Samurai 7, Vol. 7 - Guardians of the Rice
Samurai 7comes to a spectacular conclusion in a prolonged battle that occupies most of the last three episodes. To protect Kanna village, Kambei and his mismatched band attack the Capitol, the newly proclaimed Emperor Ukyo's equivalent of the Death Star. The warriors perform gravity-defying leaps, as they slash through steel, deflect bullets, and split laser beams with their swords. The outcome is pretty much a foregone conclusion, although director Toshifumi Takizawa throws in a few unexpected twists.Samurai 7is a baroquemechaadventure that offers plenty of over-the-top battle sequences for viewers who want a mixture of feudal and futuristic derring-do. But to pretend its meandering plot, stock heroes, and tinpot villains have anything to do with Akira Kurosawa's brilliantSeven Samuraiis merely silly.  (Rated TV PG, suitable for ages 12 and older: violence)--Charles Solomon