Rating: 
Summary: Might have been profound for it's time but...
Review: When I pay almost 30. for a DVD I expect alot, especially from a criterion edition. Seven Samurai does not reflect truly what a DVD is all about...which is high quality video, great sound and unique whistles and bells that are added value. True, an older movie can be discribed as a profound auteur venture for it's time, but for the quality of sound, picture and aspect ratio...I in retrospect would have been just as happy with a video and would have not worried about the video commentaries. My advice...go rent the video before deciding to purchase this one. If you're dying to see it again and again after that, (which I doubt) pick up the DVD. Sorry, in my book...if I'm not going to watch it more than 3x why pay the convenience for a classic when it has the screen resolution of a Disney flip-book?
Rating: 
Summary: A Beautiful Epic on the Nature of Heroism
Review: I never get tired of screening this film or of introducing it to students, who are always surprised how much they like it. If only you could first see it the way I did, on a big screen. I miss the days of college art film houses. I have successfully used this in class to look at the nature of heroism after reading Homer's Iliad and before Don Quixote. A most thought provoking trio. There are black and white films so beautiful you forget they are not in color, and this is one of them. The characterizations are uniformly in-depth, unlike most epic films that rely solely on visual spectacle. This film has always been on my personal 10 ten list since the first time I saw it.
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Summary: 13th Warrior? No, Seven Samurai
Review: Now I know where the "Thirteenth Warrior" story was lifted
Rating:
Summary: A definitive classic.
Review: I can hardly decide what to say about this film. I grew up fascinated by samurai, and I'd heard great things about The Seven Samurai. I expected to appreciate but not really enjoy it. Well, I was half-right. The film is beautiful, and underscores time and time again why Kurasawa is considered the greatest Japanese filmmaker that ever lived. But I loved this film. The story is simple-- a small village is terrorized by bandits and hires sevin ronin (masterless samurai) to defend them. This simple story (despite a few twists I won't tell you about) doesn't detract at all, though: it allows Kurasawa to explore each character's (not just the samurai) motivation and personality and to create tension. What's even more surprising, I laughed. I had expected to laugh over bad translations and poor dubbing, but it wasn't there. What I did laugh at were, simply, Kurasawa's intentional jokes-- "I thought it was a mouse!" Though it was a rather long movie, I sat spellbound throughout it, and was surprised it was over so quickly. This film is reason enough to mourn Kurasawa's death.
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Summary: Again, a MASTERPIECE!
Review: Ever wonder where the idea for THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN came from? Me either, but this is it. =)
Rating: 
Summary: Generally wonderful
Review: What can one say about this movie that hasn't already been said? It's an amazing, classic work that holds one's attention consistently, regardless of its length. The picture is as crisp and clear as it can be, given the well-known dearth of good prints of the film. So, I'll reserve my main comments to the supplementary material.First, the trailer included on the DVD is short, sweet, and a good peek into the world of 1950s Japanese trailers. I'd never seen a trailer for a Japanese film of that era before, and this was a nice treat. Nothing spectacular, but I'm glad it's on the DVD. Second, the commentary. It was, by and large, interesting, but too often distracting. Many of Michael Jeck's comments on Kurosawa's family history, the Japanese studio system, and Kurosawa's marriage are of incidental interest to the movie at hand and probably should have been consigned to a second interview with Jeck (or a booklet contained with the DVD). Yes, Jeck's comments about specific shots are fascinating to anyone with more than a passing interest in how films are constructed, but his choices for scenes to comment on seem somewhat haphazardly chosen. Why, for instance, is so much of the last third (the most action-packed, visually stunning third!) of the movie accompanied by commentary that has nothing to do with what's on the screen? Jeck has an enormous knowledge of Kurosawa and Japanese cinema, but his comments for this particular DVD should have been more directed to what we were seeing on screen. Additionally, a personal quibble: Jeck makes a big deal about almost everything the wonderful Toshiro Mifune does on screen, but very little about the (arguably) equally-wonderful Takashi Shimura. Jeck treats the film as though it's all Toshiro's show, and I think that's a disservice to the fine Mr. Shimura. Overall, this is the crown jewel of my personal DVD collection. Minor disagreements with Jeck's commentary aside, it's a real treat for any lover of Kurosawa's work or movies in general.
Rating:
Summary: Another good buy.
Review: I was hesitant to get this, coz it's an old b&w movie... The black and white quality is not as good as criterion's Oliver Twist. Of course, it's an old movie, but I wish it was done better. However, the story was really good, especially the character development. The movie focussed on each of the main characters even a good number of the villagers, and I thought the balance was pretty good. Action was really good too, but the human drama behind it was even better. I'm glad I got this, I shouldn't have doubted that it's also an Akira Kurosawa classic. I've tried "Ran" too - another good buy. So, two good ones so far. I'll probably try the other b&w's by Akira.
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Summary: Kurosawa-san wa ichiban desu!
Review: What more can be said except this is the greatest film ever turned by human hands?
Rating:
Summary: Essential film for aspiring directors and cameramen
Review: Those complaining about the aspect ratio apparently aren't seeing the film with a film buff's eyes. The 4:3 format is what it was shot in originally, and it's evident from the absolute perfection of the framing of each and every shot. As a director myself, I continually find myself slackjawed at how masterful the camerawork is... the three survivors at the base of the burial mound... lingering on the peasant/ronin's bare feet after he breaks down and reveals his past... I could go on and on. I must say that I'm much happier with the (albeit expensive) Criterion version of the film than the VHS version. The sound holds up much, much better and the picture is as pristine as an almost 50-year old film is likely to be. Those expecting non-stop action are likely to be disapointed, but as a story, a character study and a very profound commentary on class struggles it's one of the finest films ever made, bar none.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: About the widescreen issue: there is no widescreen format; like most movies from the early 50's this one was shot in 'academy' format (1.37:1) so the provided version IS the correct theatrical release.
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