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Amazon.co.uk Review
Unanimously hailed as one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of the motion picture, Seven Samurai has inspired countless films modelled 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 and belongs on the short list of any definitive home-video library. --Jeff Shannon
Special Features
DVD 9
Japanese
Region 2
Commentary On Key Scenes
English
Japanese
Region 2
Commentary On Key Scenes
English
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66 of 68 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Clocking in at just under four hours with not a scrap of filler, Kurosawa's THE SEVEN SAMURAI is every bit as legendary at its enthusiasts would have you believe.
The basic story is extremely simple. In a period of social chaos, a small farming village learns it will once more be attacked by a band of thirty bandits after the harvest. At first the farmers despair, but village elder Gisaku (Kokuten Kodo) recalls that in his childhood a similar village met a similar situation by hiring Samurai to defend them. The villagers accordingly send representatives to the city, where they are able to convince Samurai Kambei Shimada (Takashi Shimura) to undertake the defense.
If the plot sounds familiar, it should: Hollywood would translate it into the extremely popular 1960 western THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN--but fine though that film is, it pales beside THE SEVEN SAMURAI, which effectively turns an action film premise into a character study of the first order and endows the story with both tremendous simplicity and artistry. Much of this is due an extraordinary ensemble cast, which includes the celebrated Toshiro Mifune (who would later appear in Kurosawa's THRONE OF BLOOD and YOJIMBO); above this, however, is Kurosawa's remarkable vision that draws upon the visual motif of the circle.
The circle is a powerful presence in SAMURAI. The village is presented as a roughly circular pattern of houses; the farmers meet in circles; in due time the Samurai enter the circle and stand at the center of the circle, directing the defense--and indeed the circle will become the defense, as Shimada works to find means to draw the bandits into the circle and to their doom. The motif will be elaborated: tied to the cycle of seed time, growth time, and harvest; tied to the cycle of life; and ultimately showing the quiet bitterness of life for those who operate outside the circular codes of community: the "Ronin," the Samurai who have no master and no community, and whose lives are not valued by the community except for aid at a moment of crisis.
Shot in simple black and white, as much (if not more) a detailed character and culture study as it is an action film, THE SEVEN SAMURAI is extremely simple and yet extremely subtle, and ultimately one of the most powerful films it has been my pleasure to review. The quality of the Criterion DVD transfer is very good, but by no means flawless--although it survives well, the film has not been digitally restored, and artifacts are frequent. There is little in the way of bonus material, but the commentary by Michael Jeck is quite fine. Strongly recommended.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is one of a small handful of films that transcend the label 'classic' and are essential.
Seven samurais influences are many and varied like so much else that Kurosawa directed. A seemingly simple tale of a roaming band of masterless samurai find fulfilment and destiny when they agree to protect a defenceless village that is being raided by a ruthless band of marauders.
Kurosawa pulled out all the stops as the action builds to a monumental and iconic final showdown fought in pouring rain.
Criterion have already released this earier in their catalogue. It contained the best available print of the film and a fine commentary by film expert Michael Jeck.
That commentary is included once again here, ( a wise move as it's a good one), along with an all new commentary by a group of film historians.Along with the commentaies there are 2 documentaries looking at the making of the film and it's influences that include much input from all involved and together last about 90 minutes.
The sound is still mono but coherent and lively. The print however has been mastered again and is superb, black and white this may be but it looks far better than a 52 year old film has any right to.
You get an awful lot for your money over the 3 discs but there is one inclusion that towers above all else here and that is the brilliant interview 'my life in cinema' where Kurosawa talks to interviewer Nagisa Oshima,(a filmaker himself), about his life and the films he has made. This allows the viewer to audience what is simply the best and most fact packed conversation with the great director available. The 2 hours running time is over before you know it.
Add to this a gallery, trailers and an excellent booklet containing essays by Kurosawas favourite lead Toshiro Mifune, Sidney Lumet and Arthur Penn amongst others and this is an unmissable DVD that no collection is complete without.
If you know and love Seven samurai then don't delay this is essential and if you've never seen this or are not a big fan of foreign language films then put your reservations to one side and take the plunge, you will not be disapponted.
If you enjoy this then try 'Yojimbo' and ' Kagemusha' also by Kurosawa and for a fascinating and detailed insight into Kurosawa and Mifune 'The emperor and the wolf' by Stuart Galbraith IV is very well researched and written.
Seven samurais influences are many and varied like so much else that Kurosawa directed. A seemingly simple tale of a roaming band of masterless samurai find fulfilment and destiny when they agree to protect a defenceless village that is being raided by a ruthless band of marauders.
Kurosawa pulled out all the stops as the action builds to a monumental and iconic final showdown fought in pouring rain.
Criterion have already released this earier in their catalogue. It contained the best available print of the film and a fine commentary by film expert Michael Jeck.
That commentary is included once again here, ( a wise move as it's a good one), along with an all new commentary by a group of film historians.Along with the commentaies there are 2 documentaries looking at the making of the film and it's influences that include much input from all involved and together last about 90 minutes.
The sound is still mono but coherent and lively. The print however has been mastered again and is superb, black and white this may be but it looks far better than a 52 year old film has any right to.
You get an awful lot for your money over the 3 discs but there is one inclusion that towers above all else here and that is the brilliant interview 'my life in cinema' where Kurosawa talks to interviewer Nagisa Oshima,(a filmaker himself), about his life and the films he has made. This allows the viewer to audience what is simply the best and most fact packed conversation with the great director available. The 2 hours running time is over before you know it.
Add to this a gallery, trailers and an excellent booklet containing essays by Kurosawas favourite lead Toshiro Mifune, Sidney Lumet and Arthur Penn amongst others and this is an unmissable DVD that no collection is complete without.
If you know and love Seven samurai then don't delay this is essential and if you've never seen this or are not a big fan of foreign language films then put your reservations to one side and take the plunge, you will not be disapponted.
If you enjoy this then try 'Yojimbo' and ' Kagemusha' also by Kurosawa and for a fascinating and detailed insight into Kurosawa and Mifune 'The emperor and the wolf' by Stuart Galbraith IV is very well researched and written.
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
When i first looked at this film i admit i was apprehensive as it was a 1954 black and white film with subtitles, however after watching it you simply canot deny how great this film is. Every character is wonderfully written and acted, you really can see the difference in personality of each an every person in the film and their interactions with one and other. Akira Kurosawa does the samurai legends justice in a sprawling epic far ahead of its time.
For those who dont know much about Japanese history this film is set in the sixteenth century where bandits room the land and samurai (warriors) give there services to the highest bidder, here a farmer overhears some bandits talking about their plains to raid his village when the harvest is ready, fearing the death and destruction the bandits bring the farmers set out to higher samurai with very little money after finding the right samurai for the job they return to the village where the peasants are trained and plans are made for a defense.
This film does not need huge explosions or massivly expensive special effects it is simply a brilliant film and a must see for anyone who knows what a good film is.
For those who dont know much about Japanese history this film is set in the sixteenth century where bandits room the land and samurai (warriors) give there services to the highest bidder, here a farmer overhears some bandits talking about their plains to raid his village when the harvest is ready, fearing the death and destruction the bandits bring the farmers set out to higher samurai with very little money after finding the right samurai for the job they return to the village where the peasants are trained and plans are made for a defense.
This film does not need huge explosions or massivly expensive special effects it is simply a brilliant film and a must see for anyone who knows what a good film is.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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Published 24 days ago by Ahmed A. Al Ajmi
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*contains spoilers!*
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Published 2 months ago by anonymous
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