06-06-2014, 09:33 AM
There is this prevalent cinematic myth that like Godzilla vs. King Kong, there are two versions of this film. In the Japanese version, Ichi wins. In the Chinese version, both die. I've never found the Chinese version.
The One-Armed Swordsman was a classic Kung Fu flick starring Jimmy Wang Yu, arguably the first Kung Fu superstar although ironically, he was a swimming champion, not a Kung Fu guy. Personally, I was never that fond of it. I respect it as a pivotal film, but it hasn't held up well over time. Wang's Kung Fu is mediocre at best and to deprive him of one arm made it look even worse choreographically. There was a remake called Blade many years later that was far superior. Anyway, you'd think I'd like this one as it is truly a Kung Fu/Chambara hybrid. Not only the choreography, but even the sound effects are more classic Kung Fu in Wang's fights. But his choreography is still mediocre. He does manage a decent fire stunt, which is interesting to consider as back then, fire stunts were real; this predates CGI by decades. Actually, the miscommunications between Wang's character (named Wang) and Ichi are more amusing than the actual fight because Wang speaks Mandarin throughout the film, and there's a lot of misunderstandings as the two swordsmen try to communicate. There's another orphaned kid that falls under Ichi's care. There's also some choice ultravi, a toothpick to the eyeball, an ear-ectomy, a severed sword bearing hand echoed by the Jidai/Jedi in Star Wars. This is not a stand-out example of Zatoichi flicks. It's more of a failed attempt to cross-over to the Kung Fu market, a deviant side-note to an amazing film franchise.
On a side note, the music is by Isao Tomita, or as many know him, Tomita. Tomita also did the soundtrack for Fire Festival, but that film was more over the top so it didn't stand out as much as in this one. I have fond memories of Tomita's electronic version of Holst's The Planets, but I'm guessing that that has not stood the test of time either.
Three more to go. I'm going to savor them.
The One-Armed Swordsman was a classic Kung Fu flick starring Jimmy Wang Yu, arguably the first Kung Fu superstar although ironically, he was a swimming champion, not a Kung Fu guy. Personally, I was never that fond of it. I respect it as a pivotal film, but it hasn't held up well over time. Wang's Kung Fu is mediocre at best and to deprive him of one arm made it look even worse choreographically. There was a remake called Blade many years later that was far superior. Anyway, you'd think I'd like this one as it is truly a Kung Fu/Chambara hybrid. Not only the choreography, but even the sound effects are more classic Kung Fu in Wang's fights. But his choreography is still mediocre. He does manage a decent fire stunt, which is interesting to consider as back then, fire stunts were real; this predates CGI by decades. Actually, the miscommunications between Wang's character (named Wang) and Ichi are more amusing than the actual fight because Wang speaks Mandarin throughout the film, and there's a lot of misunderstandings as the two swordsmen try to communicate. There's another orphaned kid that falls under Ichi's care. There's also some choice ultravi, a toothpick to the eyeball, an ear-ectomy, a severed sword bearing hand echoed by the Jidai/Jedi in Star Wars. This is not a stand-out example of Zatoichi flicks. It's more of a failed attempt to cross-over to the Kung Fu market, a deviant side-note to an amazing film franchise.
On a side note, the music is by Isao Tomita, or as many know him, Tomita. Tomita also did the soundtrack for Fire Festival, but that film was more over the top so it didn't stand out as much as in this one. I have fond memories of Tomita's electronic version of Holst's The Planets, but I'm guessing that that has not stood the test of time either.
Three more to go. I'm going to savor them.
Shadow boxing the apocalypse