10 Greatest Samurai Films Of The 21st Century

Zatoichi was originally an incredibly popular series of Japanese films and TV dramas surrounding the titular blade master at its centre. In essence, the man was a pop culture superhero in Japan from 1962 to 1979. Kan Shimozawa's creation starred in twenty-six films and over a hundred TV episodes, though the popularity of the character would eventually wane.

Some twenty years later, Zatoichi would be revived by Takeshi Kitano with a 2003 film, one that would achieve worldwide acclaim and premiere at the Venice International Film Festival. We follow the titular protagonist (played by the director himself) as he aids local townspeople under threat from warring Yakuza clans.

The film is unabashedly violent, with much of the tension coming from how Zatoichi hones his skills despite his blindness and aging nature. The action is viciously entertaining as the lone warriors cleaves his way through the band of criminals all by himself, striking fear into his enemies. It's a brilliant update to the older stories and returns the character to the silver screen in an effective way.

The highlight of the film is when Zatoichi faces off against his equal, a skilled Ronin, in a rousing one-on-one duel. A pseudo-follow-up: "Zatiochi: The Last", would arrive in 2010.