Seven Samurai (1954)

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Stars: Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima
Runtime: 207 minutes

Synopsis: A poor village under attack by bandits recruits seven unemployed samurai to help them defend themselves.

Performances: 9/10
Screenplay: 9/10
Editing: 7/10
Cinematography: 10/10
Score/Soundtrack: 10/10

Verdict: Considered by many to be the greatest action movie of all time, Akira Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai" is a classic of unmatched proportions. Set in Feudal Japan, it tells the story of a poor village's hiring of seven samurai to protect them from menacing bandits.

It's an eternal tale of bravery, teamwork, sacrifice, kindness, and resilience that has rightfully made its way into the history books of Cinema. Watching it made me feel like I was reading a book. A book so good and so immersive that its words turned into images. It takes its time, doesn't leave any stone unturned and, most importantly, cares about every single character taking part in the action.

And for that reason, "Seven Samurai" is also considered to be one of the most influential films ever made. The film's structure, cinematography, scale, and handling of such a large gallery of characters inspired filmmakers such as George Lucas, Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, or Peter Jackson. Without it, properties such as "Star Wars", "Lord of the Rings" or even the MCU wouldn't be what they are today.

Even though I cannot deny that the three and a half hours runtime did ultimately take a toll on me, I'd consider "Seven Samurai" a must to all Cinema lovers. I've already seen it twice and have a feeling that I'll be revisiting a third time, as it is one of those films I learn to love a bit more with each rewatch.

FINAL GRADE: 8/10