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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 |
 "Throne of Blood NON CRITERION EDITION"Throne of Blood, is no doubt one of Kurosawa's masterpieces. One of my all time favourite films. The NON CRITERION EDITION of this movie however, from HONG KONG or other asian imports is absolutly not worth the money. I ordered mine from 'edaymovie.com' through amazon hoping to save a few bucks. ( We'd all like to own Criterion editions ). The print is very scratchy, there is a really bad weave in the print ( picture moves from side to side ), The sound distorts on deep bass, but overall I think the most dissapointing aspect of this worthless edition is the English Translation. I don't think Shakespeare or even Kurosawa himself would appreciate the words SH** and BULLSH**, in any interpretations of the original tounge !. It is like an the work of a 9 year old. Translations are very important to the 'mise en scene' . The other annoying aspect is the the sub titles are in a garish YELLOW, Yuk. I would like my money back but hey what do you expect for $12 these days.  "Akira Kurosawa just knew how to make great movies....."Akira Kurosawa's Throne Of Blood may very well be his best, ranking up there with Seven Samurai, Ran, Yojimbo, Rashomon, and The Hidden Fortess. A telling of Macbeth the film takes place in the time of the samurai. Tashiro Mifune plays Washizu a worrior who betrays his master and friend on his climb to the ultimite of power. After encountering a witch in the woods who tells Washizu that he will take the place of his master Washizu, with the not so suddle proding of his wicked wife, dose everything in his power to gain, the lose control, of everything. Kurosawa had done Shakespear before, quite possably the best telling of King Lear was Ran, but this time he strips everything down to the bear bone and unlike some films from Japan, the acting, manic and frantic, seeems only to enhance the film. Mifune is fantastic as Washizu, the ill fated worrior. The movie grabs you right from the beggining and never lets go. It's a very violent film for it's time but if you ever want to see a master at his craft look no further than Akira Kurosawa'a Throne Of Blood.  "Macbeth around the globe"Throne of Blood is an Akira Kurosawa's rendition Shakespeare's Macbeth. The story pretty much is the same with a few minor character changes, one sprit instead of three witches for example, and some obviously included contextual changes, set in pre-modern Samurai Japan. I understand that it has historical relevance and all, but really the movie itself is nothing too special. It is just an ok movie. Now that I have said that, I feel I need to warn the viewers out there who do not usually watch foreign films. These people must be wary of, if it bothers them, the fact that the film in black and white. I understand that some people cannot sit through black and white films. There is also lack of ongoing action, typical Shakespeare, that we are used to, and that puts some people to sleep, so be warned about that too. I feel that you should watch it for your own cultural and mental advancement, but unless you like the genres of Japanese/Samurai films or Shakespeare adaptations then you probably will not like it. In addition, it is in Japanese, so if you do not like subtitles then you should be warned once again. I recommend you watch it, but at the same time I feel that once is enough. "I just read Macbeth in British Lit class"After reading Macbeth in Lit class, I wanted to watch a movie adaptation and I happened to run into this one, I had heard on amazon.com that this was a Japanese adaptation of Macbeth and I picked it up, I really enjoyed it, much more than I expected to. Akira Kurosawa did a great job in this, it is old and the technology is limited but I loved it, I showed it to my friends who had not read the book but they loved the film as well, especially the ending, if you have seen it, you'll know what I mean, I do not wish to ruin it for anyone, anyway, the DVD price is quite high but if you are thinking of buying it, I suggest trying to rent it somewhere or obtain it temporarily from somewhere or someone and then decide to buy it or not, good movie, enjoy. "One of the best samurai films ever made"The atmosphere, the characters, the music and the costumes are all outstanding in this classic Japanese movie. If you are a military history fan or a reader of samurai tradition don't miss it. |
