Review of ICHI (2008) by Blind P — 26 Jul 2010

An overwhelmingly dumb character that cannot draw his sword because of a childhood accident that blinded his mother accidentally completely destroys anything that could have come from Ichi.

At one point he proves adept with a wooden sword, which leaves one to ask the obvious question about why he wouldn't use a staff to defend himself, if he were so reluctant to use an edged weapon, given that he always seems to be in trouble.

This theme is carried out to agonizing length and when he finally gets over it it is so obvious it's coming, and so cheesy beyond even camp humour value.

Ichi herself had some small potential as the blind sexually abused girl who happens to be a fancy sword master, but the general decay from plotting has the movie quickly rotting away beyond any redemption on her front.

I compare this to the great Lone Wolf and Cub series, which happened to be dragged up to the front of my reviews in the Great RT Fucked Up Update, and there is such a wide gap in entertainment quality and style that it is pathetic to think that this one was made with benefit of modern techniques so easily mastered by early 1970s productions.

Even taken as a live action cartoon/magna piece, which is the best attitude to go into these things with, Ichi is pitiful.