To get subtitles, turn on CC and they'll all be there for the Japanese speaking parts. RUclips removed the subtitles that were on my original edit of the video for some reason so I just had to manually add them in.
I'm a sucker for samurai movies. If you enjoyed Kurosawa's movie check the more recent "13 Assassins" by Takeshi Miike, it's a blast. Great Channel man, enjoying the videos. ruclips.net/video/Xpm007vne54/видео.html
Hi, Seven Samurai is one my favorite film of all time so let me please make some points. The leader of the the group is Takashi Shimura one of the greatest Japanese actors of all time. The actor who carried the big sword is Toshiro Mifune, also one of the greatest Japanese actors of all time. The big sword is called a NODACHI and was used by footmen to attack mounted cavelry. Thank you for including the scene of Toshiro Mifune going off on the other Samurai about how they are involved in the peasants suffering and it's natural that they "get payback" when they can. It's one of the most piviotal scense that often gets left out of most reviews. The scene at the end between Katsushiro and Shino is not so much she played him, but more that they can never be together so she decides to let him go. He is a Samurai, apparently from a high class ( apparent by him being able to buy more rice for the villagers with coin. Not something a low born Samurai could do.) There is no way they could marry, at best he could keep her as a concubine if his family agreed. The scene at the end is not so much a celebration, as it is an return to the old status quo. Farming villages used drums and song to organize their labor as they planted. Akira Kurosawa stated that the film was about the different classes coming together against a common foe, but in the end that unity couldn't last. Appoliges for mispellings, I'm on my phone, and I replaced my brain with spellcheck a long time ago.
Another old movie that you should react to was shown in one of your later reactions the movie Logan Patrick Stewart was watching a movie with the little girl Shane is the name of the movie very beautiful movie
That guys name is Toshiro Mifune doing the great acting during the samurai armor part. He's essentially Japan's Chuck Norris lol. Yojimbo and Sanjuro should be next on you list.
There's an awful lot about Seven Samurai that is specifically Japanese cultural cues--cues that were still fresh in the minds of Japanese audiences in 1954. Japanese society had a caste system that was legally enforced until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Farmers were a lower caste than the Samurai, and it was illegal for a Samurai to marry a farmer's daughter. It was also shameful for Samurai to fight for farmers, even though they did sometimes. But it was also not illegal for Samurai to kill a person of a lower caste, which was why the farmers were kowtowing in deference to each Samurai they met in town. The scene when the old lady kills the prisoner of war is also an important part of the movie because it signals that the Samurai abandoned their values about war in favor of the farmers' social values re revenge killing. The entire movie is an exploration of cultural values that were less than 100 years old in 1954, and that would go unnoticed by an American viewer if they were not familiar with Japanese history. Also, that last scene is not a party. It's actually a fertility ritual that is performed when the farmers plant their crops. The planting ritual, juxtaposed with the graves of the dead Samurai, is actually a reflection on postwar Japan. Samurai culture was preserved in Japan's military culture during World War II. But postwar demilitarization, and social reforms during the Allied Occupation, essentially destroyed Samurai Culture in Japan. So that last scene is supposed to foreshadow Japan's destiny.
Also, as to Shino and her father's reactions; feudal Japan, like many older societies, placed a high value on virginity as a feature of personal honor, so by sleeping with her, he caused her-and by extension, her whole family going back to the first generation-dishonor. When she passes him by at the end to join the rest of her village, she's not snubbing him, but rather avoided him out of shame, as they can never be together and she is now, from the perspective of her society, devalued in a fundamental and profound way; lesser for having fallen for him, and to a larger degree than the hit to his own honor by having "taken advantage" of her. That's the same reason the other villager's wife ran back into the burning building; the subtext is that she'd been molested and abused by the bandits, and was horrified and ashamed when she saw her husband again unexpectedly, so she chose to die rather than face what she viewed as dishonor. Japanese culture was traditionally very strongly marked by their own particular sort of honor culture, and this isn't so dissimilar from, say, a samurai committing seppuku to die honorably. One last point: part of the reason that the villagers are so afraid of the samurai is that they're ronin, or masterless samurai. Ronin were considered to have lost their honor by surviving or being released by their masters', and this is set just at the end of a period of massive and complex warring between various feudal lords, or daimyo, which eventually led to the unification of Japan under its last Shogunate-a military dictatorship led by the head of a powerful samurai noble clan, the shogun. The Tokugawa Shogunate lasted from the early 1600s until the Meiji Restoration, when the Emperor became a direct ruler again. The problem is, dishonored ronin often turned to banditry, as they no longer had any other socially accepted way to practice the only skills they knew. So from the villagers' perspective, the samurai are just as liable to decide to prey upon the village as to prove honorable in defending it.
@@etepeteseat7424 There's actually a crueler reason Shino's father lashed out at her. Even into the 20th Century, most marriages were through omiai--arranged marriages. It's not that non-virginal women in Feudal Japan had no place in society. For instance, many were concubines. But now that Shino is no longer virginal, she is more likely to be rejected in an arranged marriage. When her father calls her "Damaged Goods," he meant it literally.
@@BrandonLikesMovies I forgot to mention one other thing. It was illegal Medieval Japan for members of a lower caste to kill a Samurai or member of a higher caste. So from the perspective of the Samurai, the discovery of the stolen armaments was a heinous crime. And leaving the bandit--a ronin--to be killed by the villagers was also a betrayal of laws meant to protect Samurai like them. One example of how these norms affected Japanese culture is actually Japanese rope bondage. It was originally invented as a way to transport and restrain prisoners of war, and different patterns of ties were specific to different classes--so you would know by looking if the prisoner was a daimyo, a samurai, or a conscripted peasant. Because if a soldier executed a prisoner of a higher class, they would have to be executed too.
@@davewolf6256 Sure, but she's damaged due to her loss of virginity. That was my point. Arranged marriages were the norm in Europe at the time, too. Though I grant you that I neglected to delve into the finer points of the topic. I just didn't think it would be as helpful to my point, but I appreciate the additional context.
"Some GREAT acting from this guy right here..." As it turns out, this guy is Toshiro Mifune. His legacy on film is incredible. He is by far the most prolific and well respected actor of the entire genre. Please please look into more of his work, for your sake. You'll love it. If you like Shakespeare at all, Throne of Blood is the greatest telling of Macbeth there's ever been. Ya know, in my opinion anyway.
He also made a Mexican movie called "Animas Trujano: El Hombre Importante (The Important Man)" with Ismael Rodriguez and I have to say, I judged this one by the cover. Seriously, look at the cover of Animas Trujano and the Mexican in the cover is none other than Toshiro Mifune, so I gave it a watch and damn, he was phenomenal in it so much that his acting was above everybody else's (Mexicans in a Mexican film) with the exception of Antonio Aguilar who was on the same level as him. This is coming from a Mexican by the way so I think he did well in portraying one.
One of my favorite Toshiro Mifune stories is when he was cast to play Admiral Yamamoto in Midway, he was so honored to play the role that by way of expressing his gratitude he had a katana special made that he presented to the director. To hear the director talk about it, I don't think he realized what a huge compliment Mifune had payed him.
So there were subtitles in the video, but for some reason RUclips deleted them during the upload so I apologize for that! I'm going to go in and manually type out captions for the video later tonight if you'd like to come back then
I’ve seen this film so many times I don’t even need the subtitles. ;) Please watch more from Kurosawa - Ikiru, Yojimbo, High and Low, Rashomon, Red Beard, Ran, Drunken Angel, Stray Dog... so many greats spanning 4 decades.
The reason why the people looked shocked at the Samurai at start shaving his head to look like a monk to fool the thief, was because a Samurai who cuts his top-knot off was no longer a Samurai. He was a Ronin, but he was willing to put aside traditions in order to help people.
Symbolically, shaving the head represents renunciation of the material world towards spirituality. It is like he is becoming a monk himself by putting aside his ego and status to save a child.
About the look Shino gives Katsushiro at the end. The night before what they believed to be the final battle, which could cost them their lives, they both chose to cross class lines and be together that night. They expected to die. Yet, after the battle, the world is returned to status quo, meaning that Shino is returned to the farmer/peasant class (the lowest class). She did not “play” him. The look they shared is the realization that they cannot be together anymore due to that class structure. If you look closer, Shino is crying while singing and planting as she is returned to her lower class and Katsushiro returns to his upper-class samurai status. My thought on the look. Great reaction as always. I am enjoying your selections of films to watch. It sets you apart from other reactors. Be well.
Yes, they are both trapped by society’s expectations of their positions. She had feelings for him and likewise but they existed in what might as well be a dream world now for them, as the bandits are now defeated.
The scene is, IMO, symbolizing that Katsushiro, after seeing the real consequences of battle, abandons the life of a Samurai and decides to live as a farmer, so he crosses class boundaries also.
@@redcardinalist Agreed, in the light of Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Ran etc those movies are underlooked. But I'm glad people like us can enjoy and appreciate those little gems.
For Ingmar Bergman I would definitely suggest starting with "Wild Strawberries", "Smiles of a Summer's Night", or "The Seventh Seal". He had many other masterpieces but some of his movies are more experimental and might not be the most accessible intro.
Awesome.. one of my favorite Kurosawa movies is "High & Low".. it takes place in modern 1950s Japan, great moral dilemma plot! Also, checkout Hitchcock 's "Lifeboat" a great and unique character study
Ironic too cuz when one of them chastises his comrades about the atrocities Japanese commit against civilians... The Japanese military committed some of the worst and most heinous atrocities in human history during World War 2. I am Chinese and lost many family members to their soldiers.
@@ruleoftwo6174 You can criticize the Chinese government's treatment of its own civilians while also not discounting the atrocities committed by the Japanese military on Chinese civilians during WWII. They are both terrible, you know.
This is my favourite Kurosawa film and the film that caused the Academy Awards to create the best foreign film award. Not only is each version of the story subjective, but each is representative of a different version of samurai films that existed at the time. Cannot recommend this film enough.
29:53 - I always loved that last shot - the four graves on the hill forming a wavy line against the sky as it fades to black. Sort of a version of the yin-yang symbol, equal parts black and white meshing together in harmony. Compare it to the first shot of the film - the bandits riding over the horizon, with a long straight line for the horizon instead of the wavy line. And I absolutely can't get enough of Toshiro Mifune (Kikuchiyo) in this movie - his acting is so physical, almost like a dancer or something. Mifune and Kurosawa made several movies together - sort of like a Japanese Scorsese and DeNiro (or Scorsese and DeNiro are an American Kurosawa and Mifune).
@@BrandonLikesMovies with all due respect to Mifune, watch Ikiru starring Takashi Shimura for a lesson in understated(?) acting. Also, after that watch The Bucket List (Freeman and Nicholson).
A bunch of firsts in this movie. 1. First action film where a 'team' is assembled to fight the bad guys 2. First use of slow motion in an action sequence 3. First instance of a 'hoard' cresting a hill and galloping down on the defenders below It's also unique in not having 'balletic' sword fights and being more brutal and realistic in its fights. If you have the Criterian version of the movie, the commentary soundtrack is well worth listening to.
i would also like to add: one of, if not the first example of a character being introduced in a dangerous situation and demonstrates their abilities (kambei wit the thief)
And also first use of 'The Wipe' and where the protagonist does something heroic prior to the main mission (IE: Kambei posing as a monk to get the drop on the kidnapper)
Dude, I'm so glad you're watching this film as it's one of the greatest samurai epics ever made. This film is 254 minutes long! Man, that's the same length as the Oscar Winner Cleopatra. This film was nominated for Best Foreign language film at the 1955 Academy Awards.
It's so great to see a reaction to any Kurosawa movie. His whole filmography is super influential. He's everyone's favorite director's favorite director.
Seven Samurai is the first feature film I was ever introduced to as a child, after watching in on my father watching it and sitting down to join him. That was over 31 years ago, when I was just 5 and a half years old. My second film ever was Star Wars. These two films together, shaped my love of Japanese culture and the sci-fi genre. I cannot even begin to express just how happy I am for you to experience this film for the first time. :-)
And George Lucas has commented in interviews that he was heavily influenced by Akira Kurosawa's movies, drawing directly on The Hidden Fortress for the form of Star Wars: A New Hope. ruclips.net/video/TEJ6CzG9zVc/видео.html
Alan Sánchez-Tembleque More of his films were set in modern times than not. It’s just that more people know about his samurai and epic films. Also check out Ikiru, Stray Dog, Drunken Angel.
@@BrandonLikesMovies One of his last films "Ran" would be a great choice,in glorious colour !! I actually saw this in a theatre when it first came out, which of course makes me oooooold :)
Loved this reaction! Another kurosawa film i would recommend is 'ran' another samurai film but it's kurosawa's adaptation of shakespeare's king lear and the scale of this film is just as ambitious as seven samurai and it's in colour as well with some of the most amazing shots and battle sequences i've ever seen in a film
Sidney Lumet once asked Kurosawa about a panning shot he had, and whether there was any deeper meaning behind where he decided to start and end the pan. Kurosawa just replied, "I chose to frame the shot that way, because if I pan any further to the right, you'd see a factory, and if I pan any further to the left, you'd see a modern building."
Back in college, I was in a history of cinema class, which was held in a big lecture hall. The teacher was about to show the final minutes of this film as an example for something we were discussing. My buddy were in the very front row and neither of us had seen it yet, but we were aware of its reputation. So rather than have it spoiled for us, we both got up and walked out while the teacher cued up the scene. lol I'm glad I did, because it was such a great film once I finally got to see it not long after. I'm glad you enjoyed it, too.
I just rewatched this film 3 days ago and loved every minute of it.. it was an incredible cinematic achievement by one of the greatest filmmakers ever.. I recommend you watch and react to his other stuff including: High and Low 1963 The Bad Sleep Well 1960 Rashomon 1950 Yojimbo 1961 I’m pretty sure you’re gonna enjoy it
"7 Samurai" is a masterpiece! A lot of years have passed since the last time I watched it, so I guess it's a good time to revisite this great movie. Also, thanks a lot for sharing your reaction. Your videos are very well crafted and enjoyable as well.
I am honestly jealous that you got to experience this movie for the first time. This is 'that' movie for me. The one I would chose to watch again for the first time. Glad I got to live vicariously through you though.
The character Kikuchiyo is played by Toshiro Mifune, one of if not *the* most prolific actor of the Samurai genre of films. The large sword he carries with him is called a nodachi, pretty much a longer version of the katana. However, because of Mifune's height a regular Nodachi did not seem to be much larger from an audiences point of view, so Kurosawa had Mifune's sword made custom to his height. Kurosawa wanted Kikuchiyo to wield a ridiculous almost unwieldy weapon to emphasize Kikuchiyo's character. Also, thanks for watching my *Favorite* movie of all time. I know you get a lot of requests for movies but another great Kurosawa film also staring Takashi Shimura (the lead Samurai) is "Ikiru". It's a very different kind of movie from Seven Samurai as it takes place in what was modern Japan at the time. But be warned... it is a heart breaker.
Thanks for putting in the subs. This is definitely one of my favorite movies. Always happy to see someone discover it. Love your reactions man, keep it up.
Rashomon has already been recommended, so I'll thrown in my support for that! Another great film to consider is "Kwaidan" (1965; directed by Masaki Kobayashi). It's an anthology of Japanese ghost stories, compiled by Lafcadio Hearn (a fascinating figure himself who introduced the West to Japanese culture through his writings). The artistry, cinematography, acting... It's stunning, and I think you'd enjoy it :) ALSO: Ugetsu (1953)
Left field pick but a great one. I was surprised and excited when I saw the thumbnail. I think what makes the movie so great is not just how modern it seems in teens of storytelling, but how it’s really the prototype for action adventure films that followed up to today. Assembling the team, the heroes all having different traits (the wise leader, the apprentice, the cool master warrior, the outsider, etc), the big battle sequences, twists, seeming successes that end up backfiring/coming at an unforeseen cost, the romance subplot, even the slow motion sequences. So great. I think where it seems the villagers used/played the samurai is more about the rigid class differences of medieval Japan. Which is why the villagers go back to their business and the girl ignores Katsuhiro. At least that’s what I’ve read, though I like your take on it too.
I believe this is one of greatest movies of all time by the greatest director of all time, it so far ahead of its time and in some ways ahead of movies today, its battle sequences are so realistic and the storytelling makes the almost 4 hour movie flow so well. Also toshiro mifune is a great actor hes the star in the majority of kurosawa films and hes role in yojimbo is iconic
Thank you so much for this channel. Not only its entertaining, but Im also getting some new perspectives on my favourite films from you. And HUGE probs for doing reaction to historically important film like this. I love it :)
It's a happy coincidence that this uploaded a week after I watched it for the first time myself. I loved it. You can really see the roots and the influence it has on modern day movies. Just the film making style is so prevalant these days. And the performance from both Mifune Toshirou and Shimura Takashi are so great! The fact that this is 210 minutes, black and white and subtitled and it still managed to grab one's attention is so astounding! I love it. Am definitely gonna check out his other works like Hidden Fortress and Youjinbo
Where all the “small group of assembled warriors facing a large evil group” model came from. Kurosawa was a genius, and his movie Ikiru was my favorite of his classics. It is a philosophical exploration, based on Tolstoy.
I really enjoyed watching your reactions to this great movie. Thanks for selecting it and I hope to see even more of some of the older classics, foreign or domestic. Keep them coming..
I must commend you on your choice of films. This one is an absolute classic...daresay perfect. You made many astute observations. Great job! Now it may appear that the villagers gave no respect to the fallen samurai, but the placement of their gravesites, at the uppermost portion of the mound, denotes absolute respect and high honor. Though it may not be obvious, it would appear that a few days have gone by, for the village looks repaired and there was some type of funeral ceremony as evidenced by the mound and the markers for the dead which took at least one day or more to accomplish. Time has passed and we see the villagers in their ritual and seasonal planting of rice. A festival like atmosphere of people working together. And ultimately, the young Samurai and the young peasant girl know that their love can never be, they're of two different classes, traveling in two different worlds that rarely ever combined. Feudal Japan had castes systems which prohibited, mainly by social judgement, certain marital and physical unions. Theirs was a naive and young love that was doomed by the strictest codes of honor and fears of judgement and shame.
This movie is the reason why i prefer that movie from samurai cinema than others because it have so much heart on it, the story isn’t about only the protection of the peasants but creating so many story around that like Kikuchiyo being a samurai, katsushiro starting he’s life as a samurai, the samurai leader as a real samurai to admire, creating he’s life in that movie, the action so many stuff, the music of the movie have so many story and a masterpiece in everything etc in what i can say about this movie.
This channel is like reliving my days learning film, but I'm some kind of reincarnated Bob Ross - hope you delve into Yojimbo, Rashomon, and maybe Kagemusha! Subbed!
My favorite film of the 1950's bar none. My favorite foreign language film of all time, with several other Kurosawa films on that top 10 list. The use of motion, the sparse and yet vital pieces of dialog, the character development, the action sequences, the cinematography, the use of nature and weather, the acting, the writing, the editing...there is a reason this film is included in so many film study collegiate classes.
I love that you picked this great movie and I enjoyed your reactions. I could talk endlessly about Seven Samurai but I'll try to keep it brief! Firstly, I'm sure it's been mentioned a hundred times already but, the actor at 4:00 is Toshiro Mifune. He usually has that seething intensity in his movies. The American equivalent would be DeNiro/Brando. He's one of the best actors in Japanese cinema. A classic Mifune movie is "Yojimbo" (which was also remade into a Bruce Willis movie called Last Man Standing). Watch Yojimbo, I know you'll enjoy it based on your reactions here. Second, the leader of the Samurai is played by Takashi Shimura. His American equivalent is probably a cross between Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda. He plays the mature older leader, professors and doctors. His most famous movie is probably "Ikiru", and I really recommend that one too. It's a beautiful film and a great example of that (almost uniquely) Japanese quality that you witnessed at the end of Seven Samurai. That is to say "mono no aware" or the "pathos of being". Third, Toshiro and Shimura played in several movies together. The best one, in my opinion, is "Drunken Angel". This isn't a perfect film, but it has several amazing scenes and both these actors really shine when they are in the same room. Lastly, I really encourage you to re-watch Seven Samurai and listen to the DVD commentary of Michael Jeck. It's been voted the best DVD commentary several times and for good reason.
Since you reacted to this awarded masterpiece, I feel it's only right that you react to one of its Best Picture runner ups for that years Japanese Film Awards. You should check out the original Godzilla film from 1954 directed by Ishiro Honda. It's without a doubt one of my favorite Japanese made films.
This is my family's favorite movie to watch, so glad you decided to react to it! If you want to see another movie with amazing cinematography, I would recommend Hero with Jet Ji, one of the most beautiful movies I have ever watched!
The shot selection and precise camera work is unreal for 1954, whoever recommended this deserves props. Might be a good time to suggest Takeshi Kitano's "Zatoichi", a modern take on the old classic serial. I watched in a nearly empty theater and had an absolute blast. Or if you fancy a very different foreign film experience give a chance to "Black Cat, White Cat" (1998), an incredible journey that will have you thinking for days. And if you return to Michael Mann please consider "Public Enemies", didn't get enough love in my opinion. Good to see ya again, mate!
The first Godzilla movie is great and I think you would like it since you enjoyed this, plus it also stars Takashi Shimura. The same actor who plays Kambei Shimada in Seven Samurai.
07:34 When Yohei tells Rikichi the rice was stolen, and Katsushiro throws both of them coins to buy more rice, that was an important moment. It showed that Katsushiro came from wealthy means as opposed to the rest of the group.
yeeeeeeeeeeees finally a channel that reacts to different kind of movies and doesn't just stagnate on pure blockbusters. It's not the best of master Kurosawa, but it's perfect to start. It would be nice if you react to a movie directed by a woman, there is not much of that on youtube either. And I recommend you the channel "Every frame a painting" who has a video about the master and his particular way of composing the movement. It's a really good video.
I recommended the amazing The Piano (1993) by Jane Campion as well as Lost in Translation by Sophia Coppola, do you have other recommendations for Brandon? He's seen most movies by Kathryn Bigelow I think, like The Hurt Locker
"It's not the best of master Kurosawa" Well there's a sentence I never thought I'd read about Seven Samurai. I am curious though, what is Kurosawa's best film in your opinion.
I’ve always said that 七人の侍 (widescreen, long version) is my favorite film of all time, so how could it not be the director’s best (of the 20ish films of his I’ve seen)?
Kurosawa was an absolute genius. To say this movie was one of the most influential in cinema history is an understatement. When it came out in 1954, it was so ahead of its time. It's the archetype of the action movie: exposition of the situation, assembling the crew, planning for battle, then climax at the end. This structure seems like a cliche today but it was groundbreaking at the time, as was the cinematography, the shots composition, the editing, the use of music, the "screen wipe" transitions (famously reused in Star Wars), etc. In a way, Kurosawa almost invented modern cinema. Here's a very interesting Wikipedia article about Kurosawa's work and how it influenced cinema history: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filmmaking_technique_of_Akira_Kurosawa
I hope you watch other Akira Kurosawa films. He was heavily inspired by John Ford in his directorial style, since he was a massive Western fan. George Lucas has a huge fan of Kurosawa, and Star Wars is based off of the story of the Kurasowa film The Hidden Fortress.
@@My-Name-Isnt-Important Yup! there are so many references in Star War Movies to Kurosawa. He was like a mentor to several American Filmmakers of that era.
Even the term for that period in Japanese history when all the clans were fighting for local power, "sengoku jidai", inspired the word "Jedi" for _Star Wars._
The guy carrying the long sword, Toshiro Mifune, played Toranaga in the miniseries "Shogun", also starring Richard Chamberlain (lead role) and John-Rhys Davies. It's an absolutely fantastic story about an english pilot (Chamberlain) and his ship crew that gets stranded in Japan in the 1600s. Quite the clash of cultures, if you will. I highly recommend you watch it (if you haven't already) if you find the samurai era interesting at all. :)
Hopefully you make a deep dive into Kurosawas filmography. As mentioned a few times Yojimbo should def be one of the next ones for another samurai flick and Ikiru for a more modern type movie, that movie is just friggin beautiful. Dersu Uzala is a more under appreciated film too which is great. Love the channel, I came aboard when you did Children of Men. Knew right then that this was a channel for me.
Thank you for watching Seven Samurai. This is my favorite movie and watch every few years. I really enjoyed your reaction. What I love about this move is actors move and not camera or plops unlike action movies these days. About celebration of the farmers in the last scene; they are planting rice accompanied by music. They are showing gratitude to gods of agriculture and asking protection. As for Shino's silence is she loves him, but she is farmer so she will live and die in her village. She and whole village knows Katushiro is a samurai, so he will leave and seek employment with a chief of samurai clan and marry a girl from the same class.
Believe it or not, the reason why the western remake of this movie was called The Magnificent Seven was because when the movie was released in the US, the name of the movie was changed from Seven Samurai to The Magnificent Seven.
No way! I'm commenting before I watch your reaction, but this might be the greatest movie ever made. Never had a 3 and a half hour movie gone by so quickly. Glad you watched this.
Oaf - My top 3 Bruce Lee films are: 1: Enter the Dragon (1973) 2: The Big Boss (a.k.a. Fist of Fury) (1971) 3: Fist of Fury (a.k.a. the Chinese Connection) (1972) But honestly, it’s hard to choose between the two Fist of Fury movies . . . 🤔
I liked Way of the Dragon for the humor and Enter the Dragon because the overall production was just amazing. But I think Fist of Fury (or Chinese connection) was the one that most exemplified his idea of what martial arts meant to him. He never got to finish Game of Death, so we’ll never get to see his vision for that movie.
I do not know if you have seen “the big Lebowski “ it’s a cult classic with some amazing humor I’d recommend you to watch this for some more diversity in genres.
I am so excited to live vicariously through you as you watch it for the first time! I remember the first time I saw it I was profoundly moved. I watched more of Kurosawa's films (Dreams, his last film, I highly recommend) and ended up discovering my favorute director Ingmar Bergman. I hope you'll do a reaction to The Seventh Seal, which is actually a favorite film of Patton Oswalt's.
I love that you love it. Mifune and Kurosawa are an epic team. They had a parting of the ways, but not before they made many movies together. Keep watching classic films!
My dad showed all of Kurosawa's films to me as a sort of ritual we had for years. Teaching me the classics. I loved this movie for the storytelling at first, then the composition and then all of it. Loved your reaction.
Great reaction and I love that you react to old classic like this. If you want more Kurosawa I recommend "Ran". All of his movies are great though. Akira Kurosawa was a master filmmaker.
My favorite part was the farmer who pretended to be a Samurai, in the end even though mortally wounded he completed his charge and killed the one who killed him. The Samurai say "Even if my head is cut off I will complete one more task". So in death, he became a Samurai.
Finally someone puts up a reaction vid to Seven Samurai :-) Loved your "beats longest movie I've seen for this channel" and "didn't waist any time" comments. I believe this was the first film where a team of specialists is put together to do a job, a movie trope now, and the first riders-coming-over-the-top-of-a-hill shot. Also, if the wind is blowing you bet it is because Kurosawa wanted it. Definitely go and see Ran, Yojimbo and Hidden Forest. The first one is a King Lear adaptation, the last two also star the magnificent Mifune in the leading role.
You've got a great channel here, Brandon. I appreciate the diversity of films and your thoughtful commentary. I'm happy to subscribe and look forward to liking other videos as well. Thank you for featuring foreign films that don't typically make the rounds on reaction channels. I highly recommend watching Hero (2002) by Zhang Yimou. It's a Chinese wuxia film, but its narrative structure is a tribute to Kurosawa's Rashomon (1950), which others have rightly recommended. Hero is a masterpiece and one of the best films to ever come out of East Asia. Peace and health to you and yours.
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To get subtitles, turn on CC and they'll all be there for the Japanese speaking parts. RUclips removed the subtitles that were on my original edit of the video for some reason so I just had to manually add them in.
Again--you're the BEST! Now get some rest!
I'm a sucker for samurai movies. If you enjoyed Kurosawa's movie check the more recent "13 Assassins" by Takeshi Miike, it's a blast. Great Channel man, enjoying the videos.
ruclips.net/video/Xpm007vne54/видео.html
Hi, Seven Samurai is one my favorite film of all time so let me please make some points.
The leader of the the group is Takashi Shimura one of the greatest Japanese actors of all time.
The actor who carried the big sword is Toshiro Mifune, also one of the greatest Japanese actors of all time.
The big sword is called a NODACHI and was used by footmen to attack mounted cavelry.
Thank you for including the scene of Toshiro Mifune going off on the other Samurai about how they are involved in the peasants suffering and it's natural that they "get payback" when they can. It's one of the most piviotal scense that often gets left out of most reviews.
The scene at the end between Katsushiro and Shino is not so much she played him, but more that they can never be together so she decides to let him go. He is a Samurai, apparently from a high class ( apparent by him being able to buy more rice for the villagers with coin. Not something a low born Samurai could do.) There is no way they could marry, at best he could keep her as a concubine if his family agreed.
The scene at the end is not so much a celebration, as it is an return to the old status quo. Farming villages used drums and song to organize their labor as they planted.
Akira Kurosawa stated that the film was about the different classes coming together against a common foe, but in the end that unity couldn't last.
Appoliges for mispellings, I'm on my phone, and I replaced my brain with spellcheck a long time ago.
Another old movie that you should react to was shown in one of your later reactions the movie Logan Patrick Stewart was watching a movie with the little girl Shane is the name of the movie very beautiful movie
That guys name is Toshiro Mifune doing the great acting during the samurai armor part. He's essentially Japan's Chuck Norris lol. Yojimbo and Sanjuro should be next on you list.
There's an awful lot about Seven Samurai that is specifically Japanese cultural cues--cues that were still fresh in the minds of Japanese audiences in 1954. Japanese society had a caste system that was legally enforced until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Farmers were a lower caste than the Samurai, and it was illegal for a Samurai to marry a farmer's daughter.
It was also shameful for Samurai to fight for farmers, even though they did sometimes. But it was also not illegal for Samurai to kill a person of a lower caste, which was why the farmers were kowtowing in deference to each Samurai they met in town. The scene when the old lady kills the prisoner of war is also an important part of the movie because it signals that the Samurai abandoned their values about war in favor of the farmers' social values re revenge killing.
The entire movie is an exploration of cultural values that were less than 100 years old in 1954, and that would go unnoticed by an American viewer if they were not familiar with Japanese history.
Also, that last scene is not a party. It's actually a fertility ritual that is performed when the farmers plant their crops. The planting ritual, juxtaposed with the graves of the dead Samurai, is actually a reflection on postwar Japan. Samurai culture was preserved in Japan's military culture during World War II. But postwar demilitarization, and social reforms during the Allied Occupation, essentially destroyed Samurai Culture in Japan. So that last scene is supposed to foreshadow Japan's destiny.
Ah I see, that makes sense, thank you so much for this explanation! Definitely changes my perspective on things with the ending
Also, as to Shino and her father's reactions; feudal Japan, like many older societies, placed a high value on virginity as a feature of personal honor, so by sleeping with her, he caused her-and by extension, her whole family going back to the first generation-dishonor. When she passes him by at the end to join the rest of her village, she's not snubbing him, but rather avoided him out of shame, as they can never be together and she is now, from the perspective of her society, devalued in a fundamental and profound way; lesser for having fallen for him, and to a larger degree than the hit to his own honor by having "taken advantage" of her.
That's the same reason the other villager's wife ran back into the burning building; the subtext is that she'd been molested and abused by the bandits, and was horrified and ashamed when she saw her husband again unexpectedly, so she chose to die rather than face what she viewed as dishonor. Japanese culture was traditionally very strongly marked by their own particular sort of honor culture, and this isn't so dissimilar from, say, a samurai committing seppuku to die honorably.
One last point: part of the reason that the villagers are so afraid of the samurai is that they're ronin, or masterless samurai. Ronin were considered to have lost their honor by surviving or being released by their masters', and this is set just at the end of a period of massive and complex warring between various feudal lords, or daimyo, which eventually led to the unification of Japan under its last Shogunate-a military dictatorship led by the head of a powerful samurai noble clan, the shogun. The Tokugawa Shogunate lasted from the early 1600s until the Meiji Restoration, when the Emperor became a direct ruler again. The problem is, dishonored ronin often turned to banditry, as they no longer had any other socially accepted way to practice the only skills they knew. So from the villagers' perspective, the samurai are just as liable to decide to prey upon the village as to prove honorable in defending it.
@@etepeteseat7424 There's actually a crueler reason Shino's father lashed out at her. Even into the 20th Century, most marriages were through omiai--arranged marriages. It's not that non-virginal women in Feudal Japan had no place in society. For instance, many were concubines. But now that Shino is no longer virginal, she is more likely to be rejected in an arranged marriage. When her father calls her "Damaged Goods," he meant it literally.
@@BrandonLikesMovies I forgot to mention one other thing. It was illegal Medieval Japan for members of a lower caste to kill a Samurai or member of a higher caste. So from the perspective of the Samurai, the discovery of the stolen armaments was a heinous crime. And leaving the bandit--a ronin--to be killed by the villagers was also a betrayal of laws meant to protect Samurai like them.
One example of how these norms affected Japanese culture is actually Japanese rope bondage. It was originally invented as a way to transport and restrain prisoners of war, and different patterns of ties were specific to different classes--so you would know by looking if the prisoner was a daimyo, a samurai, or a conscripted peasant. Because if a soldier executed a prisoner of a higher class, they would have to be executed too.
@@davewolf6256 Sure, but she's damaged due to her loss of virginity. That was my point.
Arranged marriages were the norm in Europe at the time, too. Though I grant you that I neglected to delve into the finer points of the topic. I just didn't think it would be as helpful to my point, but I appreciate the additional context.
"Some GREAT acting from this guy right here..."
As it turns out, this guy is Toshiro Mifune. His legacy on film is incredible. He is by far the most prolific and well respected actor of the entire genre. Please please look into more of his work, for your sake. You'll love it.
If you like Shakespeare at all, Throne of Blood is the greatest telling of Macbeth there's ever been. Ya know, in my opinion anyway.
His performance in High and Low is one of the greatest in film history.
He also made a Mexican movie called "Animas Trujano: El Hombre Importante (The Important Man)" with Ismael Rodriguez and I have to say, I judged this one by the cover. Seriously, look at the cover of Animas Trujano and the Mexican in the cover is none other than Toshiro Mifune, so I gave it a watch and damn, he was phenomenal in it so much that his acting was above everybody else's (Mexicans in a Mexican film) with the exception of Antonio Aguilar who was on the same level as him.
This is coming from a Mexican by the way so I think he did well in portraying one.
@@jib1823 he's great in Hell in the Pacific with Lee Marvin, as well.
@@jib1823 Wait....what? Toshiro in a Mexican movie??? Ayyyy! I've never heard of it before! Tracking it DOWN!
One of my favorite Toshiro Mifune stories is when he was cast to play Admiral Yamamoto in Midway, he was so honored to play the role that by way of expressing his gratitude he had a katana special made that he presented to the director. To hear the director talk about it, I don't think he realized what a huge compliment Mifune had payed him.
Toshiro Mifune- the guy with the giant sword, was one of Japan's greatest actors
He has his star on the Hollywood walk
He played Toranaga in the epic mini series Shogun.
I'd argue he was one of the best actors in the history of film.
@@Theomite his performance in High and Low, at the very least, is among the greatest ever.
Once in talks to play Obi-Wan Kenobi
So there were subtitles in the video, but for some reason RUclips deleted them during the upload so I apologize for that! I'm going to go in and manually type out captions for the video later tonight if you'd like to come back then
Can you react to saving private Ryan to band of brothers and the Pacific
Yess please! Thank you for doing this for your fans
I’ve seen this film so many times I don’t even need the subtitles. ;) Please watch more from Kurosawa - Ikiru, Yojimbo, High and Low, Rashomon, Red Beard, Ran, Drunken Angel, Stray Dog... so many greats spanning 4 decades.
I've watched it recently that I basically knew what they were saying, that plus your commentary I thought filled out any gaps. Great work!
i'll come back but i dropped a like for you already
The reason why the people looked shocked at the Samurai at start shaving his head to look like a monk to fool the thief, was because a Samurai who cuts his top-knot off was no longer a Samurai. He was a Ronin, but he was willing to put aside traditions in order to help people.
And through the length of the film, Kambei grows his hair back, re-earning his samurai status.
That and I don't think the idea of using a disguise to fool a thief/kidnapper ever occurred to commonfolk like those townspeople.
That scene is based on what a real swordmaster by the name of Kamiizumi Nobutsuna did.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamiizumi_Nobutsuna
Symbolically, shaving the head represents renunciation of the material world towards spirituality. It is like he is becoming a monk himself by putting aside his ego and status to save a child.
@@deadby15 thank you for info
Kurosawa was the master of composition, editing, and especially blocking. His films are masterclasses in filmmaking.
I know nothing about all that. What is blocking?
Elle Sinky It’s the positioning of actors in a scene
@@Freshwater121 And, yes, Kurosawa was a master of it. Rashamon gives you a chance to really see him at work when he has only a few actors.
his use of environment is second to none
About the look Shino gives Katsushiro at the end. The night before what they believed to be the final battle, which could cost them their lives, they both chose to cross class lines and be together that night. They expected to die.
Yet, after the battle, the world is returned to status quo, meaning that Shino is returned to the farmer/peasant class (the lowest class). She did not “play” him. The look they shared is the realization that they cannot be together anymore due to that class structure. If you look closer, Shino is crying while singing and planting as she is returned to her lower class and Katsushiro returns to his upper-class samurai status.
My thought on the look.
Great reaction as always. I am enjoying your selections of films to watch. It sets you apart from other reactors. Be well.
Yes, they are both trapped by society’s expectations of their positions. She had feelings for him and likewise but they existed in what might as well be a dream world now for them, as the bandits are now defeated.
The scene is, IMO, symbolizing that Katsushiro, after seeing the real consequences of battle, abandons the life of a Samurai and decides to live as a farmer, so he crosses class boundaries also.
I believe their sub plot is left ambiguous in the end.
12 Angry Men is a must!!! If you haven’t watched it already.
Absolutely excellent movie
I agree, and it's so rewatchable too! I watch that yearly along with The Godfather and Apocalypto.
The only issue is that the dialogue and acting is so relentlessly awesome that I can't imagine pausing to react!
12 Angry Men is a classic
"Ikiru" is one of my favourite movies.
Thanks for checking out the video! Been a big fan of your videos for a while! I'll definitely check out Ikiru soon!
@@BrandonLikesMovies Likewise! Keep up the content man, I love it.
Ikiru is one of the greatest films ever.
Ikriu is great, also Red Beard and Dodesukaden. In fact I like best all the movies that the critics dont think are his best!
@@redcardinalist Agreed, in the light of Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Ran etc those movies are underlooked. But I'm glad people like us can enjoy and appreciate those little gems.
If you start watching Ingmar Bergman or more Kurosawa films I’m gonna flip this is so exciting!
I'm down!
Brandon Likes Movies Yojimbo and Sanjuro are fantastic! There are so many to choose from. Hidden Fortress inspired George Lucas to create Star Wars.
@@BrandonLikesMovies Casablanca, Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho, Citizen Kane, Chinatown, 12 Angry Men, Sunset Boulevarde 😀😀😀
For Ingmar Bergman I would definitely suggest starting with "Wild Strawberries", "Smiles of a Summer's Night", or "The Seventh Seal". He had many other masterpieces but some of his movies are more experimental and might not be the most accessible intro.
Awesome.. one of my favorite Kurosawa movies is "High & Low".. it takes place in modern 1950s Japan, great moral dilemma plot!
Also, checkout Hitchcock 's "Lifeboat" a great and unique character study
When you realize the four samurai who died were all killed by guns, and comprehend the cultural implications of that...
Ironic too cuz when one of them chastises his comrades about the atrocities Japanese commit against civilians...
The Japanese military committed some of the worst and most heinous atrocities in human history during World War 2. I am Chinese and lost many family members to their soldiers.
@@acdragonrider more chinese died to their govt in history than anyone else, keep crying but get back in the wall
Samurai used guns...
@@thenorthstarsamurai about AC1600 . the half of guns on this planet were in japan. my ancestors were making most advanced guns.
@@ruleoftwo6174 You can criticize the Chinese government's treatment of its own civilians while also not discounting the atrocities committed by the Japanese military on Chinese civilians during WWII. They are both terrible, you know.
Rashomon is another one to check out. Heck, any Kurosawa!
This is my favourite Kurosawa film and the film that caused the Academy Awards to create the best foreign film award. Not only is each version of the story subjective, but each is representative of a different version of samurai films that existed at the time. Cannot recommend this film enough.
High and Low is probably my favorite. Mifune's performance there is fucking unreal.
Rashomon, Ran, Dersou Ouzala, Sanjuro, Kagemusha, Yojimbo, Throne of Blood ......
The Lower Depths FTW!
React to City Of God, it's a really good movie! Greetings from Brazil!
YES
React to Brazil, it’s a really good movie!
@@oaf-77 YES to both Brazil and City of God ;p
AMAZING MOVIE!!!
I'm from Brazil to.Greetings as well.
29:53 - I always loved that last shot - the four graves on the hill forming a wavy line against the sky as it fades to black. Sort of a version of the yin-yang symbol, equal parts black and white meshing together in harmony. Compare it to the first shot of the film - the bandits riding over the horizon, with a long straight line for the horizon instead of the wavy line.
And I absolutely can't get enough of Toshiro Mifune (Kikuchiyo) in this movie - his acting is so physical, almost like a dancer or something. Mifune and Kurosawa made several movies together - sort of like a Japanese Scorsese and DeNiro (or Scorsese and DeNiro are an American Kurosawa and Mifune).
Yes. That shot is beautiful. 👍🏼👍🏼
Kikuchiyo (Toshirô Mifune) is one of my favourite characters in any film.
His arc was awesome
Brandon Likes Movies Love that you brought up the intimidation factor of the massive sword, because it's the perfect representation of his character.
@@BrandonLikesMovies I would definitely recommend Rashomon, since you enjoyed both the direction and cast.
@@BrandonLikesMovies with all due respect to Mifune, watch Ikiru starring Takashi Shimura for a lesson in understated(?) acting. Also, after that watch The Bucket List (Freeman and Nicholson).
He steals the show.
Ran is another great film you should check out.
Agreed!
Absolute masterpiece, a must watch
Ran is a whole religious experience
Totally agree
it drags on at the end
A bunch of firsts in this movie.
1. First action film where a 'team' is assembled to fight the bad guys
2. First use of slow motion in an action sequence
3. First instance of a 'hoard' cresting a hill and galloping down on the defenders below
It's also unique in not having 'balletic' sword fights and being more brutal and realistic in its fights.
If you have the Criterian version of the movie, the commentary soundtrack is well worth listening to.
i would also like to add: one of, if not the first example of a character being introduced in a dangerous situation and demonstrates their abilities (kambei wit the thief)
And also first use of 'The Wipe' and where the protagonist does something heroic prior to the main mission (IE: Kambei posing as a monk to get the drop on the kidnapper)
Dude, I'm so glad you're watching this film as it's one of the greatest samurai epics ever made. This film is 254 minutes long! Man, that's the same length as the Oscar Winner Cleopatra. This film was nominated for Best Foreign language film at the 1955 Academy Awards.
It's a very long film indeed, but the time flew by when I watched it!
I'm pretty sure you meant 204 min (3hr24min).
It's so great to see a reaction to any Kurosawa movie. His whole filmography is super influential. He's everyone's favorite director's favorite director.
Seven Samurai is the first feature film I was ever introduced to as a child, after watching in on my father watching it and sitting down to join him. That was over 31 years ago, when I was just 5 and a half years old. My second film ever was Star Wars. These two films together, shaped my love of Japanese culture and the sci-fi genre. I cannot even begin to express just how happy I am for you to experience this film for the first time. :-)
That’s called Good Parenting!
And George Lucas has commented in interviews that he was heavily influenced by Akira Kurosawa's movies, drawing directly on The Hidden Fortress for the form of Star Wars: A New Hope.
ruclips.net/video/TEJ6CzG9zVc/видео.html
"This baby...is me!"
Heartbreaking.
I highly recommend you to watch The Warriors 1979.
"Come out and plaaayyyy"
Classic!
Pablo M-F - Beat me to it. 😂😂😂😂
Or maybe “Come out and plaaay-yaaay!!” Iconic.
Good choice!
CAN YOU DIG IT
Kurosawa was such a genius! He has so many great films you could react to.
I definitely want to watch more from him
@@BrandonLikesMovies I'd suggest "Yojimbo" for your next Kurosawa movie. Toshiro Mifune is amazing in it!
You should consider watching 'High and Low'. It is set in the 20th century, unlike other Kurosawa films, and it's one of his best movies.
Alan Sánchez-Tembleque More of his films were set in modern times than not. It’s just that more people know about his samurai and epic films. Also check out Ikiru, Stray Dog, Drunken Angel.
@@BrandonLikesMovies One of his last films "Ran" would be a great choice,in glorious colour !! I actually saw this in a theatre when it first came out, which of course makes me oooooold :)
Loved this reaction! Another kurosawa film i would recommend is 'ran' another samurai film but it's kurosawa's adaptation of shakespeare's king lear and the scale of this film is just as ambitious as seven samurai and it's in colour as well with some of the most amazing shots and battle sequences i've ever seen in a film
I honestly love these reactions. You have so much insight and are just a delight to watch.
Thanks Owen! That means a lot!
Sidney Lumet once asked Kurosawa about a panning shot he had, and whether there was any deeper meaning behind where he decided to start and end the pan. Kurosawa just replied, "I chose to frame the shot that way, because if I pan any further to the right, you'd see a factory, and if I pan any further to the left, you'd see a modern building."
I'd recommend "Throne of Blood", it's Akira Kurosawa's take on Macbeth.... and it has the greatest practical effect action scene you will EVER see!
Yes, YES. i greatly recommend you this movie as well !!
Back in college, I was in a history of cinema class, which was held in a big lecture hall. The teacher was about to show the final minutes of this film as an example for something we were discussing. My buddy were in the very front row and neither of us had seen it yet, but we were aware of its reputation. So rather than have it spoiled for us, we both got up and walked out while the teacher cued up the scene. lol
I'm glad I did, because it was such a great film once I finally got to see it not long after. I'm glad you enjoyed it, too.
I just rewatched this film 3 days ago and loved every minute of it.. it was an incredible cinematic achievement by one of the greatest filmmakers ever..
I recommend you watch and react to his other stuff including:
High and Low 1963
The Bad Sleep Well 1960
Rashomon 1950
Yojimbo 1961
I’m pretty sure you’re gonna enjoy it
"7 Samurai" is a masterpiece! A lot of years have passed since the last time I watched it, so I guess it's a good time to revisite this great movie. Also, thanks a lot for sharing your reaction. Your videos are very well crafted and enjoyable as well.
I am honestly jealous that you got to experience this movie for the first time. This is 'that' movie for me. The one I would chose to watch again for the first time. Glad I got to live vicariously through you though.
The character Kikuchiyo is played by Toshiro Mifune, one of if not *the* most prolific actor of the Samurai genre of films. The large sword he carries with him is called a nodachi, pretty much a longer version of the katana. However, because of Mifune's height a regular Nodachi did not seem to be much larger from an audiences point of view, so Kurosawa had Mifune's sword made custom to his height. Kurosawa wanted Kikuchiyo to wield a ridiculous almost unwieldy weapon to emphasize Kikuchiyo's character.
Also, thanks for watching my *Favorite* movie of all time. I know you get a lot of requests for movies but another great Kurosawa film also staring Takashi Shimura (the lead Samurai) is "Ikiru". It's a very different kind of movie from Seven Samurai as it takes place in what was modern Japan at the time. But be warned... it is a heart breaker.
Thanks for putting in the subs. This is definitely one of my favorite movies. Always happy to see someone discover it. Love your reactions man, keep it up.
You are going to love "Yojimbo" by Kurosawa as well. Fantastic classics from a legendary director!
THREE WORDS SIR: "THE GREAT ESCAPE"
Rashomon has already been recommended, so I'll thrown in my support for that!
Another great film to consider is "Kwaidan" (1965; directed by Masaki Kobayashi). It's an anthology of Japanese ghost stories, compiled by Lafcadio Hearn (a fascinating figure himself who introduced the West to Japanese culture through his writings).
The artistry, cinematography, acting... It's stunning, and I think you'd enjoy it :)
ALSO: Ugetsu (1953)
Left field pick but a great one. I was surprised and excited when I saw the thumbnail.
I think what makes the movie so great is not just how modern it seems in teens of storytelling, but how it’s really the prototype for action adventure films that followed up to today. Assembling the team, the heroes all having different traits (the wise leader, the apprentice, the cool master warrior, the outsider, etc), the big battle sequences, twists, seeming successes that end up backfiring/coming at an unforeseen cost, the romance subplot, even the slow motion sequences. So great.
I think where it seems the villagers used/played the samurai is more about the rigid class differences of medieval Japan. Which is why the villagers go back to their business and the girl ignores Katsuhiro. At least that’s what I’ve read, though I like your take on it too.
Request Cinema Paradiso or The Good The Bad The Ugly to tribute legendary composer Ennio Morricone
I believe this is one of greatest movies of all time by the greatest director of all time, it so far ahead of its time and in some ways ahead of movies today, its battle sequences are so realistic and the storytelling makes the almost 4 hour movie flow so well.
Also toshiro mifune is a great actor hes the star in the majority of kurosawa films and hes role in yojimbo is iconic
Toshiro Mifune is such an icon. He steals the show in every scene (movie) he's in.
Thank you so much for this channel. Not only its entertaining, but Im also getting some new perspectives on my favourite films from you. And HUGE probs for doing reaction to historically important film like this. I love it :)
At last! I was worried that after watching this movie you decided to abandon your current life to become a samurai or something.😉
Gave it some thought 😂
It's a happy coincidence that this uploaded a week after I watched it for the first time myself. I loved it. You can really see the roots and the influence it has on modern day movies. Just the film making style is so prevalant these days. And the performance from both Mifune Toshirou and Shimura Takashi are so great! The fact that this is 210 minutes, black and white and subtitled and it still managed to grab one's attention is so astounding! I love it. Am definitely gonna check out his other works like Hidden Fortress and Youjinbo
Where all the “small group of assembled warriors facing a large evil group” model came from. Kurosawa was a genius, and his movie Ikiru was my favorite of his classics. It is a philosophical exploration, based on Tolstoy.
I really enjoyed watching your reactions to this great movie. Thanks for selecting it and I hope to see even more of some of the older classics, foreign or domestic. Keep them coming..
I must commend you on your choice of films. This one is an absolute classic...daresay perfect. You made many astute observations. Great job! Now it may appear that the villagers gave no respect to the fallen samurai, but the placement of their gravesites, at the uppermost portion of the mound, denotes absolute respect and high honor. Though it may not be obvious, it would appear that a few days have gone by, for the village looks repaired and there was some type of funeral ceremony as evidenced by the mound and the markers for the dead which took at least one day or more to accomplish. Time has passed and we see the villagers in their ritual and seasonal planting of rice. A festival like atmosphere of people working together. And ultimately, the young Samurai and the young peasant girl know that their love can never be, they're of two different classes, traveling in two different worlds that rarely ever combined. Feudal Japan had castes systems which prohibited, mainly by social judgement, certain marital and physical unions. Theirs was a naive and young love that was doomed by the strictest codes of honor and fears of judgement and shame.
This movie is the reason why i prefer that movie from samurai cinema than others because it have so much heart on it, the story isn’t about only the protection of the peasants but creating so many story around that like Kikuchiyo being a samurai, katsushiro starting he’s life as a samurai, the samurai leader as a real samurai to admire, creating he’s life in that movie, the action so many stuff, the music of the movie have so many story and a masterpiece in everything etc in what i can say about this movie.
This channel is like reliving my days learning film, but I'm some kind of reincarnated Bob Ross - hope you delve into Yojimbo, Rashomon, and maybe Kagemusha! Subbed!
My favorite film of the 1950's bar none. My favorite foreign language film of all time, with several other Kurosawa films on that top 10 list. The use of motion, the sparse and yet vital pieces of dialog, the character development, the action sequences, the cinematography, the use of nature and weather, the acting, the writing, the editing...there is a reason this film is included in so many film study collegiate classes.
Other Kurosawa films that are well worth watching are
Hidden Fortress 1958, Yojimbo 1961 and Sanjuro 1962
Ikiru is good too, no action though.
Yojimbo is the one he should react to. Another great Mifune performance and another one that was remade into a classic Western.
I love that you picked this great movie and I enjoyed your reactions. I could talk endlessly about Seven Samurai but I'll try to keep it brief!
Firstly, I'm sure it's been mentioned a hundred times already but, the actor at 4:00 is Toshiro Mifune. He usually has that seething intensity in his movies. The American equivalent would be DeNiro/Brando. He's one of the best actors in Japanese cinema. A classic Mifune movie is "Yojimbo" (which was also remade into a Bruce Willis movie called Last Man Standing). Watch Yojimbo, I know you'll enjoy it based on your reactions here.
Second, the leader of the Samurai is played by Takashi Shimura. His American equivalent is probably a cross between Jimmy Stewart and Henry Fonda. He plays the mature older leader, professors and doctors. His most famous movie is probably "Ikiru", and I really recommend that one too. It's a beautiful film and a great example of that (almost uniquely) Japanese quality that you witnessed at the end of Seven Samurai. That is to say "mono no aware" or the "pathos of being".
Third, Toshiro and Shimura played in several movies together. The best one, in my opinion, is "Drunken Angel". This isn't a perfect film, but it has several amazing scenes and both these actors really shine when they are in the same room.
Lastly, I really encourage you to re-watch Seven Samurai and listen to the DVD commentary of Michael Jeck. It's been voted the best DVD commentary several times and for good reason.
How about some Hitchcock movies.
Watching this with you I realize how much of the story and meaning I missed the first time I saw it. Thanks for opening my eyes.
Since you reacted to this awarded masterpiece, I feel it's only right that you react to one of its Best Picture runner ups for that years Japanese Film Awards. You should check out the original Godzilla film from 1954 directed by Ishiro Honda. It's without a doubt one of my favorite Japanese made films.
You should react to Godzilla '54. It's such a good movie! It'll really change anyone's perspective on Godzilla as a whole.
Proof there is such a thing as a perfect movie.
This is my family's favorite movie to watch, so glad you decided to react to it! If you want to see another movie with amazing cinematography, I would recommend Hero with Jet Ji, one of the most beautiful movies I have ever watched!
Watched this for the first time recently. Such an amazing movie. Really got me hyped for the Ghost of Tsushima game, which is equally amazing.
I rewatched this and Yojimbo in preparation for Ghost if Tsushima, will activate Kurosawa Mode for my second playthrough.
@@metalmugen I still need to see Yojimbo. Well, I still need to work through all of Kurosawa's major films. Someday though!
@@rijlqanturis625 same, I wanted to see Ran for the longest time, gonna watch it this week for sure.
The shot selection and precise camera work is unreal for 1954, whoever recommended this deserves props. Might be a good time to suggest Takeshi Kitano's "Zatoichi", a modern take on the old classic serial. I watched in a nearly empty theater and had an absolute blast. Or if you fancy a very different foreign film experience give a chance to "Black Cat, White Cat" (1998), an incredible journey that will have you thinking for days. And if you return to Michael Mann please consider "Public Enemies", didn't get enough love in my opinion. Good to see ya again, mate!
The first Godzilla movie is great and I think you would like it since you enjoyed this, plus it also stars Takashi Shimura. The same actor who plays Kambei Shimada in Seven Samurai.
07:34 When Yohei tells Rikichi the rice was stolen, and Katsushiro throws both of them coins to buy more rice, that was an important moment. It showed that Katsushiro came from wealthy means as opposed to the rest of the group.
yeeeeeeeeeeees finally a channel that reacts to different kind of movies and doesn't just stagnate on pure blockbusters.
It's not the best of master Kurosawa, but it's perfect to start.
It would be nice if you react to a movie directed by a woman, there is not much of that on youtube either. And I recommend you the channel "Every frame a painting" who has a video about the master and his particular way of composing the movement. It's a really good video.
I recommended the amazing The Piano (1993) by Jane Campion as well as Lost in Translation by Sophia Coppola, do you have other recommendations for Brandon?
He's seen most movies by Kathryn Bigelow I think, like The Hurt Locker
Yes, the Piano!!!
"It's not the best of master Kurosawa"
Well there's a sentence I never thought I'd read about Seven Samurai. I am curious though, what is Kurosawa's best film in your opinion.
I’ve always said that 七人の侍 (widescreen, long version) is my favorite film of all time, so how could it not be the director’s best (of the 20ish films of his I’ve seen)?
Kurosawa was an absolute genius. To say this movie was one of the most influential in cinema history is an understatement. When it came out in 1954, it was so ahead of its time. It's the archetype of the action movie: exposition of the situation, assembling the crew, planning for battle, then climax at the end. This structure seems like a cliche today but it was groundbreaking at the time, as was the cinematography, the shots composition, the editing, the use of music, the "screen wipe" transitions (famously reused in Star Wars), etc. In a way, Kurosawa almost invented modern cinema.
Here's a very interesting Wikipedia article about Kurosawa's work and how it influenced cinema history: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filmmaking_technique_of_Akira_Kurosawa
I hope you watch other Akira Kurosawa films. He was heavily inspired by John Ford in his directorial style, since he was a massive Western fan. George Lucas has a huge fan of Kurosawa, and Star Wars is based off of the story of the Kurasowa film The Hidden Fortress.
In the prequels, there is a scene or two where Yoda touches his bald head the same way as the lead samurai here.
@@boshooda Indeed he does! I always thought about that looking familiar and didn't put it together until now. Thank you for mentioning that!
@@My-Name-Isnt-Important Yup! there are so many references in Star War Movies to Kurosawa. He was like a mentor to several American Filmmakers of that era.
Even the term for that period in Japanese history when all the clans were fighting for local power, "sengoku jidai", inspired the word "Jedi" for _Star Wars._
The Hidden Fortress is awesome
The guy carrying the long sword, Toshiro Mifune, played Toranaga in the miniseries "Shogun", also starring Richard Chamberlain (lead role) and John-Rhys Davies. It's an absolutely fantastic story about an english pilot (Chamberlain) and his ship crew that gets stranded in Japan in the 1600s. Quite the clash of cultures, if you will. I highly recommend you watch it (if you haven't already) if you find the samurai era interesting at all. :)
This is the greatest film I have ever seen
It's really fantastic that you're doing such a wide range of movies/genres. The reactions and analysis at the end have been really fun to watch!
FYI, certain movie reactions that you did aren't included in the playlist such as The Last Samurai & The Last Starfighter.
Oh thanks for the heads up! I'll add them in
One of my favorite films. Glad you are choosing high quality films to react to.
Hopefully you make a deep dive into Kurosawas filmography. As mentioned a few times Yojimbo should def be one of the next ones for another samurai flick and Ikiru for a more modern type movie, that movie is just friggin beautiful. Dersu Uzala is a more under appreciated film too which is great. Love the channel, I came aboard when you did Children of Men. Knew right then that this was a channel for me.
Thank you for watching Seven Samurai. This is my favorite movie and watch every few years. I really enjoyed your reaction. What I love about this move is actors move and not camera or plops unlike action movies these days. About celebration of the farmers in the last scene; they are planting rice accompanied by music. They are showing gratitude to gods of agriculture and asking protection. As for Shino's silence is she loves him, but she is farmer so she will live and die in her village. She and whole village knows Katushiro is a samurai, so he will leave and seek employment with a chief of samurai clan and marry a girl from the same class.
Oh my god what??? My favorite movie ever! And, 100% on rotten tomatoes.
Okay, now to watch the reaction. :) :)
Believe it or not, the reason why the western remake of this movie was called The Magnificent Seven was because when the movie was released in the US, the name of the movie was changed from Seven Samurai to The Magnificent Seven.
React to Boogie Nights! It's such a classic, love your channel!
That one is on my watch list 🙂
@@BrandonLikesMovies awesome :)
No way! I'm commenting before I watch your reaction, but this might be the greatest movie ever made. Never had a 3 and a half hour movie gone by so quickly. Glad you watched this.
I still need to see this movie ill come back after
Let me know what you think of it after watching!
You won’t be disappointed
YES!!! One of my all-time favs. Glad you loved it too!
all clint eastwood westerns are basically retellings of Kurosawa movies
Especially the Dollars Trilogy
I know of A Fist Full Of Dollars but which other Clint Eastwood western is based on a Kurosawa movie?
Seven samurai is one of my favorite movies of all time
Wait so does Brandon know Japanese? Or is it just that the video he's showing here doesn't have subtitles lol
Brandon is fluent in 42 languages.
Yeah, it's just the video for us. You can see his eyes reading subtitles
The video doesnt have subtitles??
Brandon Likes Movies It doesn’t
There's subtitles in my edit but for some reason RUclips removed them
Greatest movie ever. So happy you decided to see this. Love your channel. Awesome reaction!
These two movies came to mind as I sat here watching:
_Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story_ (1993) (or any of Bruce Lee’s movies) and _Soldier_ (1998).
Soldier is a better version of avatar. But then so is Red Scorpion.
I think Bruce Lee’s best movie is Fist of Fury (1972)
Oaf - My top 3 Bruce Lee films are:
1: Enter the Dragon (1973)
2: The Big Boss (a.k.a. Fist of Fury) (1971)
3: Fist of Fury (a.k.a. the Chinese Connection) (1972)
But honestly, it’s hard to choose between the two Fist of Fury movies . . . 🤔
I liked Way of the Dragon for the humor and Enter the Dragon because the overall production was just amazing. But I think Fist of Fury (or Chinese connection) was the one that most exemplified his idea of what martial arts meant to him.
He never got to finish Game of Death, so we’ll never get to see his vision for that movie.
Oaf - That’s a great summation. 👍🏼👍🏼
??? What does Dragon have to do with Seven Samurai?
Now you know why Akira kurosawa is regarded as one of the great masters, and respected by all.
Highly recommend that you should watch citizen Kane and Casablanca
Yes! So glad you are watching this Kurosawa classic, you should check out Yojombo or Sanjuro too, being big a influence on Spaghetti Westerns.
legendary film .
btw my family really enjoys rewatching these films with you. your comments are so intelligent and compassionate. thank you.
I do not know if you have seen “the big Lebowski “ it’s a cult classic with some amazing humor I’d recommend you to watch this for some more diversity in genres.
I am so excited to live vicariously through you as you watch it for the first time! I remember the first time I saw it I was profoundly moved. I watched more of Kurosawa's films (Dreams, his last film, I highly recommend) and ended up discovering my favorute director Ingmar Bergman. I hope you'll do a reaction to The Seventh Seal, which is actually a favorite film of Patton Oswalt's.
Rewatching this reminds me of Lawrence of Arabia.
I love that you love it. Mifune and Kurosawa are an epic team. They had a parting of the ways, but not before they made many movies together. Keep watching classic films!
I highly reccomend Train To Busan!❤greatest film EVER😍😍
Love that one!
My dad showed all of Kurosawa's films to me as a sort of ritual we had for years. Teaching me the classics. I loved this movie for the storytelling at first, then the composition and then all of it. Loved your reaction.
Come on, You're always reacting to my favourites. This is actually my favourite classic movie
Great reaction and I love that you react to old classic like this.
If you want more Kurosawa I recommend "Ran".
All of his movies are great though. Akira Kurosawa was a master filmmaker.
My favorite part was the farmer who pretended to be a Samurai, in the end even though mortally wounded he completed his charge and killed the one who killed him.
The Samurai say "Even if my head is cut off I will complete one more task". So in death, he became a Samurai.
Finally someone puts up a reaction vid to Seven Samurai :-) Loved your "beats longest movie I've seen for this channel" and "didn't waist any time" comments.
I believe this was the first film where a team of specialists is put together to do a job, a movie trope now, and the first riders-coming-over-the-top-of-a-hill shot. Also, if the wind is blowing you bet it is because Kurosawa wanted it.
Definitely go and see Ran, Yojimbo and Hidden Forest. The first one is a King Lear adaptation, the last two also star the magnificent Mifune in the leading role.
Love all ur commentary reactions it’s good have more input and appreciation for older films like this
You've got a great channel here, Brandon. I appreciate the diversity of films and your thoughtful commentary. I'm happy to subscribe and look forward to liking other videos as well. Thank you for featuring foreign films that don't typically make the rounds on reaction channels.
I highly recommend watching Hero (2002) by Zhang Yimou. It's a Chinese wuxia film, but its narrative structure is a tribute to Kurosawa's Rashomon (1950), which others have rightly recommended. Hero is a masterpiece and one of the best films to ever come out of East Asia.
Peace and health to you and yours.