Blind Fury Flm Review

If I hadn't already seen about twenty Zatoichi films and the Crimson Bat series, I might have found the idea of this film preposterous, but I am well versed in the world of blind swordsmen/women and nothing surprises me. I expect that every blind person I come across on the street, could kill me at a moment's notice. Sadly, America was not ready in 1989 for such a thing and it did not do well at the box-office. Now after Daredevil and more exposure to Japanese and Hong Kong films, this would probably be more welcomed. I was assuming that this was just a rip-off of Zatoichi but to my surprise the film credits that great series by making this an official re-make of Zatoichi's 17th film, Zatoichi Challenged. The final Zatoichi film was produced in this same year. Too bad they didn't give Shintaro Katsu a cameo as they do for Sho Kosugi.

Zatoichi Challenged was a pretty good film though of the twenty-six films comprising the series, I wonder why they picked that one. In that Zatoichi film, he is saddled with a brat when the child's mother dies - and the child in this one is just as annoying. Credit must go to actor Tim Matheson who was a Zatoichi fan and produced this and didn't even give himself a part. Instead, he turns over the main role to the great Rutger Hauer who does a fine job. My only complaint other than the annoying child is that if this were made today, it would be much more violent. Not that I am bloodthirsty, but Zatoichi killed dozens in his films. Definitely America was not ready for that. Though the final slicing in half of one of the men feels pretty rad for the time.

Parker lost his sight in the Vietnam war, but was found by a primitive tribe who sort of adopt him and teach him how to slice fruit thrown in the air by the sound. Zatoichi would be proud. It might have been fun if he had killed a bunch of Viet Congs, but the film jumps 20-year ahead and he is in Florida where scumbags go to reside. He shows his skills by beating up four very surprised ruffians messing with a woman. But he is in search of his friend from Vietnam, who ran like hell when the shooting began. Instead, he locates his wife (Meg Foster of the weird eyes) and their son. They are divorced and he is living in Reno. Hanging upside down over the edge from a tall building. His friend Frank (Terry O'Quinn) is being gently persuaded to help these guys make drugs with his chemistry skills.

For some crazy reason, he refuses, so they come for the wife and child and Parker happens to be there when they come barging in and shoot the wife. With a couple hands less in a short while though the big thug (Randall "Tex' Cobb) gets away and vows revenge. The mother is killed but before dying makes Parker promise to take the boy to his father. Across America in a bus. Pure torture. Fortunately, they get off and the first set-piece takes place in a corn field with a group of well-armed men chasing the boy. Hard to be quiet in a corn field. This is one situation where there could have been a lot more casualties - I think they keep it to three or four.

In another nod to Zatoichi, they make it to Reno and Parker is playing the roulette wheel and winning though not sure how hearing helps much in that game. Zatoichi could do it with dice by hearing them in the cup. A fine finale up in a ski lodge at the top of a mountain where they are waiting for him. Including Sho. Terrific film. Surprised I had never heard of this till I saw a review on Letterbox. Now, I may need to watch a Zatoichi film. I think I am up to number 19. This is directed by Phillip Noyce in his first American film.