Seven Samurai

[Japan2112]

I will bet that most Nihonto enthusiasts have seen this film by Akira Kurosawa (1954 B&W, subtitled), but perhaps not all newcomers. It is just about my favorite movie and gives a lot in understanding the culture of Japanese society in the late Muromachi Period. I've just finished reading (again) my copy of Seven Samurai written by Joan Mellen published by BFI Film Classics. I think I may have gotten it thru Amazon five or so years ago . Anyways it is a very interesting commentary on Kurosawa, his film and viewpoint of Japanese society of the time. I highly recommend this enjoyable read.

 

Best Regards,

 

Mark

[ken kata]

Hello Mark,

Thanks for showing us this book. 

I just found / bought one in "like New" condition for 15 dollars .  

I did not think of a book of "commentary" for this samurai classic.

 

Had one copy there that was in "acceptable condition " for little over 8 dollars . 

 

There is so much to learn/gain in these commentaries.

On DVD Videos, THE CRITERION COLLECTION 's Seven Samurai ( and many other Kurosawa movies) has audio commentary, too... , and, are quite informative and is time well spent.

Amazing details can be learned.

 

Thanks for posting... 

Edited/Added on 9/10/21 -

Did you know, even though Akira Kurosawa had Toshio Mifune at TOHO Studios,

Akira Kurosawa  never made a  " Miyamoto Musashi " Movie.

It was Hiroshi Inagaki that made the movie ( Trilogy )  based on Eiji Yoshikawa's novel "Musashi".  Just a trivia about Kurosawa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

It was interesting to learn, a while back, that the western Magnificant Seven, was modeled after the movie.

[Stephen]

And a remake of it.

What movie did Clint Eastwood make as a spaghetti western wher he played town bosses against each other was that few $$ more? Made from Yojimbo.. It tells the story of a rōnin, portrayed by Toshiro Mifune, who arrives in a small town where competing crime lords vie for supremacy. The two bosses each try to hire the newcomer as a bodyguard.

Bruce Willis made one too set in the 30s

 

[ROKUJURO]

  On 9/9/2021 at 11:41 PM, ken kata said:

..... Edited/Added on 9/10/21 -

Did you know, even though Akira Kurosawa had Toshio Mifune at TOHO Studios,

Akira Kurosawa  never made a  " Miyamoto Musashi " Movie?....

Expand  

A small typo: TOSHIRO MIFUNE

[Stephen]

BTW 

Yojimbo is on HBO/MAX for the time being.

 

Last Man Standing (1996) A 1996 remake of Yojimbo starring Bruce Willis and Christopher Walken, and written and directed by Walter Hill. Last Man Standing moves the samurai story into a prohibition era town in Texas, where gangsters, bootleggers and prostitutes abound.

[Japan2112]

Yojimbo is a good one. Pretty raw, but those were the times - living by your wits.

In the Samurai book I mentioned The Magnificent Seven and A Few Dollars More do get compared as poor "remakes" of Kurosawa's originals. IMHO it's an apples to oranges comparison if one considers the vast difference between Japan's Sengoku jidai and the American Wild West. All good viewing, with John Sturges evoking the idea that... "imitation is the best form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness." Oscar Wilde. 

[O koumori]

And don't forget Star Wars, for which which George Lucas borrowed heavily from "The Hidden Fortress."

[PietroParis]

It was “A fistful of dollars” that plagiarized Yojimbo, not “For a few dollars more”. Indeed, Kurosawa sued Sergio Leone who then had to share the proceeds with him.

[Stephen]

Thanks 👍

[Mizuho_No_Densetsu]

My top 5, "The Sword of Doom,"  "Tasogare Seibei,"  and "Shichinin no Samurai," "Ran," and...maybe a tie between "Koruri Ookami" and "Zatoichi" (in no particular order, and also obviously not all Kurosawa films, still great though)

 

I'm going to be on the look out for this book!

 

-Mario

 

 

[Wolfmanreid]

The duel in “Hara Kiri” has got to be one of the most perfectly shot scenes in cinema history…. The rest of the film is pretty bloody good too. 
 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rn4FY_k9FyE&t=1s

[mywei]

I also really liked and would recommend After the Rain (Ame agaru)

[Greg F]

I have so many bonsai to prune being spring here now but its difficult to get much done with you guys making me get out all these great dvd's to watch. 

Very difficult to give only a few favorites.