Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

I've just started getting into the Zatoichi series, and while I haven't come close to seeing the majority this has so far been the best I've seen yet. It's interesting to get into some of the depth of character of Ichi, and not just the usual righteous swordfights. There's really no flaw in this film, only that if you've seen Zatoichi or any average Samurai flick before it's a little predictable. It doesn't disappoint though, it's highly entertaining and I'd watch it again if I didn't have 25 other Zatoichi movies to pick from. I may just see them all if they're all this good. Zatoichi is a good series, especially if you love swordfights, and is very popular for what it is. If you haven't seen any before, this one probably isn't bad to start with, although there may be better. Oh, and this is the 13nth of the 26 films, if you were confused, but they were all made so close together it really doesn't matter what order you watch them in, it seems. I'm no expert though, not yet anyway.

This Zatiochi movie stands out from most of the others because of his relationship with the adorable, but bratty little boy. This is the same little boy who gives Ichi a hand full of pebbles and tells him it's candy! Despite his brattiness, a strong bond of friendship develops between them and it is with much hesitation that Ichi leaves the boy at the end of the movie. The boy chases him through the crowd, with Ichi quickly tries to lose him. This was NOT done because the kid was annoying but because a kind monk helped him realize that keeping the boy with him was not good, as the violent lifestyle Ichi leads is NOT a good influence. Once again, Ichi chooses to abandon someone who loves him at the end of the movie--for their own good, but with a lot of heartbreak for both.

This entry in the series begins with a hilarious scene wherein a Zatoichi suffering from a cold is surrounded by a gang of thugs. The usual occurs and the coup de grâce is delivered with a sneeze!But the most interesting character in the film is the traveling, blind, pipa-playing priest. The priest is uncommonly wise and quickly takes the measure of Zatoichi. Zatoichi is pronounced to be a 'chuto hampa', belonging neither to common folk who look down upon him as a cripple, nor to the blind community because of his extraordinary abilities. This explains Zatoichi's loneliness, which is a common theme throughout the series. The priest extols Zatoichi to put away the sword. And Zatoichi does at one point, enjoying a meal in the forest with the blind priest, carrying a normal cane. Zatoichi's samurai rival draws near, and Zatoichi confesses that he is afraid.True, in the end there is no catharsis. The film concludes with the normal string of confrontations with gang members and a showdown with the samurai. Still, there is a level of feeling and introspection in this film that continues on into the next film in the series. This compelling blend of humor, human struggle, and violence is sure to please a wide audience.

An interesting entry, the prescence of the blind monk calling Zatoichi on his bad choices adds an interesting element to an otherwise standard Zatoichi film. The concept doesn't play out fully unfortunately, he never makes a real decision about his life of violence.