Seven Samurai (1954)

[eabaker]

Okay; so maybe I understood after all.
Methinks I need to thin my thick head a little bit.

Moving on... I'm definitely growing a liking for actor Takashi Shimura. Between Ikiru, Seven Samurai, and Gojira, I am already noticing his knack for playing characters with remarkably different personalities, yet always coming across as a kind and loveable man.

One of my favorite performances of his is in Drunken Angel. Although Mifune's performance basically steals most of the attention, Shimura's quiet struggling is really powerful.

[20th Century Boy]

God, I love this movie! The characters, the writing, the story, the action, the music, the acting, the cinematography, the pacing, the humor, the suspense-- everything about it is just so perfect! It's definitely in my top 10 favorite movies. I first saw it two years ago with only a limited amount of knowledge on who Akira Kurosawa was. Then I saw The Hidden Fortress last year, which was also good as hell. Then I saw Yojimbo just a few weeks ago during Hulu's free Criterion movies weekend, and it was also a blast to watch. Now I'm afraid to watch anymore Kurosawa movies, fearing that they might not be as good as these three!

[eabaker]

^There are a lot more that are right up there with those three.

If you're looking for depth and moral complexity, I'd recommend Drunken Angel, Stray Dog (with second unit material directed by Honda), Rashomon, Ikiru, The Bad Sleep Well, Red Beard, Dodeskaden, and Ran.

If you're looking for something more fun, in the vein of The Hidden Fortress and Yojimbo, then I'd say go for Sanjuro next.

And, for stylistic majesty, add Throne of Blood, High and Low, and Dreams to the list. (Also, do a little reading on Ishiro Honda's contributions to Kurosawa's later films, particularly Dreams.)

[20th Century Boy]

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll probably end up seeing Throne of Blood next, since I'm going to read Macbeth in English class soon. The teacher recommended that we watch film adaptations to understand the story better, and my brother has the DVD, so I could just borrow it from him. It IS an adaptation of Macbeth, isn't it? (I'd feel stupid if it wasn't!)

[eabaker]

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll probably end up seeing Throne of Blood next, since I'm going to read Macbeth in English class soon. The teacher recommended that we watch film adaptations to understand the story better, and my brother has the DVD, so I could just borrow it from him. It IS an adaptation of Macbeth, isn't it? (I'd feel stupid if it wasn't!)

It is, indeed. It's the most direct of Kurosawa's Shakespeare adaptations, which also include Ran (King Lear) and The Bad Sleep Well (Hamlet).

[MaxRebo320]

Just finished watching the film minutes ago, and like everyone else, I adore this film. I've seen it before, but that was many years ago with my father, so watching it with a more mature perspective really escalated my love for THE SEVEN SAMURAI. I've seen 4 Kurosawa films now (RASHAMON, IKIRU, SEVEN SAMURAI, YOJIMBO) and while I'm hesitant to pick a favorite, I will say that this one is easily his best directed. (That I've seen anyway)

[godzilla98rules]

Finally watched it. Hate to say it, but I loved this film WAY more than Gojira! (Shocking) I would definitely like to look at more of Kurosawa's films

[MaxRebo320]

I wonder why you don't see people trying to connect all of Kurosawa's films into one big timeline?

[MDK]

I wonder why you don't see people trying to connect all of Kurosawa's films into one big timeline?

They're busy with the whole Godzilla series.

[eabaker]

Just finished watching the film minutes ago, and like everyone else, I adore this film. I've seen it before, but that was many years ago with my father, so watching it with a more mature perspective really escalated my love for THE SEVEN SAMURAI. I've seen 4 Kurosawa films now (RASHAMON, IKIRU, SEVEN SAMURAI, YOJIMBO) and while I'm hesitant to pick a favorite, I will say that this one is easily his best directed. (That I've seen anyway)

I think if, gun to my head, I had to pick his four best (not my four favorites, but his four best), it would likely be that selection.

[godzilla98rules]

I also meant to ask. Are there any Kurosawa films as good as Seven Samurai you all can suggest?

[MaxRebo320]

I also meant to ask. Are there any Kurosawa films as good as Seven Samurai you all can suggest?

I say check out the other 3 I've seen.

[Terasawa]

I also meant to ask. Are there any Kurosawa films as good as Seven Samurai you all can suggest?

Definitely HIGH AND LOW. I also love RAN and DERSU UZALA (two of Kurosawa's later films).

[MaxRebo320]

I also meant to ask. Are there any Kurosawa films as good as Seven Samurai you all can suggest?

I did check out THRONE OF BLOOD the other day, and that too is another excellent Kurosawa film. It is a telling of Shakespeare's MACBETH set in feudal Japan. (I do suggest reading a summary of MACBETH before the film if you're not familiar with the tale) The cast is amazing (Featuring a very young Akira Kubo!) and the ending...oh God that was shocking, especially for its time! Anyway, this is one to definitely check out. Oh, and with a spirit being featured, this technically makes it a Toho Sci-Fi film!

[GotengoXGodzilla]

I also meant to ask. Are there any Kurosawa films as good as Seven Samurai you all can suggest?

You really can't go wrong with Ikiru, Ran and Rashomon. In fact, I would even go as far as to say that Ikiru and Ran are even better films than Seven Samurai.

[eabaker]

Caught a 35mm screening of Seven Samurai over the weekend, and, amazingly enough, I actually love the movie even more now than I did before. The compositions are so much better when viewed on that scale, the texture of the film is so rich, and good lord the performances pop even more. Plus, the reactions of a large crowd (many of whom didn't seem to have seen it before) add so much. One forgets that these things are made to be communal experiences.

I'm so accustomed to the movie, I'd kind of started forgetting how very, very funny it is. The crowd's laughter reminded me of just how much I not only appreciate the movie creatively and technically, but how much I just damned well enjoy.

That makes a total of five Kurosawa movies I've now had the opportunity to see screened. Not nearly enough, but it's a start...

[Rody]

Random thought - I wonder if there is any significance in the fact that, of the four samurai who perish, three are felled by muskets, and only one, being Kikuchio, is killed in actual sword battle...?

[20th Century Boy]

I'm pretty sure I remember Kikuchio dying from a musket shot.

[eabaker]

Yes, Kikuchio also dies of a musket shot. He's shot, and then goes after and kills the guy who shot him, before dying himself.

And, yes, there's a definite significance to it. Among the many philosophical and ethical conflicts in the movie, one is the clash between classical noble ideas and the cold pragmatism of a more modern age. Plus, the Samurai are pretty good with their swords.

[Rody]

I'm pretty sure I remember Kikuchio dying from a musket shot.

You're right; my mistake.

Another thing I liked was how abruptly the battle ended. Normally I wouldn't like this, but in this case I so drawn into what was happening that it went by very realistically, and suddenly it's over.
The movie does a superb job overall at presenting a story that feels very, very real.