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Summary: Brilliance in black and white
Review: Akira Kurosawa has made an indelible mark on film history, how many foreign language directors have made any significant impact on Anglo Saxon film culture ? Few black and white films of any description have the dedicated fan base of Seven Samurai & Yojimbo, fewer still have inspired copies of any value...Should Seven Samurai be dubbed ? With DVD technology I think it probably should, Those of us who read subtitles easily can get insufferably smug and pretentious at times. And I think that broadening the audience base on classics is an excellent idea. With DVD you should have the option. But how can you dub Mifune with any degree of conviction and avoid the perennial lip sync problem ? As to Seven Samurai I think it`s the best of Kurosawas films, I like Ran & Kagamusha and love Yojimbo , but don`t think they are the equal of this epic. For those of you who haven`t seen it, it is the original template for the magnificent seven, only set in feudal Japan not Mexico. It is an interesting exercise to watch one after the other to see how many of the dramatic touches and scenes were lifted from the original almost unaltered. excellent as the Magnificent Seven is, in my opinion it goes beyond the point of being a homage to the original and becomes plagiaristic . Watch both and choose your favorite, you can`t go wrong with either.
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Summary: A Classic Film of Honour and Sacrifice
Review: P>Although countless reviews have been written praising this film and although the film is not a recent one, I cannot but add another word of praise for it. Firstly, it has a very honourable theme, about the honour of being a samurai and their duty to protect the weak and uphold justice. The story is very original and interesting (unlike the Magnificent Seven, remember?). A poor peasant village has been blundered by a group of bandits and these bandits promised to come back everytime harvest time. One of the villagers proposed to hire a samurai (which is obviously inadequate but they are poor, so they cannot afford more) to defend the village but his proposition was opposed by another group of people, fearing that if they fail, a worse tragedy will decend on them. Finally, with the advise of an elder in the village, they set of to find a samurai. And the story begins on how these poor people strive and suffer to find their samurai, occasionally spiced with some humour. Besides the excellent screenplay and acting, the greatest strength in this film is the philosophy behind it. It speaks of courage (e.g. the courage of the peasants to defend their own liberty or the lonesome but skillful samurai who braved the enemy and went into their territory to steal a rifle), of honour (e.g. between the samurais where they respected each other immensely based on a strict samurai code), of the art of war (e.g. on how to lure the enemies in and kill them one by one because, as Sun Tzu said, if the enemy is strong, avoid head on collision), of simple life and love (yes, of course there is a love story, not a major one but enough), etc. etc. And you must watch how this film ends, with so much wisdom oozing out, you suddenly feel you are living among the wisest people
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Summary: If you think this is boring your an idiot
Review: i cannot believe that some people write reviews of films and know nothing about the film they watched, or the film they compared it to. just check out the worst reviews for this film posted on Amazon, some half wit with no imagination, sense or intelligence actually thinks this is a frame by frame REMAKE of the magnificent seven....................... god help us all. Further it is not Gladiator with limbs flying etc. it is a piece about character, it is about what makes a man, that man. It is about prejudice and fear. It is not a slasher film nor a action packed romp. Watch it and learn how a film should be made, and how characterisation is the most important aspect of filmaking. If only all would be directors took the time to build films with character depth, then we would all be getting value for money. This film is a classic, if you dont think so then carry on watching Barney or Chuck Norris or whatever souless crap you do watch.
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Summary: Great Japanese classic but the DVD could have been better
Review: Don't get me wrong, "The Seven Samurai" is an excellent movie that deserves five stars but I was disappointed with the options included on the DVD considering its price. The film and sound quality are to a degree where the DVD version is not necessary and I doubt you'd lose much watching it from a VHS source instead. I'm not criticizing the movie because of this - after all, it was released in 1956 AND also in a Japan that was still recovering from the crippling effects of World War II. It's just that I've seen classics on DVD for the same price that have put in much more effort (extras) for a release on DVD. I'm not sure how much of the price reflects its Japanese origins but the film is still a keeper for any cinema fan. Besides the usual scene selection option, the other extras included are a trailer and a commentary by a noted expert on Japanese film. The commentary is insightful and helps answer many questions that arise while watching "The Seven Samurai." While this film is universal in its theme, there are some moments in the picture that are based in obvious cultural differences and its fun to listen while the commentary explain some of these. Another interesting point is to compare this to the American version of the film, "The Magnificent Seven," to witness the differences between Japanese and American cultures. If you've never seen a film by the director Akira Kurosawa I would definitely recommend this film as an introduction to his famous work. "The Seven Samurai" is to Japan what "Gone With the Wind" or "The Godfather" is to the United States. Disappointing in its limited DVD options considering there was so much they could have done but still worth having in your film library.
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Summary: They came they saw they kicked.....
Review: It could be considered ironic that this offering of celluloid brilliance by Mifune was something of a template for American masterpieces as the dirty dozen and the magnificent seven, and thereafter the entire Western tradition. Could the great American Western have had its origin in the East? Without doubt the influence of Seven Samuari extends through many strands of popular culture even today. With traces evidently manifesting in Jackie Chan's The Drunken Master, Manga's Ninja Scroll and countless digital fight characters. An enduring and well played cast of characters includes Kurosawa's lovable slapstick fool, who hides an accidental genius and though unconventional a samurai bravery equalling that of the well trained master. Mifune's clever cinematography captures angles and elements that todays action packed effect embellished flicks fail to match. Believable characters build an unparalleled natural tension enducing a strong empathic tendency among the audience, as well as a deep understanding of the Bushido code. Brilliant.
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Summary: MY WIFE LOVED IT TOO
Review: Great movie. This was my first of many foreign films. Great plot and superb acting.
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Summary: excellent
Review: i don't have much to say about it except that it was masterfully created and filmed by Kurosawa.
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Summary: amazing direction and that's it
Review: kurosawa is one of the great directors of all-time - this is an almost undisputed fact, even by me. however, people fail to mention that all but 1 or 2 of his movies are deathly boring. seven samurai goes on for 3 hours, and even with action sequences, fails to enthrall. truly boring and not worth the time unless you're a scholar of good direction.
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Summary: The biggest website on Akira Kurosawa : KUROFAN.COM
Review: 900 pics 160 musics to download Actors, actress Biography 800 Essays, interviex Photos stories... And much more !!
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Summary: Should be mandatory viewing for every young man
Review: SEVEN SAMURAI is one of the greatest movies ever made, but I believe classifying this as a "samurai" film does it an injustice. It is a precisely crafted film that reveals more with each viewing, a film that is not about action, but rather about selfless bravery, perserverance, fraternity, and the things that make a man. There is simply no amount of praise for SEVEN SAMURAI that could ever be deemed excessive. Perhaps THE burning building film. For those who have yet to see it (lucky you!), DO NOT watch the trailer first. Major spoilers there. Actually, perhaps the luckiest viewer would be the one who is watching it for the umpteenth time over a span of several decades. "Hire hungry samurai," and buy it now!!!!!
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