This is such a dark Zatoichi film all without feeling needlessly cruel like other Zatoichi films that do go for absolutely dismal stories. The title “Zatoichi In Desperation” is quite apt here as the tone of the entire film feels practically hopeless, with Zatoichi even looking the bloodiest he has ever looked in one of these films during one of the fights. The stylization of the blood splatter here somehow doesn’t make the film feel too pulpy either, and that’s even on top of a lot of the visual flourishes and how they use colour and the flashing image if only because of how brief those moments are and how colour is used in a way that signifies a sort of unnatural quality to the morality present at parts. That’s not to say that colour isn’t used for qualities such as beauty, but when it is used for that purpose there’s still such a distinct sadness to it all. There’s even a subplot that barely interacts with Zatoichi’s story in the film and you don’t really notice that until that subplot’s conclusion. 

Just amazing stuff here

This is such a dark Zatoichi film all without feeling needlessly cruel like other Zatoichi films that do go for absolutely dismal stories. The title “Zatoichi In Desperation” is quite apt here as the tone of the entire film feels practically hopeless, with Zatoichi even looking the bloodiest he has ever looked in one of these films during one of the fights. The stylization of the blood splatter here somehow doesn’t make the film feel too pulpy either, and that’s even on top of a lot of the visual flourishes and how they use colour and the flashing image if only because of how brief those moments are and how colour is used in a way that signifies a sort of unnatural quality to the morality present at parts. That’s not to say that colour isn’t used for qualities such as beauty, but when it is used for that purpose there’s still such a distinct sadness to it all. There’s even a subplot that barely interacts with Zatoichi’s story in the film and you don’t really notice that until that subplot’s conclusion. 

Just amazing stuff here

Ummmmmmmmmmmm

Torn really torn 
On the one hand, this had a top 5 final duel that was on par with some of the best sort of reveals and revolutionary moments in any film I’ve seen 
Buttttt on the other hand this was by far the least fun I’ve had watching on of these

It was full of shit
Like it just had some much rubbish stuff in it for that first hour 
So many different lines of consequence that were not strung together well at all 
Other entries have survived this with a charismatic Zatoichi, or even some good enough writing to save it in the third act, but this just didn’t 

I didn’t enjoy Ichi’s company, and so rolling that in with by far the darkest (not in a good way I’d say) entry yet with some proper evil yakuza, and you just don’t have a good time at all

Last 10 minutes tho were just hell yeah

A shame bc I can see some of this dark stuff really hitting but not like this

Ummmmmmmmmmmm

Torn really torn 
On the one hand, this had a top 5 final duel that was on par with some of the best sort of reveals and revolutionary moments in any film I’ve seen 
Buttttt on the other hand this was by far the least fun I’ve had watching on of these

It was full of shit
Like it just had some much rubbish stuff in it for that first hour 
So many different lines of consequence that were not strung together well at all 
Other entries have survived this with a charismatic Zatoichi, or even some good enough writing to save it in the third act, but this just didn’t 

I didn’t enjoy Ichi’s company, and so rolling that in with by far the darkest (not in a good way I’d say) entry yet with some proper evil yakuza, and you just don’t have a good time at all

Last 10 minutes tho were just hell yeah

A shame bc I can see some of this dark stuff really hitting but not like this

Very horny, but this takes some great risks and changes that I wasn't bothered by, and is a great break in the monotony of the other films.

Very horny, but this takes some great risks and changes that I wasn't bothered by, and is a great break in the monotony of the other films.

Very horny, but this takes some great risks and changes that I wasn't bothered by, and is a great break in the monotony of the other films.

Very horny, but this takes some great risks and changes that I wasn't bothered by, and is a great break in the monotony of the other films.

My first of the famous Zatoichi films. While I didn't love this one, I'm still surprised by how good it was, considering the series was pumping out films at a rate unseen until the recent MCU movies, the difference here is that each of these films all feature the same lead, so you can't have several productions going on at once.
Thre is much to appreciate about this film. It's cinematography is beautiful and its action is striking in its abruptness. It's pretty brutal too as it is not afraid to show some taboo topics which I was not expecting. Neither was anyone else, it seems, as it is one of the lowest rated in the series with its frequent complaint of it being much darker than the rest of the series.
My main complaint (and what put it back from a 4/5 for me) was the pacing, which was all over the place. I kept checking the runtime pausing to go check other stuff because my mind kept wondering - even more than normal, if such a thing was possible. But the plot was easy enough to follow and there were a few decent moments throughout to keep me entertained.
Overall, it's a decent film and I do look forward to seeing more of the blind swordsman.

My first of the famous Zatoichi films. While I didn't love this one, I'm still surprised by how good it was, considering the series was pumping out films at a rate unseen until the recent MCU movies, the difference here is that each of these films all feature the same lead, so you can't have several productions going on at once.
Thre is much to appreciate about this film. It's cinematography is beautiful and its action is striking in its abruptness. It's pretty brutal too as it is not afraid to show some taboo topics which I was not expecting. Neither was anyone else, it seems, as it is one of the lowest rated in the series with its frequent complaint of it being much darker than the rest of the series.
My main complaint (and what put it back from a 4/5 for me) was the pacing, which was all over the place. I kept checking the runtime pausing to go check other stuff because my mind kept wondering - even more than normal, if such a thing was possible. But the plot was easy enough to follow and there were a few decent moments throughout to keep me entertained.
Overall, it's a decent film and I do look forward to seeing more of the blind swordsman.