Review of Seven Samurai (1954) by Jon L — 06 May 2011

The Seven Samurai isn't exactly what you call an incredible breakthrough in film history, but it certainly does have a strong significance of being a highly well crafted masterpiece in film history.

Akira Kurosawa made a landmark film that would influence and inspire many other films to come in terms of story and even editing and cinematography style. It's a film that starts off slow and gradually builds up to a climatic conclusion, and it's done very effectively.

You never really feel impatient for certain events to come, I assure you that just about every scene in the film is essential to not only the plot but the characters and the tone too, and it fleshes out nicely over its long runtime.

The story is great, you become involved with it and you even become attached with the characters and what they experience. I felt their fear in battles and their pride in victories, that's how much I was sucked in.

I also admired it's tone, it was at times serious but never too dark and also sometimes humorous, but still taking itself seriously at the same time. While the action sequences and battles are very well choreographed and absolutely stunning, they're not some of the best I've seen, but still significantly well shot.

The film has its share of fighting and slice'n'stab action, but it mustn't be mistaken for an samurai action film, it was loosely very dialogue based, but I assure it's very interesting and rarely dull as I mentioned, and it all builds up to the action which is worth waiting for.

Is it a perfect film? Not quite, but definitely not far from it either. Is it agreeably one of the best films ever made? I'd say yes. I could only say much more about this film, but I must conclude that The Seven Samurai is certainly a well worth it experience that I look forward to revisiting, it's a classic that all film buffs should most definitely experience.