I'm a fan of the Zatoichi series, and absolutely love Yojimbo and Sanjuro. To see the two come together was a mouthwatering prospect, but I was still concerned. It turns out, I had every reason to be. This isn't a bad film, but it's just too ambitious. The plot is needlessly complex, involving many characters and
twists. It becomes confusing and easy to forget that this is a Zatoichi film. He becomes sidelined many times. The complex plot results in a longer running time, which can cause the film to drag. Mifune is a great co-star for Katsu, both of them have a wicked sense of humour and are similar on the inside, but luckily their performances are contrast with each other. It's doubtful that Mifune is playing "the" Yojimbo, but it's still good to see him n familiar surroundings. It's a good watch, especially for fans of Zatoichi or Mifune.
September 8, 2009
