#123 Steady Work

I've been putting in quite a few hours with one of my newer clients, an ad agency called Deadline. The work allows me to be very creative and in many cases takes advantage of my seemingly useless geek knowledge. The only downside is the drive to and from the West side of Los Angeles, which can get especially hairy during rush hour. But even traffic has an upside. I've had more opportunity to hang out with my Santa Monica-based friends and eat at places, like Asahi Ramen, that I don't usually frequent.

Oh. And I've been sleeping more regular hours. I'm sure that will change the first night I stay up late playing Final Fantasy XI.

#122 Zatoichi: The Blind Swordsman

Takeshi Kitano's modern take on the samurai legend trades on offbeat characters, slapstick comedy and obscenely gory swordplay. The original series, starring Shintaro Katsu, played out over 26 films, one of which even pitted the blind masses against Yojimbo. In Kitano's update he plays the master swordsman with a bleach-blonde buzz cut and a sense of humor. Still, traditional "chanbara" or sword-fight film forms, are followed to a tee. Zatoichi shuffles upon a town where overbearing bosses push peasants around and murderous thieves hide from children who wish to avenge their family's 10-year-old murder. A roaring rampage of revenge ensues, replete with spewing blood and severed limbs. Of course, Kitano still manages to find a way to tell a story he can relate too. The films outcasts (Zatoichi, a gambling addict, a cross dresser and his sister, an idiot and a widow) eventually form one happy family.

Zatoichi's biggest surprise come not in flashes of violence, but in song and dance. The film sports an exuberant final Houdini and entrancing instances of rhythmic and ambient sounds scored by Keiichi Suzuki.

Official Site
Inferior Miramax Site