Your shameless trumpeting of Seven Samurai amuses me.  Now I am not one of those inhuman monsters who will bash the film.  It is excellent and one of his best, but it isn't his very best.  For my money his best film would be the much later Ran.  I may be completely alone in this opinion, and yes Mr. Richie makes a very good point, as he also does for Rashomon, Ikiru, and Throne of Blood among others.