My Cultural Diet

I’m not sure what else there is to say about Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai at this point. The film is a cultural cornerstone, inspiring numerous remakes and influencing countless movies and TV series. If you’ve ever watched a movie in which a team of random strangers are assembled for a dangerous mission or heist, or you’ve watched an epic battle sequence, chances are that Seven Samurai is referenced somehow, somewhere. And yet, none of the remakes and references have eclipsed the original and its warm humanism, colorful characters, sweeping emotions, and of course, action, which has lost none of its thrilling effect in the last 70 years. Earlier this month, I saw a clip of Bill Maher mocking Kurosawa as “one of the most important directors that you need to pretend you care about.” I feel no need to pretend whatsoever; watching Seven Samurai in the theater — and in a 4K restoration, I might add — there was never a doubt in my mind that I was watching the work of a master.

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