The Tale of Zatoichi (1962)
Moody, near-Expressionistic samurai film about a blind swordsman drawn into a turf war between rival gangs. Serves as living proof that the French weren't the only ones influenced by the American post-war film-noir movement but infused with a particularly Japanese rhythm and sensibility. It's a gorgeously crafted movie and pretty involving too. A little short on action, but what is here is first-rate. This apparently was popular enough to kick off a long-running series of Zatoichi films, so get used to seeing that name -- I'm gonna try to plow through them all.
Grade: B+
Moody, near-Expressionistic samurai film about a blind swordsman drawn into a turf war between rival gangs. Serves as living proof that the French weren't the only ones influenced by the American post-war film-noir movement but infused with a particularly Japanese rhythm and sensibility. It's a gorgeously crafted movie and pretty involving too. A little short on action, but what is here is first-rate. This apparently was popular enough to kick off a long-running series of Zatoichi films, so get used to seeing that name -- I'm gonna try to plow through them all.
Grade: B+
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