Seven Samurai

I hadn't realized there was a discussion going on about this one, which is a shame because it’s easily one of my favorites. Might as well weigh in...

Has anyone else had a chance to see it...? I'd love to hear some thoughts... 🙂

Wait, is that the one they made based on Seven Samurai???

:-D

quietdriver3 said:Is that the one based on the Magnificent Seven???

:-D

Actually, it's quite the opposite... The Magnificent Seven was inspired by Seven Samurai. I've even heard that Akira Kurosawa watched the Western remake... 🤔

Megan White4 said:Word is, even Akira Kurosawa actually sat down to watch that Western "remake"... 🤔

I think you might have mixed that up, it's actually Aki Kaurismaki...

Well, I guess I can't really hold it against you.😎

quietdriver3 said:You got it wrong, it's spelled Aki Kaurismaki...

But I guess I won't hold it against you.😎

Oh boy, here we go again with the nitpicking.

Honestly though, it’s a killer movie; it really tears up the usual samurai clichés, and even with the runtime, it doesn't feel like a slog to sit through.👍

Eric Jackson43 said:Oh man, I don't know about that one

I guess your folks might feel the same way 😛

And honestly, regarding the movie, maybe it would’ve been way better if they just threw some ninjas in there

As it stands, it’s just okay, I guess

And Seven Samurai is definitely better 🙂

Eric Jackson43 said:Honestly, it’s a solid film—it really deconstructs those tired old samurai tropes. Even with the runtime, it doesn't feel like a slog 👍

Exactly.

I have to say, I actually liked it too.

Man, what a stunning movie... It's just so perfectly paced and put together. It feels totally unique yet incredibly relatable at the same time. Absolutely wonderful.

Seven Samurai is absolutely legendary!!

You really have to sit down and commit to the full, uncut version—it’s nearly three hours long—instead of watching those chopped-up edits made for people who can't focus for more than five minutes.

Is there a shorter version? But wait, you can't touch a single thing!

Look, I think I already told you that my attention span is basically non-existent... BUT, this is one of those movies I’ve watched about 15 times in a single week. It's gorgeous.

Seven Samurai 🙏

If you’re looking to really capture the essence of medieval Japan—specifically that intense Sengoku era—you pretty much have to watch this movie.
I mean, what is the spirit of an era if it isn't just the people who lived and breathed through it and how they actually thought? This film nails that perfectly; every single scene just feels soaked in it. From the farmers and the townspeople all the way up to the bandits and those samurai/ronin. I guess that’s probably the greatest thing about the whole movie. The directing and the acting are also top-tier, and honestly, I’d go as far as to say they’re completely stripped of all that typical Hollywood theatrics. If you’ve ever seen The Last Samurai with T. Cruse, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about.

Hey, quietdriver3, look, I get that you're just trying to lighten the mood or whatever, but trust me, this thread isn't really the place for that kind of stuff. 🙂

Kimberly Brown6 said:Hey, quietdriver3, I get that you're just trying to be funny and all, but honestly, this thread isn't really the place for jokes.🙂

Man, why did everyone get so defensive all of a sudden... okay, fine, I guess I'll stop.😳

Kimberly Brown6 said:What else is the spirit of an era if not the actual people who lived and breathed through it, along with their entire way of thinking? This film captures all of that so brilliantly; you can just feel it radiating from every single scene.

Are you sure about that?

To be honest, I don't really see Akira Kurosawa leaning into those classic Western tropes much at all in this particular movie.

Richard Hernandez13 said:Are you absolutely sure about that?

I mean, Seven Samurai came out in 1954, while The Magnificent Seven was released in 1960,

so, I guess I can't really wrap my head around what the director was actually thinking or what he was trying to pull off there, maybe.

ATTENTION PLEASE!

I don't want to start a whole new thread here, but does anyone happen to know the name of that recent Japanese movie—or at least I think it's pretty recent—about a blind samurai? I caught a review about it on PBS the other day but I totally missed what they were actually talking about!

ironfalcon27 said:ATTENTION PLEASE!

I don't want to start a whole new thread here, but does anyone know the title of that recent Japanese film starring a blind samurai? I caught a review about it on CNN the other day, but I couldn't quite make out which movie they were talking about!

It's Zatoichi, directed by and starring Takeshi Kitano.
He rulz, rocks...and totaly rulz again.

Justin Patel said:The Last Samurai—it’s directed by and stars Takeshi Kitano.
He rulz, rocks...and totaly rulz again.

Ugh, I seriously need to watch that movie! thanks! 🙏

Pen said:What a stunning film... the structure is so precise, the pacing is unique yet feels incredibly intimate. Truly wonderful.

Even with a runtime exceeding three hours, it never drags. If you were to cut even a single shot, the entire narrative would lose its balance.

BTW, Zatoichi is actually a remake of an older classic... feel free to do a little digging on IMDb. 🙄

I've seen both films and they are absolute masterpieces.7 I actually have an extended cut on VHS at home... if only they would do a proper restoration. And I don't mean a remake, just a complete overhaul of the image quality.7 Those "Magnificent" ones can't even hold a candle to the samurai classics. In Zatoichi, that one dance sequence is easily the highlight... it's totally out of left field, but that's why it works. It’s basically the Japanese version of "Lord of the Dance."