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Samurai Swordsmen Go Tap Dancing
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Different or just plain daft ? With Zatoichi it's hard to say, as it
slams Last of the Samurai sword play up against Bollywood and
throws in some comedy along the way.
Where Zatoichi was trying to go was, at times, beyond me. The story was
clear enough - Samurai warrior turns up, helps the good guys, kills the bad
guys, and goes on his way - and nothing new. Had it stuck with its core
element, it may have done better, but Takeshi veers off for interludes more
befitting of a musical and introduces set comedy pieces for no explanable
reasons. Perhaps there was some 'in joke' but if there was, it was lost on me.
Takeshi played the lead role well, although I find it hard to entertain the
concept of a blind masseur who can can slice a dozen men in two with the flick
of the wrist. It was equally unexplained why we have a peroxide blond in the
first place, but that's the least of the film's problems.
Despite its fast action sequences, the film dragged, although it did have its
moments. The 'musical numbers' were misplaced, and the comedy artificial and
contrived. The only really humorous character, the neighbouring 'idiot' who wanted to be a Samurai, fitted in well
but was never developed, and the ludicrous Tap Dancing festival the film ended
on was plain unbelievable. The swordplay was excellent although the CGI inserted blood splattering was
rather poorly done, and cannot escape on an excuse of being stylised. From
the director's chair it appeared that Takeshi was unsure how to call the
shots; whether to go for a full-on blood-fest or take a more restrained
approach. In the end it seems he settled on something in between.
Like Crounching Tiger, Leaping Dragon, there was an
opportunity here for an excellent tale of Samurai skills and values, let down
by weaknesses elsewhere. Unlike the former though, it never carried its core
story off as well. It was a mixed bag which will probably be hated or
adored, or it will create an ambivalence brought about through the feeling of
having watched more than one film at the same time.
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