DVDpedia : GQ DVD & Blu-Ray Library : Title : Z

Theatrical:

Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy

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

Theatrical: 2004

Studio: Artificial Eye Film Company Ltd.

Genre: Asian Cinema

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"

Theatrical:

Studio: Shock

Genre: Asian Cinema, Box Set

Duration: 345 mins

Summary:

Theatrical: 1963

Studio: Shock

Genre: Asian Cinema

Duration: 91 mins

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?

Theatrical: 1963

Studio: Shock

Genre: Asian Cinema

Duration: 86 mins

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?

Theatrical: 1970

Studio: AnimEigo

Genre: Asian Cinema

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.

Theatrical:

Studio: AnimEigo

Genre: Asian Cinema

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.

Theatrical: 1973

Studio: ANIMEIGO

Genre: Asian Cinema

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!

Theatrical:

Studio:

Genre: Asian Cinema

Summary:

Theatrical: 1962

Studio: Home Vision Entertainment

Genre: Asian Cinema

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"

Theatrical: 2009

Studio: Columbia Pictures

Genre: Horror

Duration: 88 mins

Summary: Nerdy college student Columbus (Jessie Eisenberg) has and gun-toting, Twinkie-loving Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) are about to stare down their most horrifying challenge yet: each other's company. Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin co-star in this double-hitting, head-smashing comedy.