Zatoichi and the Fugitives (1968)

What a freaking movie. So many twists and turns. Absolutely intense from start to finish.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

While the opening scene isn't too unusual for a Zatoichi film, the music that follows as the credits roll is. Instead of the usual fare, the song has a beat similar to some of the Spaghetti Westerns, though the singer is Japanese--an unusual style to say the least, though the Zatoichi films ARE at heart very similar to these Italian films (similar themes of good versus evil and the almost super-human hero).As for the rest of the film, it's full of the usual elements in a Zatoichi film--assorted bad guys who want to kill Ichi AND torment the masses, an evil but beautiful woman (not in all of these films, but a familiar element) and Ichi again not wanting to kill. And, as usual, the film begins with an attach on Zatoichi. Soon afterwords, Ichi arrives in the same town where a gang of assassins are being hid by a corrupt government official. Ichi strikes up a friendship with a kind and generous doctor that invites him to live with him and do massage on his patients. However, not unexpectedly, the assassins end up killing a lot of people for the evil official--necessitating Ichi to kick butt. However, in a twist, he's severely wounded by a gunshot and is practically dead on his feet during the final two confrontations--the first with the official and his gang and later with the assassins.Overall, a pretty typical but always good film from start to finish.By the way, at the 43 minute mark, there is a confrontation between Ichi and some jerks. This has to be one of the coolest and funniest ones I've seen in these films! It's a truly memorable scene.

As others have suggested, I also get the impression that the studio was trying a little extra to keep the Zatoichi enterprise chugging along and making money. The film mostly succeeds.It's great to see Takashi Shimura in a supporting role as Dr. Junan. Even though he is aged in this appearance and his hair is white, who can forget the thick lips and the fine acting in previous films like Seven Samurai, Drunken Angel and Ikiru? There is also more blood in this entry, a sign of things to come.Zatoichi takes on a group of vicious thugs. Zatoichi is befriended by Dr. Junan. In the end, taking on the thugs destroys his friendship with the doctor. Well, you've seen the same story unfold numerous times before, but it's still an enjoyable ride.

From the opening credits and the blaring song that starts the movie, it was obvious to me that the Zatoichi franchise was making an attempt to make a spaghetti Samurai movie. In earlier Zatoichi films, the villains were bad, but they were usually cowardly buffoons hiding behind hundreds of henchmen and the occasional hired gun. In this movie, the fugitives are particularly loathsome: dirty with no respect for anyone. The violence is more brutal and even Zatoichi gets one of his worst beatings in a long time.Unlike the Italian westerns, the violence happens mostly at the end; Zatoichi tries to warn off the fugitives, but even he mutters that these people are trouble. I think his Italian counterpart would have wiped them out as soon as he met them. The typical Zatoichi touches are still there, the twist at the end (which is so obvious, I think even the filmmakers weren't too concerned with making it hard to guess) and the large bodycount at the end, for example. I give the filmmakers credit for trying to stay up with the times and the film is enjoyable but I also feel that some of the Italian "gimmicks" weren't needed (most notably the jarring music).

Don't be lulled asleep by the (typical) orderly pacing of this Zatoichi entry: this is the bloodiest entry in the series so far.Add in an outstanding score from the unsung Hajime Kabarugi, and you have a winner!