Wow, talk about divergent reviews. One says this is "Shintaro at his best" and another says "Too many baby antics". Your opinion of FIGHT ZATOICHI FIGHT ("Zatôichi Kesshô-tabi") will most likely depend on whether you like the idea of morphing the typical Zatôichi film with a film like THREE MEN AND A BABY. For the purist, this will be a definite turn off. For someone looking for a change of pace, a bit of comedy or some pathos, then this will be a welcome relief. As for me, I did enjoy the film (especially the ending) but certainly consider it one of the lesser efforts in the series because the film perhaps tries too hard to be heart-warming and cute.
At the beginning of the film, Zatôichi gives up his seat in a palanquin (a covered box-like mode of transportation--carried by a man at each end) to a sick woman with a baby. Some evil no-goodnicks think it's Zatôichi inside and kill the lady with their swords--narrowly missing the baby. Zatôichi, as usual, has an over-developed sense of personal responsibility and decides he's at fault for her death and must escort the baby to his father in a far off town. So, most of the film consists of his adventures getting the child back to its daddy. Along the way, he meets a variety of people, though the most important to the film and Zatôichi is a female pickpocket. Through the persuasive power of this blind man, the lady is transformed to goodness and both like the idea of finally settling down and perhaps making a family. But, what about the child? They can't just keep him--no matter how cute he is.
What happens next takes the film in an excellent direction. While the middle of the film was very schmaltzy, who the father is and his reaction to this child being brought to him is a shock. The ending was amazingly interesting and made the stickier moments in the film a bit easier to take.
Overall, a film that is one of the most different in the series but certainly not among the best. Very watchable and it sure ends well, but otherwise not a great Zatôichi film.
At the beginning of the film, Zatôichi gives up his seat in a palanquin (a covered box-like mode of transportation--carried by a man at each end) to a sick woman with a baby. Some evil no-goodnicks think it's Zatôichi inside and kill the lady with their swords--narrowly missing the baby. Zatôichi, as usual, has an over-developed sense of personal responsibility and decides he's at fault for her death and must escort the baby to his father in a far off town. So, most of the film consists of his adventures getting the child back to its daddy. Along the way, he meets a variety of people, though the most important to the film and Zatôichi is a female pickpocket. Through the persuasive power of this blind man, the lady is transformed to goodness and both like the idea of finally settling down and perhaps making a family. But, what about the child? They can't just keep him--no matter how cute he is.
What happens next takes the film in an excellent direction. While the middle of the film was very schmaltzy, who the father is and his reaction to this child being brought to him is a shock. The ending was amazingly interesting and made the stickier moments in the film a bit easier to take.
Overall, a film that is one of the most different in the series but certainly not among the best. Very watchable and it sure ends well, but otherwise not a great Zatôichi film.