Zatoichi - The Blind Swordsman [The Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Description

THE ADVENTURES OF THE LEGENDARY BLIND SWORDSMAN IN A KILLER, TWENTY-FIVE-FILM SETThe colossally popular Zatoichi films make up the longest-running action series in Japanese history and created one of the screen's great heroes: An itinerant blind masseur who also happens to be a lightning-fast swordsman. As this iconic figure, the charismatic and earthy SHINTARO KATSU became an instant superstar, lending a larger-than-life presence to the thrilling adventures of a man who lives staunchly by a code of honour and delivers justice in every town and village he enters. The films that feature him are variously pulse pounding, hilarious, stirring and completely off-the-wall. This deluxe set features the string of twenty-five Zatoichi films made between 1962 and 1973.Includes 25 Films:THE TALE OF ZATOICHITHE TALE OF ZATOICHI CONTINUESNEW TALE OF ZATOICHIZATOICHI THE FUGITIVEZATOICHI ON THE ROADZATOICHI AND THE CHEST OF GOLDZATOICHI'S FLASHING SWORDFIGHT, ZATOICHI, FIGHTADVENTURES OF ZATOICHIZATOICHI'S REVENGEZATOICHI AND THE DOOMED MANZATOICHI AND THE CHESS EXPERTZATOICHI'S VENGEANCEZATOICHI'S PILGRIMAGEZATOICHI'S CANE SWORDZATOICHI THE OUTLAWZATOICHI CHALLENGEDZATOICHI AND THE FUGITIVESSAMARITAN ZATOICHIZATOICHI MEETS YOJIMBOZATOICHI GOES TO THE FIRE FESTIVALZATOICHI MEETS THE ONE-ARMED SWORDSMANZATOICHI AT LARGEZATOICHI IN DESPERATIONZATOICHI'S CONSPIRACYBLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURESNew digital restorations of all twenty-five films, with uncompressed monaural soundtracksThe Blind Swordsman, a 1978 documentary about Zatoichi portrayer and filmmaker Shintaro Katsu, along with a new interview with its director, John NathanNew Interview with Asian-film critic Tony RaynsTrailersNew English SubtitlesPLUS A book featuring:An essay by critic Geoffrey O'BrienSynopses of the films by critic, novelist and musician Chris DThe Tale of Zatoichi, the original short story by Kan ShimozawaTwenty-five illustrations inspired by the films, by twenty-five different artists