DVD Corner

Ichi Blu-ray Review

“Ichi” is a disappointing spin on the “Zatoichi’ tale.

GRADES:

Content: C

Picture: A-

Audio: B+

Extras: B

The Movie:

In this re-imagining of the classic blind swordsman “Zatoichi” tale/series, an actress named Haruka Ayase takes over the role as a blind Goze singer and skilled sword fighter named Ichi. Ichi, who is on a quest to find the swordsman who taught her all she knows, winds up saving a wimpy samurai named Fujihira Toma. He eventually follows her to a town where they become caught up in a plot to protect the town from violent bandits known as the Banki-To.

As someone who is a fan of both the original “Zatoichi” films and the recent Takeshi Kitano remake, I was sorely disappointed by “Ichi.” Despite fine performances by leads Haruka Ayase and Takao Osawa, the film is mostly a slow bore. Sure, there are a few action sequences (like the end sword fight battle) that grab your attention, but mostly the story is drug out and the dialogue is clumsy and full of overlong exposition and or flashbacks.

Another element that bothered was that Ichi almost comes off as a side story. In the second half of the movie, Fujihira’s character is the one who primarily takes center stage.

Summary: Watch the classic “Zatoichi” films instead.

Picture And Audio:

The widescreen 1080p picture quality definitely shines here. The colors really pop especially in scenes involving snow or the forest.

This Blu-ray disc contains English and Japanese Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio tracks. The original language Japanese track is the only way to go. The English dub is absolutely terrible and should be avoided.

Extras include deleted scenes, a making of featurette, a visual f/x making of, a press interview with two cast members and the director from a screening, and trailers for “Shinobi,” “Vexille,” “Ghost Train,” “Mushi-Shi,” “Synesthesia,” “Hana,” “Love And Honor,” “Daytime Drinking,” “Genghis Kahn- To The Ends Of The Earth And Sea,” and multiple ones for “Ichi.”

January 8, 2010 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 1 | Ichi Blu-ray Review