Seven Samurai DVD – Seiji Miyaguchi, Kamatari Fujiwara

Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play A desperate village hires seven 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 Featuring Japan&39;s legendary star the great Toshiro Mifune Akira Kurosawa&39;s Seven Samurai is an inspired epic a triumph of art and an unforgettable three-hour ride

Unanimously hailed as one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of the motion picture, Seven Samurai has inspired countless films modelled after its basic premise. But Akira Kurosawa’s classic 1954 action drama has never been surpassed in terms of sheer power of emotion, kinetic energy, and dynamic character development. The story is set in the 1600s, when the residents of a small Japanese village are seeking protection against repeated attacks by a band of marauding thieves. Offering mere handfuls of rice as payment, they hire seven unemployed “ronin” (masterless samurai), including a boastful swordsman (Toshiro Mifune) who is actually a farmer’s son desperately seeking glory and acceptance. The samurai get acquainted with but remain distant from the villagers, knowing that their assignment may prove to be fatal. The climactic battle with the raiding thieves remains one of the most breathtaking sequences ever filmed. It’s poetry in hyperactive motion and one of Kurosawa’s crowning cinematic achievements. This is not a film that can be well served by any synopsis; it must be seen to be appreciated and belongs on the short list of any definitive home-video library. –Jeff Shannon