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Excellent but underrated film

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

A Brilliant Conflict

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Kimiyoshi Yasuda's Zatoichi and the Fugitives (not to be confused with the earlier entry called Zatoichi the Fugitive) strays a bit from the usual formula but it's still a recognizable Zatoichi picture in general and not a particularly good or a bad installment of the series at that.The plot is typical; Zatoichi enters a town run by gangsters and corrupt officials - nothing new. But, despite the usual slow pacing, this entry is a bit more modern than its predecessors. The violence is pulpy, bloody and plentiful, there's a bit of comic nudity, the Spaghetti Western-like scoring style is perfected and perfectly combined with Zatoichi's new theme song, and the villains are noticeably more ruthless and sadistic than usual. There is also a lot of killing in this movie; it has what must be the largest body-count of any Zatoichi film so far and the final boss kill is particularly good. Fun fact; legendary actor Takashi Shimura appears as the benevolent town doctor (usually the same actors repeat in this series so it's always interesting to see a famous face).Highlight of the film: Zatoichi removes a bullet from his shoulder using his cane-sword.

Ichi perforates a good man yakuza in this one. There is much killing and talk of killing. The fugitives in this movie are probably the most sadistic of Ichi's enemies. This movie follows formula, which, if you like Zatoichi movies, is not a bad thing. What is the formula, you ask:Two separate enemies. Both want Ichi dead and they interact with one another.The bloodless display of sword-drawing prowess. Ichi cuts something in front of a group of thugs so precisely that he deters them from violence.The hostage rescue. Ichi walks into a boss' headquarters and walks out with some innocent, often without drawing any blood.The friendship of people who are scornful of gangsters (which is what Ichi is, for all practical purposes).The young girl who falls for Ichi.The jaded woman who turns over a new leaf.The big battle at the end.This movie followed formula to the letter; however, Shintaro Katsu is an excellent actor. The doctor and the fallen woman also put in excellent performances. Everyone else just shouts a lot and reaches for his sword.I'd recommend this one to Ichi or samurai movie fans.

Don't be lulled asleep by the (typical) orderly pacing of this Zatoichi entry: this is the bloodiest entry in the series so far.Add in an outstanding score from the unsung Hajime Kabarugi, and you have a winner!

Zatoichi takes on a corrupt law officer and a group desperate fugitives. There is humor, and plenty of action. See Ichi take on an assassin with a gun!There isn't much to make this one stand out from the other later Zatoichi films, but it does have Takashi Shimura in a supporting role.