Seven Samurai (1954)

Any person who appreciates a bit of flavor and variety in their life can easily draw up an impressive list when asked the question, "What are the greatest films you have ever seen?" The Godfather, Citizen Kane, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly come to mind. All of these are classic films that were critically and commercially successful upon their release. These movies were monumental due to a mix of grade-A acting, clever and unique directing, and much story depth. Any filmgoer who enjoys these films for all the right reasons mustn't overlook Akira Kurosawa's influential, Japanese masterpiece, Seven Samurai.

The film begins with a group of bandits preparing to ransack a village. Upon realizing that they had pillaged the village in the past, the bandits decide to return later when the farmers' harvest had come. Overhearing the bandits' plans, one of the farmers rushes back to the village to inform the chief elder. The elder decides that the village should hire masterless ronin (samurai) to defend the people. A group of farmers goes in to town in search for a samurai who would be willing to work for rice. After many rude rejections, the farmers finally succeed in finding a wise samurai master named Kambei (Takashi Shimura, Rashomon, Godzilla) and his young student Katsushirō (Isao Kimura, High and Low). Kambei recruits four more samurai each of whom possesses unique skills and distinct personality traits. Kikuchiyo (Toshirō Mifune, Yojimbo, Hell in the Pacific) a clownish samurai, later joins the group. Together the seven samurai prepare the villagers for the bandit attack and simultaneously solidify friendships among themselves.

Akira Kuroaswa's craft as a director is almost unparalleled. He has inspired other famed directors like George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola. Seven Samurai had even inspired the American remake, The Magnificent Seven. In Seven Samurai, Kurosawa breathes life into the story with an eye for authenticity, revolutionary camera work, heavy attention to scenery and detail, and a strong hold of the narrative of the plot. Kurosawa develops the characters to such a point that the viewer relates and sympathizes with them.

The acting in Seven Samurai is performed flawlessly. Each actor not only engulfs himself in his character, but also breathes his own personality into it. Toshirō Mifune's performance as the misunderstood and emotional Kikuchiyo is Oscar-worthy. Every line, mannerism and movement is delivered to a tee. The enactments of the supporting cast are noteworthy as well. Takashi Shimura, known for playing the "wise old man," delivers a memorable performance as the master ronin, Kambei.

Despite Seven Samurai being a foreign, black and white film, it was well ahead of its time. Many American viewers can appreciate it because its story and epic action sequences are easy to get in to. Seven Samurai is a brilliant movie that is a pleasure to watch over and over again.