Zatoichi's Vengeance

Zatoichi's Vengeance (1966) is Tokuzo Tanaka's third and final Zatoichi film and 13th in the series. It would seem that there would be little to distinguish it from Zatoichi's Revenge (10th in the series) due to the similarity of the titles and story lines, which are quite similar at this point in the series: Zatoichi fulfilling a poor soul's last wish, helping out a child in need and a damsel in distress while dispatching hordes of henchmen as he rights things. However, whenever there is a Zaotichi film with standout cinematographer Kazuo Miyagawa (who has worked with the likes of Mizoguchi and Kurosawa) the film looks very different. He is a master of framing shots and using locations to artistic advantage. There is another original great feat of sword prowess in which Zatoichi slices a candle out of a lantern and then places it upon the head of a henchman. Zatoichi tries to set a good example for the wandering blind priest, Jun Hamamura, and finds himself taking a beating for once. There are also a couple of great scenes with taiko drums, which are supposed to be like kyrpotonite for the sensitive hearing Zatocihi (Shintaro Katsu). His duel comes against the rival swordsman Korobe (Shigeru Amachi) and ends in usual fashion. The villain, Boss Gonzo, this time is played by 60s great Kei Sato (Onoibaba, Kwaidan, among other greats films from the era). Another entertaining and beautifully shot film in the series.