Fumihiko Sori's attempt to make an original addition to the Zatoichi martial arts franchise never reaches the virtuosity of Takeshi Kitano's original. Needless to say, the fight scenes are better than the dialogue.

With its hokey, flashback-heavy plotting, unadventurous camera use and a clutch of cloyingly earnest performances, it comes across like an irony-free, mid-season episode of 'Xena: Warrior Princess'.

The villains are from the broad "har-de-har" school of banditry, the action is mostly fudged, and the resolution achingly obvious.

Haruka Ayase gives a very memorable performance and she's truly steals every scene she inhabits.