what do you pefer

I haven't seen the 1989 version but I liked both the 1962 and 2003 versions equally even though the productions were very different. I especially liked the musical rhythms in 2003 (the peasants in the field during the rain, and rebuilding the house). I was amazed to learn that the actor portraying Zatoichi in 2003 was the same as the heavy (until the end) in Johnny Mnemonic. It shows what a few years and makeup can do!

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Zatoichi Monogatari (1962) hands down!

Alain Silver in the book The Samurai Film calls the 2003 version BitoIchi (or BeatoIchi) because it is so different from the orginal. Beat Takeshi (Bito in Japanese) is reported as saying that he really didn't feel he could redo the original film, so what he does is very different from the original film Beat Takeshi's film is interesting and fun to watch. But as many say, there is little character development.

Here, Katsu-shin reigns supreme.

I love both equally.

Esta es mi firma

I just saw Zatoichi and the Chess Expert and that led me to The Tale of Zatoichi the next day. I'm hooked. The 2003 is the one, but this one is up there. I don't think I saw the 1989 one. I was disappointed Shigezo didn't bring the rifle, as the point was not to shoot Zatoichi and leave him for the yojimbo.

I didn't really enjoy the 2003 version but I liked this one quite a bit.