Zatoichi

Zatoichi is a 19th century blind nomad who makes his living as a gambler and masseur. Stumbling onto a small town he gets involved with a number of gangs who wish to take over the town, also a pair a geishas who have vengeance on their agenda.

Director Takeshi Kitano has become a legend over the eleven films he has made in his home country of Japan; with many of his earlier films being rather abstract, Kitano has said that Zatoichi is a more in the way of his words 'an 'entertainment type of film'.

References can be seen within Zatoichi to many of the 1960s Italian westerns, such as the Dollar's trilogy. The wondering loner, the two gangs fighting for power over a town, and a number of stand offs that will involve long group shots that lead to swift action set pieces.
Still Zatoichi is one of the most original Japanese western you will see.

The performances are great. The director himself leads the pack as the blind masseur on fine form, Daigorô Tachibana as the leader of the Geisha is good, and Tadanobu Asano of 'Ichi the killer' fame produces a fine performance.

The action, which although brief are impressive, the opening and closing blood feast are stand outs.

The film also manages to have time for a bit of comedy, which is mostly un funny, still the training scene of a couple of young samaris getting a rubbish training lession, hits the spot.
The music and its integration is also a worthy point. Most Hollywood films would not integrate a show stopping action set piece closer with a dance routine, Kitano somehow gets away with it.