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Summary: Excellent storyline, must be seen to be appreciated....
Review: This is a great movie. Although this movie is fifty years old, I personally think that it has more to offer than many of the over budget Hollywood films today. Although I am only 20 years old, I think these are the this kind of movies makes you interested in making films. Director Akira Kurosawa is ahead of his time. He used many camera tricks and style to get the viewer to anticipate battles. There are also emotional moments especially about humanity and how we treat each other.Toshiro Mifune was great as the funny Kikuchiyo. The speech he made in the middle of the movie was powerful. Overall a great movie. The audio commentary is helpful in explaining why certain shots of the film was the way it was. You can watch it over after the commentary and realize why Akira Kurosawa is one of the best director ever.
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Summary: One Of The Greatest Movies of All Time
Review: Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai is, in my opinion, on of the top three films of all time. I believe that this movie is Kurosawa's greatest achievement. Akira Kurosawa is one of the, if not the greatest director of all time. Not aonly is a great director, but he produced, edited and wrote the screenplays to a number of his movies. He has influenced countless other film directors. Many of his movies are among the greatest of all time, including Rashomon, Yojimbo, and Ran, but I think that Seven Samurai tops them all. The movie has everything a great movie should have. First of all, the story is simple, but brilliant. The plot of this movie has directly influenced many movies, including The Magnificent Seven and the recnt Disney movie A Bug's Life. The acting is also brilliant. Toshiro Mifune is the standout, but Takashi Shimura and Ko Kimura are also great. In fact, all of the samurai and the villagers are impressive. If you're an action fan, the battle sequences in this movie are stunning. If you are a romance fan, there is even an aspect of romance here. If you are uneasy about seeing an almost four hour Japanese movie, don't worry. It is immensely entertaining and the subtitles are easy to follow. You could probably follow the story without the subtitles. The Seven Samurai is and always will be one of the greatest movies of all time. Check this one out and Kurosawa's other movies as well.
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Summary: A breath taking masterpiece of Japanese film making....
Review: After many years of only seeing this timeless work on VHS tape, to finally have and to own " The Seven Samurai " on DVD presented in 1:33:1 format, presented by the reknowned Criterion Collection...it is indeed a true pleasure for this film fan. Plus the bonus of the additional audio commentary by the Japanese film historian, Michael Jeck, provides a much deeper insight into the history of the production, it's messages and themes, Akira Kurosawa's directorial style, and the attitudes of Japanese film making in the early 1950's.From the very first time I watched this film I was spellbound by it's power and glory....Kurosawa painstakingly assembled a team of actors with wonderful synergy and expression that are at the core of this unforgettable tale of hopes & dreams, death & revenge and honor & trust. Kurosawa's explosive and dynamic battle sequences, some filmed in driving rain, are equally balanced within the films context by the sadness and emotion of the heartfelt scenes, such as where Kikuchiyo (Toshiro Mifune) reveals his upbringings to the rest of the Samurai. This moving, provacative and challenging film is an epic that still stands head and shoulders over many others nearly 50 years after it's initial release...and a film that you can watch time and time again, and uncover another gem within it's rich tapestry upon each repeated viewing. I've shown this movie to many friends who were either not interested in older black and white productions...or not keen on subtitled movies...and they have all enjoyed it and remarked how they never knew that they could relish a 50 year old movie so much !! This film truly belongs in any persons movie collection who considers themselves a true afficiando of cinema...an experience in emotion, energy and vision that will not be forgotten by those who view this wonderful work.
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Summary: Excellent film for anyone and everyone.
Review: This is possibly, if not THE best movie done by the master of Samurai Movies, Akira Kurosawa. Combined with the amazing talent of Toshiro Mifune, Akira Kurosawa pulls this movie off and did it so well that it can be enjoyed by just about anyone. In my opinion, this is the best Samurai Movie in existence to this day!
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Summary: wow. incredible
Review: I never never thought in a million years I could enjoy a black and white movie. boy was i wrong. Black and white is absolutly gorgoues in this movie. woe be it to anyone who wishes it were in color. anyways this movie is so great. the battles are very realistic instead of a free for all. its paced . very very different from todays movies
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Summary: This movie is superb.
Review: I don't know what to say that hasn't been said before, but I have to sharewhat I think about this masterpeice. One of the things I always valued about movies is the characters, and presentation of those characters. 7 Samurai is all about that. The western notion that good movies are movies with a well thought out unexpected script is not true. Here you have a movie that has a plot that can be explained in one sentense, yet it makes you sit through the whole thing in complete silence. This movie is all about emotion, and emotion has far more effect and impact than any twist and unexpected turn of a script can have. I could relate to every single of the 7 samurai, because at one or another point of my life I've embodied what they did and felt in the movie. Akira Kurosawa is one of the best directors, ever.
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Summary: The best of the Kurosawa films
Review: I've seen nearly all of the Akira Kurosawa films such as Yojimbo, Hidden Fortress,Rashoman, Ran etc., but this one is far the best and that's saying a lot. There are several outstanding characters from the sage-like Kanbei to the brash Kikuchiyo. The fight scenes are realistic, not the normal hack and slash, but well planned out strategic events. It almost like they are choreagraphed dances than armed combat. Like the editoral reviewers stated earlier you have to watch the long version of this movie to fully appreciate it. If you want to own only one Kurosawa film, own this one.
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Summary: With Honor to Death
Review: An extraordinary story focusing on the lives of poor farmers infeudal Japan. But it also focuses on the lives of ronin, travelling warriors called samurai with no masters, and their struggles for survival and dignity. One of Akira Kurosawa's finest films was directed based on the 'westerns' genre created in the US, but ironicly became an inspiration for almost every western made after it. Its influences can be seen in movies like 'The Magnificent Seven' and 'The Wild Bunch'. Topping a cast in which every role seemed perfectly acted are Takahashi Shimura, playing the wise and crafty leader of the samurai, and the late Toshiro Mifune playing the drunk swordsman who turns out to be the most noble of all. This movie is a glorious and tragic look at the life of the farmer and the mercenary, and even the bandit. Ultimately, this film ranks as one of the greatest ever created..
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Summary: Correction
Review: The aspect ratio on the DVD is exactly as it was released in the Japanees theaters originally. SS was made before widescreen was put in use.
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Summary: One of the greatest
Review: I haven't read all the reviews of this film, but I can't imagine that any reviewer rates the film less than superb. It's a knockout! Action-packed, funny, heart-wrenching, humane, profound--this one film seems to have everything anyone could want, including a forbidden romance. If I could show one film to my classes every semester, it would be this--or Yojimbo, or Sanjuro. Those are all personal favorites, and I've never told anyone about them who didn't come back and thank me!
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