Since “Blades of Blood” has a blind swordsman, the comparisons to the “Zatoichi” franchise are unavoidable. However, I feel as though it was more than just heavily influenced by the legendary Japanese warrior, but almost a complete rip-off.
While Zatoichi was a masseuse, the Korean Jeong-hak is an acupuncturist. This fact about Jeong-hak is explained to us in “Blades of Blood” almost the exact same way they explain Zatoichi’s occupation on the side in his 2003 movie: the blind men visit attractive women in which we think they are going to knock boots with after they exchange some sexual innuendo, only to find out in the next shot that they are just trading their occupational skills in exchange for food, drink, and shelter for the night.
The men’s demeanors are quite identical too. Dangerous swordsmen who spend most of the film either fighting or making wise-cracks. They also exit their respective films the same way: SPOILER ALERT They both open their eyes!
Maybe I’m nit picking? Does anyone else agree? Maybe someone out there can clarify who came first, as I have read that Jeong-hak is based on a Korean manwha character from a long time ago.
Tyler Aikens
Since “Blades of Blood” has a blind swordsman, the comparisons to the “Zatoichi” franchise are unavoidable. However, I feel as though it was more than just heavily influenced by the legendary Japanese warrior, but almost a complete rip-off.
While Zatoichi was a masseuse, the Korean Jeong-hak is an acupuncturist. This fact about Jeong-hak is explained to us in “Blades of Blood” almost the exact same way they explain Zatoichi’s occupation on the side in his 2003 movie: the blind men visit attractive women in which we think they are going to knock boots with after they exchange some sexual innuendo, only to find out in the next shot that they are just trading their occupational skills in exchange for food, drink, and shelter for the night.
The men’s demeanors are quite identical too. Dangerous swordsmen who spend most of the film either fighting or making wise-cracks. They also exit their respective films the same way: SPOILER ALERT They both open their eyes!
Maybe I’m nit picking? Does anyone else agree? Maybe someone out there can clarify who came first, as I have read that Jeong-hak is based on a Korean manwha character from a long time ago.