Review of Seven Samurai (1954) by Andrey B — 09 Oct 2017

Sergio Leone, spaghetti westerns, anyone? What can be more tough than the samurai theme. Countless directors tried and still are trying to copy, explore and exploit Kurosawa's vision of bravery, masculinity, toughness from Leone to Tarantino.

Now I know from where the legs grow. The story is impeccable. Story is the main ingredient of any true great film, without an original story nothing can raise a movie above an average bar. So many memorable and haunting scenes contains this movie like the one in which an old woman with a farm tool avenges her son's death and her whole wretched life suffered from bandits.

Is this movie really 3 and a half hours long? It felt like 30 minutes. This is a straight indication of director's craftsmanship. I was so engrossed by the story, by the characters, beautiful live cinematography, outstanding acting, by the authentic depiction of the medieval Japan.

Ending alone is worth a lot: a decisive battle in the mud under heavy rain. Of course the heavy rain - the director didn't find easy ways.