Amazon.com essential video: Unanimously hailed as one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of the motion picture, Seven Samurai has inspired countless films modeled after its basic premise. But Akira Kurosawa's classic 1954 action drama has never been surpassed in terms of sheer power of emotion, kinetic energy, and dynamic character development. The story is set in the 1600s, when the residents of a small Japanese village are seeking protection against repeated attacks by a band of marauding thieves. Offering mere handfuls of rice as payment, they hire seven unemployed "ronin" (masterless samurai), including a boastful swordsman (Toshiro Mifune) who is actually a farmer's son desperately seeking glory and acceptance. The samurai get acquainted with but remain distant from the villagers, knowing that their assignment may prove to be fatal. The climactic battle with the raiding thieves remains one of the most breathtaking sequences ever filmed. It's poetry in hyperactive motion and one of Kurosawa's crowning cinematic achievements. This is not a film that can be well served by any synopsis; it must be seen to be appreciated (accept nothing less than its complete 203-minute version) and belongs on the short list of any definitive home-video library. --Jeff Shannon
Description: A desperate village hires seven samurai to protect it from marauders in this crown jewel of Japanese cinema. No other film so seamlessly weaves philosophy and entertainment, delicate human emotions and relentless action. Featuring Japan's legendary star, the great Toshiro Mifune, Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai is an inspired epic a triumph of art, and an unforgettable three-hour ride.
Thrilling and powerful. Hasn't aged a day. What can I tell you about "Seven Samurai" that you haven't already heard? I was thinking recently about why it is that, although the dialogue in the film mostly functions to advance the plot, and the later scenes are mostly devoted to the mechanics of battle, nonetheless every one of the characters is vibrant and alive, and instantly wins one's trust and sympathy. The answer, I think, lies in gestures and facial expressions. The faces of the samurai embody distinct and memorable character types, and their mannerisms, rather than their words, serve to bring out details of their personality.
Katsushiro, the young samurai, has few if any "introspective" lines, but he's the most expressive depiction of the "naive youth" archetype that I have ever seen, in any film. The performance captures countless lifelike details -- like how he doesn't know what to do when Shino comes on to him, and how later he stands around looking shell-shocked. Or, for instance, how, when he sees Kikuchiyo brooding outside, he runs up to him with a boyish smile, evidently used to viewing Kikuchiyo as the jester of the group, and then suddenly looks bewildered when he sees that Kikuchiyo is not in the best of moods. Or his embarrassment when he throws the coins at Yohei and Rikichi in the inn and sees their obeisance. Or his amazement when he finally kills a bandit in battle, or his explosion of grief at the battle's end.
Kikuchiyo, too, is always interesting to watch. I don't have to point out his passionate nature, but it's interesting how the film puts in little details that set him apart from the samurai. The scene where he unsuccessfully tries to ride Yohei's horse is very funny, but it also underscores the fact that the other samurai have been trained to ride from birth, and Kikuchiyo's most valiant efforts just aren't enough to bridge the gulf between them. He frequently misinterprets "what it means to be a samurai," and can't understand what exactly he's missing. He tops Kyuzo's feat by stealing one of the bandits' guns and then fearlessly taunting them, and is surprised when Kambei scolds him. The distinction, of course, is that Kyuzo performed heroic deeds during his free time, whereas Kikuchiyo abandoned his post, but the latter doesn't get it.
Kyuzo himself is an iconic figure. The best scene in the entire film (I have seen it cause a standing ovation in a theatre) is when he returns in the morning with the stolen gun and modestly sits down to sleep. Katsushiro praises him to the skies, and after he prances away, there is a remarkable expression on Kyuzo's face, a bit flattered and embarrassed, and also empathetic to Katsushiro's youth. And Kyuzo's absolutely detached calm, as he sits by a tree and picks flowers while he waits for the bandits to arrive, is another timeless image.
Then there's Gorobei, who has almost no lines at all, but who instantly wins one over with his good-natured grin. He's the guy who immediately sees through Kambei's "trap" in the inn, and calls from outside, "Please, no jokes!" He is rarely in the spotlight, but he seems to be closer to Kambei in character than the others. And it's funny that he's so easily amused by Heihachi -- the way he cracks up at the latter's jokes is funnier than the jokes themselves.
Kambei, as the leader who holds the group together and never loses his cool, and also has most of the "meaningful" lines, has probably been extensively analyzed already. But aside from his personal appeal, his methodical approach to strategy is captivating, because each of his moves looks so logical and well-thought-out, like something one ought to do in that situation, not at all like a mere plot point. One of the best conversations occurs when he asks Gorobei, "How would you attack this village?" A professional approach, forsooth.
The film's power of suggestion extends to the setting itself. Kurosawa firmly insists on the distance between samurai and peasants. In the final scene with Shino, Rikichi's statements about the power of love fall on deaf ears, as they should. The villagers turn and leave, and Kambei decides not to intervene. This resolution, gloomy mainly due to the sense of inevitability that it creates, is admirably true to life. Also notable, and very understated, is the fact that all casualties among the samurai are due to guns. Perhaps this is a subtle way of suggesting that their era is already almost over, and even the utmost skill won't help them in modern war.
Everyone has already commented on the visual aspects of the film, but the imagery is unforgettable. There's a horrifying image early on when the farmers' rice is stolen in the inn, and Yohei tries to pick up fallen grains one by one. And the most indelible sight is that of the chaotic, vicious final battle in the rain and mud. Kambei's meticulous planning, after holding out for so long, finally gives way to a total mess, a jumble of horses and people in which the samurai accomplish amazing martial feats in every shot, but the shots move so quickly that one doesn't have time to appreciate them.
This is one of the few truly flawless films in existence. It is three and a half hours long, but the length is hardly noticeable. The battles are gripping. But aside from the masterful choreography and technical innovation, the characters just come to life so vividly! It's difficult to name another film where such thorough characterization would be implied through such indirect means. It belongs in any film collection.
Seven Samurai - 3 Disc Remastered Edition (Criterion Collection Spine # 2) Gave this as a birthday gift to my father and he said that this is an excellent series
Remember the MacIntosh! On YouTube I recently saw a video of Steve Jobs demoing the Apple Macintosh in 1984. This product received huge accolades for its innovation - it defined for the first time many of the PC interfaces and features we take for granted now. Even Bill Gates was a fan!
But anyone looking at it now would wonder what all the fuss was about. Similarly, those of us who are interested but perhaps not dedicated students of film (including myself), can come away from the Seven Samurai wondering the same.
But this movie is the equivalent of the Apple Mac - innovative and brilliantly designed. For example his approach to shot composition, use of telephoto, character development and action scenes were all truly innovative at the time and set the standard for generations of film-makers.
Problem is, these innovations have been studied, directly copied, imitated and further developed over the past 50+ years. As a result, it is somewhat challenging to fully appreciate what a truly great and ground-breaking movie this was at the time
a classical influence one of the most influential films to have been brought to the screen in the 20th century. it has been mirrored by the western directors and film-makers in its style and drama. definitely worth watching.
Seven Samurai - Classic!! If you have never seen this Kurosawa classic, and have seen and enjoyed The Magnificent Seven, this movie is a must for your collection.
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