Seven Samurai
Nothings better than Mifunes sweaty butt cheeks on a Wednesday night
Today I finally introduced my cousin to Akira Kurosawa, and what better way than rewatching Seven Samurai—a film I’ve been meaning to revisit for a long time. I already knew this was a masterpiece, but somehow it still managed to completely blow me away all over again. Easily one of the greatest films ever made. (Cousins review).
First off, I need to talk about how unironically hilarious the first act of this movie is. Like, no joke, this is one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen. Mind you, this is Samurai-Epic, not even a comedy.All that is thanks to Toshirõ Mifune, who made Kikuchiyo one of my favorite characters ever put to screen. And Mifune deserves all credits for that, because without Mifune this movie wouldn’t have been the same. Each time this mf appeared on the screen me and my cousin would burst out laughing. Mifune was too funny this movie, especially when antagonizing the villagers. I don’t think I’ve laughed that much about a movie before.
Kikuchiyo is not only funny, but also one of the best written characters I’ve ever seen. At first glance he’s just this clumsy, chaotic guy who thinks he’s Tommy Toughknuckles, which already makes him a hilarious presence. But as the story unfolds, you start to realize there’s so much more going on underneath. His backstory hits surprisingly hard, especially in how it ties him to the farmers. His character dives into these really interesting and complex themes—ego, heroism, grief—all while still being the wildest, most unpredictable dude in the group. What really stood out to me is how much he actually cares about everyone. It’s not what you expect, especially with how he antagonizes the villagers and tries so hard to keep up that “badass” image. But underneath all that, there’s this real sense of empathy and even love. Just an incredible character, and honestly, none of it would’ve worked without Mifune. He brought everything to life—chaos, comedy, heart, all of it. Thank you, Mifune.
Another actor that absolutely deserves credit is Takashi Shimura. When I think of him, I immediately picture that sad, thoughtful face he had in Ikiru—or the woodcutter in Rashomon, kind of timid, unsure. Most of his roles that come to mind lean toward quiet, worn-down characters. But in Seven Samurai he completely flips that image. Here, he plays this calm, charismatic, incredibly clever leader of the samurai—and he nails it. He brings this steady energy that really grounds the whole group. Every time he speaks or takes charge, you fully believe in him. And it’s crazy impressive how different this role is from his others, but he still makes it look effortless. The fact that he can move between roles like this just proves how ridiculously good of an actor he was.
All the characters deserve praise, honestly. I could write a book just on their arcs. Kurosawa didn’t just give us a bunch of cool sword guys—he gave us real people. Farmers, warriors, lovers, mentors. And every one of them feels distinct and alive. Even the villagers, who could’ve been faceless background characters, are memorable and full of personality. Kurosawa clearly cared about every single character, and you feel that care in every scene.
One thing I want to touch on is how the story gives space for all these little sideplots that really deepen everything. Like the romance subplot, for example. I know some people say it feels unnecessary or slows things down, but honestly, I completely disagree. I think it adds a whole other layer of emotional depth to the film. It humanizes Katsushirō and makes his journey feel way more personal. It’s not just about sword fights and defending villages, there’s real heart in this movie, and that subplot shows how complicated things get when people are caught between duty and emotion. It brings out the inner conflict in his character and makes you care about him more. It’s a small part of the movie, but it carries weight.
And beyond that, what really stood out on this rewatch is how well the group dynamic between the samurai is built. It’s not just about their skills or their roles in the fight. The way Katsushirō looks up to Kyūzō (who is just straight-up one of the coldest swordsmen ever put to screen) is a great example. That hero-worship adds so much to both characters. You get these little moments of laughter, respect, grief, even the whole group roasting Kikuchiyo, that make the group feel so real. They’re not just warriors thrown together to protect a village, they feel like a team with actual chemistry and history. Kurosawa makes you care about them not just individually, but as a unit, which is honestly one of the reasons the ending hits so hard.
The characters could’ve never been so great if it wasn’t for the amazing actors. This movie possibly has the greatest cast of all time. My guy Kurosawa really had the 3 greatest actors of that time (maybe of all time) playing in his film. That’s also where my only minor flaw comes in. Well it’s not sincerely a flaw, but If this would be a “bonus question” on a test Kurosawa wouldn’t have gotten bonus points. Cause damn bro you could’ve given Nakadai some more screentime😭. Like I don’t mean any disrespect to the cast, they are all amazing but Nakdai is one of my favorite actors, and IMO also the best actor of all time. Seeing the three of them starring together would’ve just been so amazing.
Honestly, the biggest achievement of this film might be how it balances everything. You want romance? It’s there. Tragedy? Plenty. Laugh-out-loud moments? Too many to count. Action? Obviously. But it’s not just that all these elements are present, it’s how they’re perfectly balanced. Nothing feels out of place. Not a single second feels wasted. Despite its 3.5 hour runtime, Seven Samurai is perfectly paced. It never drags. Every moment builds character, tension, just every scene matters, and every scene hits.
And let’s talk cinematography. My god. Every shot in this movie looks stunning. The action scenes are especially impressive. Like when horses keep running even with corpses on them, and they just realistically collapse, absolutely insane for a movie made in the ‘50s. Kurosawa knew how to stage action in a way that feels both epic and intimate.
This movie is a masterpiece in every possible way. The writing, the acting, the directing, the cinematography, the themes—it’s all just flawless. Seven Samurai isn’t just one of the best samurai movies ever made, it’s one of the best films ever made. Easily a top 5 movie of all time for me.
Thank you, Kurosawa. Thank you, Mifune. Thank you, cinema.
Absolute cinema
High 5/5