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Zatoichi

Zatoichi

Adventure · Drama · Action · 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.

Movie details

Zatoichi

“His sword made him a hero... his courage made him a legend.”

2003 Adventure · Drama · Action 1h 56m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

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.

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 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.

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The Tale of Zatoichi

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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.

Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades

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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.

Inuyasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time

Inuyasha the Movie: Affections Touching Across Time

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InuYasha is a half-demon who was trapped in the Legendary Tree and was set free by Kagome, a girl who traveled 500 years through time. This time, both of them will have to face Menomaru, a Chinese demon whose father, known as Hyoga, came 300 years ago to invade Japan, but was stopped by InuYasha's Father. InuYasha and Kagome, along with Sango, Miroku, Shippou, Kaede and Myoga, will try to stop Menomaru in his becoming the most powerful demon ever.

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Three Outlaw Samurai

Three Outlaw Samurai

Action · 1964

Shiba, a wandering ronin, encounters a band of peasants who have kidnapped the daughter of their dictatorial magistrate, in hopes of coercing from him a reduction in taxes. Shiba takes up their fight, joined by two renegades from the magistrate's guard, Sakura and Kikyo. The three outlaws find themselves in a battle to the death.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Takeshi Kitano

Written by

Takeshi Kitano

Takeshi Kitano

Takeshi Kitano

Zatoichi / Ichi

Tadanobu Asano

Tadanobu Asano

Hattori Genosuke

Michiyo Yasuda

Michiyo Yasuda

Tante Oume

Yui Natsukawa

Yui Natsukawa

Oshino

Guadalcanal Taka

Guadalcanal Taka

Shinkichi

Daigorô Tachibana

Daigorô Tachibana

Geisha Seitaro O-Sei Naruto

Yuko Daike

Yuko Daike

Geisha Okinu Naruto

Court is in session

Put 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 Cool Ironist

“Speed as an alibi.”

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