MovieChat Forums > Zatôichi (2003) Discussion > Better Than Yojimbo

Better Than Yojimbo

posted 18 years ago by nirvana_state_of_mind
13 replies | jump to latest

Yes this comment might upset some people but this is simply just how I feel. I have yet to see Sanjuro and it is not as epic as the Seven Samurai or as expertly put together but this is the coolest samurai film I have ever seen. Yojimbo has the classic storyline that sparked a lot of remakes so of course it is going to be very well regarded. This film might be a little derivative of Yojimbo but with its modern effects I'd say it is the superior film.

I saw Fireworks by Takeshi and loved that but I'd say this must be his definitive film. I plan on seeing all his movies now after seeing this because he is obviously an incredible filmmaker.

[–] Bluejay1984 18 years ago

I see where you're coming from- I myself loved Zatoichi. Its blend of music, story, and that good old samurai gore hypnotized me to the tv. But be careful with the reasons you give to why this film is superior to Yojimbo. Is a movie that uses CGI like this one of higher quality than those that never had access to special effects? Zatoichi may have been the coolest samurai flick you've ever seen, but is it really the masterpiece that Yojimbo is?

[–] Dantès 18 years ago

They are very very very different movies. If you're looking for a cool Samurai battles and fights, this is a better one.

Of all the Kurosawa movies I've seen, none of them really have great battle/fight scenes; that's just not what Kurosawa does.

This movie is a lot of fun to watch, but very arguable that it's better than Yojimbo. Frankly, I'm surprised you haven't been flamed half to death by Kurosawa nuts just for suggesting that.

[–] thinkstapler 18 years ago

I thought about flaming you but i have yet to see this movie so ill keep my cool until then.

[–] raretrick 17 years ago

are we talking about kurosawa: the godfather of the action sequence? the man who single-handedly revolutionized battle/fight scenes, the man to which all action filmmakers pay homage? or were we talking about the other kurosawa? just playing with you, man.

here is my take on the subject. i am very familiar with both movies. i study japanese film and have met many japanese filmmakers, some who were close friends with kurosawa. this is not meant to impress you, but to assure you that this is not unfamiliar ground for me. i wrote a 12 and a half page paper last year exploring only one single shot out of kurosawa's "rashomon," and the historical,cultural, literary and filmical significance of it. kurosawa's work lends itself to VERY deep analysis, while takeshi's work folds under any sort of exploration.

i understand that it is completely a matter of taste to which movie you enjoy more, but to the question of which is actually a better film, i don't think that it is a matter of personal preference, yojimbo is a better film than takeshi's zatoichi - there is just no way to argue that. you could very easily say that you LIKE zatoichi better than yojimbo, just as you could say that you LIKE spice world better than citizen kane, but you would be hard up to defend the statement that it is a better film. kurosawa just had a profound understanding of the workings of film that takeshi kitano will never have.

i won't go into my feelings about takeshi's addition to the great zatoichi series, because that WOULD be a matter of personal opinion.

[–] carloshasan 17 years ago

> Of all the Kurosawa movies I've seen, none of them really have great battle/fight scenes; that's just not what Kurosawa does.

What are you talking about!!?? Haven't you seen Seven Samurai or Ran? Kurosawa is known for his battle scenes, no one else has been able to film battle scenes like Kurosawa did.

[–] MovieBro 17 years ago

Kurosawa fans like myself don't need to flame you.You have your opinion and we have ours.I disagree with you though.Yojimbo is just as sly as Zatoichi and has just as much action.Sure it is not as bloody but it certainly has just as many layers as this film.I have not seen Sanjuro yet either.

Both are great films though.I have not seen many Takeshi films either.Other than this one and Sonatine.Sonatine didn't impress me any though.It's rather depressing and doesn't have any interesting charictors.I would love to see Violent Cop though because I heard it is similar to Woo's Hard Boiled.One of my favorite action films ever.

If you wanna watch a fantastic samurai film though,check out Sword of Doom by Kihachi Okamoto.Sword of Doom,Seven Samurai,Samurai Rebellion and Kill! are my favorite Samurai films.

"Give them nothing, but take from them everything."(300):3/9/07

[–] Dantès 17 years ago

That was far too reasonable a response, MovieBro.

C'mon, get mad! Let's make this board a little more exciting.

Fight, fight, fight!

[–] Zatoichi_Sanjuro 17 years ago

Yojimbo is just as sly as Zatoichi and has just as much action.Sure it is not as bloody but it certainly has just as many layers as this film.I have not seen Sanjuro yet either.

Sanjuro is pretty much a let down apart from the amazing last scene, but then I can't help but compare it to its superior predecessor. I agree with whoever said that Yojimbo and Zatoichi are very different films, Kurosawa was more interested in historical Japanese society whereas Kitano is more interested in artistic interpretations story-wise. They both have a gift for visual innovation. (There is a Zatoichi VS Yojimbo "film" out there, it didn't impress much but then it wasn't directed by Kurosawa or Kitano.)

I have not seen many Takeshi films either.Other than this one and Sonatine.Sonatine didn't impress me any though.It's rather depressing and doesn't have any interesting charictors.I would love to see Violent Cop though because I heard it is similar to Woo's Hard Boiled.One of my favorite action films ever.

Sonatine is my favourite Kitano film most likely because it was the first one I saw. If you thought it was boring or depressing that you should probably miss Boiling Point/Violent Cop/Hana Bi/Dolls and maybe Kikujiro as they are all quite similar in tone and style. John Woo and his Boiling Point are almost the polar opposites of Kitano and Violent Cop but I can see how you made that assumption based on Kitano's Zatoichi which has quite a lot of action for a Kitano film.

'Cuiusvis hominis est errare; nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare.'

[–] mac_alain 17 years ago

Better Than Yojimbo?

In short, no. Good and entertaining? Yes.

[–] Yakuza_Renegade 17 years ago

I really enjoyed the film, but better than Yojimbo? Thats a tad insane in my opinion, I wouldn't even compare the two!

Zatiochi was a well made flick, but definetly had its drawbacks too - the CGI blood was unbearable at times, the end dance a tad unecessary, and Zatoichi was perhaps a little TOO invincible for a blind guy. As far as modern-day Samurai flicks go, 'The Twilight Samurai' is in my opinion a distinctly better film and well worth a watch if you havn't already!

[–] budorob 17 years ago

Not even close. Remakes don't count.

Saying a contemporary movie is better then a classic b/c of the SPX is like comparing apples and oranges.

Watch the original with Shintaro Katsu, then compare it to Yojimbo.

Yojimbo and The Tale of Zatoichi are two of my favorite movies. Both have their similarities, but I'd prefer Yojimbo b/c it's a first of its kind, and has inspired millions of filmmakers.

But nothing beats the scene when Zatoichi slices the candle, or the late night ambush in the road. Freaking classic!

However, I'll give you the technicalities. When the samurai tries to fool Zatoichi by changing grips, and Zatoichi adapts and kills him, I was blown away. Very good job there.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] budorob 17 years ago

Oh, you again. Lol!

Totally agree. Kitano's flick is almost an exact remake of the original. And he's definitely playing Shintaro Katsu's Zatoichi, not his own.

But I have to say, the end is pretty darn good. How about when he convinces them that he can really see, and then trips over a stone on the road? LMAO!