Seven Samurai - 3 Disc Remastered Edition (1954)

Hailed as the greatest film in the history of Japanese cinema, Seven Samurai is director Akira Kurosawa's undisputed masterpiece. Arguably the greatest of all jidai-gecki (or historical swordplay films), Kurosawa's classic 1954 action drama has never been surpassed in terms of sheer power of emotion, kinetic energy, and dynamic character development. The story is set during the civil unrest of 16th-century Japan, as the cowering residents of a small farming village are seeking protection against seasonal attacks by a band of marauding bandits. Offering mere handfuls of rice as payment, they hire seven unemployed "ronin" (masterless samurai), including a boastful swordsman (Toshiro Mifune) who is actually a peasant farmer's son, desperately seeking glory, acceptance, and revenge against those who destroyed his family. Led by the calmly strategic Kambei (Takashi Shimura, star of Kurosawa's previous classic, Ikiru), the samurai form mutual bonds of honor and respect, but remain distant from the villagers, knowing that their assignment may prove to be fatal.

Kurosawa masterfully composed his shots to emphasize these group dynamics, and Seven Samurai is a textbook study of the director's signature techniques, including extensive use of telephoto lenses to compress action, delineate character relationships, and intensify motion. While the climactic battle against raiding thieves remains one of the most breathtaking sequences ever filmed, Seven Samurai is most triumphant as a peerless example of character development, requiring all of its 2-hour, 37-minute running time to illuminate every essential detail of villagers and samurai alike, including an abundance of humor as Kambei's defense plan unfolds. In terms of its overall impact, Seven Samurai spawned dozens of copycat films (notably the American Western remake The Magnificent Seven) and cannot be adequately summarized by even the most comprehensive synopsis; it must be seen to be fully appreciated, and the Criterion Collection's 2006 DVD reissue is an essential addition to any definitive home-video library. --Jeff Shannon

On the DVDs
According to the accompanying booklet, "the picture has been slightly window-boxed (in correct original 1.33:1 aspect ratio) to ensure that the maximum image is visible on all monitors." The two-disc format was necessary "to maintain optimal image quality throughout the compression process," with dual-layered DVD-9's encoded "at the highest possible bit rate for the quantity of material included." The picture and sound quality are simply amazing compared to Criterion's one-disc release from 1998. The all-new, fully restored high-definition digital transfer takes full advantage of HD's clarity and crispness, resulting in picture detail far surpassing the previous DVD. This also applies to the soundtrack, presented in optional Dolby surround in addition to the remastered original mono track. The new transfer "was mastered in 2k resolution from a duplicate negative created with wetgate processing from the original fine-grain master positive" (the film's original negative is no longer available), and "several different digital hardware and software solutions were utilized for flicker, instability, dirt, scratch, and grain management."

The complete 207-minute film is accompanied by two full-length commentary tracks, including a new track combining the critical insights of film scholars David Desser, Joan Mellen, Stephen Price (author of The Warrior's Camera: The Cinema of Akira Kurosawa), Tony Rayns, and the dean of Japanese film experts, Donald Richie (author of The Films of Akira Kurosawa). Each scholar is given approximately 40 minutes of film-time, and their commentaries represent a unique opportunity to appreciate Seven Samurai from distinct yet complementary critical perspectives. The commentary by Japanese film expert Michael Jeck (from Criterion's original 1988 laserdisc release) remains useful as a thorough analysis of Seven Samurai, primarily in terms of visual composition.

The 50-minute "making of" documentary, from Japan's 2002 Toho Masterworks TV series Akira Kurosawa: It Is Wonderful to Create emphasizes Kurosawa's collaboration with co-screenwriters Shinobu Hashimoto and Hideo Oguni, including production footage, crewmember interviews, and a reverent visit to the rural inn where Seven Samurai was written over a six-week period of intense seclusion. The two-hour "My Life in Cinema" interview with Kurosawa was recorded in 1993, with fellow filmmaker Nagisa Oshima serving as a gentle admirer, colleague, and well-informed historian of Kurosawa's career. "Seven Samurai: Origins and Influences" is a richly informative documentary that places Kurosawa's classic in both historical and cinematic context, examining its place in the jidai-gecki (swordplay) genre, its accurate depiction of samurai codes and traditions, and its stature as the prototype for many films that followed. The lavishly illustrated 58-page booklet includes eight brief essays on various aspects of Seven Samurai, each written by noted film scholars or film directors (including Arthur Penn and Sidney Lumet). Also included is a reminiscence by the great actor Toshiro Mifune, excerpted from a conversation recorded in 1993. Taken as a whole, the remastered three-disc Seven Samurai ranks as one of the finest DVD sets ever released. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com essential video

 Thrilling and powerful. Hasn't aged a day.
What can I tell you about "Seven Samurai" that you haven't already heard? I was thinking recently about why it is that, although the dialogue in the film mostly functions to advance the plot, and the later scenes are mostly devoted to the mechanics of battle, nonetheless every one of the characters is vibrant and alive, and instantly wins one's trust and sympathy. The answer, I think, lies in gestures and facial expressions. The faces of the samurai embody distinct and memorable character types, and their mannerisms, rather than their words, serve to bring out details of their personality.

Katsushiro, the young samurai, has few if any "introspective" lines, but he's the most expressive depiction of the "naive youth" archetype that I have ever seen, in any film. The performance captures countless lifelike details -- like how he doesn't know what to do when Shino comes on to him, and how later he stands around looking shell-shocked. Or, for instance, how, when he sees Kikuchiyo brooding outside, he runs up to him with a boyish smile, evidently used to viewing Kikuchiyo as the jester of the group, and then suddenly looks bewildered when he sees that Kikuchiyo is not in the best of moods. Or his embarrassment when he throws the coins at Yohei and Rikichi in the inn and sees their obeisance. Or his amazement when he finally kills a bandit in battle, or his explosion of grief at the battle's end.

Kikuchiyo, too, is always interesting to watch. I don't have to point out his passionate nature, but it's interesting how the film puts in little details that set him apart from the samurai. The scene where he unsuccessfully tries to ride Yohei's horse is very funny, but it also underscores the fact that the other samurai have been trained to ride from birth, and Kikuchiyo's most valiant efforts just aren't enough to bridge the gulf between them. He frequently misinterprets "what it means to be a samurai," and can't understand what exactly he's missing. He tops Kyuzo's feat by stealing one of the bandits' guns and then fearlessly taunting them, and is surprised when Kambei scolds him. The distinction, of course, is that Kyuzo performed heroic deeds during his free time, whereas Kikuchiyo abandoned his post, but the latter doesn't get it.

Kyuzo himself is an iconic figure. The best scene in the entire film (I have seen it cause a standing ovation in a theatre) is when he returns in the morning with the stolen gun and modestly sits down to sleep. Katsushiro praises him to the skies, and after he prances away, there is a remarkable expression on Kyuzo's face, a bit flattered and embarrassed, and also empathetic to Katsushiro's youth. And Kyuzo's absolutely detached calm, as he sits by a tree and picks flowers while he waits for the bandits to arrive, is another timeless image.

Then there's Gorobei, who has almost no lines at all, but who instantly wins one over with his good-natured grin. He's the guy who immediately sees through Kambei's "trap" in the inn, and calls from outside, "Please, no jokes!" He is rarely in the spotlight, but he seems to be closer to Kambei in character than the others. And it's funny that he's so easily amused by Heihachi -- the way he cracks up at the latter's jokes is funnier than the jokes themselves.

Kambei, as the leader who holds the group together and never loses his cool, and also has most of the "meaningful" lines, has probably been extensively analyzed already. But aside from his personal appeal, his methodical approach to strategy is captivating, because each of his moves looks so logical and well-thought-out, like something one ought to do in that situation, not at all like a mere plot point. One of the best conversations occurs when he asks Gorobei, "How would you attack this village?" A professional approach, forsooth.

The film's power of suggestion extends to the setting itself. Kurosawa firmly insists on the distance between samurai and peasants. In the final scene with Shino, Rikichi's statements about the power of love fall on deaf ears, as they should. The villagers turn and leave, and Kambei decides not to intervene. This resolution, gloomy mainly due to the sense of inevitability that it creates, is admirably true to life. Also notable, and very understated, is the fact that all casualties among the samurai are due to guns. Perhaps this is a subtle way of suggesting that their era is already almost over, and even the utmost skill won't help them in modern war.

Everyone has already commented on the visual aspects of the film, but the imagery is unforgettable. There's a horrifying image early on when the farmers' rice is stolen in the inn, and Yohei tries to pick up fallen grains one by one. And the most indelible sight is that of the chaotic, vicious final battle in the rain and mud. Kambei's meticulous planning, after holding out for so long, finally gives way to a total mess, a jumble of horses and people in which the samurai accomplish amazing martial feats in every shot, but the shots move so quickly that one doesn't have time to appreciate them.

This is one of the few truly flawless films in existence. It is three and a half hours long, but the length is hardly noticeable. The battles are gripping. But aside from the masterful choreography and technical innovation, the characters just come to life so vividly! It's difficult to name another film where such thorough characterization would be implied through such indirect means. It belongs in any film collection. May 15, 2008

 Seven Samurai - 3 Disc Remastered Edition (Criterion Collection Spine # 2)
Gave this as a birthday gift to my father and he said that this is an excellent series May 14, 2008

 Remember the MacIntosh!
On YouTube I recently saw a video of Steve Jobs demoing the Apple Macintosh in 1984. This product received huge accolades for its innovation - it defined for the first time many of the PC interfaces and features we take for granted now. Even Bill Gates was a fan!

But anyone looking at it now would wonder what all the fuss was about. Similarly, those of us who are interested but perhaps not dedicated students of film (including myself), can come away from the Seven Samurai wondering the same.

But this movie is the equivalent of the Apple Mac - innovative and brilliantly designed. For example his approach to shot composition, use of telephoto, character development and action scenes were all truly innovative at the time and set the standard for generations of film-makers.

Problem is, these innovations have been studied, directly copied, imitated and further developed over the past 50+ years. As a result, it is somewhat challenging to fully appreciate what a truly great and ground-breaking movie this was at the time

May 1, 2008

 a classical influence
one of the most influential films to have been brought to the screen in the 20th century. it has been mirrored by the western directors and film-makers in its style and drama. definitely worth watching. April 23, 2008

 Seven Samurai - Classic!!
If you have never seen this Kurosawa classic, and have seen and enjoyed The Magnificent Seven, this movie is a must for your collection. April 12, 2008

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