Seven Samurai vs. The Magnificent Seven

On today's FIlm Versus, we have a battle of a remake and the original with Seven Samurai vs. The Magnificent Seven. 

Before comparing the two films and deciding which one is the best, let’s discuss remakes of foreign language films and how they are translated to the American culture.

When adapting a foreign language film, not only is translating the language important, the writers must translate the culture so that it fits the different setting. Both American and Japanese fiction and legend have stories of skilled warriors helping small towns and villages. In America, that warrior is often the cowboy, and conversely, it is the samurai in Japan, thus why Japanese samurai films translate so well into the western genre. In regards to translation of language and culture, Smartling provides exceptional language translation software for businesses to translate websites or applications as a whole to preserve the original intent, so that the content can be easily shared with a global audience.

For example, Japan's samurai films, referred to as "chanbara," translated as "sword fighting," have had a surprising influence on western cinema. Due to both the Wild West and samurai eras featuring many of the same motifs, such as skilled swordsman/gunman facing insurmountable odds, the west has adapted various samurai films into westerns, with the one of the most notable being A Fistful of Dollars, a remake of Yojimbo. 

Now that you know how samurai films have influenced the western genre, let's move on to the showdown.

Plot Comparison

Taking place in 1587, during the Warring States Period of Japan, Seven Samurai tells the story of a village that hires seven lone samurai, also known as ronin, to protect their village from bandits. On the other hand, The Magnificent Seven, takes the original film's setting and moves it to the Wild West, an apt replacement for the Warring States Period, and obviously changes the samurai to gunman. Ultimately, the differences between the two in the overall narrative are minor aside from setting.

Characterization

Seven Samurai: Thanks to the long runtime, each character is given ample development and motivation. Each character follows a now familiar archetype with a likable personality and unexpectedly deep motivations. You get to know each and every one of the main cast, and while some receive more screen time than others, the characters are distinct from one another. However, the antagonists is notably weaker compared to the protagonists as they receive little development and are not particularly memorable.

The Magnificent Seven: Containing the same archetypes, The Magnificent Seven’s characters all have an undeniable cool factor to them, largely due to the all-star cast of actors. Towards the end a few of the character receive development, although it is not particularly deep or complex. However, the villain, Calvera, is a memorable foil to the heroes, as he is one of the more notable characters from the film.

Verdict - Seven Samurai: Despite The Magnificent Seven's antagonist being far more memorable, Seven Samurai's band of seven are further developed with more complex motivations, which is largely due to the much longer runtime.

Entertainment Value

Seven Samurai: Even though Seven Samurai is an engaging film, its pacing can be incredibly slow at times. It takes nearly 45 minutes before anything is set in motion. However, once the film reaches the second half of its nearly four hour runtime, the story moves along at a relatively swift pace. With that said, Seven Samurai is not a particularly rewatchable film. How often do you have enough time to rewatch something that is almost longer than two entire films!?

The Magnificent Seven: At a standard runtime of 128 minutes, The Magnificent Seven condenses the original film's story into something that fits the tone and pacing of a Hollywood action adventure flick. The result is a fun western adventure with plenty of action and old-school entertainment.

Verdict - The Magnificent Seven: Thanks to the much shorter runtime and faster pacing, Magnificent Seven is a more enjoyable and entertaining flick with greater rewatch value.

Direction

Akira Kurosawa: Kurosawa is a masterful director, one of the best to ever live, and Seven Samurai is among his best work visually. Despite having a much smaller budget than its contemporaries, Kurosawa manages to display a large sweeping landscape of the Warring States Period. The action sequences towards the end, filmed entirely in the rain and mud, while not as impressive today, was well ahead most other films from the era.

John Sturges: Sturges' directing of The Magnificent Seven is perfectly adequate for what the film required. It looked like a classic western flick, and it did not require anything special.

Verdict - Akira Kurosawa: While Sturges' direction is adequate, Kurosawa's direction is among the best of the era; this is an easy win for Seven Samurai.

Overall 

Verdict - Seven Samurai: While both films are classics in their respective genres, it is Seven Samurai that wins today's battle thanks to Kurosawa's visionary direction and deeper characterization. However, Magnificent Seven reminds one of the most fun and entertaining westerns to date, and neither film should be missed.

Which is your favorite? Have you seen either one? Please comment below and let me know!

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Inception Vs The Matrix: Part 3

The final round of Inception Vs. The Matrix is finally here, who will win? Click Here to read part 1 and Click Here to read part 2.

 

Acting

The Matrix: Keanu Reeves is often criticized for his performance, but as I previously stated he was intentionally an empty shell and gave a solid performance for his role. Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity played one of the coolest female roles in a film. As I said before, Hugo Weaving was awesome as Agent Smith and Laurence Fishbourne was good as well. Sure, none of the actors gave Oscar worthy performances, but they played their roles well.

Inception: Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance should have won him the Oscar for Best Picture. Ellen Paige was fantastic as the likeable Ariadne. Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s performance made me a JGL fan; he is another likeable actor with that relatable “everyman” type personality. Tom Hardy, Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy, Marion Cotillard, and Michael Cain were all amazing in their roles. 

Verdict: Inception: There is no contest, Inception’s cast is one of the best of all-time and easily takes this category. 

 

Premise/Concept/Plot

The Matrix: The Matrix is packed with philosophy and hidden meaning. The concept is very original and I have never seen anything like it before or since. Many of the ideas proposed in the film are far more relevant today than they were nearly 15 years ago, in this new age of technology and cyber warfare.

Inception: Not only is Inception highly complex and one of the most original plots I have ever seen, Nolan manages to mix a very personal story into the complex narrative. 

 

Verdict: Inception: As much as I enjoyed The Matrix’s plot, Inception was more personal and complex.

 

Cultural Impact

The Matrix: Not only did The Matrix revolutionized special effects, it also popularized the famous “Bullet Time” effect and other slow-motion effects are now common in today’s cinema. 

Inception: While The Matrix has much more time to be ingrained in culture, Inception’s popularity is growing and most people around the internet know about the ridiculously loud horn sounds in the trailer that is often parodied.

Verdict: The Matrix: Although Inception is growing in popularity, it will never reach the popular-culture heights of The Matrix, due to Inception narrower appeal.

 

Soundtrack

Don Davis/Other Artists

Don Davis/Other Artists: Don Davis gave the film a perfect mix of synthesized and orchestral elements to the score. The other techno tunes in The Matrix were fantastic and worked well in the film.

Hans Zimmer: Inception’s score is Zimmer’s second best, and on my Top 10 list of all-time soundtracks. It conveyed the disorientating feel of a dream and transported the audience into the film’s dream world. 

 

Verdict: Hans Zimmer: While The Matrix’s soundtrack was good, it cannot beat Zimmer’s mind-bending score.

 

 

 

Overall

The Matrix: The Matrix is the ultimate tech-geek/cyber-punk film, filled with intense action scenes, and mind blowing special effects. As a tech-geek myself, I love The Matrix movie. 

Inception: Thrilling, suspenseful, immensely complex, and action packed, Inception is completely unique and original, with fleshed out characters and various interpretations of what the film is actually about.

Verdict: Inception: After lengthy debate, I have decided Inception should take the victory. It is more original and it is a better film overall. However, it was an extremely close fought battle between two of my favorite films and if you like The Matrix better, I could not disagree.

Which is your favorite? Please comment below.

 

 

 

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Inception Vs The Matrix: Part 2

Here is Part 2 of the Inception Vs. The Matrix Film Versus! Thus far the score is tied with both Inception and The Matrix scoring 2 points each. Click Here to read Part 1 of this Film Versus.

 

 

Villain

Agent Smith Vs. Mal/Subconscious

Agent Smith: Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith is one of the greatest film antagonists in movie history. His demeanor and mannerisms make him a very menacing villain.

Mal/Subconscious: Inception does not have the typical villain character as with most other films. The true antagonist is the protagonists’ and Fisher’s subconscious mind. However, Mal (Cobb’s subconscious), played brilliantly by Marion Cotillard, would be considered the film’s “villain” and she was fantastic in the role.

Verdict: Agent Smith: As complex and interesting as Inception’s subconscious antagonists are, Agent Smith is nearly unmatched in villainy.

 

 

 

Most Memorable Scene

Bullet Time Vs. Inception’s Ending

 

Bullet Time: When I watched the film, the Bullet Time scene blew me away! The scene is indescribably cool and easily one of the best moments in cinema history.

Inception’s Ending: *Inception Spoiler* Could the film have ended any more thought provoking and ambiguous? Nolan left us with Cobb’s spinning totem possibly on the brink of toppling but never gave a final explanation.

Verdict: Bullet Time: While I almost want to give this to Inception, “Bullet Time” has made a more cultural impact and I will never forget the first time that watched the scene.

 

Visual Effects

The Matrix: At the time, The Matrix’s special effects were revolutionary! Almost nothing at the time even compare and they hold-up well today.

Inception: The use of practical and CGI effects was seamless. In the hallway fight, the hallway was actually rotating with while Joseph Gordon-Levitt and the stun-men were performing the scene. 

Verdict: The Matrix: As great as Inception’s visual effects are, The Matrix is in a league of its own, and may even have better effects than Inception does today. Without The Matrix, “Bullet Time” would have never became so popular.

 

Academy Awards

The Matrix: 4 Nominations and Wins:

Best Film Editing

Best Sound Mixing

Best Sound Editing

Best Visual Effects

Inception: 8 Nominations and 4 Wins:

Best Picture

Original Screenplay

Best Original Score

Best Sound Editing

Best Sound Mixing

Best Art Direction

Best Visual Effects

Best Cinematography

Verdict: Inception: The numbers don't lie, even though they won the same amount of awards, Inception had twice as many nominations. 

 

Woman in Red and Woman in Black

Although this is not one of the “Versus” categories, it is a similarity that is worth comparing. Both scenes use a woman as a distraction to demonstrate an important point in the story and both were constructs of the film’s tech/deception experts, Mouse (The Matrix) and Eames (Inception). However, in The Matrix the scene is more important opposed to Inception were it was more of a plot device, not a philosophical metaphor. 

 

 

It appears that The Matrix is taking the lead in the second round but can it hold it down the final stretch?

 

 

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Inception Vs The Matrix: Part 1.

Inception and The Matrix, two of the most mind blowing and bending films ever made, are two of my favorite all-time favorites. There could not be a better or more closely matched Film Versus. They are literally number 11 and 12 on my favorite films list, and every time I watch each film my opinion as which is better changes. However, for this battle I will have to come to a final decision. Unlike many others, I watched Inception first and then watched The Matrix because it was said to be similar to Inception. Therefore, I do not have the typical bias towards either film. As before, I will break the Film Versus down into multiple categories and determine who is the winner. Let the battle begin! 

Hero

Neo Vs. Cobb

Neo: Despite what some say, Keanu Reeves played the character of Neo well. He was more of an empty shell for the viewer to project himself into the role thus, giving the audience a vehicle to help them understand the strange new world of The Matrix. Neo is the modern man’s action hero; he is not a big muscle-bound guy like Rambo or Chuck Norris, but a normal guy with a greater calling similar to Luke Skywalker or Frodo Baggins of other classic tales.

Cobb: Cobb is a very conflicted character. He is not the typical “Hero” character because what he does “Isn’t strictly speaking…. legal”. Despite this, he is a very likable protagonist and the viewer desires him to succeed.

Verdict: Tie: While Cobb is definitely the deeper and better fleshed out character, Neo is the quintessential hero and eventually *Minor Spoiler* understands his greater purpose. *End of Spoiler* That is why I gave it a tie.

Action

The Matrix: The Matrix has some of the best choreographed fight scenes ever filmed. They set the new standard for the action genre and are still unmatched today. It is difficult to choose just one fight scene from the film, but the ending battle between Neo and Agent Smith was the most memorable.

 

Inception: In Inception, the rotating hallway scene was easily the highlight in terms of action. However, after they entered the dream world the film was thrilling and action packed.

Verdict: The Matrix: While Inception has some of the best action scenes, The Matrix is in a league of its own with masterfully choreographed fight scenes throughout.

 

 

Best Direction and Writing

 The Wachowskis Vs. Christopher Nolan

Note: Both The Wachowskis and Christopher Nolan wrote and directed their own, this another similarity between these two legendary films. Also Nolan's brother John helped in writing and producing the film, similar to how the Wachowski siblings worked together on The Matrix. 

 

The Wachowskis: The Wachowskis revolutionized sci-fi making bring their unique vision of The Matrix to life with stunning action set pieces and surprising deep philosophical subtext. No one else could have brought the mind blowing world of The Matrix than The Wachowskis.

 

Christopher Nolan: Nolan vastly improved his directorial skill that he showed in The Dark Knight, with crisp and clear action directing, amazing cinematography, and character depth. No one else could have taken this concept of dreams and made it so original and mind blowing.

 

Verdict: Christopher Nolan: Nolan is a better director in nearly all aspects except action, there is no contest.

 

Thanks Buddy2Blogger for suggesting this category.

 

If you have any ideas for more categories, please comment below with your idea. Have you are thoughts on the battle thus far? Please comment below.

 

 

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.