I saw Harakiri at the Oak Street Cinema on Friday. The movie was totally awesome. The new 35mm print was the same one shown at the Film Forum in NYC only days before. The story is great, and Kunio Watanabe did an awesome job of directing the movie. Toshiro Mifune couldn't have played Ryozo Kasahara's part any better, which is a huge compliment to Ryozo Kasahara. I had never heard of him before seeing this, but now I will have to see his other stuff. Watanabe also did Chushingura with Mifune, which was great - but I will have to look into his other movies too.
I saw the new Zatoichi movie on DVD this weekend. It sucked. Zatoichi now has bleached blonde hair?? And there is a long, lame dance scene at the end. What the hell is that all about? I enjoy the older Zatoichi films much more. Like Zatoichi Meets Yojimbo, with Toshiro Mifune, which I also saw this weekend on DVD but is playing this Thursday at the Film Forum.