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The cinematic
arts have lost two of its greatest practitioners
just within the last year. The first to pass was
the formidable Toshiro Mifune, who died in early
December of 1997. Mifune was considered by many to
be Japan's leading actor, and by many more to be
one of the world's greatest. The second passing was
that of Mifune's longtime friend and collaborator
Akira Kurosawa. During Kurosawa's long and prolific
career, he delivered a collection of films that
have personified and influenced Hollywood films
more Hollywood's own. Considering the loss of both
men, it is fitting that The Seven Samurai, the epic
high point of both men's careers, would make its
best showing ever in a newly restored DVD edition
from Criterion.
The Japanese
made The Seven Samurai, looks and sound like a
prototypical Hollywood western--a group of farmers,
threatened by a nomadic band of thieves, decide to
hire wandering samurai to protect them. The samurai
eventually collected by the villagers represent a
wide variety of ideologies, personalities and
characters, all united in defending the villagers:
the wise and experienced Shimada (Takashi Shimura),
who becomes the group's tactical and emotional
leader; the manic and foolhardy Kikuchiyo (Mifune,
in his seventh and best known Kurosawa film); the
young and impressionable Katsushiro (Isao Kimura);
and others. As the samurai gather in the village,
they also recruit the farmers, teaching them to
fight and preparing for the epic battle ahead.
The fact that a
description of The Seven Samurai's story line
sounds like a generic summary of a cliché
plot is indicative of just how influential the film
has been since its Japanese premiere in 1954.
Hollywood has copied it once (The Magnificent Seven
with Yul Brenner) and imitated it endlessly. The
film is a superb study in character and motivation
with beautifully framed images and seamlessly
choreographed fight scenes, both of which hold an
incredible power. The image of Yohei's gnarled hand
collecting spilled rice from the floor sticks just
as firmly in the mind as Kikuchiyo's valiant (and
arrogant) stand against onrushing horsemen. Perhaps
the film's greatest accomplishment is its ability
to sustain interest throughout its nearly three and
a half hour length (the film was originally
released in the US in a 140 min cut, but was
restored to its original length in the late
80‚s). The film never drags and even holds up
to multiple viewings.
Criterion's DVD
edition of The Seven Samurai is superb in every
respect. The picture has been heavily restored, and
looks better than ever. The black and white picture
exhibits strong detail, with crisp edges and good
gray scale. Shadow detail is strongly delineated
and contrast is high. The image occasionally
shimmers as a result of excessive aging of the
original elements, but overall the restoration is
by far the best presentation the film has received
on any medium (to include Criterion's excellent
laserdisc edition). Further, the film is presented
uninterrupted, more than reason enough to add this
particular version to anyone's collection.
The Japanese
soundtrack is undistinguished mono similar to the
previous laser release. However, restoration work
has also been done on the soundtrack--and the
difference is audible. The soundtrack has been
cleaned up considerably by adjusting level
consistency and replacing audio dropouts which had
resulted from lost or damaged materials. The result
is a solid and pleasing (even if monaural) music
and effects track to accompany a visually stunning
film.
The film is
supplemented by the U.S. theatrical trailer,
running screen-specific audio commentary, and a five-minute
featurette on the restoration process. The trailer
should be avoided by anyone who hasn't seen the
film, as it reveals integral plot developments. The
commentary is by noted Japanese film historian
Michael Jeck. Jeck's commentary is interesting not
only for the many insights he provides into
Kurosawa's work in general and this film in
particular, but also for the comments regarding
Japanese culture, an integral part of the film's
story. Jeck's comments are well worth the extra
time it takes to listen. The featurette detailing
the restoration process consists mostly of a series
of comparison shots between the film prior to its
restoration and the film after the work has been
done. The comparison provides the viewer with a
better understanding of the work that went into
improving the print, as well as the general plight
of most older films.
Toshiro Mifune
has said that he was proud of nothing he had done
other than with Kurosawa. Criterion's DVD edition
of The Seven Samurai does the memory of both men
proud.
Ratings
(out of five stars and in relationship to original
age of the picture/sound elements):
Picture:
***1/2
Sound: ***
Supplements: ***1/2
Price/Value: ****
*
= not worthy of a DIVX disc; ** = below par; *** =
good; **** = excellent; ***** = kill your mother to
get a copy
Equipment
List: Pioneer DVD-Laserdisc Combo Player /
Panasonic DVD Player / 34" ProScan 16x9 Television
/ Pioneer Receiver with Polk Audio Speakers /
Pioneer AC-3 Decoder
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