Zatoichi The Last (2010)

[HungFist]

http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-4533

[oldeschool17]

This guy is suppose to take the reins?
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Image:KatoriShingo.jpg

[Shingster]

He's actually a decent actor and around the same age as Katsu was when he first played the role, but I've got to admit given how long the character of Zatoichi has been around it almost seems wrong not to cast an older actor who has some real gravitas!

[HungFist]

Trailer on the official site
http://www.the-last-1.jp/movie.html
http://www.dvdmaniacs.net/forums/showthread.php?t=44108

It looks terrible.

[oldeschool17]

Oh how cute. He get's to accessorize with a red scarf. This looks like garbage.

[romerojpg]

Cannot wait.

[Shingster]

Oh how cute. He get's to accessorize with a red scarf. This looks like garbage.

I seem to recall Katsu wearing a scarf in one of the Zato films, can't recall which one offhand but it's a bit of a daft thing to single out for criticism and certainly not as vapid a fashion statement as dying his hair peroxide blonde!

Not sure what to make of the film from the trailer, kinda looks like pretty much every other contemporary period film produced in Japan. Shingo Katori is definitely a better actor than people give him credit for, but them most of those people just read a line about how he's a member of SMAP and start running off at the mouth about how bad the guy will be when they have no fucking clue about his output as an actor to date. Saying that though he really does seem to be overacting rather badly in this, I assume that's what the filmmakers were looking for as he can reign it in when needed.

I do like how that one DVDManiacs poster likens Shingo Katori as Zatoichi to casting Robbie Williams in the role and then says you can't make comparisons to Kitano! You mean game show host and TV comic Takeshi Kitano from Takeshi's castle? To the Japanese seeing Kitano as Zatoichi was a bit like in the UK seeing Michael Barrymore in role (Obviously Barrymore in his pomp before all the sleaze ruined his career).

[romerojpg]

Glady I dont get into Japanese culture as much as many, so all I see if some actors I have rarley seen before doing a samurai film. Not sure how it looks "Garbage" in any way from the trailers, as it loks like any other Zatoichi film to me. Which is no bad thing.

[HungFist]

Like Shing said, this looks just like every other jidai geki film nowadays, and those really haven't been able to spark my interest (but from the little I've seen, those films seem to excel in realism and strong performances, which might not be this film's strengths). From a final film in the Zatoichi series I'd expect something more, either ridiculously epic homage, or something brave and original like Kitano's Zatoichi. The trailer makes this seem like a film that I'll forget before I've seen it.

But then again, the Japanese are really good at creating bad trailer for great movies. Just look what they do with drama films - even good films are likely to be made look like a soap opera by their trailer.

[romerojpg]

You are assuming it will be the "Final" film, the chances of that are very slim if they can make cash, they will make more.

[oldeschool17]

Oh how cute. He get's to accessorize with a red scarf. This looks like garbage.

I seem to recall Katsu wearing a scarf in one of the Zato films, can't recall which one offhand but it's a bit of a daft thing to single out for criticism and certainly not as vapid a fashion statement as dying his hair peroxide blonde!

Not sure what to make of the film from the trailer, kinda looks like pretty much every other contemporary period film produced in Japan. Shingo Katori is definitely a better actor than people give him credit for, but them most of those people just read a line about how he's a member of SMAP and start running off at the mouth about how bad the guy will be when they have no fucking clue about his output as an actor to date. Saying that though he really does seem to be overacting rather badly in this, I assume that's what the filmmakers were looking for as he can reign it in when needed.

I do like how that one DVDManiacs poster likens Shingo Katori as Zatoichi to casting Robbie Williams in the role and then says you can't make comparisons to Kitano! You mean game show host and TV comic Takeshi Kitano from Takeshi's castle? To the Japanese seeing Kitano as Zatoichi was a bit like in the UK seeing Michael Barrymore in role (Obviously Barrymore in his pomp before all the sleaze ruined his career).

Let's focus on this movie and not try to make comparisons with Kitano's version. Speaking of which, what was the need to even bring that up? That was a weak trailer. Bottom line. Maybe the film will fare much better.

[Shingster]

Let's focus on this movie and not try to make comparisons with Kitano's version. Speaking of which, what was the need to even bring that up? That was a weak trailer. Bottom line. Maybe the film will fare much better.

My point was to highlight the fact that Kitano's version also suffered from superficially "trendy" stylistic choices and a leading actor who didn't really bear much relation to the traditional image of Zatoichi, and that still turned out alright. I agree that it's a weak trailer, but then most contemporary Japanese trailers are pretty piss poor imo - although I must admit that I sort of partially share the general fan skepticism that Shingo Katori is miscast and this will be a stinker.

[HungFist]

Schilling:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/rss/ff20100514a2.html