Zantiochi (sp?)
Zatoichi. It means "first strike" or something to that effect. Ichi is Japanese for the numeral 1, or first. I had a gorgeous gray kitten once named Ichiban (first one) because he was the first of the litter to exit his mother (He died of old age not too long ago). Zato (I *think*) means "hidden." The word Zatoichi also occasionally refers to a samurai sword hidden in a bamboo walking stick. (EtA: These swords were frequently used by Ronin (outlaw or masterless samurai) who were forbidden by Emperor Tokugawa from carrying weapons)
Yojimbo (another famous movie title, and word frequently associated Japanese samurai culture) means "guard" or "guardian," and carriers warrior connotations.
Tokugawa wasn't the Emperor.
hey, did we know that Darrin Morgan (of Jose Chung and Small Potatoes fame) sold a superhero comedy script?
Cooool.
So the literal "hidden one" becomes "first strike" when used like that? Is the assumption that the element of surprise from the hidden weapon gives him first hit?
I had always assumed that Zatoichi had a double meaning - his sword is a zatoichi, but also he is a zatoichi because no one views this old blind guy as a threat.
Yojimbo (another famous movie title, and word frequently associated Japanese samurai culture) means "guard" or "guardian," and carriers warrior connotations.
Yojimbo rocks!!!! One of my favorite movies of any kind. Plus, Toshiro Mifune kicking ass.
If you like Yojimbo (or any of the Mifune/Kurosawa samurai westerns) then you should run, not walk to see Zatoichi. It's Takeshi's homage to that style of film.
The Boston Globe has gotten snarky with their own advisories w/r/t movie ratings, or lack there of (for example, they warned that Legally Blond 2 contained language, adult situations and excessive pink).
Their comment on Zatiochi? Sudden, graphic violence and random
riverdancing.
Hee.
And yes, I plan on seeing this in the theater, ASAP.
Tokugawa was a shogun, right? Which, I vaguely think is something like the iron fist inside the emperor's velvet glove.
I saw the American "version" of a zatoichi movie! I mean, it was silly and starred Rutger Hauer, but that counts, right? I'm beginning to realize that everything Takeshi Kitano does is just a
leetle
too over the top for me to really love, but he's certainly got his own stamp he puts on things.
(for example, they warned that Legally Blond 2 contained language, adult situations and excessive pink)
It's like a big-screen
Smallville
!
