Kumonosu Jô (Throne of Blood) (Macbeth)

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Plot: A champion of illumination and experimental shading, Kurosawa brings his unerring eye for indelible images to Shakespeare in this 1957 adaptation of Macbeth. By changing the locale from Birna...( read more read more... )m Wood to 16th-century Japan, Kurosawa makes an oddball argument for the trans-historicity of Shakespeare's narrative; and indeed, stripped to the bare mechanics of the plot, the tale of cutthroat ambition rewarded (and thwarted) feels infinitely adaptable. What's lost in the translation, of course, is the force and beauty of the language--much of the script of Throne of Blood is maddeningly repetitive or superfluous--but striking visual images (including the surreal Cobweb Forest and some extremely artful gore) replace the sublime poetry. Toshiro Mifune is theatrically intense as Washizu, the samurai fated to betray his friend and master in exchange for the prestige of nobility; he portrays the ill-fated warrior with a passion bordering on violence, and a barely concealed conviviality. Somewhat less successful is Isuzu Yamada as Washizu's scheming wife; her poise and creepy impassivity, chilling at first, soon grows tedious. Kurosawa himself is the star of the show, though, and his masterful use of black-and-white contrast-- not to mention his steady, dramatic hand with a battle scene--keeps the proceedings thrilling. A must-see for fans of Japanese cinema, as well as all you devotees of samurai weapons and armor. --Miles Bethany

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  • SexiVixxEN
    SexiVixxEN
    Not Interested
    MCT:
    May 23, 2008
    Not Interested
  • FangsFirst
    FangsFirst
    Want To See
    MCT:
    September 20, 2007
    DVD awaits.
  • webalina
    webalina
    5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    May 2, 2007
    Akira Kurosawa's version of Macbeth. If all Shakespeare films were this good, the Bard would have new legions of fans.
  • Collegekid
    Collegekid
    Not Interested
    MCT:
    December 29, 2006
    not interested!
  • Ivan6655321
    Ivan6655321
    5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    September 26, 2008
    My personal favorite among Kurosawa's film. Haunting, surreal and nightmarish, this is Kurosawa's darkest film yet. Mifune's best performance in my opinion.

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