Akira Kurosawa Samurai Collection (12)
Akira Kurosawa Samurai Collection (12)
If you've seen one Japanese film that isn't horror or anime, chances are it's Seven Samurai. This 1954 tale of seven ronin hired to protect a village from bandits rewrote the rulebook for action cinema, making its way onto the Hollywood screen as The Magnificent Seven.
That particular Western isn't the only movie that might feel familiar to newcomers soaking up this BFI Blu-ray box set, which gathers together five of Kurosawa's works: Yojimbo transformed itself into A Fistful Of Dollars, while The Hidden Fortress provided a framework for Star Wars. (This collection is completed by Macbeth adaptation Throne Of Blood and Sanjuro).
Disappointingly, much of the bonus material can be found elsewhere, causing a dilemma for those who own earlier DVD versions and are now faced with a £59.99 price tag. But the films themselves are what matter, with picture contrast, soundtrack clarity, optional subtitles and aspect ratios the best they've ever been for UK home viewing.
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