Nightwish has released a high number of compilations so far in its career but in the band's defense, these compilations were often released by former labels who tried to cash in. Now, Nightwish itself tries to cash in which doesn't make much difference to be honest. Decades is a compilation that covers all records this band has ever made and even goes back to the group's very first demo released twenty-two years ago. Those who haven't bought a Nightwish record yet or who haven't checked the band out have a competent compilation that retraces the band's career in anti-chronological order with twenty-two tracks celebrating twenty-two years of existence. That is also the only positive point of this release aside the fact that the cover artwork and booklet look very nice.

On the other side, are there really still any metal fans who haven't heard about the band and either purchased one or several records if they liked what they heard or not purchased any album if they didn't like what they heard? In the case of such a popular band, this case shouldn't be very common. 

There are several obvious problems with such a release. First of all, it doesn't offer any new songs for fans of old date. The fact that the songs got remastered doesn't change anything about that. Secondly, the track list is quite debatable as someone needs to tell band leader Tuomas Holopainen that ''The Greatest Show on Earth'' isn't the pinnacle of his career but rather the opposite. Let's assume you're not familiar with this band and you check out this record that starts with that bloated and boring song that is twenty-four minutes long. I guess ninety-nine out of one hundred people wouldn't even make it through the song or feel like checking out any of the band's other songs. Opening a compilation with this song is commercial suicide.

Another thing needs to be addressed in relation to this release and its tour. Concert tickets cost between ninety and about two hundred Canadian dollars plus service fees which are usually between ten and twenty bucks. The tickets include a copy of this album but paying one hundred dollars for a compilation nobody needs plus a two-hour concert is over the top. Two years ago, I paid about half of the lowest price for this new tour to attend one of the band's concerts. Attending concerts of veteran legends like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest costs about half the price and you even get one or two opening acts to check out. One has to wonder whether Tuomas Holopainen has become delusional and megalomaniac at this point.

It's time for the band to slow down with unnecessary compilations, expensive concerts and bloated twenty-four minute epics. Nightwish has to get back to the basics and deliver value for money. Otherwise, the group won't survive for another decade.

Final rating: 15%

Zatoichi's Cane Sword is the fifteenth entry in the franchise about the clever gambler, blind masseur and skilled swordsman with a lowly yakuza background and I still can't get enough of this series with its authentic atmosphere bringing rural Japan of the mid-nineteenth century to life, with its unique lead character with a strong moral compass masterfully played by a credible Katsu Shintaro and the cool story lines involving conspiracies, greed, love, murder and redemption. As in many other films, Zatoichi comes across a dying boss who can only tell him his name. The blind masseur goes to the next town and stays in an old inn where he comes across the dead man's children. While the son is reluctant to take over his father's business, the daughter is determined to convince him and save their family's reputation. However, another boss named Iwagoro, supported by corrupt government official Inspector Kuwayama, wants to take over the dead man's business by any means necessary. Zatoichi tries to remain neutral in the conflict but when the dead man's son is brutally killed and the dead man's daughter lured away from the inn, Zatoichi decides to set things right. However, there is one big problem. The local blacksmith informs Zatoichi that his cane sword is about to break and that the blind masseur might only have one strike left before it snaps.

As usual, there are many positive elements about this film. First of all, the characters are very nicely developed in this film. The drunk blacksmith that rediscovers his art, the determined daughter who never gives up, the reluctant son who wants to avoid conflicts, the pervert government official and the wicked boss are all intriguing characters. The fact that Zatoichi has to fight without his usual cane sword at times adds some tension to the film. The movie has a few interesting twists that keep the viewers interested until the very end. The final fight sequence at night and in the snow when both Zatoichi and his opponents use numerous tricks to fight each other is particularly well-choreographed. In addition to this, the movie includes a few brief yet refreshing humorous scenes such as Zatoichi performing a chant and dance to make fun of the evil boss and Zatoichi playing a game of dice with an overtly self-confident loudmouth who challenges him to a duel.

However, the film also has a few flaws. The story is extremely similar to other movies and lacking some fresh originality. On the other side, the story is also more complex and at times a little bit hard to follow with its numerous characters, side stories and minor twists. It would have been better if the movie had been a few minutes longer to tell this complex story in greater detail.

Still, Zatoichi's Cane Sword is an above average entry in the franchise. The tense atmosphere in the inn where several key scenes take place is a very intriguing guiding line. The characters have depth and you either root for them or despise them quickly. The complex story is a little bit more challenging than usual which has positive and negative consequences. Collectors and fans of the franchise might appreciate this movie more than some of the weaker previous films but it's not strong enough in my book to be among the franchise's best entries. Those who aren't familiar with Zatoichi yet shouldn't start here and discover the series in chronological order.

Zatoichi's Pilgrimage is the fourteenth episode in the franchise about the skilled gambler, blind masseur and fast swordsman. It's a good average episode with some positive and a few negative points. In the beginning of the film, Zatoichi is on a pilgrimage to visit the eighty-eight shrines on Shikoku. He is on a spiritual journey because he has grown tired of killing people. He makes a prayer to not need to use his sword on his pilgrimage but it seems the deities aren't on his side. Very early on his pilgrimage he gets attacked by an unknown assailant traveling with a horse and Zatoichi is forced to kill him in self-defense. He follows the horse to the home of his attacker and meets his sister. She initially hurts Zatoichi after she realizes what had happened but then tells him that her brother was sent by a local boss who exploits the modest farmers of the village. Zatoichi soon realizes that the cruel boss saw an opponent in the assailant and sent him to attack Zatoichi to get him killed on purpose. As Zatoichi and the dead man's sister grow very fond of each other, they decide to trick the ruthless boss and avenge the assailant's unnecessary death.

There are several positive elements about this film. The landscapes, the score and the fact that many men are riding horses in this film almost make this movie look like a classic western. Instead of guns, there are obviously intense sword fights but the evil boss also uses bow and arrow to kill Zatoichi which is very interesting. Another positive element is the relationship between the assailant's sister and the blind samurai. In the beginning, she hates him and is scared of him but she soon starts respecting his motives and grows so fond of him that a friendship and even a fragile romance blooms between them. Another thing to point out is the selfish behavior of the farmers in the village. They decide to let Zatoichi fight for their cause but won't support him openly. They think if Zatoichi won they could live better lives and if he lost they wouldn't get associated with him and punished for their support. Their cowardice leads to a tragic death and services as a moral lesson in this movie.

Aside all these positive elements, the movie suffers from overlong dialogues which is quite unusual for this franchise since Zatoichi is usually a modest man who hasn't much to say. I think this movie has too many conversations and not enough fighting scenes even though the final fifteen minutes are truly rewarding in that regard. Another problem is the fact that the movie is basically only carried by Zatoichi and the dead assailant's sister. The side characters are quite pale and can't impress. The story is chambara by the numbers and quite similar to other films in the franchise.

In the end, Zatoichi's Pilgrimage is a good average entry in the franchise about the blind yakuza. Collectors and fans of the franchise will appreciate the film even though it fails to stand out. Those who aren't familiar with the franchise could like this film because it's closer to Western cinema and recalls more western elements than most movies in the franchise.