Sound & Vision, which calls itself the world’s largest entertainment equipment magazine, has given us yet another top 10 of 2006 list. In this one, Criterion’s triple-DVD take on Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai appears as the 4th highest ranked DVD release. (“A mini film-school course on Akira Kurosawa and the samurai genre. Fifty-year-old movies have no business looking this good.”)
The list is actually topped by John Ford’s The Searchers, who obviously has his own significance for those familiar with Kurosawa’s influences.
I have four of their top five (and six of their top 10), and as much as I love Seven Samurai, I have to say the Searchers is absolutely stunning. While Seven was a step up from the previous Criterion edition, the Searchers was a millionfold improvement. If you have not scene this version of the John Ford classic, please do, it is easily the best Wayne/Ford movie, and a beautiful film. The final shot still moves me after multiple viewings.