Product Details

• Actors: Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Seiji Miyaguchi
• Directors: Akira Kurosawa
• Format: NTSC, Dolby, Subtitled, Black & White, Import
• Subtitles: English, Korean
• Region: All Regions
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Uni One
• Run Time: 207 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000NNXEH0
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,836 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Import from South Korea - SOUTH KOREA DOES MUCH OF THE WORLD'S DVD REMASTERING FOR THE MAJOR STUDIOS - One of the most beloved movie epics of all time. Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (Shichinin no samurai) is the story of a sixteenth-century tormented village that hires seven out-of-work warriors to protect them from invading bandits. A three hour roller coaster -- featuring legendary actors Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura -- magnificently weaves philosophy and entertainment, volatile human emotions and relentless action into a rich, evocative, and unforgettable tale of courage and hope.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This Version, May 7, 2007

By 

Che Broadway "The EmCee" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (Shichinin No Samurai) ~ Original Theatrical Extended 207 Minute Version [Import, All-region] (Dvd) (DVD)

I will only review this particular DVD because this film is one of those classics that was so instrumental in filmmaking that it has become so much more than a "movie." Beyond the masterfully written screenplay & past the deft performances of the ensemble, this film is watched over and over by the megalopolis that is the cluster of great filmmakers of the 70s, 80s, 90s and today to keeps Kurosawa's vision fresh in their own heads.

This DVD has no special features. It is simply the theatrical version... obviously... if u can afford the criterion collection... that's the way to go... but... if ur an aspiring/struggling filmmaker... & u can do what the greats do... which is... the week before you start shooting... you watch The Cinematic Formula (The Searchers + It's A Wonderful Life + Lawrence of Arabia + Seven Samurai).

Good luck... see you on the festival circuit!

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Greatest Films of all time!, March 4, 2010

By 

David C. Stark "DCS" (Bel Air, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (Shichinin No Samurai) ~ Original Theatrical Extended 207 Minute Version [Import, All-region] (Dvd) (DVD)

"The Seven Samurai" is Akira Kurosawa's greatest film -- a masterpiece of cinematography, timing, and story-telling. If you have ever watched "The Magnificent Seven", you have seen a ripped-off version of this movie, translated to the American Wild West.

I can't say enough about how marvelous this movie is. Watch it, and be amazed.

5.0 out of 5 stars Huge masterpiece, September 14, 2008

By 

Latour07 (Paris, France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai (200 Minutes. Original Japanese. English Subtitle. Takashi Shimura, Toshirô Mifune) (DVD)

Akira Kurosawa in 1954 issued this 3 hour film in black and white 9 years after the end of World War II which devoted the defeat of Japan.

The director has an immense talent.

It is the flag of Liberty, the spirit of resistance against injustice of an established disorder humiliating humanity. This man is a great promoter of the code of honor in the service of another, small, poor, weak, ultimately itself.

What a superb talent he has!

The story takes place in 16th century in Japan ravaged by civil war. A peasant village is regularly ransom. Having overheard a conversation between bandits, a villager reported to the village: the number of bandits in quarantine have decided to come back from looting after the rice harvest, a few weeks later.

At the council meeting "City", the former is the word of a man loving freedom: "we will fight" against the diktat of the poor complaining "to be born (as a farmer) to suffer" .

Freedom does sulfur point exceptions. The man is worthy. When his dignity was despised, martyred, then it has a duty to rebel.

Begins the quest for warlords, samurai, needed to defend the village for the next raid.

The excellence of tables outlining the differences in caste (peasant / samurai), age (old / young), love (the love scenes between the young samurai and a young peasant sensuality are a large poetry , Strong, tragic, moving); more, respect for traditions (including expressed in the battle between the samurai and a perfectionist gross) leaves to Life honored to explode barriers.

This film is grandiose. John Sturges in 1960, copying the film in its "7 mercenaries" has not only depleted the "7 Samurai": he violated his message.

Very great masterpiece. Immense talent. Outstanding message. One of the greatest war movies I've ever seen.