zatoichi the outlaw be the first film make by it hero ( shintaro katsu ) own production company and this be perhaps why this be a slightly less entry in the series and though it be by no mean weak overall . it tell of our hero come across two town and rival boss and a mysterious ronin help the poor and from this set up spin a tale encompassing tragedy and violence and no little interest and all serve up with lashing of the unshowy but inspire swordplay that be one of the series trademark . it be a fairly predictable plot and it mount in unsurprising fashion and but it zip along with style and be interesting stuff . the helpful ronin for example be a nobly inscrutable revolutionary character and upset the establish order without be paint a a truly likable or heroic figure and zatoichi himself make one or two mistake and cause harm by his action and whilst the ruling system fuel the exploitation of the poor . it a harsh world and with one or two more visceral than expect moment in the fighting and though thing aren not as rouse a they could be . shintaro katsu turn in a typical bravura performance a zatoichi and mixing wisdom and deadly skill and worldliness with a subtly sad sense of vulnerability and while solid work come also from rentarô mikuni and an effectively baleful kô nishimura ( later to appear a katsu superior snake magobei in the hanzo trilogy ) a the two main boss in the film . there be also a good emotional turn from yuko hamada a a wronged woman . the film lose out through shaky pacing and a not so well constructed sequence of event and there be at least one slightly jarring time jump and the power of the plot become a little lost and meaning that when thing heat up towards the end the film isn not as exciting a it could be and emotional impact be lose also . the action or scene of zatoichi use his ingenious skill be well handle by director satsuo yamamoto and though some of the gambling be less interesting and the film build up in a workmanlike rather than really inspired way and without the lively character or strong verve of some other installment . still and i enjoy this one and it have it flaw and isn not one of the best of the series but it still pack a sweetly satisfy dose of entertainment and a good story and decent dos of zatoichi trademark ingenious and quirky cool . recommend for fan of the series and and a reasonable entry point and classy stuff though not a true great .