Although it contains a bunch of metaphysical private goods, "Seven Samurai" should be counted as an entertainment film-there are versions from Hong Kong and Taiwan that translate the title of the film into "Seven Heroes and Four Righteousnesses", which seems more appropriate. This angle also helps to justify some unreliable plots. Although there is no such action as turning with a knife or tearing tickets with bare hands, the slot is still grabbing: a small and medium-scale weapon fight that took place in the mountain village of Niaobula Ⅹ, is it necessary to be like the battle of Tianwangshan? What kind of character do the farmers in this village have accumulated so that they can win masters like Kamizumi Nobuzuna (Kanbei) and Miyamoto Musashi (Kuzo)? The four islands of Fusang are even the bandits. Even if their side loses 2/3 of the battle, they will still launch a general attack until they are all eaten in a pot? In the list of deaths in the square, all farmers who were farmers (except half Chiyo Chrysanthemum Chiyo) died of cold weapons, and all samurai died of muskets. How imbalanced was the old man Kurosawa's heart?
Well, this is a sword movie after all. If the criteria are too harsh, then the large number of martial arts movies that violate the laws of physics will probably fall into the category of absurd movies.
"Seven Samurai" is very long. The two discs of the CC version add up to nearly three and a half hours; in the commentary track, there are actually 5 Western brick artists taking turns and chattering (40 minutes each). In this case, Uncle Zha still feels that the film is not very easy to cut--especially some non-combat passages that seem to be insulting. After careful study, the filming is very compact and not sloppy. What's more, it is necessary from time to time. Jump out and click on the topic: There is the possibility of collaboration between the two major classes.
Speaking harshly, this kind of collaboration is actually pretty twisty. From the perspective of contract, farmers are employers and samurai are wage earners, but with such poor treatment and remuneration (thatched huts, only food, no wages), they have to bear such high work risks (7 people lead a group of wimps) The peasants of the capsule, against 40 well-equipped bandits), this contract is twisted enough. From the perspective of social hierarchy, no matter how poor the samurai is, the status of the samurai is higher than that of the peasants. The village elder's phrase "look for those hungry samurai" can only be a joke-for the sake of being hungry, the samurai can completely switch roles. , Become another round of bandits. Therefore, the miscellaneous 7-member group led by Kanbingwei is undoubtedly superior to the employer in terms of morality: we are here to help.
However, this is not "Three Heroes and Five Righteousnesses" after all. In terms of portraying the image of disadvantaged groups, "Seven Heroes and Four Righteousnesses" invested heavily: they seemed timid and fearful, but they were not merciful when attacking solitary warriors and making money and killing; they seemed to have no food. But I searched the bottom of the bed, the secret cabinet, the cellar, all kinds of rice, noodles, wine and meat; they were pitiful, but also irritable. When the bandits came, they hurriedly rushed out with thick legs and shouted the heroes for help-is there a need to save such a group?
But there is one thing. According to Comrade Kikuchiyo, who is jumping around like a monkey, the peasants are not born like this. As a member of the Central Plains, they have to ask the samurai class: if there is no excessive expropriation above, there will be differences between the following and the inside. ? Official T and D Min always act as cause and effect for each other.
The old man Kurosawa himself came from the samurai class, and the seven righteous men he portrayed were very idealistic characters, so he didn't expect him to succumb to the story. As a hedging element, the images of several farmers have been highlighted: Liji, this is the most rebellious one (although the main reason is that the bandits have taken his wife away); the elders in the village have clear ideas and are stubborn enough. In the end, she chose to live and die with her home; the woman in the stream was fatally wounded, and only after entrusting her child to Kanbingbei and Kikuchiyo by her will did she collapse; the lonely old lady who was bullied by the bandits and broke her family, trembled with a hoe in her hand. Passing through the crowd tremblingly, revenge on the scout sent by the bandit-a quite shocking scene.
Of course, the most impressive farmer is Kiku Chiyo, who is the bond between the two classes; some things can only be said by him, and some things can only be solved by him. Also symbolizing the connection between the peasant and the samurai is the love between Katsushiro and Shino, which is very beautiful and short-lived.
From this point of view, it is best not to delete the scenes between the group of 7 and the villagers. In this weapon fight, no one can win the sword with bare hands and break through the army alone. If you want to survive, only everyone can live and die together, advance and retreat together, and the establishment of this relationship requires enough storylines to polish.
"Seven Samurai" is very well planned in detail. Take the personal ending of the group of seven as an example: the story ends, four perish and three survive. Kanbingbei is the spiritual leader of the square. If you lose him, the whole movie will be weightless (this is not a Kagemusha after all); Shichiroji is Kanbingbei's subordinate and old comrade, especially importantly, all from si people The lord who crawled out of the pile was lucky ("We survived again")-after all, we have to talk about luck in the war; Katsushiro is a rookie, who is the easiest to pay on the battlefield, but in the movie world, he Symbolizes the future, so plug-ins are also opened.
Those with bad luck: In the harassment battle before the official match, the optimistic comrade Heihachi died early. This may be a consideration of atmosphere creation-the battle is approaching, but the atmosphere of the story is a bit relaxed, and you need to pull down. Pulling; the same situation happened to the deputy commander Goro Biebe — compared with the smooth wind on the first day, the afternoon of the second day was very hard, and the situation was once close to out of control: partly because the bandit’s archer team was long. The spear cavalry broke through the square blocking line. Another part of the reason was that Kikuchiyo left his post without permission to show off the limelight, which led to loopholes in the rear village defense line-driving high and walking low to bring out the tragedy of the finale.
On the third day of a decisive battle in the rain, Kuzo and Kikuchiyo were killed. The former responded to the rumor that "the strong are easy to break", and the latter needs to make up for the negligence committed the day before-both of them are very close. heavy. Jiuzang is the best martial arts in the Gang of Seven, but in front of the musket, he is as fragile as a leaf in a storm: after years of hard training, it can't stand a shot. Kuzo's death was a devastating blow to Katoshiro, who had always regarded him as an idol, and heralded the end of an era.
On the question of Kikuchiyo, Kurosawa's arrangement is more cruel: Want to complete the transition from triangle to circle? In exchange for your own life. After the matter is over, you can put a long knife in your grave.
Borrowing from a foreigner in the commentary track, Comrade Kurosawa directed this film with the mood of making an entertainment movie-the previous three films ("Rashomon", "Idiot", "The Desire of Life") is too depressing, and I really need to relax. But the taste changes when you shoot, especially at the end. Kikuchiyo must go to the altar. Between Katsushiro and Shino, there will be no results, in the eternal realism like the earth. In front of me, all the ideals and passions are just passing by. The old black head used a movie to make up a good dream, nothing more.
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