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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 complem\ entary critical perspectives. The commentary by Japanese film expert Michael Jeck (from Criterion's original 1988 laserdisc release) 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 colla boration 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 illustra ted 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 T oshiro 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
Stills from Seven Samurai - 3 Disc Remastered Edition (Click for larger image)
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Also Recommended...
disappointed
This is one of the greatest films evewr made .. periodI never ever say that a DVD is a must by but trust me -- this is a MUST BY.
Jim
Crackles with life in a troubled era and cultureThe premise of the story - that peasants would hire aristocratic samurai for protection - is absurd on its face, violating the strict sense of hierarchy and caste limits that underlay all order in the static Japanese society. Nonetheless, the peasants go to a chaotic, dirty town, seeking a group that will defend them in return for a few square meals a day, because it is the right thing to do. As luck would have it, after many humiliating refusals, they come upon a lone samurai, a ronin not sworn to a feudal lord, who is shaving his head to pose as a priest in order to rescue a hostage child. His hair piece, an indicator of rank that is sacred, comes off to the astonishment of onlookers. The peasants know they have found their man. This is a wonderful example of the kind of subtlety that is in every second of this film, a window into what can be the inimitable elegance of Japanese society as its most idealized. He recruits 5 other samurai and eventually accepts the Mifune character as the 7th, though they know he is not a true samurai.
As it turns out, the Mifune character acts as a vital emotional bridge to the peasant village - he understands both worlds and can smooth over questions of honor, of fear, of misunderstandings. While the samurai prepare the village, a dazzling array of characters emerge, each playing a distinct role in the drama and violence as it unfolds. In a way, it is like entering the life as portrayed in a Rembrandt painting, the acting is that good.
The version that I bought (in Britain) is not quite the same as the one offered here. It lacks the extended commentaries and movie about the movie, which I'm sure would be worthwhile to those who want to understand the deepest cultural references in this fine film. However, I find the price of the US version excessive - I paid the equivalent of $7 for mine, which has a brief commentary that recapitulates the film. It is amazing what the price differences are between country versions!
Recommended warmly as a multi-layered film experience that is second to none.
ShortBest Japanese MovieThe plot is about a village got information for a group of bandits were coming for their crops. To survive, they decided to fight the bandits instead of giving them the crops. To do this, they attempt to hire samurais. But they basically cannot afford. However, a group of 7 samurais (or 6+1 fake one - Kikuchiyo), were impressed by the peasants' braveness and receive the contract for almost no pay (a bowl of while rice). Finally they defeated the bandit but 4 of 7 samurais died.
To enjoy this film, you do not need any understanding on Japanese culture because this film does not really have a correct setting of it. For example, To express the conflict between the samurai class and the peasant class, Kurosawa made those two classes into two absolutely independent societies, samurai cannot live, work or fall in love with a peasant and a peasant can never become a samurai. This is not true in the real Japanese history, because at the time this story took place, the leader of the country, Toyotomi Hideyoshi
is originally a peasant. But according to this feature of the film, it is easier to let audience impressed by the information that the director was trying to let us know--heroism, friendship and love.
Something bad about this movie:
Everything is long--the intro, including the staff list, and of course the whole movie(over 200min), some scenes are waste of time. But this is not a big deal because you could fast forward on your DVD.
The battle sense is kind of stupid, by making all the bandits stupid--a bunch of guys only rush into spears and blades and getting killed, make this part of movie not so interesting.
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