Why so much hype?

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The acting in this movie is really good.

When I look back on my prior reviews of Kurosawa films, I'm surprised that I've seen as many as I have. This one is my seventh, and though I acknowledge him as one of the film world's great directors, to me he comes across as an acquired taste. There are things that I don't care for in his pictures, such as the erratic and often over the top interpretations of his players, in this case Toshiro Mifune as Taketoki Washizu. There's also his overly long scenes establishing a mood or focusing on a character's face or body. These are all personal tastes of course, and I wonder if he would have told his stories in a more fluid way had he been born somewhat later.A lot of Krosawa's films also deal with Samurai or Japanese warriors, and his themes are similar as well. Like the principal character in "Yojimbo" and "Sanjuro", Washizu comes to rely on duplicity and cunning as he's compelled by his wife Asaji (Isuzu Yamada) to fulfill a forest spirit's prophecy that he will soon become the Great Lord of Spider Web's Castle. To do so, he must kill the current Great Lord and turn his back on a long time childhood friend.What I liked about this story, and I realize it's based on Shakespeare's Macbeth, is the use of supernatural phenomena like ghosts and ephemeral spirits. Lady Washizu's descent into madness attempting to rid the blood on her hands was an inspired scene, as was Washizu's attack on an invisible ghost that no one else could see but him.For all of that however, I do find it a chore at times to sit through Kurosawa's pictures. On the flip side, I've had better luck at times with a second viewing, as in the case of "Seven Samurai" and "Rashomon". That could be the case here as well, though it's not going to be a priority with me. Even with my negatives though, I don't mind rating this picture relatively well, due to it's excellent cinematography, intricate costuming and bold story telling. I can recognize those achievements aside from my personal quirks.

Akira Kurosawa's adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth may feature a different setting but it keeps the context & essence of its source of inspiration entirely in tact, and is arguably the finest adaptation of the famous play on the film canvas. A fascinating meditation on the corrupting nature of greed & power, the film retains its effectiveness even today.Set in feudal Japan, the story of Throne of Blood follows a war general who, en route to his lord's castle, encounters a spirit who foretells him his near-future. When part of the prediction turns out to be true, he hesitates to fulfil the remaining prophecy at first but is eventually spurred into action by his ambitious wife, which in turn sets them on a path to destruction & madness.Co-written & directed by Akira Kurosawa (best known for Ikiru & Seven Samurai), Throne of Blood may have shifted the well-known plot to a different timeline & location but it is the Shakespearean tragedy right down to the bone. Kurosawa's direction is top-notch, for he follows the events quite faithfully yet manages to give the film an identity of his own with his creative & stylistic choices.Both the depicted era & Spider's Web castle is illustrated in fine detail. The greyscale photography is sharp & crisply captures the unfolding events. Editing is firmly carried out and steadily paces the narrative although a few moments could've used little trims. Music exudes a haunting vibe. And the performances from the entire cast is strong, especially Toshirô Mifune whose formidable act ranks amongst his finest.On an overall scale, Throne of Blood is a terrific adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy despite the many liberties it takes with the original, and is one classic that has effortlessly endured the test of time. Visually striking, narratively engaging & employing its minimalist approach to great effect, it ranks high on both Kurosawa's filmography & Shakespeare's film adaptations and will satisfy fans of both with ease. Definitely recommended.

Akira Kurosawa's "Throne of Blood" is a retelling of Shakespeare's "Macbeth". I am no expert on Shakespeare but the story seemed very familiar. It is a faithful adaptation of the classic story and Kurosawa utilizes his magic to create a tragic tale that is both haunting and triumphant in its own right. The story begins as Washizu (Toshiro Mifune) and Miki (Minoru Chiaki) travel their way through the magical Spider's Web Forest where, through the fog, they meet an otherworldly Spirit who foretells each man his prophecy. Washizu is to become Lord of Spider's Web Castle while Miki becomes Lord of The First Fortress and his son eventually will take over Spider's Web Castle. This scene brilliantly captures the ethereal tone of the film and sets up what is to come. The story of MacBeth deals with the supernatural. Kurosawa brilliantly blends the Western ideology with traditional Japanese folklore to create an atmosphere that is visually intriguing and original. The two men's confrontation with the Spirit is a haunting scene that is magnified by the men's acceptance that what they are seeing is a real spirit from another world. The vast fog surrounding them gives the feeling of loneliness and uncertainty. One thing this film has is a lot of fog. I found that the fog symbolized uncertainty of the future. We see the men riding off into the fog but we are unable to see what is ahead. Along with being a faithful adaptation, Kurosawa, nonetheless, made it his own. The entire cast does great but Toshiro Mifune is a standout as the war-hardened general Wishizu. Just the intensity his eyes give off is a scene in itself. I have yet to see a film where Mifune gives anything less than an amazing performance. Isizu Yamada is very good at playing his wife, Asaji. Some of the best scenes in the film are with those two. She convinces Wishizu to kill their Lord so he can take over the throne and fulfill his prophecy. Thus, the tragedy begins and a trail of bloodshed ensues...one bad omen after another. "Throne of Blood' is a story of betrayal and we reach a point where we know it cannot end well for the main character. In doing research, I learned that Kurosawa incorporated elements of Noh Theatre, a traditional Japanese artform, which is evident in costume design, music and character interactions, such as the interactions between Washizu and his wife. The characters struggle with their conflicting beliefs, but ultimately the thirst for power wins. The film was shot on and around Mount Fuji, which has a rugged landscape and lots of natural fog. I thought it was pretty cool that Kurosawa decided to film there. The landscape works perfectly. The cinematography is very good too. For many outside shots, there is an eerie atmosphere that the fog presents and a rugged, uneasy view of the world. Inside shots are very balanced and calm, as we view the inside of a room from the outside framing. These contrasting shots say a lot. Akira Kurosawa was a master at making every shot count and here, there is no exception. It sucks you right into the world of these individuals and keeps you wondering what will happen next. The ending is sure to satisfy!

"Throne of Blood" is an adaptation of Shakespeare's "Macbeth", by the Japanese master Akira Kurosawa. It stars Toshiro Mifune as Washizu: a brave and honorable general whom, upon hearing a prophecy on how he will become Lord of Forest Castle, goes down a spiral of wrath and corruption.As usual Kurosawa's staging is masterful. His camera glides and smoothly pans across the scenes, showing us the main drama, but also revealing other actions occurring in the background - this gives the viewer a much more heightened sense of immersion into the world. The film's pace is infamously slow, but this was a personal choice by Kurosawa, who was greatly influenced by the Japanese style of theatre, "Noh". By adopting this very formal and specific influence, Kurosawa creates an interesting fusion between stage and film.The only detail that bothered me in "Throne of Blood" was the way Kurosawa lessened Washizu's (Macbeth's) thirst for power. While he is still seen as a tyrant, I couldn't help but empathize with him more than with the original Macbeth. Washizu is more reluctant to believe the prophecy and it is only after his wife convinces him that it is either "kill or be killed" that he actually commits the first murder. The first Lord he murders is also seen as a less noble one than King Duncan, as he actually also came into power after murdering the previous lord. Details such as these ended up toning down on Washizu's craving for power, which in turn made the film lose some of its as well.Nevertheless, "Throne of Blood" is still a great adaptation of Macbeth; encapsulated in a gorgeously shot, black and white feudal Japan, which paints a terrifying portrait of Man's relentless ambition and lust for power.