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Features: DVD, Digitally Restored, Interactive Menu, Commentary
A desperate village hires a group of mercenary samurai to protect it from marauders in this crown jewel of Japanese cinema. No other film so seamlessly weaves philosophy and entertainment, delicate human emotions, and relentless action. Seven Samurai is an inspired epic, a triumph of art, and an incredible three-hour ride. Click here for more Criterion favorites!
Editor's Note
Set in 16th Century Japan, Akira Kurosawa's epic SEVEN SAMURAI follows the plight of a defenseless farming village that lives in constant fear of marauding bandits. The farmers know that when their crops are harvested, the thugs will attack, so four men go to town in hopes of employing samurai to fight for them. However, the poor villagers can merely offer payment in the form of shelter and a daily bowl of rice, and initially only Kambei (Takashi Shimura), a brave elder samurai, and his eager young apprentice, Katsushiro (Isao Kimura), take up their cause. Encountering various nomadic warriors on the streets, they slowly put together his team of swordsmen, recruiting Shichiroji (Daisuke Katô), Gorobei (Yoshio Inaba), Heihachi (Minoru Chiaki), and Kyuzo (Seiji Miyaguchi). Finally, Kikuchiyo (Toshirô Mifune), a scruffy wanderer who has been trailing them, completes the small band of ronin. However, upon reaching the village, the samurai learn that the farmers fear them as much the enemy. Despite the tensions, Kambei and his men slowly train the peasants to defend their village. Eventually the warriors launch a preemptive strike against the bandits, and begin a series of intense conflicts that culminates in a rain-soaked final battle--without a doubt, one of the most stunning sequences in cinema history. Widely considered to be the greatest Japanese film ever made, Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI is also credited with pioneering the modern action movie. This notion is especially evident in thrilling scenes such as Kambei's rescue of a kidnapped child, Kyuzo's duel, and Kikuchiyo's intensive theft of an enemy gun. Although the film clocks in at more than three hours, the story remains consistently engaging and slowly heightens the tension while providing action, drama, comic relief, and character development. Gleefully running amuck, Mifune gives one of his most renowned performances, imbuing the often comical Kikuchiyo with a surprising streak of melancholy and introspection. However, it is Shimura that anchors the entire film as the thoughtful and courageous Kambei, who stoically takes on the leadership of an almost impossible task. A monumental achievement in filmmaking, Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI is cinematic perfection in nearly every aspect, giving the production its much-deserved status as one of the best films ever created.
| Features | In Japanese with optional English subtitles | | New transfer, with digitally restored image and sound | | Audio commentary by Japanese film expert Michael Jeck | | Original U.S. theatrical trailer |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Home Vision/Public Media |
| Release Date: 2/25/1998 |
| Running Time: 208 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1954 | | Catalog ID: 040 | | UPC: 00037429121726 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: Japanese | | Available Audio Tracks: Japanese | | Available Subtitles: English | | Video: B&W |
| Cast & Crew
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| | Professional Reviews | Los Angeles Times
"...Witty and surprisingly reflective....The result is a good little action picture with plenty of smarts and a nonchalant air..." 04/26/1988 p.C2Chicago Sun-Times
"...Akira Kurosawa's THE SEVEN SAMURAI is not only a great film in its own right, but the source of a genre that would flow through the rest of the century..." 08/19/2001 p.4 USA Today
"...THE SEVEN SAMURAI is still a movie that matters..." 05/11/2001 p.12E Premiere
"...[A] forceful action movie, perhaps most startling because its heroes never lose sight of their honor and humanity..." 12/01/2003 p.9 New York Times
"[S]till one of the most stirring adventure stories in the movies..." 09/05/2006 p.E3 Rolling Stone
4 stars out of 4 -- "[A]n adventure film with a complex emotional core -- that Hollywood has been imitating for years." 09/21/2006 95 |
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| Customer Reviews | ![]() | | Cinematography |  5 | | Plot | 5 | | Acting |  4.5 | | Overall Satisfaction | 5 |
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5 of 5 Seven Samurai : the masterpiece Wednesday, May 24, 2006
rhoadsdee from Miami, Fl
It is without too much surprise that Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai is considered one of his unequaled masterpieces. Yes, it is long, and it is in 4:3 ratio (this IS its original aspect ratio) but non of that detracts from its overall quality and genius.
I wont go into detail about the story, since it has been mentioned in several other reviews above me, but I will tell that it has one of the most riveting (and well shot) action sequences of all time. It is magnificent and woth every penny. If you care about cinema and the most diverse and complete collection, you must get this DVD. Was this review helpful?  
5 of 5 Yep it's that good Sunday, May 04, 2003
Jay from Ocean Spring MS
Kurowawa is amazing. To make a movie this long, so gripping. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 A Must For Any Collection Sunday, February 13, 2000
A Viewer from Fresno, CA
One of the top films of all time. The greatest film of one of the most influential directors in history. The cinematography is amazing; the editing and construction of the film are perfect. A must have for any home library. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 The Magnificent Seven - not Star Wars Tuesday, January 25, 2000
A Viewer from New York, NY
This is the original classic that formed the basis for the movie Magnificent Seven - NOT star wars as the review below stated. The plots are virtually identical - mexican peasants as opposed to japanese serfs/farmers in feudal Japan. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 a forgetten gem for some Thursday, December 23, 1999
A Viewer from tx
This is the movie that The Magnificent Seven was based upon.... the fight scenes were very real. The characters were colorful... you have to see it for yourself, then you will want to see it again and again. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 A Classic Fable Friday, December 10, 1999
Charles Burch from San Francisco, CA
A long film by modern standards, Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai is worth your time. It is a classic 'epic' story, beautifully photographed, with real characters and character development that takes you to another place and time. Criterion's restoration makes this a great addition to a DVD collection. One of the great films of all time. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Three hours and never slow Wednesday, November 24, 1999
A Viewer from La Mesa,CA
This movie is long but the pace is always moving and never boring. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Correction Tuesday, November 16, 1999
Kimber from California
Excellent movie, Kurosawa was an honorable breed of storytellers. Hidden Fortress was said to have been the inspiration so to speak for Star Wars, and Seven Samurai inspired The Magnificent Seven, maybe even pixar's A Bug's Life as well. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Must see!!! Thursday, November 11, 1999
A Viewer from San Marino, CA
Really good film!!! Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Classic Monday, August 09, 1999
A Viewer from Knox, TN
The review below, that states this film as the part inspiration for Star Wars, is wrong. The Kurosawa film that helped inspire Star Wars was The Hidden Fortress, not Seven Samurai.
Seven Samurai is one of the all time great adventure films, ranking up there with The Great Escape, Bridge on the River Kwai, and Indiana Jones, but Samurai is infinately more beautifully shot and executed.
Lighthearted and as close to perfection as a film can get. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 There's a reason why all you see is 10's Tuesday, August 03, 1999
Snowman from Ocean Springs MS
It's all that. Must have and more. Loved the footage on the restoration. One of my favorite DVD's along with Das Boot. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 classic, nothing less Monday, June 21, 1999
wako from san diego, ca
by far, one of the most beautiful movies i have ever seen... Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 This is so cool! Saturday, June 12, 1999
Trinidy Boutwell from Pearland
This movie is definately a classic and old too. The fact that it is a DVD is outstanding. Good job. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Cowboys,Jedis and Insects. Saturday, May 29, 1999
octofilms from Oakland, California
From the great mind of the late Akira Kurosawa comes a tale of a village under seige by thugs and the seven samurais who must try to defend it. Toshiro Mifune provides an amazing performance which will have you laughing days after you have seen the film. This film is said to have inspired George Lucas in the development of his Star Wars characters. Was this review helpful?
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