Sunday, September 17, 2006

Shichinin no Samurai / Seven Samurai


Film Title: Shichinin no Samurai / Seven Samurai
Year: 1954
MPAA Rating: None
Length: 3 hours and 27 minutes
Film Genre: Action / Drama
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Producer: Sojiro Motoki
Writers: Akira Kurosawa

Players:
Takashi Shimura as Kambei Shimada
Toshiro Mifune as Kikuchiyo
Yoshio Inaba as Gorobei Katayama
Seiji Miyaguchi as Kyuzo
Minoru Chiaki as Heihachi Hayshida
Daisuke Kato as Shichiroji
Isao KImura as Katsushiro Okamoto
Plot:
A village of poor farmers is attacked and plundered each year by bandits. Fed up and scared the villagers recruit seven samurai to defend them.
Acting: The acting is very interesting. As you watch this film you being to love each and everyone of the samurai, the movie is long and allows for the characters to really develop. You also develop a severe dislike for the gutless farmers and their fears. This is the second film that Shimura and Mifune work with Kurosawa, their first being Rashomon.
Cinematography:
This is the beginnings of action film making and it really is amazing to look at this film and see how far we have come. The camera work is really cool and Kurosawa uses some techniques that become staples in many modern movies.
Visual:
This is a black and white film yet at the same time it does not detract from the movie.
Audio:
Good audio nothing special but also remember it was made in 1954
When I watched it last:
3 days ago
What to watch for:
Everything, it is a great film any cinema lover should see. Acting is great, story is great, and the humor is hillarious. Watch out for a random farmer who gets smashed when a bandits horse comes riding in....it can't be scripted cause he gets nailed!
What to watch out for:
3 hours long. Slow to build up to the finale. Black and White. Japanese subtitled
IMDB Rating:
8.8 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating:
Great Film (4 stars)
The Cinema Standard Overall Score:
8.8 out of 10. A true classic, this film should be watched at least once by any film enthusist. This movie has inspired countless adaptations and spin offs including the western the Magnificent Seven. Akira Kurosawa is one of the most masterful story creaters and tellers in all of cinema history.
--Reviewed by Jason
Brady's Review of Seven Samurai

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