If you don't like reading subtitles, or you don't like to watch foreign movies, and you don't have a fondness of Samurai sword action drama...don't read any further as its not for you!
A Japanese Chambara (sword fighting) film directed by Kenji Misumi and starring Shintaro Katsu as the blind masseur Zatoichi. It was originally released by the Daiei Motion Picture Company. Zatoichi and the Chess Expert is the twelfth episode in the 26-part film series devoted to the character of Zatoichi. It has also been known as Showdown for Zatoichi and Zatoichi's Trip to Hell.
Its an intricate tale of a blind expert swordsman, who travels the land as a masseur. He makes friends with a dangerous chess player, while fending off angry yakuza and bloodthirsty relatives out for revenge, and trying to save a sick child. As the film progresses we are introduced to other characters, some of whom have interweaving connections to both Zatoichi and the chess playing Samurai.
As is usual with the Zatoichi series of films/story's it is cleverly done; as has been done since the very first Chambara film of the early 1940's, '47 RONIN' (which incidently is a favourite of Keanu Reeves, hence the reason he starred in his own retelling of the ancient true story in 2013...a sequel is being made starting early 2021).
