Oh! Edo Rocket

"It's a show about fireworks & aliens!" says the large font on the back of my complete series box set. Not a combination I'd ever put together but I guess it works. Edo (Tokyo's former name) is under strict  rule by a magistrate who has banned practically anything that's fun, that includes fireworks. Which is a problem for Seikichi, firework maker. As he tries to create the best fireworks in the his life is bombarded by the sudden appearance of Sora. She comes to Seikichi to request that he builds a firework that can reach the moon. Why would she request this? Because Sora is actually an alien and wants to return home, almost reminiscent of E.T now that I think about it! Meanwhile Ginjiro is in cooperation with the 'men in black' trying to fight the mysterious 'Sky Beasts' who are killing young women by sucking out all their blood. Hard to see a connection between these to stories but what ever. It is definitely odd, and also quite hard to keep track of but I wouldn't necessarily call the plot bad. Thing is, I can never tell if they are trying to serious or humorous  there are jokes and there are serious bits but they kind of blur together so I end up not taking any of it seriously. But then, I never take aliens seriously.

Zatoichi

Zatoichi is a classic in Japan. Starting as a minor character in a book he was soon brought a live in 1962. After that Zatoichi had a total of 26 films and a T.V. series with 100 episodes! This particular Zatoichi film is a remake from 2003.
Zatoichi is a blind old man who makes his living from giving massages and gambling. His pronounced sense of hearing helps him win all the gambles by being able to hear whether the dice landed even or odd. But underneath his old guy cover, Zatoichi is an amazingly skilled swords men. Using his uncanny sense of smell and hearing he defeats the oppressive Yakuza gangs.
The plot of this Zatoichi is made up of three main components. The first: On his journey, Zatoichi stumbles upon a village run by an abusive Yakuza gang. As Zatoichi takes up residence with an lonely lady he soon decides to demolish the gang and set the village free. The second part of the story resolves around a skilled Samurai whoses wife is very ill and needs money to cure her. Despite his wives hatred of killing, he takes up work as a body guard for the Yakuza. But whose the more skilled swordsman: Zatoichi or the Samurai?