5.03.2005

Seven Samurai

Excellent.

1954, black and white with subtitles - 3 1/2 hours long.

I now understand why this movie is looked to as the prototype for so many movies. It's phenomenal and seemingly ahead of its time.

It has a little of everything, action, humor, romance, characters that are multi-dimensional, beautifully shot scenes, etc.

The good guys aren't always good, though the bad guys are faceless evil. That is probably it's only weakness - in 3 1/2 hours the bad guys aren't developed at all. They are just a mindless evil.

Interested now to rent The Magnificent Seven (1960) to see how much specifically was stolen, beyond just the plot.

Also interested in checking out Rashomon (1950), also Kurasawa. About a heinous crime told from multiple points of view. "What is the truth. What is truth?"

13 comments:

Dan said...

I saw Rashomon in film class at ISU. Thought it was really good; again, ahead of its time.

C.F. Bear said...

Does Faith watch them with you?

Pat said...

She watches some - this one she did not. Nor Dr. Strangelove.

Aaron said...

"Seven Samurai" is sitting on our DVD player right now waiting for the 3 1/2 hours needed. We have used Netflix for quite awhile now, and as Dan can attest I am a big fan. Most of our viewing lately has been TV series on DVD. The Avengers, Star Trek (TOS and TNG), 24 and so forth. I'll e-mail you a Netflix "friends invite" then you will be able to see my ratings, and what is coming up in our queue.

Pat said...

Cool.

I will do the same.

Dan said...

Cool, except for the Star Trek part, that is...

Pat said...

This from the man with the bright yellow school bus of dvd's.

Dan said...

I don't recall saying it made ME cool, either.

Pat said...

That's for sure.

Dan said...

Other things make me cool.

Like the fact that I recorded my own Baldur's Gate voices, the fact that I played The Guiness Book of World Records board game on a Saturday night as a senior in high school, and the fact that my favorite shirt reads "Clearwater Travel Plaza Trail Run."

Pat said...

You are a latter day Fonzi.

C.F. Bear said...

Stating that you are cool, doesn't make you cool. Those who are cool never have to tell anyone. :)

Dan said...

It's cool to advertise.