Product Description

Ichi (Haruka Ayase) is a blind minstrel wandering from town to town in feudal Japan. She is spurred on by the search for one man the blind warrior who trained her in martial arts as a child. When she is threatened by a group of bandits, she is saved by Toma (Takao Osawa), an incompetent samurai who is unable to draw his sword. Rescuing her rescuer, she continues her journey, only to discover that the locals now think that Toma is a superb swordsman. The townsfolk want him as a lawman, the bandits want him dead, and none of them realise that it is Toma s blind associate who is the true martial artist. Reluctantly, Ichi becomes embroiled in a battle between two gangs for the mastery of the town. However, Ichi s initial feelings about her involvement change when she discovers that the gang leader Banki (Shido Nakamura) may know the whereabouts of the man she is seeking.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3298 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-08-24
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 116 minutes

Synopsis
Ichi (Haruka Ayase) is a blind minstrel wandering from town to town in feudal Japan. She is spurred on by the search for one man – the blind warrior who trained her in martial arts as a child. When she is threatened by a group of bandits, she is 'saved' by Toma (Takao Osawa), an incompetent samurai who is unable to draw his sword. Rescuing her rescuer, she continues her journey, only to discover that the locals now think that Toma is a superb swordsman. The townsfolk want him as a lawman, the bandits want him dead, and none of them realise that it is Toma's blind associate who is the true martial artist. Reluctantly, Ichi becomes embroiled in a battle between two gangs for the mastery of the town. However, Ichi's initial feelings about her involvement change when she discovers that the gang leader Banki (Shido Nakamura) may know the whereabouts of the man she is seeking.

Customer Reviews

Ichi not so scratchy
This re-imagining of the legendary Zatoichi character, immortalized in countless films & T.V. shows, is a well acted, beautifully shot movie. Hakura Ayase is the eponimous Ichi, a blind, wandering goze minstrel, who happens to be an expert with the sword. Expelled from her troupe for losing her virginity, she travels from town to town in search of the blind swordsman who she thinks may be her father. There are no prizes for believing this may be the great Zatoichi himself. Her journey is interrupted when she has to save an incompetent samurai Toma (Takao Osawa)from a group of murderous bandits. The nearby townsfolk unable to believe that a blind slip of a girl could have killed them, appoint Toma as their protector against the local Yakuza overlord, the psychotic Banki (Shidou Nakamura). Traumatised by a childhood accident when he accidentally blinded his mother while practising his swordsmanship, Toma cannot even draw his sword, so how is he to save the town & his reputation against the monsterous Banki & his bloodthirsty gang? The ravishingly beautiful Hakura Ayase makes a wonderful Ichi, lithe & graceful in the balletic & bloody fight sequences, as well as showing great emotional depth to her acting. The movie is a visual treat, with wintery landscapes & warm summer lushness providing countless striking images. The numerous fight scenes are exciting & originally handled, with the camera circling & cutting in & out of the action, giving a sharp, visceral experience. The plot, while a simple one, is remarkably effective & well written, gradually exposing Ichi`s & Toma`s inner demons & fears, which ultimately bring them together. Ichi comes with a fine Blu-ray picture, providing superb detail & colour saturation which cannot be faulted. However, there are no extras, which is a disappointment, considering this is such an emotionally engaging, superbly acted & beautifully shot movie. Highly recommended.

Zatoichi - The Next Generation
"Beware. I never know what I'll cut down. I cannot see."

Fans of Samurai flicks will be more than familiar with Zatoichi, the legendary blind swordsman portrayed in over 30 films & several TV series. Ichi (not to be confused with Takashi Miike's sadistic 'Ichi The Killer') is his female student, who is searching for her master - but like her predecessor, it isn't long before she's up to her armpits in blokes waving sharp impliments at her.

When cowardly samurai Toma (Takao Osawa, star of 'Aragami') defends her against the local lowlifes, it is Ichi who ends up having to save HIM. But the local tonwsfolk assume Toma must have killed them all single-handed, he is hailed as a hero & expected to finish off the rest of the bandit gang.

The films' pace is slightly too leisurely in places, as the numerous supporting characters are fleshed out. Yet conversely, it features some incredible action scenes & beautiful cinematography. Haruka Ayase was apparently a controversial casting choice but in my view, is perfect for the role - Ichi is a violent force of nature in the style of 'Lone Wolf' Oogami Itto, with the detached serenity of a Buddha statue, which Ayase combines with an understated vulnerability. This gives an interesting new dimension for the Zatoichi franchise to explore - and let's face it, it needs one, having been flogged to death over the decades. I look forward to the sequels.

Ichi, Blu-Ray
`Ichi' is a modern take on the Zatoichi theme and whilst not bad, doesn't quite live up to it's predecessor. The whole film has a slightly `made for TV' quality about it, I can't put my finger on it but it's not as polished as it could be and the filming style seems more suited to a TV drama. There are beautiful set pieces, locations and costumes and these are the real highlights of the film. It has to be said that this film doesn't have the best acting skills in it, but the direction more than makes up for this with some excellently framed shots. The close ups of various natural scenes (Japanese maple leaves and pond fish for example) are stunning in their simplicity. The fight scenes are well choreographed and whilst graphic in places they aren't as excessive as some other films I've seen or compared to the regular gore fest films that come out of Hollywood these days. The storyline is fairy engaging and kept me watching until the end, although I'm not sure how soon I'll be re-watching this film, it may be a one watch wonder. If you like the Zatoichi film and Japanese dramas in general then this will right up your street and is well worth considering.