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Throne of Blood - Criterion Collection Actors: Toshirô Mifune, Minoru Chiaki Director: Akira Kurosawa Number of Items: 1 Picture Format: Academy Ratio Format: Black & White Audience Rating: Unrated Running Time: 105 minutes Studio: Criterion Collection Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Region Code: 1 Product Group: DVD Release Date: 2003-05-27 Buy from Amazon |
 "Macbeth on the Throne of Blood"Throne of Blood is Kurosawa's variation on Shakespeare's Macbeth. Kurosawa takes the framework of Macbeth, but films it in, medieval Japan, a completely different setting. The major alternation of the setting and language makes it more Japanese legend than Shakespearean. Shakespeare's language is lost; however, it is worthwhile exploring Kurosawa's interpretation of Macbeth. In Throne of Blood, Macbeth's character is over dramatized. Toshiro Mifune takes the tragic role of Macbeth, the pitiful hero who deliberately abandons loyalty and conscience in order to take the position of a king, who then faces a progressive downfall until he is destroyed at last. The superfluous actions and facial expressions of Mifune seem to substitute the barrenness of the script. In view of the script, language does not take a paramount role as it does in Shakespeare's plays, but is merely the means to maintain the bare plot of Macbeth. In contrast to the somewhat exaggerated characterization of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is utterly expressionless. She brings about an air of composure and coolness, a nature quite ironic in a character like Lady Macbeth; she is a ruthless and an ambitious woman who readily sells her peace to the hands of evil in order to have her husband the king. However, Isuzu Yamada, who portrays her, does not express this. Although Kurosawa's characterization of Lady Macbeth contradicts her corrupt nature, it is excusable when taking into consideration the cultural aspects of Japan. Its feudal society devoted to pursue high discipline and courtesy contributed to the reserved and reticent nature of Japanese men and women in particular. There are major plot differences from the film and play. In the original version of Macbeth, Shakespeare does not show why Macbeth is unable to succeed his thrown to his children. Kurosawa attempts to explain this. In Throne of Blood, the baby between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is born dead. Although this remains as a minor part of the play, it inflicts a greater tragedy. Kurosawa also rewrites the climax. Macbeth's death is portrayed as being more pitiful than heroic. Shakespeare characterizes Macbeth as a tragic hero. Kurosawa does not. Macbeth does not die heroically fighting against his enemy, but is defeated by his own army that had turned against him. At last, Macbeth, stricken by arrows, drops helplessly in front of the watchful eyes of his men. Thus, Macbeth is depicted as a corrupt king who stands feebly against his fate like the sand before a strong blow of wind. Kurosawa reiterates the great tragedy of Macbeth. This movie is highly recommended to all movie fans, especially to those devoted to Shakespeare's plays. "Truly unique Shakespeare adaptation!"First off I would like to say that the cheap version of this film is not all that bad (despite what people are saying). I bought it on ebay for .01 and it lived up to the price I paid and then some. There were some imperfections in sound quality and the translation was not exactly scholarly (lots of profanity, in fact - which I do not think Kurosawa intended) - but given the choice between this and the $40 criterion version - my choice was simple! The film itself is a brilliant piece of work and deserves the praise it gets - as one of Kurosawa's greatest works - many people have mentioned the striking scenes of the horses galloping through an almost mystical fog - very startling effect indeed. Kurosawa is a master of space - and his camera movements always look perfect and spontaneous at the same time! "MacToshiro"Blood, crows, ambition, arrows, fear, horror, fog, madness, death. The endless scenes of the frightened, whinnying horses, dashing through the impenetrable fog, reined and turned again and again by the lost, frightened and confused Mifune and Chiaki. The scene is unbearable, frustrating, and makes us understand what it is to "lose one's way" in the metaphorical sense as shown by the physical reality. This is what great film does: works on many levels, and offers us an intimate visual experience of the conceptual. Noh provided inspiration for Mifune's visual presence: Kuroswa showed Mifune a Noh mask and asked him to become that. (Between us-you always thought that Toshiro Mifune looked like a Japanese woodcut, anyway, didn't you? Something so deeply icon-like in that face! Of course Mifune was born to become THE samurai of film...he was already a part of the Japanese Collective Unconscious!) Lady Macbeth's performance and makeup was also inspired by Noh. The blend of physical reality (the legendary Kurosawan attention to the smallest details of set and ambience) with the presentational aspects of traditional Japanese dramaturgy creates a rich and startling tapestry from Shakespeare's familiar story. That this Macbeth is not language, but rather, image-driven shows us Kurosawa's great faith in the value of cinema as a form of deep human communication. He's convinced me, and I humbly submit my thanks. "A man without ambitions is not a man !"This powerful statement is the answer given for the wife of Taketoki when he argues her his great loyalty and fervent gratitude for the king ; this answer is the spark which will initiate the whole drama of Macbeth the ancient and loyal warrior of Duncan in the original version of Shakespeare . Nevertheless the Scottish landscape suffers in the hands of Akira Kurosawa , a colossal change transforming this landscape in a misty visage of feudal Japan. The strange supernatural encounters , the arresting atmospheres involved in a sordid fog where the evilness , the ambition , the betrayal and the greed will turn in a deadly and lethal device for Taketoki Washizu (Macbeth)in a nasty human being influenced by his wife in the first part of that infernal journey to reach the power and then the slow and progressive disolution . Behind these visible traces of death , distrust, guilt , suspicious and lies, the real world will never be the same for this couple . Taketoki at first fights for getting the power and soon , very soon he will have to fight to preserve it : once more the eternal cycle of the power 's tragedy shown with all its nasty reality . The madness process in his wife is first rate ; her hands are filled with blood over and over again . And no matter how many times she intends to try to eliminate ; it's useless . Light employement of Kurosawa is overwhelming to emphasize it . It is very embarrasing to describe this superb and magnificent masterpiece . Kurosawa made one of his landmarks films with this ravishing and incandescent adaptation ; brilliant in superlative degree , visually outstanding and emotionally powerful movie . One of the supreme masters of the cinema : Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)  "Kurosawa does Shakespeare"This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film. "Throne of Blood", known in Japan as "Kumonosu-Jo" which translates to "Spider's web Castle" is one of the best known adaptations of Shakespeare's work. It is based on the Tragedy of Macbeth and since the story is well known, I will forego a synopsis. Just imagine the story being set in 15th century Japan. The film is adapted in the style of the Japanese Noh theater and is well made. The DVD has some fine special features also. There is audio commentary by Japanese film expert, Michael Jeck, who also did the commentary for the Seven Samurai DVD by Criterion. There is a theatrical trailer and the film has two subtitle translations both by famous translators of Japanese movies. One is by Linda Hoaglund, the other is by Donald Richie. they are presented in different fonts and are interchangable during play. The liner notes contain extra information about this in additiont to the essay about the film which is standard for all Criterion DVD's. This is another fine release of a Japanese film by the Criterion Collection. |
