Reviews of Seven Samurai

Lucky Number Seven

Posted : 1 month, 2 weeks ago on 21 August 2008 05:25 (A review of Seven Samurai)

''What's the use of worrying about your beard when your head's about to be taken?''


A poor village under attack by bandits recruit seven unemployed samurai to help them defend against the foes.

Takashi Shimura: Kambei Shimada

Toshirô Mifune: Kikuchiyo

Yoshio Inaba: Gorobei Katayama

Seiji Miyaguchi: Kyuzo

Minoru Chiaki: Heihachi Hayashida

Daisuke Katô: Shichiroji

Isao Kimura: Katsushiro Okamoto

The Seven Samurai (Shichinin no Samurai) is the greatest Samurai film I've ever seen. The story and level of detail is unsurpassed greatness in it's simplicity and at the same time complexity. With this genius trait of duality Seven Samurai takes storytelling up a notch. Inspiring Western Classics such as The Magnificent Seven, or even Japanese console games like my favourite series Onimusha. Seven Samurai is the original masterpiece from Akira Kurosawa, who has not only made a vision into the past but a tale of humanity, of the bond, of the honour and the courage of men fighting to protect a village for the sake of good but he's captured the heart of 17th Century Japan in all it's timeless greatness.

Toshirô Mifune as Kikuchiyo is jaw dropping in his acting and performance as an unusual samurai who has a murky past. He's definitely the comic relief and fiery tempest that lifts the whole movie with electrically charged wonder. The scene of his that made me tremble with awe was his speech in the barn as reflected in my quote at the end. Really has to be seen to be admired.
Takashi Shimura as Kambei Shimada was also impressive as the leader of the Seven. His level of acting unsurpassed in every detail, when stressed he deflated rubs his head as a means to cope. It's little things like this that make this film shine.

There's a love story in it's depths, a story of two different classes, Samurai & Peasants/Farmers who ultimately cannot exist without each other and in a way they envy each other in a forever turning wheel.

The landscapes are breathtaking, Cinematography unrivaled, music soothing and when it needs to be lively and perky. The whole film screams Japanese intricacies that for 1954 it sure does have a timeless persona about it.

The final battle is one of the greatest battles ever captured on film taking place in a rainy village it's emotional as well as filled with raw aggression. From every arrow fired or Bandit riding horse galloping only to be met with cold steel, it's beautiful. What happens will stir your heart and victory comes at a heavy cost.

Will leave you thinking and will leave you breathless...

Who really won you will ask yourself...

Farmer Or Samurai?

One word sums up Seven Samurai...

Genius...

''What do you think of farmers? You think they're saints? Hah! They're foxy beasts! They say, "We've got no rice, we've no wheat. We've got nothing!" But they have! They have everything! Dig under the floors! Or search the barns! You'll find plenty! Beans, salt, rice, sake! Look in the valleys, they've got hidden warehouses! They pose as saints but are full of lies! If they smell a battle, they hunt the defeated! They're nothing but stingy, greedy, blubbering, foxy, and mean! God damn it all! But then who made them such beasts? You did! You samurai did it! You burn their villages! Destroy their farms! Steal their food! Force them to labour! Take their women! And kill them if they resist! So what should farmers do?''

''Your the son of a farmer aren't you?''

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