Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold (1964)

Zatoichi and the Chest of Gold 

Medium: Film
Director: Kazuo Ikehiro
Country: Japan
Released: 1964
First Consumed: June 13, 2012
Format: Hulu Streaming via PS3
Rating: 7.5/10

Director Kazuo Ikehiro makes the most visually striking Zatoichi film yet. It begins with a beautiful opening credits sequence of Zatoichi fighting henchmen against a black background, and it features the most lush photography throughout that we've seen so far. 

Chest of Gold also gives us another new plot set-up for the series. Instead of saving a town or taking down some wrong-doer, our hero is mistaken for a thief and must clear his name. The initial set-up is a bit awkward-- Zatoichi ends up sitting on the titular chest by accident after the thieves have lost it down a hill -- but the rest of the film is a tightly plotted action caper.