202. Seven Samurai (Shichinin no samurai); movie review

SEVEN SAMURAI
Cert PG
190 mins
BBFC advice: Contains moderate violence

I call myself a film fan and I didn't even know that The Magnificent Seven was a remake.
Yes, for those who aren't rolling their eyes in dismay, I can report that it is adapted from Akira Kurosawa's remarkable Seven Samurai.
It's easy to spot the connection. This may be in black and white and traditional Japanese but it was only three minutes in when I mused that it seemed very familiar.
The giveaway comes as farmers go in search of battle-hardened men to fight off bandits who have threatened to steal their harvest.
Actually, there are several clear links but, thankfully, watching Seven Samurai for the first time was unspoiled by the many I have seen The Magnificent Seven.
It is set at the end of the 16th century when the Samurai are nearly as hungry as the villagers - their lofty reputation unable to fill their stomachs on its own.
Therefore, they agree to fight for them in exchange for food.
However, their relationship with the villagers isn't as sweet as that of Yul Brynner and co. because Japan’s farming and warrior castes were culturally forbidden to intermingle and because of the Samurai reputation for violence and sexual assault.
Takashi Shimura is the leader of the seven samurai - akin to Brynner's Chris is his calm approach to the villagers and the concentrated goal of defeating the bandits.
Yoshio Inaba plays his right-hand man who collaborates with him on creating a plan to defend the village and see off the attackers.
But the most memorable of the seven is Toshiro Mifune as the rogue who is loudly trying to prove his worth. He is a samurai who goes into all situations with both feet.
I will also remember the permanently etched agony on the face of Bokuzen Hidari who plays a senior villager as well as the incredible running speed all of the actors during the fight scenes.
If I am honest, I thought the setup, particularly the Samurai recruitment stage was bloated... it took far too long to get the village.
But once it does, the film becomes a classic on myriad levels, not least the battle scene which is so intricate that it stands the test of time, 70 years after the movie was made.
If only it had a classic soundtrack to go with it. Cue Elmer Bernstein...

Reasons to watch: It's the original Magnificent Seven!
Reasons to avoid: Far too long

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 9.5/10

Did you know? At the time Seven Samurai entered production, most major Japanese films cost around $70,000. Because Kurosawa demanded the authenticity of things like a fully constructed outdoor village location and the frequent production challenges, the shoot dragged on and eventually took a year to complete. As a result, the budget ballooned to nearly $500,000—a massive sum at the time.

The final word. Akira Kurosawa: "Japanese films all tend to be rather bland in flavour, like green tea over rice. I think we ought to have richer foods and richer films. So I thought I would make this kind of film entertaining enough to eat.” 

Share this post