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The Tale of Zatoichi

The Tale of Zatoichi

Adventure · Action · Drama · 1962

The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur and master swordsman. Zatoichi targets a yakuza-controlled village, because war with a neighbouring town's smaller gang is brewing.

Movie details

The Tale of Zatoichi

1962 Adventure · Action · Drama 1h 36m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

The adventures of a blind, gambling masseur and master swordsman. Zatoichi targets a yakuza-controlled village, because war with a neighbouring town's smaller gang is brewing.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Tale of Zatoichi?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

13 Assassins

13 Assassins

Adventure · 2010

A bravado period action film set at the end of Japan's feudal era in which a group of unemployed samurai are enlisted to bring down a sadistic lord and prevent him from ascending to the throne and plunging the country into a war-torn future.

Zatoichi

Zatoichi

Adventure · 2003

Blind traveler Zatoichi is a master swordsman and a masseur with a fondness for gambling on dice games. When he arrives in a village torn apart by warring gangs, he sets out to protect the townspeople.

The Tale of Zatoichi Continues

The Tale of Zatoichi Continues

Adventure · 1962

Returning to the village where a year before he had killed Hirate, a much-admired opponent, Zatoichi encounters another swordsman and former rival in love.

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades

Drama · 1972

Ogami Itto volunteers to be tortured by Yakuza in order to save a prostitute and is hired by their leader to kill an evil chamberlain.

Rurouni Kenshin Part II: Kyoto Inferno

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Action · 2014

Kenshin has settled into his new life with Kaoru and his other friends when he is approached with a request from the Meiji government. Makoto Shishio, a former assassin like Kenshin, was betrayed, set on fire and left for dead. He survived, and is now in Kyoto, plotting with his gathered warriors to overthrow the new government. Against Kaoru's wishes, Kenshin reluctantly agrees to go to Kyoto and help keep his country from falling back into civil war.

Battle Royale

Battle Royale

Drama · 2000

In the future, the Japanese government captures a class of ninth-grade students and forces them to kill each other under the revolutionary "Battle Royale" act.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sibling's Bond

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - Sibling's Bond

Animation · 2019

Tanjiro Kamado returns home to find his family slaughtered and the lone survivor, his sister Nezuko, turned into a Demon. To his surprise, however, Nezuko still shows signs of human emotion and thought. Thus begins Tanjiro's journey to seek out the Demon who killed their family and turn his sister human again. A recap of Kimetsu no Yaiba episodes 1–5, with new footage and special end credits.

Lupin the Third: Jigen's Gravestone

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Animation · 2014

Lupin & Jigen have their sights set on a treasure called the Little Comet, which is located in the heavily fortified country of East Doroa. During the heist, Jigen is almost killed by a sniper named Yael Okuzaki. His specialty is preparing tombstones for his targets before executing them. It's said that no one can survive after Yael makes their tombstone.

ICHI

ICHI

Action · 2008

Ichi is a blind entertainer that travels the countryside with her traditional Japanese guitar and walking stick. She’s in search for the kind man that brought her up as a child, but because of her beauty she encounters problems every step of the way. Fortunately for Ichi, she is also a gifted swordswoman and carries a lethal blade within her walking stick.

Rurouni Kenshin Part III: The Legend Ends

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Action · 2014

Shishio sets sail in his ironclad ship to bring down the government. In order to stop him, Kenshin trains with his old master to learn his final technique.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Kenji Misumi

Written by

Minoru Inuzuka

Shintarō Katsu

Shintarō Katsu

Zatôichi

Masayo Banri

Masayo Banri

Otane

Ryūzō Shimada

Ryūzō Shimada

Shigezô

H

Hajime Mitamura

Hanji

Shigeru Amachi

Shigeru Amachi

Miki Hirate

Michirō Minami

Michirō Minami

Tatekichi

Eijirō Yanagi

Eijirō Yanagi

Sukegorô

Court is in session

Put The Tale of Zatoichi on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.