jh_reaper
Joined Feb 2004
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Reviews4
jh_reaper's rating
This film is not complicated by any means but is done with true brilliance. The story is simple > a band of samurai are hired by a poor farming community to fight off bandits which have been stealing their crops and starving them.
Akira Kurosawa has shown me time and time again that he's easily one of the best directors to have ever walked this Earth. I dare one to show me any film much better than Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Throne Of Blood, Ran, Dreams or Red Beard just to name a small number of his dozen or so true masterpieces of cinema.
Back on topic to my review of Seven Samurai.
Seven Samurai is something that everyone can relate to and deals with general topics like trying to help your fellow man when he's down.
The film may be 3 and a 1/2 hours in length but it flows with such a pace that you are never left bored even for a moment and when it's all done with you don't think of how long you just sit for, but of how great of a film you just sit through.
This is helped by how it blends in some of the most true emotional moments you'll ever see along with some very intense (especially for it's time) battle scenes as the Samurai and the Bandits are battling it out in the climax.
You feel each moment and there are quite a few that bring you to the screen like a magnet as well as many that almost bring one to tears thanks to some of the best actors that Japan can offer and the best possible performances that anyone could possibly expect from each, which most notably includes the legendary Toshiro Mifune (whom Kurosawa often worked with) as Kikuchiyo.
The script is superb and manages to not be complicated but yet avoid the disaster of becoming too plain or mundane. The acting is some of the finest that one will ever witness. The film is beautifully shot. The action is done as it should be and the emotion feels real and is truly there. Last but not least Akira Kurosawa's direction brings everything together like a true perfectionist.
I am not the best at reviewing but to sum up my feelings toward this movie I must say I've currently seen it four times and it has never let me down. Each time I've experienced this film I've truly been enthralled with each moment and I've really cared for each character and Toshiro Mifune's performance has both put a smile on my face and a tear to my eye.
I honestly believe this is the finest film that has ever been made regardless of country, length, age or genre. I will continue re-watching this film till the day I die. I have very much respect to Kurosawa for creating some of the most amazing films I've ever seen, Same goes to Mifune for his acting.
For those new to Akira Kurosawa's film work I would highly recommend going and immediately getting copies of Red Beard, Rashomon and Ran or pretty much any film he directed for that matter.
Seven Samurai very deservingly receives a 10/10 in my opinion and is one of the greatest films ever made.
Akira Kurosawa has shown me time and time again that he's easily one of the best directors to have ever walked this Earth. I dare one to show me any film much better than Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Throne Of Blood, Ran, Dreams or Red Beard just to name a small number of his dozen or so true masterpieces of cinema.
Back on topic to my review of Seven Samurai.
Seven Samurai is something that everyone can relate to and deals with general topics like trying to help your fellow man when he's down.
The film may be 3 and a 1/2 hours in length but it flows with such a pace that you are never left bored even for a moment and when it's all done with you don't think of how long you just sit for, but of how great of a film you just sit through.
This is helped by how it blends in some of the most true emotional moments you'll ever see along with some very intense (especially for it's time) battle scenes as the Samurai and the Bandits are battling it out in the climax.
You feel each moment and there are quite a few that bring you to the screen like a magnet as well as many that almost bring one to tears thanks to some of the best actors that Japan can offer and the best possible performances that anyone could possibly expect from each, which most notably includes the legendary Toshiro Mifune (whom Kurosawa often worked with) as Kikuchiyo.
The script is superb and manages to not be complicated but yet avoid the disaster of becoming too plain or mundane. The acting is some of the finest that one will ever witness. The film is beautifully shot. The action is done as it should be and the emotion feels real and is truly there. Last but not least Akira Kurosawa's direction brings everything together like a true perfectionist.
I am not the best at reviewing but to sum up my feelings toward this movie I must say I've currently seen it four times and it has never let me down. Each time I've experienced this film I've truly been enthralled with each moment and I've really cared for each character and Toshiro Mifune's performance has both put a smile on my face and a tear to my eye.
I honestly believe this is the finest film that has ever been made regardless of country, length, age or genre. I will continue re-watching this film till the day I die. I have very much respect to Kurosawa for creating some of the most amazing films I've ever seen, Same goes to Mifune for his acting.
For those new to Akira Kurosawa's film work I would highly recommend going and immediately getting copies of Red Beard, Rashomon and Ran or pretty much any film he directed for that matter.
Seven Samurai very deservingly receives a 10/10 in my opinion and is one of the greatest films ever made.
Yes if you read my above sentence summary you read right. Exploding ninjas, giant ninjas, TONS of blood and loads of fun. This is one of the more fun experiences I've ever had watching a film and this is pretty easy to get on DVD (Amazon, Netflix, etc) for rent or buy. If you like old Kung Fu/Swordplay/Samurai type films then you should like this one. There are a lot of beautiful and bloody sword fights. The film knows exactly what it's trying to do and does that well. I am also impressed at the amount of Ninjas in this film because there's rarely Ninja in film, or at least good ones I should say and I for one happen to love them so it's a shame. Martial artist gather for a tournament held every 10 years and the end result is brutal, bloody, amazingly choreographed sword fights between the Japanese/Chinese characters. Ninja's explode, people talk with their heads having been separated from the rest of their body, and blood flies everywhere - so if that's your thing then check this one. A rare gem that more Martial Arts/Swordplay/Kung Fu/Samurai film fans should see. I love it!
If you've seen "Chop Socky: Hong Kong Cinema" then you've seen SOME of this already as some of this and other "Cinema Hong Kong:...." specials are chopped up and put into Chop Socky. This special just about Wu Xia (Sword fighting) is as long as the entire Chop Socky special and it's pretty insightful. First let me just say that I have discovered numerous new Sword-play, Kung Fu and other Hong Kong classic martial arts films by viewing these various documentaries that I may not have otherwise. Seeing clips and hearing discussion and comment on these various films that I hadn't seen made me go out and find them and most are definitely worth the trouble. Seeing clips and hearing discussion of the some I had heard of, seen, and or own is pretty nice also. There's some insight into various Sword play films and interviews by actors and crew that have played in them and there's insight into how the wire work of actors jumping and certain camera angles and cuts came about. There's also footage and discussion of VERY early martial arts films from way back before the 70s or even 60's which I knew little of the existence of to be honest. I learned about about some great films, some great actors/directors and learned even a bit about some weaponry. With a bit to learn and some great clips to relive fav films and discover new ones I find that this is definitely worth your viewing. It's too bad these don't appear to be on DVD yet but if you catch them on TV then take the time and give them a view, you'll not regret it. Wu Xia (Sword Fighting) is far from perfect but its good enough and there aren't enough Martial Arts documentaries so I recommend it.