Seven Samurai or The Magnificent Seven? (films, western, watching, Yul Brynner)

[Merlander]

Which was the better movie - the western-genre Magnificent Seven, or the Japanese original it was based on, Seven Samurai?

[Puru]

Seven Samurai was incredibly awesome, and I think the Magnificent Seven paled in comparison.

[bs13690]

I have a hard time watching films like Seven Samurai. I have what I call a movie watching filter. I have to apply this filter when watching older, B&W films or ones that are subtitled. It allows me to appreciate the film in the context of the time in which it was released. I either wasn't able to apply the filter to SS or I just didn't think it was all that great.

I love Westerns so I voted for MS over SS.

[Mark S.]

In terms of artistic filmmaking, Seven Samurai may be the greatest film ever made. Certainly in the Top 5.

But in terms of "fun," Magnificent Seven probably beats it. It is certainly paced better for modern Western audiences. And the villain has much more flair.

[Mr.Cat]

I saw Kurosawa's Seven Samurai and loved it but I also love westerns and have to go with The Magnificent Seven.

[LaoTzuMindFu]

Seven Samurai IS one of the greatest films of all time and is often studied at most university film schools. The comparison to Maginificent Seven isnt even close.

Seven Samurai wins by a landslide - at least to someone (me) who is familiar with movie making/story telling and just loves the movies.

[FlightAttendant]

I have to go with some other posters...Seven Samurai was an absolute masterpiece.

[Tricky D]

Without a doubt Seven Samurai, but Yul Brynner sure was kewl in Westworld (1973).

[gardener34]

I am a big kurosawa fan and I love samurai movies... handsdown - seven samurai. But magnificent seven is a classic no doubt.

[djangodietcola]

Can someone suggest which one I should watch first??? A guy I used to work with suggested I watch one before the other, but I can't remember which before which now...I want to say he said to watch The Magnificent Seven first and my reasoning based on reading reviews is that maybe it would pale too much in comparison to the original and so it would ruin my appreciation for it? Any opinions?