Rent Akira Kurosawa's epic Seven Samurai (1954) in the Criterion edition: bit.ly/seven_samurai One of the most thrilling movie epics of all time, Seven Samurai tells the story of a sixteenth-century village whose desperate inhabitants hire the eponymous warriors to protect them from invading bandits. This three-hour ride from Akira Kurosawa—featuring legendary actors Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura—seamlessly weaves philosophy and entertainment, delicate human emotions and relentless action,

Seven Samurai (1954) | Directed by Akira Kurosawa | Shot by Asakazu Nakai | Starring Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura Shot over one year with a budget that nearly bankrupted Toho Studios. Kurosawa invented the wipe transition—George Lucas copied it directly for Star Wars. He used multiple cameras simultaneously (revolutionary then) so editors had options. The rain was dyed with ink to read on black-and-white film. The mud was mixed with ash for contrast. At 207 minutes, studios begged for cuts; K

Brooding and sinister or tender and funny, Toshiro Mifune showed an impressive acting range. Today we honor his centennial birthday and celebrate this splendid talent with a collection of his films, all of which were collaborations with Akira Kurosawa. | Turner Classic Movies: TCM