The questions we're discussing this film are:
- How did the film help you connect with Japanese culture or more generally help you be more other-culture-minded?
- What did you like and not like about the movie and why? Be VERY specific.
- How did learning beforehand about Japanese culture and about the director help you appreciate the film? Again, be specific.
Students: remember that your response should be at least three paragraphs long. Be sure to prominently include your name in your post or I can't give you credit for your response. OK ... ready ... set ... COMMENT!
hey this is zak from your class. i think my favorite part of this movie was when they were trying to find the samurai in that town. i just liked how each one they passed was unique and looked liked he had his own story. same with all the other extras like the villagers an bandits and whatnot.
ReplyDeletelearning that kurosawa goes into such super detail with all of his sets and all of his characters made me respect the film so much more.
the film definatly did help me become more open minded to what japanese values are like and what is important to people.
boom.
I loved how they were all so unique too. It really added to the film, it showed they were still people and had their own story, not just actors reading lines.
Deletethis has definately opened my mind to japanese film now, especially when they're all fighting for their own town because they want their crops, they dont want the bandits taking them.
DeleteGreat comments, Zach. Your comments helped me better appreciate that moment with the different Samurai in the town. They really do each have their own story. I hope each character in my screenplays, no matter how "insignificant" can have that much life.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any specific examples of moments of the film that helped you better understand specific Japanese values and priorities?
Hi, it's Rose. (Peckham)
ReplyDeleteFor one, throughout the film I really liked thinking of how the samurai were basically the warriors of the Japanese and comparing them to the soldiers of the now, in America. I occasionally spaced off thinking about the different 'fighters' and 'warriors' of our world, or the historic... what's the right word, stereotypes? That have shaped our ENTIRE WORLD. Thinking of samurais, geishas, soldiers, presidents, leaders like Hitler/Osama, etc, inspired me a little to want to search up films involving those kinds of people. It was nice to get more insight on samurais, the culture of the Chinese and what could have (and probably did) happen after samurai began to become unemployed.
As you probably know Josh, I've always really taken special interest in character development/character profiles when it comes to stories/films - so naturally I really do appreciate the amount of characters that were in this movie, and how well we got to know them. Even if there wasn't much onscreen time, you got to see a lot just simply by the little actions and words that are said. For instance, the man and his daughter - he obviously does not approve or her having a romance with the samurai before wedlock. The father comes off as controlling, but also very honorable to all things in his culture, so it's natural for him to be the way he is.
I loved the 'wipe/sliding' transitions throughout the film. Not really anything you see much of nowadays, unless you're watching Star Wars (Which I haven't seen in light years.) or messing around in Movies Window Maker. (cough*me*cough)
On a negative note, I have the attention span of a teaspoon. I was able to appreciate the length of the film, and I did not find the plot slow or unexciting, but I felt antsy and unable to fully focus on Seven Samurai at times - I did like it, but it also wasn't my kind of genre, and I found it hard to be 100% in love with everything about it. (The genre as in a western feel.) I know Noah would of absolutely ADORED this film because he's such a Western geek, haha.
I was able to appreciate the samurai a lot more. I felt like I could expect them to be very serious about their honor and sometimes hold their pride above everything else. Learning about Kurosawa before hand helped me to appreciate his filming techniques and what to expect and brace myself for when I watched his films - to think about the villages, and how he himself put so much THOUGHT and work into just one SMALL detail to create such a realistic life to be filmed.
Also as Zak said, I did get to learn and then watch a lot about what was valued to the different levels of Japanese. (Bandits, samurais, villagers.)
@ Zak: Sorry for spelling your name wrong in my last post.
ReplyDelete@ Rose: What a great, detailed response you gave! I love it! I realize that the father character you keyed in on is very similar to a father character you created in one of your screenplays. Interesting ....
On the note of Westerns, I noticed watching it this time that a lot of the soundtrack sounds like a Western soundtrack done with Japanese instruments. Did anyone else notice any other tie-in's with Westerns?
this is a summary of the comment that got deleted:
ReplyDeleteeveryone cried a lot
the fighting was good
asians are emotional
:)
DeleteWe aren't really all that emotional. But in that movie, yes. :)
Deleteyes they were so emotional!!!! i'm lovin' it!!! and i'm not talkin mcdonalds
DeleteJenika
ReplyDeletei didnt think i would enjoy this movie very much, but i actually loved it. I found the hummor my favorite part. i would deffinetly say that that it helped me become more "other-culture-minded". and i would love to watch more movies by this guy.
Like i said i liked the hummor, and the style. the actors seemed so into it,it was believeable, the sets were amazing. I loved this move, there isnt anything i didnt like. i even enjoyed the lenth, although it was pretty long i enjoyed it the whole way threw.
Learning before hand about the back ground, him,and his style, helped me understand and relise all the little things he did a lot more. this director is amazing, he puts so much feeling into the movie and i can not wait to watch more of his films.
I've never heard anyone say that the humor is their favorite part of Seven Samurai but I can totally see that. Epic drama and violence is so much better when it is juxtaposed with quality humor at just the right moments.
DeleteI'm glad to know the background helped you appreciate the film more! I'm interested to hear more from you about how the film helped you be "other-culture-minded". Any specifics?
I also really liked learning before hand. It helped me point out and understand what Kurosawa was doing. It's a lot easier to grasp the movie and the maker knowing about it all and definitely an effective way of learning about film, especially foreign film.
DeleteKudos to Autumn for keeping the conversation going! A champion card for you!
DeleteEllo :) it's Tucker!!!
ReplyDeleteFirst off this movie was really great. I find it amazing that they were able to create amazing scenes with limited resources. The action in this movie (although a bit cheesy) was really well thought up and executed.
Even though this movie is amazing, there was some things I didn't find to my liking. One of those things would be the fact it's in black and white, this is a problem for me because I spent a lot of the time trying to figure out what colors different items would be. Another thing that I didn't like would be the cheesy sword slashing, it was a little upsetting to see this intense action and only have a slice in the wind injure someone.
Overall this movie was brilliantly done. The actors did really well and played their parts expertly. The scenery was well planned out and worked well for the scenes. There was also a great amount of build and set ups that helped make the climax that much greater.
Rate: 4/5
Tucker, good job providing quality explanations and clarifications of the things you didn't like. This is a well articulated and even handed response to the film. Good work.
DeleteI sort of agree, Tucker. I actually adore black and white films, but one of my favorite elements to seek out when watching a movie is color/color coordination. It makes the visuals a little more interesting to watch (instead of just the filming techniques on it's own.) and gives the film brownie points if the color was used in a specific kind of way. (I.e., Umbrellas of Cherbourg, V for Vendetta)
DeleteRose, kudos to you for posting more posts than you need to for the grade! You are awesome! Make sure to remind me to give you a champion card tomorrow. I agree that it is fun to look for color in films that use it symbolically. It is good to note that some B&W films use tone and contrast symbolically. I am curious to know how you see color used in V for Vendetta.
Delete:)
DeleteIn V for Vendetta, I suppose I see a lot of symbolism with the color red to represent V and his revolution. In general, the film is gloomy, has darker/shadier tones - all in the set, the costumes, the weather. With V, there's always that little bit of red with him wherever he goes. The red colors in the film really stand out to me throughout the entire film, which also makes it so beautiful. I love the contrast between the darker, quiet colors versus the red.
V's slightly rosy cheeks from his mask, his red, blistered skin, his blood, his dominoes at that one point, the roses, and his 'V' symbol he uses for his videos and the red spray paint other people use continuously throughout the film. The scene where he emerges from the flames.
The only moments that weren't so dark and in my opinion, had a rosier, glowier tint, were the flashback scenes about Valerie. (Then obviously, it faded back to the eery, smoggy kind of colors.)
There's also the first encounter scene when Evee meets V, and she's wearing that bright red lipstick - not to mention that most of the time the blood in the film just seemed to stand out more.
Just what I noticed. V for Vendetta is one of my favorite films so I could possibly be over-thinking ever little detail and interpreting things that have no meaning, haha.
I don't think you're over interpreting. I don't remember for sure but does Evee tend to wear cooler colors? I ask because I remember that when V has his resurrection moment (after his belly of the whale experience in the experiment camp), his silhouetted figure puts out his arms in an environment full of very warm colors (surrounded by red and orange fire). When Evee has her resurrection moment (after her own belly of the whale in V's fake government prison), she puts out her arms as well but in the rain (water rather than fire) in a very cool colored environment.
DeleteI agree with the color thing. I really liked Hero and the use of color in that. I think it could have brought a lot into the movie if there was color. And I also agree with the sword play. They just swing their sword and they drop dead. The only more realistic part I saw was when the villagers would circle up around one and keep stabbing him with the sticks. But other then that it seemed pretty fake.
DeleteFirst of all, I thought think that this is one of the greatest films I have ever seen. I specifically liked how all the characters seemed to have their own personalities, and their own individual reasons for doing what they do. It didn't seem like any of the characters were fillers or throw aways. Except for all the female characters whose sole purpose is to cry. I wish that Kurosawa had made them stronger and more independent.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I like, is the pacing and the flow of the film. Even though this movie is three and a half hours long, I never really lost interest, or felt that things were going terribly slow. There always seemed to be something going on the keep your interest.
I like the general mood of the film too. Kurosawa did a pretty good job of building the tension. Every little road bumb felt like a big hurdle. And when the final battle was about to begin, you could feel it. Like, "Holy crap, this is it."
This is all what I think an excellent movie needs. Good character development, with purpose. Good feel, so it pulls you in, and makes you care about what's going on. And if it is a freaking long movie, but it seems to fly by. This is a pretty great film.
I'm glad you liked it so much and I am equally amazed by how Kurosawa handles the tension and buildup!
DeleteI agree with what you say about the female characters. I do hope that Kurosawa has changed his ways and is a more feminist filmmaker in heaven.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI did like the build up to the final fight, you could just tell it was coming. The characters did a good job conveying how tired but scared they were. But yeah, I totally agree with you on the whole women thing, it really kinda bugged me. Most of us aren't like that. I would have been out there kickin' butt with my awesome ninja skills!!!
DeleteNo one mess with, Autumn. You've been warned.
DeleteFor real Josh, so you better let me pass or else... :) Jk but just to let you know, I really love your class. I've learned a whole ton from it all ready! Thanks buddy!
DeleteAutumn says:
ReplyDeleteI really did think it was kind of sexist how the guys kicked all the butt and the girls sat there crying, but it is typical back then that the men did the "hard" stuff and the woman stayed home when the bad guys come.
Like others have said it was awesome how detailed his characters where. Like I said in class, that guy filled six notebooks with all the stuff that the characters do. So it must have been easy for the actors because their lives were already planed out, no questions asked. They were all very different and unique.
I did really like his use of the weather too. Like the use of wind to symbolize change at the end of the movie or in the intense fight scenes there was pouring rain. It was really quite beautiful how he dose these things.
And after researching him, I find him one of the most brilliant film makers ever. He just gets it. It sucks his brother died but he was meant to do this film thing. I have learned so much from this guy, THANK YOU KUROSAWA!!! Why has no one else used these cool techniques? I mean he's a genius!! I really think all of us film makers should take away something from this guy, not just the cultural aspect but his style. I love how much you can learn from just watching one film :)
That's all for now,
Sir Whovian, Out!
I love the passion! Now, go make a Kurosawa film.
DeleteOh, i will!
DeleteThis film changed my perspective on the Japanese culture completely. When I think of Japanese and film making I think of anime and cute cartoon characters. I love the passion and how real this film looks, when we were watching "Seven Samurai" I looked at it from a documentary point-of-view because everything that happened seemed so real.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rose and what she said about it being in black and white it makes you appreciate the film better, I think it added to the feel that it the story is based off of something that happened awhile ago because a LONG time ago films weren't in color. It goes along with the symbolism, everything in this film seemed like it had a meaning. For example: color scheme(black and white) symbolized that it isn't going to be happy and smiley, wind symbolizing change, and rain made it easier to imagine what it would feel like to be in their situation, dark and unknowing.
My favorite thing about this film was probably the story. I never knew that Bugs Life was based off of a Japanese film. Connecting the American and Japanese versions made me see that our cultures aren't as different as they seem.
Great comments, Bree. I find it interesting that you see the film as documentary-like when Kurosawa was such a controlling director. Controlling everything in front of the camera as much as Kurosawa did could be seen as very anti-documentary but I agree that the film can be seen as documentary-like in the sense that many of the shots just show things happening without cutting a lot. When we don't cut up the world very much, it can feel more real as long as the acting is convincing enough. I imagine that Kurosawa's controlling directing style helped make everything that happens within those very long cut more believable.
DeleteI appreciate the way you responded to what Rose said. I love seeing conversations about the films developing on this blog!
I find your comments about the B&W color palette being appropriate to the film and increasing the sense of realism of the film for you. You might do research into when colored film started and became common place in Japan and whether Kurosawa even had the option to film in color. I'm glad you appreciated Kurosawa's use of nature and atmosphere to invoke feelings and that the film helped you to feel connected to human beings of other cultures!
I agree the actors and actresses in this film were very convincing in my mind.
DeletePersonally i much rather watch an old movie in black and white because it's how the people during that time saw it when they watched the film. When i watch films i love to pay special attention to color. (:
Color! Woot!
DeleteInteresting thought about how some "cliches" in older movies weren't cliches yet. This might be especially true of Seven Samurai since it has been remade so many times (as "Magnificent Seven", "Three Amigos", "A Bug's Life", etc.) I appreciate your frank and honest respond to the film. I would have liked to hear more ....
ReplyDeleteI like that too, it's so true. It is interesting how that happens.
ReplyDeleteI like how Kawasaki made the film, like how alot of the footage slides in a way. I also love how everybodies emotions are realistic, and alot of people could relate, like others trying to take your stuff because they want it all, you can kind of compare it to bugs life
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of the film is when they kicked the bandits but, and all the bandits had horses but still lost, it was sweet!!! :D
ReplyDeleteIt was most sweet. I agree. and I agree that the emotions are the, for the most part, very realistic. The only character whose emotions I have trouble buying is the farmer's daughter who likes the youngest samurai. But maybe her performance is more believable for a Japanese audience. Or maybe Kurosawa had such a hard time relating to women that he didn't know how to properly direct this actor.
DeleteP.S.: be sure to give us a full three paragraphs on your next response :)
Oh never mind, I see that you commented a ton more on other people's posts so you have written plenty :)
DeleteIm afraid ive missed quite a bit of this movie, and im going to have to rewatch it. but from what i saw this was an excellent film. I was getting a very strong western vibe from it.
ReplyDeleteIt was sending me a messege like. even though the samurai werent needed anymore and that they were longing for a purpose, the village gave them purpose.
it showed that they still had a place and a job to do. and they wer needed which gave them hope?
Tavis, this is a really insightful response. I like what you have to say about the samurai looking for purpose and finding it in defending the village. But then, at the end, they are left without purpose again but the villagers working on their harvest has a strong sense of purpose. Very bitter sweet.
DeleteLet me know when you finish the film so I can give you participation points for that.
To me this is a very good movie, and I quite enjoy the pacing. The long drawn out meeting of all the samurai and how they plan to defend the village, allows for us to get to know them better.
ReplyDeleteThe action seems very realistic based on the fact there are only 7 of them along with the help of the villagers. They can't go out to fight the bandits, especially since they have guns. The strategy of luring them in one by one is very smart, and there devotion to the people is quite mesmerizing. I wouldn't see myself doing that, especially with only 6 others.
The bitter sweet ending is a nice change from only happy endings, while it still is one, like they say only for the villagers. Since over the course of the movie all the fighting was able to bring them closer, to fight harder to not only protect the innocent people but their new found friends.
Also, there is a similar movie that is more recent. Perhaps more more to some of your liking called 13 assassins. Its about a samurai who is contacted to kill the relative of the current shogun who is down right evil. And they go about getting 12 more to help kill him, since he is the position of becoming the shogun. It's a bit more action packed, the last 40 minutes are absolutely insane. Its quite long and there are some pretty gnarly parts but overall I'd say it is also a must see.
Great response, Mike! I'm glad you appreciated the movie and its pacing and characters so much. I like the bitter-sweet ending too. I still need to watch 13 Assassins but I saw it on display at the library the other day (they put really good artsy/foreign films on display in this special case). I definitely need to watch it!
DeleteFirst off, I’d just like to say that I did thoroughly enjoy this film for many reasons. Seven Samurai made it really easy to connect with the Japanese culture, you could really see into the values of the Japanese people from the time period of the samurai. This helped me be more other-culture-minded because it made me really reflect on our own history in the states. We spend a lot of our time in our school history classes learning about our own country’s history, and although we do have World History courses, we don’t spend very much time specifically studying other cultures. This was a pretty sad realization, but it only made me a lot more enthusiastic about getting the opportunity to take a class like International Cinema. (Sorry, kind of rambled there)
ReplyDeleteThere was hardly anything at all that I could say that I didn’t like about this movie. It was all around enjoyable and entertaining. I would have to say that my favorite part of it was the cinematography of the film. Josh, you mentioned that Kurosawa was a painter before he became a filmmaker. This was extremely apparent to me throughout the course of the film. Each shot was composed beautifully and it really kept me engaged. Literally the ONLY thing that was hard for me to like about this film was the length of it. I do think that it was necessary, but it made it a difficult film to watch in one-hour segments.
What I appreciated the most about Seven Samurai after learning about the director were the incredibly built sets and the amazing characters. The set was so detailed and remarkable. I probably would not have appreciated it as much if you had not told us that Kurosawa insisted on not cutting any corners. He left no building empty; he wanted the entire town to be a functioning town if it needed to be. I think that the in-depth sets directly tied into the fantastic characters and the great character development that each of them had. I really felt like each character had a story.
-Ryan Ditta
Yeah, Kurosawa is amazing. I'm glad that you are having such a great time engaging with other cultures. Hearing that makes my day!
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