Movie Review: The Seven Samurai

10/10

Oh hell.

Well, you tell me.

What possible other score can be given to one of the most influential, intriguing and beautiful films ever made?

This, above many others, was the crowning pinnacle of the list of films I had never seen - I am pleased to say I was not in the least bit disappointed.

It is not an exaggeration to say that despite its mental running time of 210 minutes, not a single moment is wasted by the actors or filmmakers.

It can happen sometimes that these great classics can be a little tarred with age but with this masterpiece, like with the Apartment, age has neither rendered its powers irrelevant nor has it dimished the quality of the central performances.

For those who come into this review knowing little about the movie, if there are any left I will briefly explain why the first thing you do tomorrow (or right now) is add this to your shopping basket, LOVEFiLM rental list or wishlist.

It is violent, wistful, painful, funny, romantic (in the literal sense), hyper-real, epic yet focused, character driven while retaining scope and utterly unforgettable.

Many of the events, twists, supporting cast and sequences seem reminiscent to the point of cliché at times, but this is because of the influence of this movie, not its reliance on other people's ideas.

The central performance is frequently to be considered to be that of Toshiro Mifune as the child like yet unflinching Kikuchiyo, but the film belongs mainly to the incredible Takashi Shimura, who plays the lead Samurai, Kambei. He is morally unquestionable, noble of stature and yet human and humorous with it. It is an outstanding performance and it serves as the backbone of the movie. Success without his involvement is impossible - with him on "our" side, it seems possible, even likely.

It is, in essence, a siege movie, like The Alamo, or The Return Of The King's Minas Tirith section, but exceeds the former in style, and the latter in genuine impact. The impact is achieved mainly because of the build up, crucial to all siege stories in which we are introduced to just how bad things are for the villagers and how desperate they are get help.

I don't want to rehash the plot or the millions of positive reviews this film has already had, suffice to say that probably for the first time I had absolutely NO hesitation in adding it to the Wall Shadows "10 Club", in which there are, to day only FOUR FILMS.

(The Dark Knight, The Apartment, Metropolis and Seven Samurai if you've not been counting - very different films, all perfect examples of their genre)

A

P.S. I anticipate being made to regret the "what other possible score" rhetorical question.....