Seven Samurai” remains a timeless masterpiece. Kurosawa's editing prowess, evident in the climactic sequence, cemented the film's status as a timeless classic, echoing the eternal struggle for justice and sacrifice in feudal Japan

Full Review | Original Score: 10 | Mar 3, 2024

If Akira Kurosawa's entire body of work is full of forays into different types of stories, then Seven Samurai marks the moment where all of his most pertinent themes coalesce into a single, three-and-a-half-hour film.

Full Review | Jun 27, 2023

As usual in a Kurosawa epic, the film is deliberate about getting started, but once the battle is joined, all is breakneck fury.

Full Review | Mar 16, 2023

Kurosawa's epic adventure masterpiece, is one of the best films ever made. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Feb 19, 2023

Mr. Kurosawa has made another high ranking film.

Full Review | Aug 16, 2022

Seven Samurai is long; it is brutal; it is not always easy to follow. But it is magnificent.

Full Review | Aug 8, 2022

One of the finest films ever made.

Full Review | Jul 6, 2022

Seven Samurai is never dull, and it provided a model for future action movies in many ways—from its “assembling the team of fighters” narrative stretch to the proto-Peckinpah use of slow-motion in brutal action sequences.

Full Review | Mar 28, 2022

Seven Samurai is a spectacle of the human spirit, an interplay of hope and questions about the way of the world, and finally, an epic in which ideas and action converge with a remarkable, vital scope.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Mar 21, 2022

The glorious vigour and strength of this film is presented with such theatrical relish and flair: its energy flashes out of the screen like a sword.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Oct 27, 2021

Absorbing as the story itself is it's the tremendous resourcefulness of Akira Kurosawa's direction (and probably his writing) which makes the picture a real work of art.

Full Review | May 12, 2021

There are many excellencies in [Seven Samurai]. The acting of the men who are unknown to American audiences but whose talents are obvious; the careful building of suspense; the realism of the battle scenes... [and] the beauties of the countryside.

Full Review | May 4, 2021

The picture pyramids to high tension as traps are set for the anticipated marauders... Keystone of the drama is marvelous acting.

Full Review | May 4, 2021

The outstanding feature of the picture is the photography. At times the camera angles are sensational.

Full Review | May 4, 2021

[Seven Samurai ] rates my unqualified whoops of approval.

Full Review | May 4, 2021

Those who enjoy a good wild Western will find this picture to be great sport.

Full Review | May 4, 2021

The film is much too long -- two hours and 21 minutes. But at the end of that time, one has not only come to know its people intimately, but is prepared for the message to the effect that it is always the soldier who loses.

Full Review | May 4, 2021

Responding to his sensitive, knowing direction, the actors have given inspired performances. Revealed in [Seven Samurai] is Kurosawa's talent for putting violent action on the screen, making it terrifically exciting to audiences.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | May 4, 2021

This sturdy tale of action pictures the Japan of centuries ago in one exquisite shot after another.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | May 4, 2021

Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai deserves very careful study. Kurosawa directed Rashomon. The present film shows a marked development from the earlier picture.

Full Review | May 4, 2021