A rare ‘Zatoichi’ entry with not one but two ruthless villains hogging the spotlight, which is a double-edged sword for character development, though it delivers in terms of action.
The longest entry in the franchise, this excellent 20th instalment pits two Japanese swordfighting icons together as friend and foe, directed with assurance by Kihachi Okamoto.
This 19th installment is a rather straightforward if still serviceable affair, as the guilt-ridden blind swordsman protects a woman from nefarious harm.
This mostly decent 18th installment balances drama with sharp swordfighting action in what is a decidedly darker film in tone.
A terrific Zatoichi flick and one of the series’ very best, Misumi’s focus on story and characterisation is the real sleight-of-hand here in this slower but well-paced movie.
This is one of the franchise’s most daring entries—bloodier, gorier and more morally ambiguous.
This 15th installment’s focus on drama and storytelling is noteworthy, building to one of the series’ finest action-packed climaxes.
Zatoichi’s caught in between nasty gangsters and ungrateful villagers in this 14th entry that boasts great action but little in a way of a substantial story.
Zatoichi’s use of violence to right wrongs is called into question in this well-made 13th installment.
There may not be much action, but this quite solid 12th instalment takes its time to give us well-developed characters in a narrative about strategic one-upmanship.
Eternality Tan 