Product Description
Studio: Media Blasters Inc. Release Date: 02/24/2004 Run time: 116 minutesAmazon.com
As the 26th installment in a popular film series that lasted 27 years, Zatoichi is essentially a “greatest hits” compendium of all the films that preceded it. That makes it essential viewing for Zatoichi fans and anyone interested in the voluminous “source code” for Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill. Known in Japan as Zatoichi 26 or Zatoichi ‘89, this lavish production was the last to star Shintaro Katsu, who originated the title role of “the Blind Swordsman” in 1962’s The Tale of Zatoichi and served triple-duty as writer and director of this stylishly violent latter-day adventure. Now much older and still a wandering loner, the blind, peace-loving masseur Ichi (or, in Japanese, Zato Ichi) seeks a quiet life among the gentle people of Edo Period villages, but when he’s caught in a power struggle between rival Yakuza clans, his reputation as a deadly defender of the innocent precedes him, and he’s forced to fend for himself in a series of sword-wielding showdowns. Between geysers of spurting crimson, this gorgeous Zatoichi film delivers good humor and mild sentiment, although series devotees were justifiably disappointed when the familiar plot failed to advance Zatoichi’s legend in a middle-aged context. Still, the action sequences are frequent and fun, and despite controversy surrounding an accidental death during the climactic battle (for which Katsu’s son, playing a villain, was ultimately found not guilty), this was a fitting farewell to Katsu’s involvement in the franchise, which was revived once again with the successful release of Takeshi “Beat” Kitano’s Zatoichi in 2003. –Jeff Shannon
4.5
14
$11.47
Zatoichi – Darkness Is His Ally

Description
With 25 film sequels and upwards of 100 TV episodes, Shintaro Katsu is the legendary Zatoichi! He’s a low-ranking blind masseur who lives by the Yakuza code and answers his foes with a deadly cane sword. By far one of Japan’s most time-honored screen personas, Zatoichi is to this day the ultimate everyman anti-hero.

Combining violent action with slapstick comedy, Zatoichi’s Cane Sword is a superb example of samurai filmmaking. The village of Tonda is ruled by violent and unscrupulous yakuza, and Zatoichi takes it upon himself to clean up the town. The film blends brilliant color photography with breathtaking action sequences while offering a look into Zatoichi’s past, as the blind swordsman learns the origin of his famous cane sword, and discovers it may soon fail in battle

*The entire Zatoichi series includes 26 film episodes. Home Vision Entertainment will release Zatoichi episodes 17, 18 and 19 this August. In an effort to maintain the integrity of this collection DVDs from HVe are numbered in order of movie release. Episodes 14, 16 and 20-26 are not available from Home Vision Entertainment.
5.0
5
$19.95
Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 15 – Zatoichi’s Cane Sword

A Stephen Chow movie that showcased his acting talent very well.

Stephen Chow’s A Chinese Odyssey, director Jeff Lau’s epic two-part retelling of the legend of the Monkey King, greatly enhanced Stephen Chow’s international profile. The role as Monkey King earned Stephen Chow his first acting award, from the Hong Kong Film Critics Society, and further demonstrated the existence of the actor beneath the comedian. The two A Chinese Odyssey films, Pandora’s Box and Cinderella, blend costume pageantry with gorgeous scenery and some fabulous action sequences from action choreographer Ching Siu Tung (Hero). Stephen Chow turns in a hilarious and emotionally moving performance to offer a costume comedy adventure unlike any you’ve ever seen!

A bold reinvention of the classic A Journey to the West, the two films follow the adventure of Joker (Stephen Chow), a scruffy Ancient Chinese gang leader who’s really the reincarnated form of the Monkey King. Two evil sister demons (Yammie Nam and Karen Mok) nudge Joker in the correct direction and complete the Journey to the West. Part 2 starts with Joker (Stephen Chow) just discovering that he is, in fact, fated to be the Monkey King. But he is much more concerned with traveling forward in time to save his wife, one of the sisters who used to be his enemy, from certain death. Unfortunately, he’s indentured to the beautiful, but schizophrenic Zixia (Athena Chu), who’s bent on becoming Joker’s true love! But to finally become the Monkey King, Joker must cast off all human desire. Can he forsake human love to save his Master, the Longevity Monk (Law Kar Ying)

Ratings: 4 out of 5

A brilliant effort from the master of comedy who breathed new life into a famous Chinese fairy-tale.

More info……

Starring:

Stephen Chow

Athena Chu

Sha Po Lang, an actioner produced in 2005 and starring Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung, Jason Wu-Jing, and Simon Yam.

Set on the eve of Hong Kong’s handover to China, the police force is clearing their cases. Inspector Chan (Simon Yam) is trying to bring a crime lord Wong Po (Sammo Hung) to justice but he had his key witness and escorting police officers killed by Wong Po’s henchman acted by Jason Wu Jing.
Inspector Ma (Donnie Yen) is sent in to take over Inspector Chan’s cases as the later is retiring but Inspector Chan is adamant to nail Wong Po regardless of methods used; including illegal means. Inspector Ma is a stickler for rules and tries to stop Inspector Chan and his men from using illegal means to apprehend Wong Po.

Realising that Inspector Chan and his men are after him, Wong Po sent his killers after the police and he starts stalking and killing them. These action sequences are show cases for Jason Wu Jing’s awesome martial arts skills and finally climax in a long fight scene in a deserted alley. Jason’s fast knife is pitted against Donnie’s extended police baton.

Cast:

• Donnie Yen as Ma Kwan
• Sammo Hung as Wong Po
• Simon Yam as Detective Chan
• Wu Jing as Jack
• Liu Kai Chi as Lok
• Danny Summer as Kwok
• Ken Chang as Lee

Cops killing a cop killer

Wu King killing a cop in a stadium

Wu Jing killing 2 cops in a public plaza

End of Wu Jing the cop killer

End Fight

Rating: 4 out of 5
Donnie’s picked a better vehicle to showcase his martial arts than that awefully POS Dragon, Tiger, Gate. But in this movie, he is outshone by Jason Wu Jing who put aside his normal heroic roles to play a ruthless killer. Jason’s fast knife is really fast and his normally cute cherubic face had morphed into that of a cold-blooded killer.
For fans of actioners, this Sha Po Lang is a definite MUST-GET.