violent everything you expect from a Beat film.

Moral of the story? never try and cheat a blind man in a game of dice.

One gripe- some of the cgi was a bit blatant- so it only gets 9/10

[Mr Punch]

Liked the Returner, dunno why, nothing special... guess I liked the characters... and some of the action is quite fresh.

[MasterKiller]

The Returner blew. I couldn't even watch the whole thing.

[Gangsterfist]

Is the new Zatoichi coming out in theatres in the USA?

Anyone know?

[Mr Punch]

Originally posted by MasterKiller
The Returner blew. Strangely, I kind of agree which is why I said I didn't know why I liked it!!! :D

[doug maverick]

Miramax invited the cast from my play(White Eyebrow and the Destruction of Shaolin for those that don't know) to a private screening to get our martial arts opinion on it, i won't give any spoilers, but i will say this: zatoichi will spark the summer action flicks and most if not all action films in 2004 will be jugded by it at least those with martial arts in them(even hero is not exempt)

[Odin of Wei]

Originally posted by doug maverick
Miramax invited the cast from my play(White Eyebrow and the Destruction of Shaolin for those that don't know) to a private screening to get our martial arts opinion on it, i won't give any spoilers, but i will say this: zatoichi will spark the summer action flicks and most if not all action films in 2004 will be jugded by it at least those with martial arts in them(even hero is not exempt)
I just checked your Profile. Seems we have the same intrests. Flimmaking and such....and of course Gung fu. :D
How you doing? The name's Aaron. :cool:


Originally posted by Gangsterfist
Is the new Zatoichi coming out in theatres in the USA?

Anyone know?
It's out on DVD...I seen it around at like FYE (an entertanment store).

But I think we must learn from what happened with Hero and Shaolin soccer.
There were many rumors that there will be showing in theatres only to see that after more than a year later, zero results. :(

History does repeat itself. :cool:

[doug maverick]

whats up aaron!
yeah i like filmmaking. i just finished a student film called the wrong mind it was based on a short story i wrought. right now i'm doing two things one i'm trying to produce a play i already did called white eyebrow and the destruction of shaolin. the play did very well in it's first production but it had a alot of kinks now i'm working on taking out those kinks to have a truly great play. hopefully it will be on stage but august. my other project is still up in the air as to weather i'll get it or not but it's a chance to direct my first indie so i hope i get it. feel free to e-mail me man if you got any potiential project ideas i'm always willing to work with new people. i'm also i writer so if you have any script ideas but you just don't know how to put them on paper i can help you with that

[Odin of Wei]

Originally posted by doug maverick
whats up aaron!
yeah i like filmmaking. i just finished a student film called the wrong mind it was based on a short story i wrought. right now i'm doing two things one i'm trying to produce a play i already did called white eyebrow and the destruction of shaolin. the play did very well in it's first production but it had a alot of kinks now i'm working on taking out those kinks to have a truly great play. hopefully it will be on stage but august. my other project is still up in the air as to weather i'll get it or not but it's a chance to direct my first indie so i hope i get it. feel free to e-mail me man if you got any potiential project ideas i'm always willing to work with new people. i'm also i writer so if you have any script ideas but you just don't know how to put them on paper i can help you with that
That's really kickass!
I hope it goes boradway. :D

Yea, I just had an idea for a movie. It sort of has a message where that using anti-bacteral soap is bad. It may sound sort of funny now but if I explain most of the plot to you you'll see how scary it can be.

I heard some where that you really don't want to make a too big of an action flick wiht inde flicks. So I'm trying to get my friend who all he wants to do is battle scenes to more drama.

Any tips at all would be great.

From good stage blood (if you know how the HK actors did it...or whatever) to making things look different than they are.
Anything I could really use.

Thanks alot, man. Hopefully you won't steal my ideas, ha ha ha.

And if not I will concider you as my best rescorce. :cool:

[doug maverick]

well when it comes to indie's it is hard (and potientialy un-safe)to do gun scenes. The Crow with brandon lee had a 12 million dollar budget and you know what happen there!!! fight scene however can be really good even better then hollywood if it's done right. remmeber every hk film is considered low-budget to hollywood standards. you just need someone who knows how to a)set up good fight scenes and b) someone who knows how to shoot those scenes. fight directing is like surgery not every docter can do it.

[Odin of Wei]

Originally posted by doug maverick
well when it comes to indie's it is hard (and potientialy un-safe)to do gun scenes. The Crow with brandon lee had a 12 million dollar budget and you know what happen there!!! fight scene however can be really good even better then hollywood if it's done right. remmeber every hk film is considered low-budget to hollywood standards. you just need someone who knows how to a)set up good fight scenes and b) someone who knows how to shoot those scenes. fight directing is like surgery not every docter can do it.
Hmm...I need pratice then.

If you got AIM hit me up. Hot Fury Curry is my sn.

[Lice]

Since it looks like Zatoichi is hitting the US theatres a bit more right now, I thought I'd just bring this back from the dead.

I'd recommend seeing it, but I'd more strongly recommend joining Netflix and seeing the originals (they about 20 of the originals there). My complaints with the new one.

1) As mentioned, the CGI is a bit obvious in places.. in particular, blood.
2) The platinum blonde hair has got to go.
3) It's not Shintaro Katsu. (They can't really help that though.)
4) They weren't true to Zatoichi's character. In particular, I'm talking about the dice game massacre. Although, that was a familiar scene in the original Zatoichi movies, he never would've attacked like that. He *always* attacked in retaliation.

Still, a good movie. I've had the DVD for a while (can't watch it as much as I want since my main DVD player doesn't like it.) It's in more theatres now in the US then it's ever been, so see if it's playing near you.

[Lice]

Oh, and I just saw the article on KFM. I have problems with this line:

"bringing back the pleasure and charm of watching films like THE ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN and any of Akira Kurosawa's classic samurai films."

Comparing the new Zatoichi movie to those movies, particularly Akira Kurosawa, is heresy. They don't compare... at all.

But, I would like to mention that one of the original Zatoichi movies is Zatoichi vs. the One-Armed Swordsman, and another is Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo, with no other than Toshiro Mifune. (I haven't seen the latter, but I just ordered it off of eBay. Anything less than pure perfection with Zatoichi and Toshiro Mifune's yojimbo character will be a disappointment though.)

And, if you don't know Mifune's yojimbo character, you really owe it to yourself to see Yojimbo and Sanjuro by Akira Kurosawa. (And, pretty much any Kurosawa/Mifune movie, just for good measure.)

[Shaolinlueb]

i just bought the dvd and im waiting for it in the mail.

[Nick Forrer]

Originally posted by Lice
Oh, and I just saw the article on KFM. I have problems with this line:

"bringing back the pleasure and charm of watching films like THE ONE-ARMED SWORDSMAN and any of Akira Kurosawa's classic samurai films."

Comparing the new Zatoichi movie to those movies, particularly Akira Kurosawa, is heresy. They don't compare... at all.


I think its a mistake to make the comparison in the first place....Zaitochi IMV is best seen as a beat takeshi film (as part of his oeuvre as an auteur) rather than as a zaitochi/samurai film per se. If you see any of his other films like sonatine or hana bi youll know what I mean.