The setup of and structure of these films are starting to feel very samey, but that’s not a problem here like it is for a lot of modern franchise film. The advantage here, of course, is the self-contained story showcasing the chops of a singular star first and foremost. It really does pay off, allowing Shintaro Katsu to really show off a lot of his acting chops. He’s just so incredibly charismatic here and the film’s edit really heightens it. It feels choppy but just enough to feel pulpy without being cheap. The dragonfly sequence comes to mind specifically. The way the film treats Zatoichi’s disability is starting to feel less like something that grants him superpowers and more like an inconvenience, not simply because of what he can’t see but because of the repeated stigma that we have seen in prior films just this time heightened to where even those who come to him for help cannot help but think they can have an advantage over him

The setup of and structure of these films are starting to feel very samey, but that’s not a problem here like it is for a lot of modern franchise film. The advantage here, of course, is the self-contained story showcasing the chops of a singular star first and foremost. It really does pay off, allowing Shintaro Katsu to really show off a lot of his acting chops. He’s just so incredibly charismatic here and the film’s edit really heightens it. It feels choppy but just enough to feel pulpy without being cheap. The dragonfly sequence comes to mind specifically. The way the film treats Zatoichi’s disability is starting to feel less like something that grants him superpowers and more like an inconvenience, not simply because of what he can’t see but because of the repeated stigma that we have seen in prior films just this time heightened to where even those who come to him for help cannot help but think they can have an advantage over him

Pretty fun as per usual 
Getting a bit bored of the romantic undertones sort of shoe horned into every film it’s pretty dull and lifeless and pathetic
It worked in the last film best bc it was a call back to the first two and that was cool, but here makes the whole jam pretty clunky and means I’m not a fan of Zatoichi as a character sometimes just bc I find him less entertaining
But still a good time nothing awful or anything

Pretty fun as per usual 
Getting a bit bored of the romantic undertones sort of shoe horned into every film it’s pretty dull and lifeless and pathetic
It worked in the last film best bc it was a call back to the first two and that was cool, but here makes the whole jam pretty clunky and means I’m not a fan of Zatoichi as a character sometimes just bc I find him less entertaining
But still a good time nothing awful or anything

The only Zatoichi sequel thus far (to me, at least) that changed it up a bit in terms of formula. The action felt a lot more intense, there was a sense of originality in its story and I had no idea where it was going, and was pleased to see it end differently than the previous installments. It's still got flaws, but it's probably my favorite of these movies so far.

The only Zatoichi sequel thus far (to me, at least) that changed it up a bit in terms of formula. The action felt a lot more intense, there was a sense of originality in its story and I had no idea where it was going, and was pleased to see it end differently than the previous installments. It's still got flaws, but it's probably my favorite of these movies so far.