Zatoichi ('Beat' Takeshi - a legendary Japanese auteur, who also directs this movie under the name of Takeshi Kitano) is a blind master samurai disguised as a masseur, who wanders the country in a familiar mendicant-type way. He comes across two Geisha, who are on a mission of revenge, and subsequently agrees to help them. Meanwhile, another samurai is hired by the local warlord, who himself seems to be the target of the Geisha. The scene is set for a bloody confrontation.

Let's make no bones about it. Zatoichi is violent - extremely violent. If you feel sick at the sight of gallons of arterial blood, lopped off limbs and extreme sword-based prejudice, stay well away.

For the rest of us, the swordplay is executed with real vision and panache, if little elaboration. For sheer fighting display, Zatoichi is overshadowed by films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and the as-yet-unreleased-in-the-UK Hero. But, on the other hand, the above films have little of the quirky humour on full display here. Peasants perform a mini symphony with their hoes and an idiotic boy runs screaming around the village, pretending to be a samurai.

As always, 'Beat' Takeshi is mesmerising, stealing every scene he's in, even if, for most of the time, he does nothing. The other characters are nothing but cardboard cut-outs, allowing the story to progress and/or being slashed into tiny pieces.

One of the most beautiful moments in this film is a dance performed by one of the Geisha. This slow and balletic performance looks far better, in my opinion, than any martial art ever could.

Zatoichi is a beautiful and quirkily entertaining film, giving us long, leisurely periods of reflection, interrupted by scenes of exceptional violence. The story is clichéd and the characters are caricatures but with action this stylish, these faults are easy to forgive.

This film slices easily into the imagination, while only lightly cutting into one's memory.

Stewart Hardy, 20.03.04