7.7
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Zatoichi (2003)
Zatoichi (2003)
Overview
Blind traveler Zatoichi is a master swordsman and a masseur with a fondness for gambling on dice games. When he arrives in a village torn apart by warring gangs, he sets out to protect the townspeople.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Center
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Neutral
Buddhism: Positive
Viewer Rating
7.7
Overview
Blind traveler Zatoichi is a master swordsman and a masseur with a fondness for gambling on dice games. When he arrives in a village torn apart by warring gangs, he sets out to protect the townspeople.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Center
Primary
While the film depicts the oppression of the vulnerable by corrupt forces, its narrative champions individual heroism and personal justice as the solution, rather than systemic change, resulting in a largely apolitical stance.
The movie's casting is traditional for its Japanese cultural context, featuring an entirely Japanese ensemble without explicit race or gender swaps of roles typically associated with other demographics. The narrative, set in feudal Japan, does not portray or critique traditional identities as defined by the evaluation criteria, nor does it center explicit DEI themes.
Secondary
Zatoichi features a character, Seitaro, who cross-dresses as a geisha (Osei) as a disguise for his revenge plot. This gender presentation is a functional narrative device, not an exploration of gender identity or sexual orientation. The film's portrayal is neutral, neither affirming nor denigrating this aspect of the character.
The film subtly integrates Buddhist elements into its setting and themes. Zatoichi's character embodies a compassionate justice and a weariness of violence that resonates with Buddhist principles, and the narrative does not critique or satirize the faith.
Zatoichi does not feature any identifiable transsexual characters or themes. The character Osei cross-dresses as a geisha for plot-driven disguise, not as an expression of gender identity, and the narrative does not engage with transgender issues.
The film features female characters, but none are depicted engaging in or winning close-quarters physical combat against male opponents. The character disguised as a geisha who fights is revealed to be male.
The film features the iconic character Zatoichi, who has consistently been portrayed as male across all source materials and previous adaptations. In the 2003 film, Zatoichi is again portrayed as male, and no other established characters from the franchise or historical figures undergo a gender change.
The film Zatoichi (2003) adapts a long-standing Japanese character, Zatoichi, who has consistently been portrayed as Japanese. The 2003 film, set in Edo-period Japan, features Japanese actors in all major roles, including Takeshi Kitano as Zatoichi, aligning with the character's established race.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
7.4
7.2
Critic Ratings
8.7
7.5
More Like This
Center
7.9
Sonatine
(1993)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Center
7.7
Boiling Point
(1990)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Leans Traditional
7.5
Violent Cop
(1989)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Center
7.8
The Boy and the Beast
(2015)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Leans Traditional
8.2
13 Assassins
(2010)
Political: Leans Right
Diversity: Moderate
Leans Traditional
8.6
The Hidden Fortress
(1958)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Progressive
9.0
Attack on Titan: THE LAST ATTACK
(2024)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Positive
Female Combat: Yes
Center
7.0
Afro Samurai: Resurrection
(2009)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Traditional
7.3
Kamen Rider Build The Movie: Be The One
(2018)
Political: Leans Right
Diversity: Low
Center
7.5
Kamen Rider: Beyond Generations
(2021)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Progressive
7.3
Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa
(2005)
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Leans Progressive
6.7
Fate/Grand Order: Divine Realm of the Round Table - Camelot Wandering; Agateram
(2020)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Neutral
Female Combat: Yes
Center
8.3
Rurouni Kenshin: The Final
(2021)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Female Combat: Yes
Leans Traditional
7.3
Dolls
(2002)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
8.1
Kids Return
(1996)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Center
7.5
A Scene at the Sea
(1991)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Center
7.5
Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel II. Lost Butterfly
(2019)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Leans Traditional
9.2
Seven Samurai
(1954)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Center
6.7
The Great War of Archimedes
(2019)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
Center
7.8
Kino's Journey: Life Goes On
(2005)
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate