Lewis Beale wrote in the Los Angeles Times when the 2016 Americanized sequel, directed bty Antoine Fuqua and starring Denzel Washington:
The plot of director Akira Kurosawa's 1954 classic, "Seven Samurai," can be summed up in one sentence: Mercenaries are hired to protect a farming village from marauding bandits. Yet within that simple framework is a rich tale involving self-sacrifice, honor, male bonding and sympathy for the underdog. And that's why Kurosawa's masterpiece continues to inspire filmmakers and other artists.
Film critic Roger Ebert wrote of the film (he gave it 4 out of 4 stars):
Akira Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai" (1954) is not only a great film in its own right, but the source of a genre that would flow through the rest of the century. The critic Michael Jeck suggests that this was the first film in which a team is assembled to carry out a mission—an idea which gave birth to its direct Hollywood remake, "The Magnificent Seven," as well as "The Guns of Navarone," "The Dirty Dozen" and countless later war, heist and caper movies. Since Kurosawa's samurai adventure "Yojimbo" (1960) was remade as "A Fistful of Dollars" and essentially created the spaghetti Western, and since this movie and Kurosawa's "The Hidden Fortress" inspired George Lucas' "Star Wars" series, it could be argued that this greatest of filmmakers gave employment to action heroes for the next 50 years, just as a fallout from his primary purpose.
And indeed it has been remade several times as an American western: this a clip from the 1960 version—the farmers are now Mexican and the samurai are now gunfighters. Here is the trailer for the 2016 version.
And here is a trailer for the Kurosawa film we are now watching. It took the director 148 shooting days over the course of a year to film the movie.
This is not an easy viewing, especially if you are used to the much quicker pace of contemporary American films. The film really can be split into three sections: the first is the defining of the conflict—bandits want to take everything from a poor village—and the selection of the samurai who will defend the village; the second is the preparation of the samurai and wary villagers (after all, as Manzo says in today's viewing, the girls all go for the samurai) for the bandits inevitable return; and the third section is the defense of the village, the destruction of the bandits, and the fate of the samurai.
So:
1. Response to the first almost fifty minutes? Like? Dislike? Why?
2. What moment—or even shot or sequence—struck you: has stayed in your mind since watching the film? And why?
3. Kambei, the samurai leader: what word best describes him? And why? Try to not repeat what others have said—or add to what has been said.
200 words.
The seven samurai:
Kambei, the taciturn leader:
ReplyDeleteI think I like this film, but it is kind of hard to tell because we are still watching the film’s (very long) introduction. I think my interest will definitely grow as we continue watching and get to more of the action rather than the background of the formation of the Magnificent Seven. As with Paths of Glory, the black and white quality makes each shot and facial expression and the very specific and obvious body language even more important to both the character and plot development.
A particular moment has not stuck with me, but I really like how we get to know each and every character. The background information and character development is so extensive, I feel like I know each and every character’s stance and mindset regarding major decisions and scenes in the film.
(I’m assuming) we will get to know Kambei much better as the film progresses, but I think the best word to describe him is clever. He knows what samurai will agree to help the farmers just by observing them from a distance and he carefully thought out the “stick test” to see if a samurai was really gifted. He also has an air of authority that is palpable to both the samurai and the audience; he is definitely a leader. Overall, I like this film and am excited to continue watching in class!
1. The first fifty minutes of the film have been very interesting to watch. I saw the 2016 american remake when it was released and enjoyed it, so it’s fun see what the roots of the story were and trying to find the connections. This film is probably one of the first ever “Western” films, which is funny because it was made and takes place in the East. Several fantastic films have this one to thank for their success.
ReplyDeleteI also hadn’t expected this film to have all the humor it has, and I expected the little humor it might have to fly over my head. Contrary to my expectations, Seven Samurai has a sense of humor that makes it more relatable to me. The characters feel more like real people and not mystical samurai legends from storybooks.
2. Something that has stuck with me has been the more theatrical nature of several of the performances in the film. These performances have added to the drama without sticking out and pulling me out of the film. One particular instance was when the farmer in charge of guarding the rice (I believe Farmer Yohei) had been robbed. The emotion and intensity that the actors were able to portray as their characters realized the rice was gone impressed me. I often forget that there were indeed good actors in the 1950s. This has also helped humanize the characters and the world of the film for me.
3. Kambei can be described with the word “selfless.” This is shown numerous times, most notably his willingness to aid the farmers for little in return except some rice. Another moment that displays his thoughts of others before himself is the scene when he shaves his head to act as a monk. He wastes no time throwing away a symbol of his status and risking his life against a thief if it means the safe return of one of the village children.
From what we've seen so far, I don't have a very strong opinion on the film yet. I like that there is some humor in the midst of the village's crisis because it makes the movie more entertaining while still have a good plot. I think that I will like this movie as we continue on, and I am interested to see what happens when the samurai take on the bandits. Although this is a long movie, I hope the plot does not fizzle out, and by what I've seen so far, it does a good job of keeping the audience interested.
ReplyDeleteThe moment that stayed in my mind was when the first samurai was able to save the child from his capturer. I think this scene shows the persuasiveness and success of the samurai that could possibly foreshadow their fight against the bandits, He made swift, confident actions that showed why everyone worshipped the samurai.
I think a word that describes Kambei is intuitive. He uses is instincts and knowledge of what he has learned to get other samurai to join to help the farmers. He joins himself purely by choice and not because he was offered a big reward or anything of sort. He also uses his his skills to help rescue the child from being captured. I think Kambei is a good leader, but he has respect for the farmers as well as authority over them. He seems to know what he is doing, and I think the people should trust him.
1. I am not in love with this film so far but it definitely kept my attention more than I was anticipating it to. The first 50 minutes of the film left me frustrated because of the situation created for the farming village and the slow-moving pace of the quest for the seven samurai, but maybe that is just me being impatient.
ReplyDelete2. A moment that really stuck with me was the image of the old man picking up the rice, grain by grain off the floor after the rest had been stolen. Not only did it make you feel bad for the man and the village but this moment captures the tedious pace of the movie so far and the painfully slow and difficult nature of their situation.
3. I think I would describe Kambui as wise because of his all-knowing nature and seeming solution to all presented issues. He mentions al the violence he has seen and it is obvious he is a very seasoned samurai with years of skill and mental toughness. We see him treated as a god by the farmers because of his calm and collected execution of saving the child and killing the thief in their town. He is portrayed as a savior for them, but he is humble about his skill – connecting to his wise nature. I agree with Jordan about his cleverness as well in his techniques of recruitment.
1. So far I have really been enjoying the film. I think it is super interesting to see the genesis of this classic “team built for a cause” narrative, as it is so prevalent in modern blockbuster movies. I find the characters in this movie both compelling and relatable so far, yet there is still an air of humor about that movie that keeps it somewhat light. One of the specific things I have liked about the movie so far is how much detail is put into the setting, all of the costumes and sets really put me in the mindset of the time period. When I see people living in poverty and squalor, it feels completely believable and not like a movie set.
ReplyDelete2. The scene that has stuck with me the most since the viewing of the film was when Kambei was kneeling by the river washing himself and shaving while all the desperate farmers crowded around and tried to tend to him in any way they could. It was super interesting to me to both see the obvious class division between the two parties, but at the same time see the imagery of him bringing himself down to their level by shaving his head.
3. From what we have seen I would describe Kambei as loyal. We see through his behavior that as soon as he commits to helping the farmers, he does whatever he can to see that venture through. He immediately goes as far as to drop everything and kill that thief by shaving his head and dressing up like a monk, after which he commits himself completely to searching for other samurai to accompany him in defending the village. This is all in spite of the fact that the farmers have next to nothing to give him, he simply does it out of the goodness of his heart and his inner drive to see good triumph over evil.
ReplyDelete1. Response to the first almost fifty minutes? Like? Dislike? Why?
I have really enjoyed the viewing so far. I feel like I am a bit biased, because I have been EXTREMELY fascinated by Japanese culture since I was in elementary school. Since then, the culture and the landscape of Japan has always been an obsession for me. Not only that, but Kurosawa’s cinematography makes the film even more epic and enjoyable. There is such an aura of authenticity in this movie; I felt completely immersed in the world of feudal Japan that Kurosawa has laid out for us. This movie also reminds of Yojimbo, another one of Kurosawa’s cinematic Japanese epics that revolves around a lone samurai and his contributions to a rural town. Both films may start out slow, but it is hard to be bored when the audience is constantly presented with such amazing sights.
2. What moment—or even shot or sequence—struck you: has stayed in your mind since watching the film? And why?
There were a lot of really impactful moments in our viewing so far; one of the shots that really struck me occurred when a village elder realized that the town’s rice supply had been stolen. In this scene, there is a shot of the elder picking up the remaining grains of rice as he sobs in the background. This shot gave me such a feeling of desperation and hopelessness; I truly sympathized with this character, who realized that his mistake might be the reason why the samurai could not protect his fellow citizens.
3. Kambei, the samurai leader: what word best describes him? And why? Try to not repeat what others have said—or add to what has been said.
The best word that I can think of to describe Kambei is sympathetic. While he still may have flaws, I believe that he still has an underlying sense of empathy towards his fellow man, regardless of class. When Kambei is initially approached by the farmers, he refuses to take the job due to how little he would be paid. However, the thing that changes his mind is witnessing one of the elders sobbing profusely at the thought of losing his town to the bandits. This act motivated Kambei to protect the farmers without later seeking compensation. In my opinion, this act alone depicted Kambei as a morally conscious character who does not allow his own greed to overshadow his humanity.
So far, I can't tell whether or not Im going to fall in love with this film. I don't dislike it by any means but I think, like you mentioned, it takes a while to pick up and has a slow introduction. I think it will become more interesting as the film continues, as I've heard some classmates sound really excited that we were going to be watching this film. I like the choice of the black and white. I think it sets more of a sad and depressing mood, like Paths of Glory. I think it's fitting because movies set in color tend to cast a happier more cheerful setting.
ReplyDeleteI think Kambei is very smart. He seems to know what he's doing and it's funny when he tells the farmers to try hitting other samurai with the stick. He knows how to tell if a samurai is skilled by their reactions and precautions taken before entering the room.
One moment that really stuck out to me was when one of the farmers had all of the rice stolen. We saw him working to pick up individual grains of rice from the floor. It really sets the tone about how desperate the village of farmers really is.
As Jon said, this wasn’t the type of movie that we're all used to, therefore, it took a little bit of reflection in order for me to appreciate the real depth of the movie. I can absolutely understand why this was considered a groundbreaking film back when it was made. Still, it is not my favorite, and you would never find me watching this by my lonesome like Issac. There isn't really one moment in the film that stuck with me because the whole fifty minute section we watched felt like one drawn out scene. The facials expressions throughout the movie were very eye catching thought. The farmers always looked super animated whenever they were arguing or begging a samurai to help them. The one farmer who was supposed to guarding the pot of rice looked like a teething baby when he realized that he had lost almost all of their food. I found that whole aspect of the film to be hilarious. To me, Kambei is the epitome of a wise master sensei. I already know that he is going to be the elder on the team, but I am really looking forward to seeing the lessons that teaches to the other samurai and probably the farmers too.
ReplyDeleteWhy you gotta be throwing shade like that?
Delete1. Even though the pace of the film is very long (we only got to the third or fourth step of the hero’s journey!), I definetly enjoy the movie. As John said earlier, it was a pioneer in its genre, and it’s intriguing to see where some classic tropes originated. The characters are shown to be multi layered(especially Kambei), the setting is a fresh look compared to the typical Western landscape, and the story wraps the audience into humorous suspense(so far, especially with the samurai recruiting scenes) while keeping moments serious when needed. I think that’s what I like most about the movie so far. There’s a balance of humor, action, plot, and characters.
ReplyDelete2. So far, the scene that stood out to me the most was between Kambei and Gorobai. Though I remember it most partly because it was the last scene before class ended, there was a look at character’s honest motivations. Kambei wanted to help the farmers, knowing there was no monetary gain (save for necessities such as rice). Gorobai respects his morals, and joins because of that. Considering they’re the first two out of the seven samurai, this question of doing things because they’re right will most likely reappear.
3. The best word to describe Kambei is humble. He doesn’t have the pride or ego most ronins had. This was shown when he(without hesitation) shaved his hair, an important sign of status, to help save a little child from a thief. He doesn’t like for people to bow to him, and does not look down on farmers, the poorest class in Japan’s feudal society.
I have really enjoyed the film so far. I think that it's a nice change of pace from the other versions of the movie that I have seen in the past. Although it might seem really boring to some people, I think the build up in this movie compared to the other adaptations seems a lot more realistic. We see in the film that their request for volunteer samurai is turned down once or twice which makes a lot more sense in this movie than it did in the other adaptations where it was almost like every person was willing to put their life on the line for these villagers. I'm excitied to watch the rest of the movie and how it is different from what I have already seen in other films.
ReplyDeleteOne moment that stuck with me was the scene where Katsushiro overhears the conversation between the two farmers that someone has stolen their rice and that it will be hard to survive without their rice. Katsushiro throws some money on the floor for the farmers, but tells them to quickly put it away so Kambei doesn't see. I think this shows an important class difference between the samurai and the farmers that they are helping.
I would describe Kambei by using the word supportive. Whenever he hears the troubles of others, he tries to help and I think this is a quality that he has gotten after many years of being a samurai. He recognizes that these farmers are struggling with bandits and are losing their food, so he decides to support them by gathering a small force to combat the bandits and hopefully make the farmers’ lives easier. However, I don't think that Kambei is as sympathetic as other people would say. I don't think he necessarily feels bad for the farmers and he definitely takes pride in being a samurai. Right now, I think Kambei is simply a samurai who judges what he will do on what he thinks is right versus wrong.
1. So far I am really liking this movie and, even though I missed the first few minutes of it, I've found it pretty easy to understand but with a very intricate cast of characters. I'm excited to see how the rest of the movie plays out. Also, before reading the above about the numerous remakes of this movie, I had absolutely no idea that this was the film that pretty much paved the way for countless movies we know and love today. Who knew Kurosawa was to thank for the Oceans movies? I think its super cool that Kurosawa has had such an impact on the world of film, and most of us had no idea before today.
ReplyDelete2. The scene that stuck with me the most was when Katsushiro threw himself down at Kambei's feet, begging him to take him on as a disciple after Kambei's brave and selfless display at the barn in saving the little boy. I thought it was really interesting that this young kid who probably doesn't know much about being a samurai would choose to follow the man who acts selflessly and gains nothing, rather than the man who gets money and glory for his sword. I think it says a lot about both of their characters, and I'm sure we'll see Katsushiro grow a lot as a samurai and as a character.
3. Agreeing with Jordan, I also think the best word to describe Kambei is selfless. Our introduction to Kambei in the film is when he is having his head shaved, throwing away an important sign of status in Japanese society at the time, to help save a little boy. We learn that the only payment he had asked for was two rice balls, which he didn't even eat, but rather used them in his clever ruse to save the young boy in the barn. His disregard for reward and financial gain in helping the boy and in agreeing to help the farmers shows his humility and selflessness, as he isn't fighting for money or 'for the hell of it' as he said of other potential samurais, but because he sympathizes with the farmers and wants to help them, even though he is in no way helping himself in the process.
If I’m being honest, the first fifty minutes are kind of slow, but I already know why it feels that way; it’s because of how we are so used to watching fast paced action movies. Even though it is slow, I still like it because it helps me understand the conflict and each character’s motives a bit better. Some parts, however, seem almost too convenient. For example, the wise old man says to find hungry samurai that are willing to take on this task just for meals, and surprisingly enough, they find a good band of samurai. This sort of reminds me of how Bollywood movies are structured; everything always works out in favor of the main characters, no matter how absurd their needs may be. Overall, I’m looking forward to viewing the action portion of the film.
ReplyDeleteI think one the moments that really struck me was when the farmer had realized that somebody stole the rice while he was asleep. After the farmer realizes, he attempts to pick up the small grains of rice in desperation. Then, one of the samurai comes in and throws them money so that they can buy food to give to the rest of the samurais like they promised. I think this stayed with me because it’s a moment that really shows each character’s true situation and intentions. We see how desperate the farmers are to feed these samurai, and we also learn that the samurai that gave them the money is a softie at heart.
It’s hard for me to pick one word. I believe two words can describe him: modest and fierce. I learned that he was modest when one of the young samurai begs him to take him as Kambei’s disciple after Kambei swiftly killed an enemy while in disguise, but Kambei says something along the lines of, “You think too highly of me, I’ve seen my fair share of fights, but I’ve always been on the losing side.” Clearly he is skilled, but he doesn’t think so highly of himself despite that fact. I chose the word fierce because he is skilled at what he does. When he dressed up as a monk and killed that man, I was so surprised because I did not see that coming. Also, when he attempts to trick the samurai by having one of his disciples hit them with a stick, I saw a fierce side, but I also saw a clever side as well.
Who be this?
DeleteI thought that the first fifty minutes of the movie was pretty good! I liked how I was able to tell the difference between the characters personalities just by observing them once or twice. Some of the way the actors played their roles was very dramatic and that’s not usually what I like in a movie, but it was still good. It was slow, however we were warned that that would be the case before the movie even started, so it wasn't a big surprise.
ReplyDeleteThe moment that stuck with me was the times when they were trying to test whether or not a samurai had real skill. One of them tried to hit them with a stick to see if they would dodge it (one of them didn’t even go into the room because he somehow knew that it was a bad idea). It stuck with me because it was kinda comical but also interesting to see how they decided whether or not a samurai had real skill.
I think that the best word to describe Kambei is wise. He understands what it takes to be a samurai and also what it takes to save the village from the bandits. I feel like he knows a lot more than most.
Who be this?
DeleteIf I’m being honest, the first fifty minutes are kind of slow, but I already know why it feels that way; it’s because of how we are so used to watching fast paced action movies. Even though it is slow, I still like it because it helps me understand the conflict and each character’s motives a bit better. Some parts, however, seem almost too convenient. For example, the wise old man says to find hungry samurai that are willing to take on this task just for meals, and surprisingly enough, they find a good band of samurai. This sort of reminds me of how Bollywood movies are structured; everything always works out in favor of the main characters, no matter how absurd their needs may be. Overall, I’m looking forward to viewing the action portion of the film.
ReplyDeleteI think one the moments that really struck me was when the farmer had realized that somebody stole the rice while he was asleep. After the farmer realizes, he attempts to pick up the small grains of rice in desperation. Then, one of the samurai comes in and throws them money so that they can buy food to give to the rest of the samurais like they promised. I think this stayed with me because it’s a moment that really shows each character’s true situation and intentions. We see how desperate the farmers are to feed these samurai, and we also learn that the samurai that gave them the money is a softie at heart.
It’s hard for me to pick one word. I believe two words can describe him: modest and fierce. I learned that he was modest when one of the young samurai begs him to take him as Kambei’s disciple after Kambei swiftly killed an enemy while in disguise, but Kambei says something along the lines of, “You think too highly of me, I’ve seen my fair share of fights, but I’ve always been on the losing side.” Clearly he is skilled, but he doesn’t think so highly of himself despite that fact. I chose the word fierce because he is skilled at what he does. When he dressed up as a monk and killed that man, I was so surprised because I did not see that coming. Also, when he attempts to trick the samurai by having one of his disciples hit them with a stick, I saw a fierce side, but I also saw a clever side as well.
1. This is my third time watching this film, so I think it's fair to say I love it. Every shot is so perfectly cured to perfection. The cinematography, the acting, the blocking, the script... everything fits together seamlessly. Yes it is slow. i remember my first time watching it being very underwhelmed, but with further viewing I have started to notice the little intricacies of the dialogue and the precision of the shots, which all add to it being one of the greats.
ReplyDelete2. The moment that stuck out to me the most was when Kambei had just donned the monk clothes and noticed Kukuchiyo looking at him. He turns away, but then a few seconds later looks back at Kukuchiyo. This is all played out in these crisp close-ups which draw attention to the connection between these characters. With those 4 shots Kurosawa set up the fact that they don't know each other, while at the same time hints at the eventual interactions they will be having which we can assume will play an important part later in the film.
3. Kambei is honorable. Not honorable in a samurai code sense (as he cut of his hair), but honorable in a human sense. When it comes down to it he will disregard society's standards to help people (which luckily include the farmers), which is something not many people are willing to do then, or even now...
I liked the first half of the film thoroughly. I enjoyed the way Akira Kurosawa set up the farming village people. I got a good sense of the fear and helplessness of the people in the village and the four men who left to seek help. The relationship between Kambie and Katsushiro had me laughing many times. Even though the film is a little slow, I think it pays off with the scene and character development.
ReplyDeleteThe moment when two of the farmers realized that their bowl of rice had been stolen really stuck with me. At first I assumed that they could go an buy some more. When I realized that the rice was the only thing they had I truly realized how farmers were treated in their society. How tough and almost hopeless their lives can be.
I would use the word humble to describe Kambie. When we first meet him, he is willing to cut off his hair, one of the defining characteristics of a Samurai, and save a child without bragging afterwards or requesting pay. When he agrees to help the farmers and attempts to get other Samurai to aid him shows that he does not think himself to far above or better than the poor farmers. He respects their wishes.
1. I like the film so far because the film has given the audience a clear setting and a motivation/goal to support. The film introduces the audience into this class based society very well through the encounters between the farmers and the samurai as well as through demonstrating the conditions of the farmers’ village. These harsh conditions, including the impending attack of bandits, allow the audience support the farmers’ cause of fighting back with the help of samurai.
ReplyDelete2. The moment that struck me was when Kambei (as part of his clever plan to find more well trained samurai to fight for the farmers’ cause) tosses Katsushiro a stick to whack the samurai over the head with as he came through the doorway. This was memorable because it wasn’t extremely clear why Kambei asked Katsushiro to do this, but once the audience discovered that it was to test the ability of the samurai (at the expense of Katsushiro), this plan became not only comical, but logical. It really spoke to Kambei’s character.
3. I would say that Kambei has the quality of being the underdog. People frequently underestimate the wisdom behind his decisions, yet, so far, his crafty plots have been successful. One example was his plan to shave his head to disguise himself as a monk in order to save a seven-year-old child that was taken hostage by a thief who threatened to harm the child if anyone came near. People gathered around the scene and looked very doubtful that this plan would work. In reality, many were confused as to what exactly Kambei planned to do. Despite the spectators’ doubts, Kambei successfully rescued the child and killed the thief. Another example was that people doubted that the farmers could successfully find seven samurai to fight for their cause, yet Kambei has managed to find one more samurai that would agree to fight so far (and based on the title of the movie, he succeeds in finding the others as well).
1. I really like this movie so far because the audience gets to see the minds of the character, which in my opinion is one of the best things about long movies; the characters have more time to flesh out into real human beings and develop as the story progresses. The audience feels the desperation of the characters as they struggle to find Samurai that will help the. We know the terrible situation that the characters are in, which helps the viewers get sucked into the world of Seven Samurai
ReplyDelete2. The moments that stood out to me were the way the actors played the characters. Nowadays, movies tend to tone back on the animation of the characters movements. However, the farmers in Seven Samurai are far more animated, which brings a more theatrical part to the movie. It also helps to depict the disparity of the situation. The way the characters fling the arms in panic and the way they scream and cry adds a panicky element; it begs the question of will they be able to assemble enough Samurai in time.
3. Kambei in my opinion is divergent, in the way that he thinks. The plan that he came up with to save a farmer’s child from a thief was not an ordinary plan. The ingenuity of shaving his head to dress a monk and give the thief rice balls to distract him makes his thinking divergent.
1. I really liked it! Lots of things were very different in this film then what I’m used to, but it wasn’t bad at all. Typically i don’t enjoy foreign movies because it feels like reading the subtitles is distracting me from the movie, and I’m a generally slow reader and sometimes miss things. This movie felt very different to me and I almost forgot it was not in English. The acting was quite exaggerated which was something that I didn’t really get used to but it helped me really understand the movie better.
ReplyDelete2. When we are first introduced to Kambei and he kills the thief is moment that stayed with me. This first introduction is showing how smart he is. He knows that violence isn’t always going to fix a situation, and this to me is a very interesting way to show his intelligence before he even says a lot. This is a very good way of introducing a powerful character as showing rather then telling.
3. Kambei comes off as a very thoughtful person to me. This can be seen in two ways. He is thoughtful in this actions, and he is thoughtful in his respect for the farmers and his willingness to work with them. Kambei is obviously very intelligent in his way of handling things. When he kills the thief, he doesn’t go in guns blazing, but instead chooses a more gentle approach to save the child. He is also very thoughtful towards the farmers because he knows they can’t afford to pay him.
1) Overall, I am enjoying the film so far. It’s a little slow so far, but I kind of like that. The creators are really taking their time to set up the unique relationships between everybody. I do feel as though there were some scenes that were unnecessarily drawn out, and they could have been much shorter. The drawn out scenes distract from the movie a bit because I am just sitting there wondering when it will be over.
ReplyDelete2. The scene where Kambei is shaving his head was very interesting to me. The top knot is a symbol of status, and he is willing to cut his hair and shave his head just to save the young boy, this is in stark contrast to all of the other samurai that turned away that farmers when they asked for help. It sets up his character as somebody who is willing to help other people without getting loads of money for it.
3)I think that a word that describes him is thoughtful. Everything that we have seen him do has been thought out, like him drawing as a monk, or having the young samurai try to attack the other samurai as they walk in. It may not make sense to the other people on this film in the moment, but Kambei has thought of the outcome and planned for it.
1. I like this movie so far. I agree with Jordan, it is hard to tell at this point because we’re still in the middle of the films intro. It’s been a difficult fifty minutes to watch and to follow along with. I found myself lost sometimes because I was either watching the characters and missing the translation, or reading the translation and not knowing whos speaking.
ReplyDelete2. I kept thinking about the first samurai who came to the farmers aid to save the young boy who was taken hostage by one of the bandits. It got me thinking about the symbols of class in this society, such as the top bun, and how Kambei had to cut off his bun and shave his head in order to successfully pull of the role of a harmless monk.
3. I think a word that describes Kembei is honest. To me, Kembei is very honest about himself, others, and his surroundings. He is true to himself while other samurai wouldn’t help the farmers. He acknowledges and understands why others may not want to help the village. And he is very upfront with the farmers about their difficult situation and what life is going to be like for them as they try to find samurai and fend off the bandits
To be honest I found this movie one of the most boring movies we have watched this year. Nothing against black and white movies, I just found the plot hard to follow and found it did not have a main point. Towards the end of the 50 minutes it became a bit more interesting. The one good thing about this movie is it did not put me to sleep instead I found myself trying to stay caught up and wrap my head around all the japanese and the plot. A moment that stuck with me was when they samurais head was being shaved to make himself look like a monk. I found this idea very clever considering the situation they were going to have to face. I think this moment stuck with me because it showed his bravery and what he is willing to do to save a child’s life. A word i would use to describe the leader would be resilient. He didn’t hesitate one moment to shave his head, or go in and save the child. He stayed true and brave to his peers around him and everyone applauded him in the end and were very thankful for him.
ReplyDelete1- From what I have seen so far, this film is one of the most complex ever made. I love the cinematography, the shot progression and the character introductions as a whole. However, the film’s pacing and beginning have me struggling to stay awake. I feel kind of bad for feeling that way, but I expect the film to get more interesting as it goes along as many Kurosawa films do such as Rashoman and Hidden Fortress. It is hard to tell what this film is exactly about, but the plot has me intrigued and I intend to give the film my full attention as we watch it in class.
ReplyDelete2- One moment that struck me in particular was when the farmer woke to find his rice had been stolen. In a desperate attempt to mend he situation, the farmer began to pick up any grains that had been left behind by the thief. As he was picking up the rice, one of the samurai gave him money to purchase new rice. I think this highlights the power dynamic of the samurai and the farmers so far in the film. The farmers are weak and helpless, trying to scrounge together any kind of food and funds they have, while the Samurai are there to help them and to keep them safe. The samurai are powerful and helpful while the farmers are miserable and suffering. The farmers are looking for help, and the samurai are supplying it.
3- A word I would use to describe Kambei is secretive. It feels as though Kambei likes to have all of his plans discreetly laid out for no one to see except him. Although he doesn’t reveal much about his plans, he is very upfront about his feelings with the farmers. He accepts their hopelessness and accepts the fact that they need help. Kambei seems to love to scheme and figure things out on his own with no help from others until the time is right.
1. I like this movie so far, it's very slow moving but I think that allows for a deeper development of the characters. The first 10 minutes were the title credits and while the japanese characters were beautiful, it got a little repetitive as I can’t read japanese. I don't watch a lot of foreign films and I was surprised that the captions didn't make it harder for me to follow what was happening on the screen. I never would’ve watched a black and white, foreign, action movie on my own, but i'm grateful for this opportunity and curious about how it's going to end.
ReplyDelete2.The scene where Kambei rescued the seven year old from the thief was very powerful to me. He did it with such grace and purpose it gives me hope that he stands a chance at saving the town. Kambei is clearly very intelligent, but this scene also shows he has heart too. When the child emerges from the house, the entire town closes in to comfort the child. This scene showed me how close the town is, they’re all just kind hearted villagers trying to get by.
3.I would describe Kambei as compassionate. Everything he’s done so far has been for the village. Even though the only compensation is food Kambei is still willing to cut off his bun, a symbol of status among samurai, to save the child taken captive by the thief. Kambei doesn't seem to have any ulterior motives, his only goal is saving the village and he will do anything to ensure their safety. Kambei sympathizes with the villagers and this allows him to understand their story and work to protect them.
So far I have liked this first portion of the movie. I don’t think that the film is necessary boring at all, but I think this first portion serves as more of an introduction, setting up the characters and plot lines for the rest of the film. I find it really interesting how much cultural context we are able to pick up from such a small portion of the film. Already, I feel like this first section has really set the tone for the town regarding class differences and the lifestyle of samurais and farmers in this specific town.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to what a few others have said, the scene that has stuck with distinctly is the scene when the farmer wakes up and is struck immediately with fear because he realizes that the rice has been stolen. He begins to interrogate the man who was in charge of protecting the rice overnight and the scene becomes very intense. I thought the filming was done especially well with the shot where he attempts to pick up every small grain of rice, showing how strong the disparity for food and survival is in this situation.
From what we have seen of Kambei as a character, I believe that he is very obedient. It seems that he is always trying to do whatever he can do help other people. However, it seems as though he is doing these things because he believes that it is his duty as a samurai and it is the “right” thing to do, not necessarily that he feels sympathy for them.
It’s tough to discern, as Jordyn said, how I feel about Seven Samurai. I have certainly found the first section of the film intriguing and, surprisingly, did not have a difficult time paying attention. Although this movie’s length makes it tedious, it creates an effect of suspense and anxiety in the audience which mirrors the farmers’ dread of the bandit raid, from which they cannot escape. I appreciate this suspenseful build up in that it forces viewers to take in everything that occurs on screen while, simultaneously, giving us time for reflection.
ReplyDeleteThe scene that has stayed in my mind since watching Seven Samurai is the opening scene in which the audience can see silhouettes of men on horses riding violently over the horizon and into the foreground. This lighting highlights that the group of men are a dark, nefarious force and increases the overall ominuity of the film. Similarly, the bandits’ aggressive manner establishes a slight sense of fear within the audience; further pushing a negative view.
The first word that comes to mind when I think of the character Kambei is empathy. This character is an incredibly empathetic man who cares genuinely for those less fortunate. This quality is seen early on in the film when he helps save one of the farmers’ children from the thief. Kambei’s empathy also appears in his willingness to help the farmers, as they cannot provide him with any kind of payment except food. If Kambei was not empathetic, he would not be helping the farmers at all.
1. I liked it because it reminds me a lot of the movie The Last Samurai. The detail in the homes and the clothing seemed very real. I can’t imagine how long it took to get all those scenes ready for filming. It was a little slow but I was still enjoying the movie. And just like The Last Samurai it’s slow but I can tell it’s building up to exciting ending.
ReplyDelete2. A scene that surprised me a lot was when the samurai was willing to shave his head which stripped him of a sign of high class. I didn’t know how high praised the samurai where until this scene because everyone was starring at him get shaved. They all followed him around like we do today with celebrities.
3. I would describe Kambei as a humble samurai. Because just as the scene in the river he humbles himself by shaving off his head. And even after this a young man wants to become his disciple but he tells him that he isn’t as great as the young man might want him to be. Even him wanting to willingly listen and help the farmers is very humble and honorable act . In one of the scenes where the farmers are looking for help a samurai almost attacks one of the farmers for simply trying to ask for help. This shows that Kambei is willing to look bad and get off his high horse to help the little guy.
Isaiah SandersOctober 16, 2018 at 3:07 PM
ReplyDeleteI am not a big fan of the movie so far. It moves very slowly and it feels unnecessarily silly at times. My opinion of the film is probably negatively affected by the fact that I was expecting a more action packed type movie. I was looking forward to a fast paced film with lots of well choreographed sword fights. That is not what this movie is focused on so far. I think that more action and combat would help to maintain the audience’s attention so that they would be able to comprehend the message that Kurosawa was trying to convey.
The most meaningful scene so far in my opinion was the one where we see the poor farmer picking up rice grain by grain. It conveyed a feeling of desperation and hopelessness.
I think that wise would be a good word to describe Kambei because he thinks carefully about his actions; he never acts rashly. He is also clearly intelligent and persuasive as we see when he convinces Schioroji and three other samurai to help him defend the villagers. He also shows bravery but also cleverness when he rescues the boy from bandits. He is able to tell worthy samurai from untrained wannabe swordsmen with the stick test.
Blog 1
ReplyDeleteI really like the film so far. I am already really interested in all of the different characters. Kambei, Gorobai, and Katsushiro are some of the most interesting to me so far, but I really want to learn about all of the characters. Even though the action has not started, I am already captivated by the really beautiful shots of each character. A lot of action movies use the first 30 minutes to gather the team, and that is actually often my favorite part of the movie, so I think that's why I like it so much.
One image that has stuck with me was when the farmers spilled their rice and were picking it up kernel by kernel because they would not survive otherwise. Then Katsushiro gave the two farmers money to buy food and the way their faces went from being so horrified and in so much anguish to being so relieved and thankful was amazing. It was as if god had just saved them but he only gave them a couple of coins. Really shows the desperation of these farmers and the extent of their poverty.
The word that describes Kambei is thoughtful. He is so wise and has thought so deeply about issues concerning farmers, Samurai, everyone. His thoughtfulness makes him very sympathetic and empathetic. He is a character I trust will always do what he perceives to be the moral action.
I can’t difinitively say whether or not I liked the first 50 minutes. There were parts I appreciated, like the time they spent setting up each individual Samurai, even though it meant that the film moved quite slow--it took some getting used to. I think the time they spent finding the samurai also showed not only how desperate the farmers are (when one is picking up individual rice grains) but also built up the world that the Samurai live in. Feudal Japan is so far from our current situation today, so the extra time Kurosawa took gave us a sense of setting and space. I really appreciated this, since I feel like modern films don’t really do this (perhaps this is why it took some getting used to
ReplyDeleteWhat struck me was when Kambei shaves his head, and tricks the thief/kidnapper. Kambei is bringing himself down to the level of a monk, and risks going in at a thief while unarmed in order to save a young boy. The physical setting of Seven Samurai may seem bucolic, but it is truly a harsh world: nobody wants to help. Kambei’s kind, selfless act stands out.
Kambei seems to have a sense of… Gravitas? He seems to take serious matter seriously, and always does what’s right—yet he is accessible, not,afraid to laugh, and never comes off as pompous or pretensions.To me, this makes him the perfect leader: he makes the best describes without dwelling on them.