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#	Title	Director	Rated	Year	Studio	Genre
400	Zardoz	John Boorman			20th Century Fox Home Entertainment	Horror & Suspense - General
Zardoz John Boorman Theatrical: Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Genre: Horror & Suspense - General Rated: Date Added: 30 Jan 2005 Subtitles: ENDsubtitles--> Summary: A box office failure at the time, John Boorman's 1974 cult science fiction film Zardoz is an entrancing if overly ambitious project that offers pointed commentary on class structure and religion inside its complex plot and head-movie visuals. Its healthy doses of sex and violence will involve viewers even if the story machinations escape them. Beautifully photographed near Boorman's home in Ireland's Wicklow Mountains by Geoffrey Unsworth (2001), its production design is courtesy of longtime Boorman associate Anthony Pratt, who creates a believable society within the film's million-dollar budget. A bewigged Sean Connery is Zed, a savage "exterminator" commanded by the mysterious god Zardoz to eliminate Brutals, survivors of an unspecified worldwide catastrophe. Zed stows away inside Zardoz's enormous idol (a flying stone head) and is taken to the pastoral land of the Eternals, a matriarchal, quasi-medieval society that has achieved psychic abilities as well as immortality. Zed finds as much hope as disgust with the Eternals; their advancements have also robbed them of physical passion, turning their existence into a living death. Zed becomes the Eternals' unlikely messiah, but in order to save them--and himself--he must confront the truth behind Zardoz and his own identity inside the Tabernacle, the Eternals' omnipresent master computer. --Paul Gaita Sean Connery Charlotte Rampling
401	Zatoichi	'Beat' Takeshi Kitano		2004	Artificial Eye Film Company Ltd.
Zatoichi 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano Theatrical: 2004 Studio: Artificial Eye Film Company Ltd. Genre: Rated: Date Added: 02 Jul 2005 Subtitles: ENDsubtitles--> Summary: Takeshi "Beat" Kitano, the Japanese actor-director best known in the US for his quirky, ulraviolent gangster movies ("Fireworks", "Brother", "Sonatine") and in the UK (among satellite and cable viewers, at least) for the bizarre "It's a Knockout"-meets-"Endurance" gameshow Takeshi's Castle, applies his off-kilter sensibility to the samurai genre in "The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi". A blind masseur (Kitano with his hair dyed white) wanders into a small town divided up by rival gangs. Though hunched and shuffling, Zatoichi soon reveals his deadly skills as a swordsman. He befriends a pair of geisha girls with secrets of their own and helps them hunt down the bandits who killed their parents. But one of the gangs has just hired a ronin, a masterless samurai, whose fighting skill may equal the blind swordsman's. "Zatoichi" mixes a melodramatic storyline, deadpan comedy, and dazzling, CGI-enhanced swordfights into a supremely entertaining package. In Japan, Zatoichi is a recurring character in popular action movies, but Kitano places his own unique stamp on the series. "--Bret Fetzer" 'Beat' Takeshi Kitano Tadanobu Asano
402	Zatoichi - Collector's Edition (4 Disc Box Set)		M		Shock	Box Sets
Zatoichi - Collector's Edition (4 Disc Box Set) Theatrical: Studio: Shock Genre: Box Sets Duration: 345 mins Rated: M Date Added: 27 Feb 2006 Languages: Japanese Subtitles: English Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Picture Format: Widescreen Summary:
403	Zatoichi - New Tale Of Zatoichi	Tokuzo Tanaka	PG	1963	Shock	Action
Zatoichi - New Tale Of Zatoichi Tokuzo Tanaka Theatrical: 1963 Studio: Shock Genre: Action Duration: 91 mins Rated: PG Date Added: 26 Aug 2005 Languages: Japanese Subtitles: English Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Picture Format: Widescreen Summary: Blind masseur and master swordsman, Zatoichi, is tired of killing. He journeys to his old village looking for peace, but is pursued by the brother of Boss Kanbei, a man he's killed. Back home, Ichi connects with Banno, his teacher, who seeks prestige and has arranged for his younger sister, Yayoi, to marry into a wealthy samurai family. Ichi and Yayoi realise they are in love, but Ichi's request for her hand meets with Banno's derision. Ichi is also drawn into Banno's plot to kidnap the son of a wealthy man, ostensibly to aid the Mito Goblins, a gang of thieves on the run; but Banno wants to keep the ransom. Ichi wants harmony and love, but can he escape a destiny of violence? Shintaro Katsu Mikikoo Tsubouchi Seizaburo Kawaku Fujo Suga
404	Zatoichi - The Fugitive		M15+	1963	Shock	Action
Zatoichi - The Fugitive Theatrical: 1963 Studio: Shock Genre: Action Duration: 86 mins Rated: M15+ Date Added: 26 Aug 2005 Languages: Japanese Subtitles: English Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Picture Format: Widescreen Summary: The legendary blind warrior discovers love and money have created divided alliances in this classic samurai film. After defeating a angry stranger he meets along the road, blind nomad Zatoichi (Shintaro Katsu) learns that a bounty is being offered for his head; despite the danger to himself, Zatoichi visits the mother of his victim and offers to help support her. As Zatoichi tries to find out why a price is being offered for his life, he discovers a community has been torn apart by violent feuding from rival bands of criminals - and that one of the bloodthirsty killers who has been drawn to this ugly contest is now the husband of Gajuro, a woman he once loved. Will Zatoichi fight to free his love, or will he search out the man who wants him dead? Shitaro Katsu
405	Zatoichi 21 - The Festival of Fire	Kenji Misumi	NR	1970	AnimEigo	Action & Adventure
Zatoichi 21 - The Festival of Fire Kenji Misumi Theatrical: 1970 Studio: AnimEigo Genre: Action & Adventure Rated: NR Date Added: 02 Jul 2005 Subtitles: ENDsubtitles--> Summary: I've seen several films in the Zatoichi, and I have to rate this as the best. I could see several ties to film noir in this movie, from the outlaw connections and shady bosses (never named) to the femme fatales and grey-shaded hero. I was particularly drawn to the unnnamed Husband that shadows Zatoichi throughout the movie - here was a man honor-bound to avenge the "treachery" of his wife, and even when Zatoichi tells him that nothing occurred between them, the Husband's honor must be upheld. Driven increasingly eratic by his knowledge, the man pursues his enemy, even helping the blind swordsman when it appears that Zatoichi's life is in danger. After all, none but him may have the honor of slaying our hero. Their final fight is one of the most emotional that I have ever seen. Zatoichi's closing words are chilling, not because he's moving on, but because he's (unsuccessfully) convincing himself that everything is fine. The blind swordsman is emotionally drained from the resolution of the conflict, and it will be some time before he can open up that much of himself again.
406	Zatoichi 22 - Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman	Kimiyoshi Yasuda	NR		AnimEigo	Action & Adventure
Zatoichi 22 - Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman Kimiyoshi Yasuda Theatrical: Studio: AnimEigo Genre: Action & Adventure Rated: NR Date Added: 02 Jul 2005 Subtitles: ENDsubtitles--> Comments: Animated Summary: This is actually the second Zatoichi film i've ever seen (first was Kitano's). I took a chance seeing Animeigo had a sell on it, and since I enjoyed their releases of Lone Wolf & Cub I gave this a chance. I knew it was going to be good, but I had no idea it was going to be that good. Nice mix of martial arts and swordsplay as Zatoichi meets the one armed chinese man. Sadly they misunderstand each other due to the language barrier. As for the DVD, the quality is excellent (don't expect less from animeigo). There are a few features such as character profiles which lets you get a better grasp of the story. There is also production notes and a few trailers for other animeigo releases that are very pleasing (except I think the trailer for this movie is kind of spoiler-ish). My only gripe is, I heard there were two endings for this film. One shot for Japanese audiences (which is what i'm guessing this film used), and one for Chinese audiences (which I have a good idea as to what happened in it). It would of been nice if they included the alternate ending as an extra or atleast mention it, but oh well. Nothing big since the ending used was perfect for the film.
407	Zatoichi 23 - Zatoichi at Large	Kazuo Mori	R	1973	ANIMEIGO	Action & Adventure
Zatoichi 23 - Zatoichi at Large Kazuo Mori Theatrical: 1973 Studio: ANIMEIGO Genre: Action & Adventure Rated: R Date Added: 07 Dec 2006 Subtitles: ENDsubtitles--> Summary: This 23rd installment of Zatoichi is highly recommended. As usual, we find Zatoicihi in another one of his wildly strange predictaments. And as usual, we find the amusingly funny, humorous and charming personality of Ichi in this film. There is more humor in this episode than most of his previous outings. Also, Zatoichi is taunted by a young orphan who believes that Ichi killed his mother. And this orphan constantly taunts Ichi. [namely by throwing rocks at him] In this episode Zatoichi helps to deliver the baby of a dying mother.[He even tries to breastfeed the baby] All the while, Ichi attempts to locate the missing baby's father. And of course there is the never-ending confrontation with the "bad-guys" in this film. There is a festival going on in the town where Ichi goes to seek out the father of the baby. Zatoichi intercedes when the aunt of the baby is grabbed by a gang of thugs, who intend to place her into prostitution. But Ichi' cane-sword is too quick. The humor in this episode is very evident throughout the film: especially when comedy routines are performed before an official in order to qualify for admission into the festival. [namely the monkey act] The film is very entertaining and one of the better ones in the series. Although I do like them all [I am a bit biased] For Zatoichi fans, you will not be disappointed, there is plently of Ichi's swordsmanship on display when he starts to clean up the town of "bad guys." And a very good ending in the film. Highly recommend. Enjoy! Shintarô Katsu Rentaro Mikuni Hisaya Morishige Etsushi Takahashi Naoko Otani Osamu Sakai Utae Shoji
408	Zatoichi 26					Drama
Zatoichi 26 Theatrical: Studio: Genre: Drama Rated: Date Added: 26 Nov 2006 Subtitles: ENDsubtitles--> Summary: Zatoichi 26
409	Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 1 - The Tale of Zatoichi	Kenji Misumi	NR	1962	Home Vision Entertainment	Action & Adventure
Zatoichi the Blind Swordsman, Vol. 1 - The Tale of Zatoichi Kenji Misumi Theatrical: 1962 Studio: Home Vision Entertainment Genre: Action & Adventure Rated: NR Date Added: 02 Jul 2005 Subtitles: ENDsubtitles--> Picture Format: Letterbox Comments: Black and White Summary: Zatoichi, the wandering masseur and master swordsman, is a mercenary hero with a difference: he's blind, and no less deadly for it. In his debut, Ichi shuffles into a gangster-run town like a wry con man, fleecing the dim-bulb gambling thugs and sponging off a local mob boss who wants the deadly Ichi on his side in an impending gang war. Released the same year Akira Kurosawa unleashed "Yojimbo", stocky Shintaro Katsu's modest and soft-spoken Ichi couldn't be more different from the dynamic Toshiro Mifune's swaggering and arrogant Yojimbo. Director Kenji Misume can't match Kurosawa's searing cynicism or dynamic action, but when Ichi finally lets loose after avoiding conflict for the entire film, his spare, sudden attack makes a startling contrast to the usual flashing swords and furious movements. Zatoichi returned in 25 sequels and a long-running TV series, always played by Shintaro Katsu. The newly restored DVD features a small stills gallery, a fold-out insert with an essay by Tatsu Aoki (a self described "Ichi Freak"), and four collector cards. "--Sean Axmaker"