Seven Samurai

Kurosawa’s gem is a tad slow for my taste, but precise in every detail. This picture was a foundation stone for so many stories, where a handful of brave men stand up for the weak, even though they are heavily outnumbered. These days we should value these films all the more, because even after all these years they tell us more about people than any others. Your head is on the block and all you think of are your whiskers? (21/05/2013)

The story does not differ from the more well-known American western classic, perhaps only in that Kurosawa gives more space to the villagers and the viewer can sympathize with them more, whereas in The Magnificent Seven, I was more concerned with how many cowboys would survive than with the farmers. I don't like looking for flaws in classics, but three hours for a story about saving a village from bandits is a bit too much, and especially in the middle third, I found myself glancing at the clock too often. This time, Asian grandiosity did not resonate with me. (03/07/2006)

One of those films that is not glorified unnecessarily. It's a breathtaking opus that is long, but not unnecessarily so. There's drama, humor, action, and emotion here. All of this is part of the story of one village just trying to fend off bandits. Great characters and great scenes that are impossible to forget. Above all, the ending is truly poignant and shows what form gratitude can take for people who died for you. (12/12/2014)

Akira Kurosawa's sprawling work and predecessor to The Magnificent Seven (which I haven't seen yet) still offers a terrific action spectacle with an element of humour and drama after almost six decades. I'm not saying I stared at the screen with my mouth open for the entire three hours, but I just loved the fights, the camerawork and Kikuchi's awkwardness. In short, a great Japanese film that may be longer than it needs to be, but is definitely worth a watch. (20/03/2011)

The Japanese can be rightly proud of themselves, because already in 1954 they came up with such a breathtaking adventure spectacle, the likes of which had never been seen in Hollywood not only until then, but even a few years later. Much has already been said about The Magnificent Seven, which borrowed the theme and, according to many, even surpassed it, but I wouldn't go into any comparisons. Seven Samurai is, after all, a very different film, one that irradiates Japanese culture, and one that fleshes out the story in a far more detailed, emotional and realistic way than its American counterpart. The Samurai were no cowboys who would not bat an eyelash at a hostile attack, but a bunch of ordinary cheerful people with admirable endurance and courage. And maybe that’s the reason I liked the Japanese film a bit more, not only does it present the heroism and determination of the protagonists, but it also focuses on their character and their initially difficult coexistence with the oppressed population. 207 minutes may look exhausting, but believe me, there's probably no better way to spend them than watching Seven Magnificent Samurai under the guidance of Master Kurosawa... (22/10/2012)