7.7
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Zatoichi (2003)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Center
Viewer Rating
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
Bias Dimensions
Political: Center
Diversity: Moderate
LGBTQ: Neutral
Buddhism: Positive
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 features an entirely Japanese cast, consistent with its cultural origin and source material, without engaging in race or gender swaps of roles. Its narrative focuses on traditional genre elements and does not present explicit critiques of traditional identities or center DEI themes.
Secondary
Zatoichi features a prominent gender non-conforming character, Okinu, depicted with dignity, agency, and respect from the protagonist. Conversely, a minor male masseur character is mocked and physically abused by thugs for his perceived effeminacy. These contrasting portrayals, one affirming and one problematic, result in a neutral net impact on LGBTQ+ themes.
The film is set in a culturally Buddhist Japan, where themes of karma, suffering, and the search for peace are subtly woven into the narrative. While violence is central, Zatoichi's actions often restore balance and justice, aligning with compassionate Buddhist principles without explicitly preaching them. The film critiques human greed and violence, not the underlying spiritual framework.
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 primary combat roles are held by male characters.
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
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