Meaning to watch something else with a similar name... this was good though. I was entertained. A blind songstress travels the land looking super slender and hot... her slit eyes blind!

She does not make love or show skin unfortunately, but she draws a sword like no one else can.

For people who love the Zatoichi films, many will no doubt watch this film hoping to see their beloved character and stories recreated for the 21st century. Although the Takeshi Kitano version of Zatoichi (2003) did manage to recapture much of this original magic, the bottom line is that this new film really ISN'T a Zatoichi films--too much is different from the original tales. Shintaro Katsu (the original actor for the series) died some time ago and apparently Takeshi Kitano is not up for another film in the series (though apparently there IS another Zatoichi film coming out in 2010 starring Shingo Katori). Like the old saying goes, "you can't go back"...or, at least it's very hard to.

Here, there really is not Zatoichi as we know him but instead Ichi is a blind woman--a blind woman who seems like the old Ichi in some ways and definitely not in others. Yes, she's great with the sword and is blind...but otherwise, she is oh so different. Katsu's and Takeshi's versions had a sense of humor about them as well as foreboding. Haruka Ayase, on the other hand, seems to be mired in the depths of depression--saying far less and doing far less during the course of the film. Sure, she can fight (though not as good as the other Ichis, as in the first "boss battle", she gets her butt kicked),but most of the time she seems much more distant and disconnected than the old Ichi--probably even clinically depressed. Though, there's no denying that Ayase is incredibly beautiful--something no one would ever accuse the male Ichis of being! Yet you wonder, with so much going for her (despite her blindness),why didn't she just settle down and have a happy life?! The Zatoichi of old could not because he had to make up for his violent past as a member of the Yakuza--but why was this Ichi so sad and on her own--acting like a total outcast?! Even with the montage scene, her actions through the film didn't seem to make total sense. This was a weakness in this film.

Another weakness, and this is a big one, is that the new Ichi was actually NOT the main character for much of this movie. Instead, so much of the tale has to do with a samurai who refuses to fight--though his reasons seemed a bit silly to me--especially late in the film when so many died because of his inner struggle. In many ways, he just came off as a pathetic and somewhat annoying guy--certainly NOT someone around which to base a movie (get over your fear of the sword already and be a man!). Additionally, the son of a slain town leader also commanded much of the screen time and was a dominant figure in the film--and probably the one most will like the most in the film. Much of the time, Ichi was simply out of commission and unavailable for the fighting.

Now this is the key, however. If you DON'T consider this a Zatoichi film and simply accept it on its own merits, it IS a very good film. Sure, it's not enough like the old films...but is this perhaps asking too much in the first place?! Given that it's not really a Zatoichi film and you don't assume it will be, it's good entertainment throughout--even if the leading lady seems half asleep during the film due to her severe depression. Plus, despite the same name (which means 'number one'),she isn't supposed to be the same character--just a girl who was trained by him. The direction, music, special effects, most of the acting and even the story are all quite good. The biggest weakness was in the motivations for Ichi and the wimp--both seemed a bit hard to believe as they were written.

By the way, unlike the early Zatoichi films, this one is a lot bloodier and has a bit of nudity and adult content--so be forewarned--especially if you show it to your kids or minister or mother.

ICHI is a Japanese samurai movie with a twist: the blind warrior of the title is a woman in this one. Heavily based on the popular and long-running ZATOICHI series of films, the story sees Ichi ending up in a small town that's been overrun by bandits. The plot is complicated when another swordsman, traumatised by the events of his past, falls in love with her, is mistaken for an expert swordsman, and becomes the town's protector.

There are shades of YOJIMBO in the look, style, and feel of this production, but it manages to be a successful film in its own right. It also reminded me a little of AZUMI, although ICHI is more drama than action focused. And it's in the characters and the human drama where this film excels: there's emotion to spare in this story, along with characters you learn and care about throughout, and the acting as a whole is superior for the production.

ICHI is hardly an action packed movie but there are some key moments that impress, alongside an extended climax that makes up for some of the slower points in the story. The swordplay is over with pretty quickly, as is the norm for samurai cinema, and CGI blood is overused, but it's not much of a detraction. As a whole this is a mature, intelligent, and enjoyable piece of historical film-making.