I apologize for leaving this list hanging over the last few days. I’ve been spending most of my writing time on my feature. I’ll write all about it early next week. There’s a big meeting going on later on tonight that will have a ton of news to spill afterward. Until then, lets continue the list.
Number 6: Seven Samurai (1954) dir. Akira Kurosawa
Akira Kurosawa and his influence on later cinema is truly a story of cultural diffusion. While western audiences have become accustomed to Kurosawa’s films as being a peek into the world of the Far East, his influences can be traced back to one of the most prolific western directors. Early on in his career, Kurosawa became enamored with the films of John Ford. Ford is known best for revolutionizing the “western” film genre. Films like Stagecoach helped to show the possibilities of small stories told through epic landscapes. One of the reasons for his success was his understanding of the unwavering human spirit. Ford’s films often showed his own confidence and occasionally his ignorance.
Kurosawa looked to borrow some of that confidence and blend it into something that Japan was not very accepting of. Seven Samurai is arguably the beginning of Kurosawa’s peak. The story follows seven masterless samurai who agree to help peasant farmers against a group of thieves. Just like Ford’s films, Kurosawa’s plots were normally very simple. It was in the details of each character that the film truly blossoms.
The film’s battle sequence is an unforgiving look at the effect war has on the common man. Toshiro Mifune’s reaction to the motherless toddler is not only one of the saddest moments in cinema but also one of truest in character development. The samurai waver in their beliefs but never crack. And all of this is shot beautifully through a sudden rainstorm (a common occurance in Kurosawa films). Kurosawa’s love of telephoto lenses also played into his directing style. Closeups are a rarity in Seven Samurai. The camera seemingly picks up the delicate movements of each character from a distance. This is also a compliment to the amazing cast that Kurosawa had assembled. Many of them would work with him for decades.
There are several other films on this list that would not be here if not for Seven Samurai. Kurosawa’s influence came back to the States several decades later. Filmmakers like George Lucas, Stephen Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Francis Coppola were heavily influenced by his work.
They say that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. If so, the next filmmaker has flattered Kurosawa immensely.
Number 5: Star Wars (1977) dir. George Lucas
I’ve already written, in great length, about both George Lucas and Star Wars. Therefore, I’ll keep this as short as possible. Along with Jaws, Star Wars helped to define what is now known as the Hollywood Blockbuster. It has had 5 sequels, countless books, several cartoon series and is now the bench mark for science fiction films.
Cinematically, the world would be a different place without it. While CGI was decades away, Star Wars created new ways of envisioning special effects. It was so successful that many films after looked to the same individuals for the same effects. The story itself is Greek Mythology and Buck Rodgers blended together into a delicious flavor of action and drama.
I could go on about it forever, so I’ll stop here. Needless to say, this film could have been a lot higher on the list but with all of my love for the greatest blockbuster of all time, it is at five for a reason. Keep reading to find out why…
to be continued…