La Strada (Criterion Collection) - BLU-RAY

In his late color masterpiece "Kagemusha (The Shadow Warrior)," director Akira Kurosawa returned to the samurai film and to a primary theme of his celebrated career-the play between illusion and reality. Sumptuously reconstructing the splendor of feudal Japan and the pageantry of war, Kurosawa creates a soaring historical epic that is also a somber meditation on the nature of power.

Industrialist Kingo Gondô (Toshiro Mifune) hunts the kidnapper of his chauffeur's son in this drama from Akira Kurosawa. At once a fine detective story and brilliant allegory on the nature of class differences, as represented by the businessman, his servant, and the kidnappers. Tatsuya Nakadai, Kyôko Kagawa, Tatsuya Mihashi. Based on a story by Ed McBain. 143 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack Japanese DTS HD Surround Master Audio; Subtitles English; audio commentary; "making of" documentary; interviews; theatrical trailers; essay. In Japanese with English subtitles. Two-disc set.

One of the most thrilling movie epics of all time, Seven Samurai (Shichinin no 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 (Rashomon, Yojimbo, Ran)-featuring legendary actors Toshiro Mifune (Stray Dog, Yojimbo) and Takashi Shimura (Ikiru, the Hidden Fortress)-seamlessly weaves philosophy and entertainment, delicate human emotions and relentless action, into a rich, evocative, and unforgettable tale of courage and hope.