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 Birnam 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 cut-throat 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 armour. --Miles Bethany [show more]
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Japanese drama based on William Shakespeare's play 'Macbeth', directed by Akira Kurosawa and starring Toshirô Mifune, Isuzu Yamada and Minoru Chiaki. In the aftermath of their victory in battle, commanders Taketoki Washizu (Mifune) and Yoshiaki Miki (Chiaki) are confronted by a mysterious spirit which prophesies their rise to power. Though at first they dismiss this prediction, Washizu finds himself pushed into prominence by his ambitious wife while Miki and his descendants also gain more and more power. But as they steadily rise, their ambition and growing lust for power begins to take its toll.
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