Rating: 
Summary: One of world Literature's Great Treasures
Review: A work of art. That's all one can sayAkira Kurosawa, perhaps the finest filmmaker the world has ever seen, crafted with this stunning epic, a work of art that stands impressively next to the world's finest literature. Certainly influenced by other film masters like John Ford, Orson Welles, Howard Hawkes, Jean Renoir as well as the great authors (especially the Russian novelists among others (reading his autobiography says so much), Kurosawa found a way to take their impressive visual and narrative styles and craft something all his own. He also perhaps became the one director who managed to make visual novels. "Seven Samurai" is but only one example of what he was able to do not only visually, but narratively as well. Many authors set out to make art and fail because they overlook the absolute necessity that novels, films and plays require: a captivating linear narrative that contains interesting and realistic characters placed in exaggerated and urgent circumstances. "The Seven Samurai" does it. It not only contains breathtaking action, three dimensional characters and phenomenal performances (Toshiro Mifune creates arguably the finest physical and presentational performance ever caught on film) but speaks poignantly about what it means to be a human being. Like all great works of art, it transcends language and culture. Its scenes function as chapters in an epic. This ranks on the level with "The Odyssey", The works of Shakespeare and the paintings of Van Gogh (another influence of Kurosawa's). But please don't think "The Seven Samurai", a dry polemic. It is a fast paced, ultra accessible masterpiece of action, wit and romance. It manages to be both universal and personal at the same time. The criterion transfer, which some viewers have derided here at Amazon, is a glorious improvement over the scratchy video tape I first purchased almost twenty years ago, that. Obviously the DVD does not even scratch the wonder of seeing a pristine 35mm print on the big screen, but for a home library, it will do just fine. "The Seven Samurai" is a proud chapter in the history of human artistic achievement. This is not to be missed. A 10 out of 5!
Rating:
Summary: A timeless masterpiece
Review: First let me say that I am not comparing this to the Magnificent Seven. I have not seen that classic Western. But I have seen this film, Kurosawa's greatest. Most people get initially put off by the 3.5 hour running time. Trust me, you won't even notice. I was glued to the screen for the whole time. It was amazing. After hearing so much about this film and seeing it all come to life. There are so many lessons in this film for everyone, from any background or profession. There are so many emotions and feelings that flow through this film. You can feel the bonds form between the 7 masterless samurai as they defend a lowly village from attack. You see the oldest and most experienced samurai who gives himself a mark of dishonor(he shaves his head bald to look like a monk) in order to save a young child. He becomes the mentor of the youngest samurai in the group. Teamwork abounds among strangers. Love springs forth in the time of war. Courage is tested, lives are lost, and honor is salvaged. The very last scene was just inspiring and will pull on your heartstrings. Don't settle for anything less then the full 3.5 hour version. It is time well spent.
Rating:
Summary: A foreign movie classic!
Review: I will be the first to admit that foreign movies tend not to interest me, but a friend strongly recommended that I watch this movie sometime. I was not disappointed in the least. The scene is in medieval Japan where a village is being plagued by bandits, and in desperation hire 7 ronin (samurai without a lord to serve) to fight them. What you get is a truly epic movie that makes Hollywood movies seem amateur. I really enjoyed the comraderie of the seven samurai. The movie has a gentle pace at first, as the samurai first assemble one by one. You get to find out each one's personality and history, and a lot of time is spent on character development. As you begin to appreciate their individual personalities, the story accelerates into the battle with the bandits. There is no cheesy Hollywood dramatics, or unnecessary bravado. Instead, you get a powerful battle that is one for the ages. You just have to see it. :) I really can't praise this movie enough. I was really impressed with Kurosawa's attention to detail (who better to make a Japanese movie than a Japanese director?), time spent getting to know the different characters, and the compelling ending. I truly enjoyed this movie and I sincerely hope you will too.
Rating:
Summary: Why do I hallucinate?
Review: Having remembered seeing the movie in Japan in widescreen format, I was mortified to find that that option was not available to me in this edition...Then I heard that the movie was never actually IN widescreen format to begin with ...oops...Don't know WHY I had some hallucination that I'd seen it letterboxed...Anyway, every human being should see The Seven Samurai and if you haven't, what are you waiting for? This and Yojimbo are two of Kurosawa's most crowd-pleasing entries...
Rating:
Summary: A perfect film
Review: Seven Samurai is a perfect Japanese film. There can be no improvements on the script, acting, or directing, it all is perfect. The film is about a village who is robed of their crops at every new harvest by bandits. They are miserable, starving and poor. They come up with the idea to find samurai to protect them. This film is told in mostly 3 great segments. The first is in town searching and finding Samurai that will help them. The second shows the Samurai teaching the village war tactics and making plans for the war. The third is the most amazing part and is the war itself. This film has a lot in it. A love story, training, war action, sword fights, eastern philosophy, humor, psychology, and more is included masterfully during the film. This film was very influential in the Western world. The Magnificent Seven was based on this film. I recommend this very much, do not be afraid to watch this just because its in black and white, and subtitled. This is a major film in the history of the medium, and should be seen. The story is great, and has a lot of cool things for everyone. Only problem is some parts the film is a little grainy but does not have to much negative effect. 5 stars, check it out.
Rating:
Summary: Staggering!
Review: Steven Spielberg put it best: Kurosawa is every bit the equal of Shakespeare. No one opened our eyes to Eastern mythology, royalty, history and culture quite like Kurosawa. His films are like huge tapestries, both appealing to the eye but also educating the heart and mind to the rich, complex history of Japan. Seven Samurai is my favorite of Kurosawa's films (next to Dreams) because it is one of the most perfectly balanced films I have ever seen. The cast is superb, the camerawork is legendary, and the script is so full of wisdom and poignancy that by the end of the film you want to become a samurai. Whether or not it is the greatest film of all time is irrelevant because art is not measured quantitatively. It's about as silly as trying to figure out the greatest painting of all time. This movie is to be appreciated along the same lines as Beethoven's 9th. Simply absorb in the genius of the work and be transformed in your perceptions of what is possible.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Japanese Action Epic
Review: I finally got around to watching "Seven Samurai". This classic 3 hour+ film by the legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa has got to rate high among the great action/adventure epics. Kurosawa's film takes place in 16th century feudal Japan. A gang of roving bandits has been terrorizing a Japanese farming villages. The bandits are in the habbit of looting villages, stealing crops, killing people, and raping women. Knowing it's only a matter of time before they are attacked, one village sends people to town to hire some samurai to protect them from the bandits. Eventually, seven samurai are recruited and head off for the village, knowing the odds for their success are against them. Unlike modern action films, Kurosawa doesn't rush you into the action. Instead he takes his time to introduce you to each of the characters and set up the story. Each samurai has their own distinct pesonality from the wise older leader of the group to the hero worshipping younger member. I liked watching the samurai engage in male bonding. My favorite character was the unstable samurai wanna-be Kikuchiyo, played by Toshiro Mifune. Kikuchiyo is really the son of a slaughtered farmer who is out for revenge. Mifune and Kurosawa would work together many times with great success. Kurosawa also allows for a touching romance between the younger samurai and a village girl. Much of the film is a build-up to the climactic battle, but when it arrives it doesn't disappoint. Kurosawa masterfully builds suspense and details the strategy of the samurai, while choreographing some exciting action sequences. Undoubtedly, this film influenced many other action/adventure epics made since. While not for everybody, anyone who is willing to give a black & white subtitled film a try will be richly rewarded. I can see now that I'll have to track down some other Akira Kurosawa films.
Rating:
Summary: better than many movies out now
Review: okay, I saw this yesterday, and it blew my mind. it's action-packed and has actual development of both plot and character. the Seven are really unique characters, and you can identify with all of them. but the best has to be Kikuchiyo, hands down. in short, watch this.
Rating:
Summary: How many stars are max? -- 5? -- OK, I give this fillm 9!
Review: This IS a classic! Look at many W. Allen's films - it's there! Look at many other modern films - it's THERE, TOO! Look at this film itself - it's a CLASSIC! ... What else can I say? --- That's IT! Buy IT! --- Tis IS a Classic!
Rating:
Summary: Kurosawa the legend
Review: Few will contest the fact that Akiro Kurosawa is among the greatest moviemakers of all time. 'The Seven Samurai' or 'Shichinin no samurai' is his magnum opus. The movie is regarded by many as the first of the modern action movies, but the movie stands out because of the brilliant camera work. Sometimes I tend to think that the technical value of this movie surpasses some of the modern techno movies. Kurosawa weaves a brilliant tale of valor and action in a subtle yet cutting way.
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