Review of Seven Samurai (1954) by Shane S — 09 Nov 2010
A sexy, action-packed, brutal, and life-changing Japanese existentialist comedy-drama, this is more proof that international films aren't always stoic. If you want to say "oh, this film is so stoic", let me cite the tale of Lord Kikuchiyo.
But it's not entirely funny - some of the jokes (or points where people laugh on screen) are just plain sadistic and insensitive, thus this becomes a character and societal study much like "Adventureland" (though much more better).
It's definitely not boring - you're intrigued by what the samurai are going to do, whether or not it's the young guy frolicking with a village girl or Kikuchiyo just being Kikuchiyo. Also, the frenetic cutting during the village raid gives life to this film - it's echoed in a lot of Sam Peckinpah flicks.
It's a film that dares you not to rate it. It's perfect on its own. Brutally long, yes, but hey - don't we praise the six-hour silent flickers of Erich von Stroheim? Kurosawa just took that aesthetic and depicted real life as a mix of levity, brutality, and stoicism. Those samurai may have saved an entire village, but they didn't save those dead people (and samurai, including the original hype man/Gunny Hartman/every insane drill sergeant).
Kurosawa, you merit my full approval.
This review of Seven Samurai (1954) was written by Shane S on 09 Nov 2010.
Seven Samurai has generally received very positive reviews.
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