The Mighty Warriors Who Became the Seven National Heroes of a Small Town

Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima, Isao Kimura, Daisuke Katō, Seiji Miyaguchi, Yoshio Inaba, Minoru Chiaki

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"This is the nature of war: By protecting others, you save yourselves. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself." - Kambei Shimada

Why watch this? This is Kurosawa's great masterpiece about farmers at war with invading bandits.

Plot Summary: In feudal Japan, desperate villagers facing repeated bandit raids decide to hire samurai for protection. They find Kambei, an aging but skilled samurai, who reluctantly agrees and recruits six other masterless warriors to defend the village. The seven samurai train the villagers in defense tactics and prepare for the bandits' inevitable return.

Dad's Preview: Kurosawa's work would influence many films, including Leone's Spaghetti Westerns and The Magnificent Seven (1970). A small group of samurai warriors agree to protect a farmer village from forty marauding bandits. Each samurai's personality is unique, the most charismatic being Kikuchiyo, a fiery fighter with a hidden past. The group is led by the steady and wise Shimada. They train the meek farmers in self-defense and basic fighting. Its composition, pace, and action are incredible. Don't miss it.

Toho