MovieChat Forums > Zatôichi (2003) Discussion > Why is this movie rated higher than the ...

Why is this movie rated higher than the real Zatoichi movies?

posted 19 years ago by bringer348
27 replies | jump to latest

I can't bring myself to watch this movie, everything about it seems like an insult to the original movies. I'm not the biggest fan of modern Japanese cinema (Takashi Miike and flicks like this) but I've become obsessed with earlier Japanese films from the 50's-80's. I'm only 23 but something about modern japanese movies just rubs me the wrong way, so it's not an age related thing. So what about this movie is better than the originals? Is it just because more (younger and dumber) people have seen it?

Also, somebody mentioned that modern Japanese movies look like made for TV movies in another thread. I completely agree! I was just telling someone how these movies remind me of cheap Showtime or HBO movies. What happened to the artful cinematography of the older Japanese movies? Everything seems to be trying to be as flashy or MTV like as possible instead of having any real substance.

[–] prodigality 19 years ago

maybe the people who rate this film rate it on its own merit. Maybe they have no intrest in watching the original versions. Or maybe more people that watched this film liked it than people who watched and liked the originals.

Why not give it a look and decide for yourself why some people might like it. Its not as if yu will go to hell or anything.

Also i wish made for tv movies were as good as modern jap films. Then maybe id actually make it through a tv movie for once. I didnt find this film flashy and i found more artistic than your average american blockbuster, lets say doom or aeon flux (since you mention mtv) for example. The only thing that comes even close on tv would be nature documentaries.

Anyway, its a good film that has more than likely been rated on its own merit by people who havent seen the original, Maybe it will make people want to see the original, which should make you happy.

[–] Tempestuous_One 19 years ago

Don't attach Katsu to Kitano's version. The changes that he made were approved by the executive producer, Chieko Saitou who was one of Katsu's best friends, and Kitano was her foremost choice as director (Takashi Miike tried his hand at this but his own style didn't fit well with Chieko Saitou). That was his only condition in making the film. He makes it provided he be left alone to do it.

Katsu had his own style and it was good, even though having only seen the last Zatoichi he made. Kitano has his own and just because it's different from Katsu doesn't mean it's bad. Part of his reluctance in remaking the film is that he has always caricatured the Zatoichi character, and he was, making it as a film.

It's been said that 85% of anything is garbage. While it can be said for a lot of films today, it also applies to films of the past. So far the old films I watch were classics to begin with. However, people differ in opinions so the whole debate it moot to begin with.

[–] uderzo 18 years ago

The importance of watching a film which occupies a specific place in time and space cannot be underestimated. Any comparison across generations or genres immediatley becomes difficult. Those who are angered by the a lack of 'respect' or historical consciousness in regard to the earlier films would do well to remember that the aims of the film maker was not to repeat what had come before. In relation to this film and any argument that the character representation of Zatoichi did not hold true to earlier films, a consideration of character growth might be worthwhile. An older and changed Zatoichi is presented - no bad thing! There are examples of new films made which have attempted to hold onto the themes or methods of their predecessors - i'm thinking mainly of the new star wars film in which Lucas is clearly influenced by his own creation in terms of cuts, fades, rollbacks and edits. To me these types of editing or scene change did not fit in with the far richer and more technologically advance visuals, in fact it made them stand out as a rather sad attempt to capture some of that old magic.
The popularity of the film was also groomed much in the same way as that of Pulp Fiction in that both films were released first to the festival circuit garnering awards and word of mouth before being released to the general public. This popularity coupled with a recent revisionist nationalism whereby the 'Samurai' film has come into force as cultural propogator (demonstrated by the success of the Twilight Samurai and The Last Samurai in Japan) ensured its popularity.
I think it narrow minded to hold onto fixed notions generated by previous films, especially in such a long running series. In and of itself it is a highly entertaining film, and i enjoyed it especially in its role in highlighting Japanese film across Europe and America.

as a side note:

"I'm not, I'm just more into *vintage* Japanese cinema. I love Japanese versions of Toho/Daiei/Toei tokusatsu movies for crying out loud!" posted by ryuusei

-Then why would you expect to like it? and then why the great offence?