Review of Seven Samurai (1954) by Jason J — 30 Sep 2011

This movie needs no introduction as most movie fans has heard or seen it. Although Akira Kurosawa made many superb movies, this is probably his greatest masterpiece. Seven Samurai has been a pioneer in the action genre of cinema. Many shots that are conceptualized by Akira Kurasawa in the movie are copied later by the greats like Steven Spielberg and others in their movies. The screenplay of this movie is undoubtedly, one of the best ever. The movie starts and within five seconds, the viewer is immersed in the movie without any second thought... That is the magic of Kurasawa's screenplay. There are many instances in the movie where the viewer identifies himself with the protagonist, the samurai.

What else is there to say about Seven Samurai that hasn't been said yet over the 57 years since its release. Three and a half hours may seem like a long time to be watching a movie, but the movie couldn't have gone on long enough. I was completely engrossed in this world. The actors, including lead Takashi Shimura as Kambei, are flawless, as well as the many supporting players who were the farmers. My personal favorite is Mifune's Kikuchiyo, who absolutely steals the show as a humorous, loathsome troublemaker with a dirty mouth, but earns his heroism in an honest, self-sacrificing fashion.

This movie is recommended for everyone, as it is a brilliant piece of cinema.