Review of Seven Samurai (1954) by Justmy2 — 07 May 2016

This is a timeless classic, but even timeless classics age...

I would want everyone to watch this movie at least once, because it is truly a sublime experience. But to get that sublime experience, you literally have to force yourself to forget about 50 years of refinement of the cinematic art. This movie will be PAINFULLY BAD if you expect modern pacing. Or modern anything really.

You also have to get over the very Japanese acting. Watching some anime first may actually help there!

I did reduce the score from the perfect 10 because I feel it would be dishonest to call it "perfect" when it so clearly is not, given many decades of hindsight. But it is still a very moving movie well deserving of your time. If you can just get into it and start to see the vibrant color in spite of the fading black and white imagery, you're in for a real treat. And a very memorable experience you'll carry with you for many years.