Zatoichi (1989)

In which Shintaro Katsu, after fifteen years, returns to the character that made him famous and finds there's nothing new to say or do with him. The violence is more amped-up, and there's even a bit of sex (which was a bad idea -- Ichi's a loner, fer crissakes). But there's nothing worthwhile here that you can't get in other, earlier entries. Considering how liberally this borrows from its predecessors, the previous statement has an air of literalness to it. The score is an atrocity.

Grade: C