Another interesting take on Zatoichi?

Karl Hungus

Here's an odd one. From www.kfccinema.com

The blind swordsman Zatoichi is becoming the blind swordswoman, according to a report from Sanspo via Tokyograph. A feature film titled ICHI is in the works, starring Haruka Ayase in her debut acting role, and helmed by Fumihiko Sori, the director of Ping Pong and the upcoming CGI thriller, Vexille.

The movie will about a blind woman who wanders around an old town with her shamisen and samurai sword in tow, dispatching yakuza and other villainous groups when she's not plucking strings. Sori has promised no doubles will be used in any of the fight scenes, and Ayase herself has undergone some tough training for about a month. "It's incredibly straining as I've never handled a sword before," said Ayase, "but I'll try my hardest not to disappoint fans of the original Zatoichi or 'jidaigeki' period films."

After Takeshi Kitano's exceptional version of the Zatoichi films, I don't know how this will hold up, but it sounds like it'll be worth a look anyway.

Although the concept of a female Zatoichi isn't all that new. In the anime series Samurai Champloo, there was a blind assassin sent to kill Mugen and Jin, who also plays a shamisen.

Kitano has said that a sequel to his Zatoichi film has been on the cards before, but nothing ever happened about that. Maybe those of us who were awaiting said film will be satisfied with this new version? Who knows...

johnny_ultimate

The recent version was indeed a terrific film. Havent seen any of the older ones, but Id say a female version could be an interesting take - especially from the director of Ping Pong (I heart said film).
By the way, speaking of Kitano, Dolls is on RTE in an hour. Very much looking foward to it. The cover always reminds me of Kurosawa's Dreams (release on DVD now, powahs that be!)

Karl Hungus

johnny_ultimate wrote:

The recent version was indeed a terrific film. Havent seen any of the older ones, but Id say a female version could be an interesting take - especially from the director of Ping Pong (I heart said film).
By the way, speaking of Kitano, Dolls is on RTE in an hour. Very much looking foward to it. The cover always reminds me of Kurosawa's Dreams (release on DVD now, powahs that be!)

I haven't seen Ping Pong, but I've heard a lot of good things about it.

Dolls is a great film, I have it on DVD myself, well worth a watch indeed.

spacecoyote

Yeah, i have to say Zatoichi is one of my favourite asian cinema releases, and great combination of action & humour. This could be an interesting movie, will give it a chance anyway

Petey2006

Wouldn't mind seeing Kitano tackling another Zatoichi film. But yeah, this might be a worthy substitute.