Zatoichi - The Blind Swordsman DVD Collector's Edition Box

Description

Katsu Shintaro stars as Zatoichi, the Blind Swordsman, in seven of his finest adventures all presented in full color anamorphic widescreen! This box set contains seven full Zatoichi features on seven discs!

Customer Reviews:

A Great Deal--Highly Recommended.......2007-02-27

As others have noted, the Zatoichi movie series is a classic--outstanding and immensely enjoyable. This collection is a good value. The DVD reproduction seems to be first-rate (each movie looks better than I remember seeing it decades ago), and the subtitles are very well done: Not only are the translations good, but they appear below the wide-screen picture rather than on top of the scene. Occasionally there's even a little note displayed above the picture defining a term, such as "palanquin" ('kago' in Japanese).

I have one small complaint. Each of the 7 movies is individually shrinkwrapped with 3 of those incredibly annoying antitheft stickers. I paid good money for the collection, so why am I treated like a potential thief and made to waste time every time I open one? That's just plain rude. I could have used Zatoichi's help getting the DVDs open for the first time, and had he decided to pay a call on the packagers, I wouldn't have tried to stop him.

Warning: This collection is a hook. Once you see all 7 movies, you'll want to see the other 19, and individually they'll set you back a good deal more. Oh, well!

Zatoichi box set.......2007-02-09

I'm hooked on Zatoichi now! I'm going to have to look for the rest of the collection, these movies were that much fun :)

A Zatoichi starter set.......2006-09-20

Zatoichi is an institution in Japanese film, almost like James Bond or Star Trek films, but with the difference that the same actor has played the main character since the series inception, and with an amazing consistency of quality from the original film in 1962 through the final installment, #26, in 1989. Shintaro Katsu played many roles in his life, but in the minds of hearts of everyone who loves samurai films he will always be Zatoichi.

This boxset contains seven DVDs, all from the tail end of the Zatoichi series when Katsu had taken over the production duties on the series. They are all quality films, with "The Festival of Fire" and "Zatoichi meets Yojimbo" being among the best of the entire run. Its a great price for seven DVDs as well, which would cost much more if bought individually.

For those starting out with Zatoichi, the films are diverse enough to give a good feel for the flavor of the series. Funny films and serious films, they all have the charm and appeal that only Shintaro Katsu could bring to the table in a samurai action film. And this is some seriously cool samurai action. Katsu was a great actor, and a great swordsman as well.

The films in this collection are:

Zatoichi #16 - the Outlaw - A complicated story with a vast cast of characters. Directed by Satsuo Yamamoto, who also made the 1968 ghost story "Botan Doro."

Zatoichi #20 - Meets Yojimbo - A highly anticipated showdown between Zatoichi and Toshiro Mifune playing his famous Yojimbo character. Directed by acclaimed samurai film master Kihachi Okamoto, best known for "Sworld of Doom" and "Kill!"

Zatoichi #21 - The Festival of Fire - Considered one of the best entries in the series, directed by the original Zatoichi director Kenji Misumi.

Zatoichi #22 - Meets the One-Armed Swordsman - Zatoichi meets his Chinese counterpart, Wang. Directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda, who also made the original "100 Monsters: Great Yokai War"

Zatoichi #23 - At Large - A more humorous flick, Zatoichi delivers a baby! Directed by Kazuo Mori, who also made "The Return of Daimajin."

Zatoichi #24 - In Desperation - Directed by Shintarô Katsu, Zatoichi himself, this is a darker, more disturbing entry.

Zatoichi #25 - Conspiracy - Zatoichi meets his long-lost sister. A guest appearance by Takashi Shimura of "Seven Samurai." Also directed by Kimiyoshi Yasuda.

Shintaro Katsu: 1000 Oscars would not suffice........2006-08-18

This guy's acting is beyond this world. The stories and landscapes are incredible. Maybe the film-making technique is a little rusty some times, but in the whole it is effective.

If you must have all of the Zatoichi films.......2005-09-21

A well priced collection of the less wonderful story lines. Zatoichi is always the great blind swordsman but there is less atmosphere and character development in the films included in this collection.

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