Release Date:
09/05/2006
We hate to say it, but film nerds are completely right: this is one of the best movies ever made. Sure it's long (203 minutes), in black and white and subtitled, but it's the inspiration for almost every underdog movie ever made since (including the classic, The Magnificent Seven). Made in 1954, it's about an undisclosed number of diverse samurai (okay
there's seven) working together to defend helpless Japanese farmers being terrorized by bandits. It's loaded with lessons of redemption, battle and honor. The movie is spread across two discs and the third disc is loaded with extras. Aside from the two commentaries, each of the three documentaries last around an hour, if not longer. Basically, this is a weekend in itself and would make any self-respecting DVD collecting samurai shout "Bonzai!" (We think that means "buy this before it's no longer available," since Criterion discs are always limited, Daniel-san.)