The postapocalyptic world in which the story takes. The book of eli, theyve finally moved past the verge of unraveling and leapfrogged all the way to the. The zatoichi series started with 1962s the tale of zatoichi also known as zatoichi. The 26film and 100television episode zatoichi series is the most important of these.
To optimize your experience with your screen reading software, please use our website, which has the same tickets as our fandango. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing zatoichi. Jan 04, 2014 eli has been a gunslinging zatoichi the whole goddamned time. In japanese w english subtitles the last zatoichi movie i uploaded was the masseuse first. A great film concept with introduction of cgi for the violent scenes. Mark schilling of the japan times criticized zatoichi. He went on to costar in kazuo kurokis mudcaked remake of the silent classic roningai in 1990, which received a fair amount. Jun 26, 2018 despite the two answers you have already received to the contrary, yes the character eli in the book of eli was blind. The book of eli is more than just a good action film. Jun 20, 2012 beat takeshi kitano directs and plays the title role in this tribute to the wildly popular blind swordsman of japanese cinema who was the hero of more than 20 movies and a television series from the early 60s to the late 80s.
With 25 adventures of shintaro katsus famed blind, wandering swordsman zatoichi recently becoming available through both a remarkable criterion collection box set, and digitally via hulu plus, our team decided it was time to walk down the dusty roads of adventure and watch and discuss the entire legendary chanbara series. A postapocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across america in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind. The colossally popular zatoichi films make up the longestrunning action series in japanese history and created one of the screens great heroes. On a technical level, the book of eli is smooth and assured. Zatoichi, zatoichi is a fictional character featured in one of japans longestrunning series of films, as well as a television series. The film was followedup with the tale of zatoichi continues in 1962. The movies are on nine discs in a sturdy slipcase along with a small book covering the zatoichi movies. Shintaro katsu took his final bow as zatoichi, the nomadic blind swordsman, in this martial arts action saga from japan. Also stream the book of eli on your mobile, tablets and ipads plot. Beat takeshi kitano directs and plays the title role in this tribute to the wildly popular blind swordsman of japanese cinema who was the hero of more than 20 movies and a television series from the early 60s to the late 80s.
In the nottoodistant future, some 30 years after the final war, a solitary man walks across the wasteland that was once america. Despite the two answers you have already received to the contrary, yes the character eli in the book of eli was blind. The zatoichi comparison isnt a perfect one, being that ichi was truly a wanderer, with no specific destination in mind. The book of eli is a 2010 american postapocalyptic neowestern action film directed by the hughes brothers, written by gary whitta, and starring denzel washington, gary oldman, mila kunis, ray stevenson, and jennifer beals. He walks calmly amongst gangsters, allows them to underestimate his abilities, and shows proficiency with a blade when threatened. The tale of zatoichi was released in japan on april 12, 1962. After being released from jail on charges of petty theft, ichi finds. Centres on a lone hero named eli who must fight his way across the wasteland of a nearfuture america to protect a sacred book that might hold the key to saving humanity.
One can only assume that it was denzel washingtons faith that led him to get involved in such a goofy project. Compared to other takeshi kitano movies, this one was disappointing. Gary oldman gets a hold of the bible at the end, discovers he cant read it, yes, true. Yes, all the way at the end of the movie, it is revealed that not only is the book of eli a samurai film, but it is in fact a western, twistfilled zatoichi. Ein stilbewusster endzeitthriller mit denzel washington. The blind swordsman, a 1978 documentary about zatoichi portrayer and filmmaker shintaro katsu, along with a 20 interview with its director, john nathan interview from 20 with asianfilm critic tony rayns trailers plus.
After being off the silver screen for a decade and a half, zatoichi returned in the final film of the series, 1989s zatoichi also known as zatoichi 26. The tale of zatoichi 1962 the criterion collection. Part of what makes his movies amazing is the extreme amount of minimalism in critical elements of movies dialog, storyline, character development paired with wit, honesty, irony, stunning visuals, and musical score. When eli encounters a group of road bandits, behind them is a tunnel structure with a bold 14. Just finished watching the book of eli movie for a second time. Viewing the book of eli for the second time last week, i was again impressed by that scene, as well as by the movies overall visual scheme. The character, a blind masseur and blademaster, was created by novelist kan shimozawa this originally minor character was developed for the screen by daiei film now kadokawa daiei studio. Katsu shintaro, 29 november 1931 21 june 1997 was a japanese actor, singer, producer, and director. The book of eli 2010 is both underappreciated and a. To promote the preorder of his first novel, abomination, screenwriter gary whitta book of eli, after earth sat down with us for an extensive interview spanning his career thus far. In this classic samurai tale, zatoichi shintaro katsu is a legendary swordsman whose feats of skill and cunning are all the more remarkable for the fact he cannot see. And since i knew about this twist going in, i was paying attention to lots of little details the whole movie long. It falls apart upon repeat viewings after seeing the ending, like most twist endings movies do.
The story revolves around eli, a nomad in a postapocalyptic world, who is told by a voice to deliver his copy of a mysterious book. Also stream the book of eli on your mobile, tablets and ipads. Directed by kenji misumi, who would go on to direct several more entries in the series, as well as the lone wolf and cub adaptations which were produced by the zatoichi himself, shintaro katsu, and then edited into an. With its lightningfast swordplay, sleightofhand dice games, and codes of honor upheld and betrayed, this first chapter sets the stage for all the zatoichi adventures to come. The book of eli does leave some questions unanswered, and they are the best kinds of questions. The book of elis hughes brothers talk apocalypse, violence. The film draws influence from the spaghetti westerns of the sixties and the long running zatoichi series of japanese samurai films. Dec 17, 2014 the book of eli does leave some questions unanswered, and they are the best kinds of questions. Tomatometer its certainly uneven, and many viewers will find that its reach exceeds its grasp, but the book of eli finds the hughes brothers injecting some fresh stylish fun into the kind of postapocalyptic wasteland filmgoers have seen more than enough of lately. Watch the movie very carefully, and its pretty apparent.
Eli bumps the bottom step with his foot before going up the porch steps of the couples house, presumably to gauge where the steps are credit to jeremyogles. The last, noting that the film is ultimately chanbara swordfighting entertainment, similar to the dark knight and other hollywood comic book movies that try for darkness and depth but still have cg action at their center. The blind swordsman did not exactly resurrect its stars career, but did at least redeem a lost decade. I can say it really enhanced my love for postapocalyptic media and really really made the wait for fallout 4 much harder. The tale of zatoichi released in 1962 would begin a 20 plus film franchise starring shintaro katus as the blind masseuse, gambler, and master swordsman. Tokyo shock has released this movie on dvd under the title zatoichi. The book of eli is more than just a good action film reel. A book featuring an essay by critic geoffrey obrien. The last zatoichi movie i uploaded was the masseuse first. Eli shows aspects of the great fictional blind japanese swordsman zatoichi. Throughout the movie, eli shows aspects of the great fictional blind japanese swordsman zatoichi. The film is the first zatoichi film to be in colour.
Zatoichi monogatari, directed by kenji misumi, is the first film of a classic japanese samurai drama saga starring shintaro katsu as zatoichi, a character created by kan shimozawa. With takeshi kitano, tadanobu asano, yui natsukawa, michiyo yasuda. As i said earlier, saving elis blindness for a twist ending doesnt answer any questions, it raises further questions, and is allinall vestigial to the film itself. Shin zatoichi monogatari is a japanese film, the third entry from the popular zatoichi series completing the trilogy. The film summoned the most sequels of a samurai film. This is a story of a solitary traveler think clint eastwoods man with no name or zatoichi who slowly, relentlessly, pursues what he. It would almost have to be, with allen and albert hughes directing their first feature since 2001s from hell behind the camera, aided by veteran cinematographer don burgess, who practically achieves a blackandwhite film in color, and an oddball but evocative score by atticus ross. Being a postapocalyptic movie, that writing can be referenced to an apocalyptic book in the bible, revelation. And albert will talk at length about the zatoichi films, the blind. Now its the first color movie of the blind swordsman.
Eli knows the couple eats people because of the rattling tea cups. With their latest film, the book of eli, theyve finally moved past the verge of. He is known for starring in the akumyo series, the hoodlum soldier series, and the zatoichi series. Cameron worrying about which souls will make it into heaven, we have denzel washington lopping off heads like samurai zatoichi. The book of eli is one of the great postapocalyptic films, right up there with road. Both are set during the late edo period 1830s and 1840s. Zatoichi the new tale of zatoichi 1963 rotten tomatoes. The book of eli gary oldman, denzel washington, ray. The book of eli is more than just a good action film reel cleveland. He also shows signs of having heightened senses, such as. He plays, as usual, a man with an impassive face, few words, and sudden bursts of action that end in a few seconds. Im currently interested in building a character that is similar to him in the movie. The blind masseurswordsman comes to a town in control of warring gangs, and while bunking with a farming family, he meets two women with their own agenda. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies.
Jan, 2010 the book of eli is more than just a good action film. Jul 23, 20 a great film concept with introduction of cgi for the violent scenes. The book of eli 2010 is both underappreciated and a secret. The book of eli gary oldman, denzel washington, ray stevenson, albert hughes, allen hughes threat advisory. He has a code, but enforces it according to his own rules. This criterion box set of all 25 of the early zatoichi movies is a bargain. Eli has been a gunslinging zatoichi the whole goddamned time. The book of eli 2010 download movie for mobile in best quality 3gp and mp4 format. Spoilers every clue in the book of eli that explains the.
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