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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, a Japanese Allusion of Macbeth?"I am a junior at Nagoya International School who has just recently finished a term studying Macbeth in English class. After an intense submersion in the study of Macbeth, my fellow classmates and I were able to watch Kurosawa's altered version of Macbeth--Throne of Blood. Having carefully gone word-for-word through Shakespeare's script of Macbeth, and having watched a variety of different films of "Macbeth"--(RSC, BBC, and Polanski's versions) with the original Shakespearean dialect, I was a bit skeptical about Kurosawa's version before viewing it. I assumed that the very different Japanese language would be a barrier to understanding and fully appreciating the complexity of Macbeth, as Shakespeare's play is wholly built on the richness of the Shakespearean language. However, by reading along the subtitles, one realizes that the Japanese language on its own, is a very figurative language--almost poetic, and it serves as a complement to this particular production. Also, I enjoyed the way Kurosawa substitutes the Japanese feudal hierarchy (samurai, lords, etc.) for the Scottish feudal hierarchy used by Shakespeare in Macbeth. The portrayal of traditional Japanese props such as the "bukeyashiki" (large wooden houses) in this production's cinematography is excellent and perhaps its only close comparison would be Polanski's version of "Macbeth" as it is filmed as if in "Macbeth's" original time and place of Northern Europe. The RSC's "on-stage-in-a-theater" version lacks spectacular technical effects (as in the BBC's motion picture) as well as color as the all the actors and actresses perform against a bleak, black fading stage dressed in black clothing. The absense color serves to tune people's senses into the exquisiteness of the language. In this sense, Kurosawa's "Throne of Blood" is similar to RSC's production. It's use of black and white cinematography effectively conveys a sense of the traditional and impels people to look beyond the elegant simplicity of the Japanese interpretation. I was very impressed with the artistic elements in "Throne of Blood." The traditional Japanese setting, costumes and language merge to produce a beautiful classic masterpiece. The important themes in Shakespeare's original Macbeth are not lost in this production. To the contrary, the cultural adaptations serve to strengthen this production as it provides a completely different atmosphere and depiction of characters, but at the same time, naturally enables the main themes of honor, gaining power, loyalty and ambition to be transmitted successfully. The cultural interpretation of Macbeth's and Lady Macbeth's relationship is particularly interesting to note, as compared to the other Macbeth productions done in English. In "Throne of Blood", Lady Macbeth (named Asaji) is characterized as a demanding, bossy, behind-the-walls authoritative woman. Macbeth (Washizu) and Lady Macbeth's (Asaji) relationship is very reserved and is portrayed as if almost "obligatory." You cannot sense any passion between the two, but a strong sense of loyalty. This contrasts the `hot and steamy,' affectionate relationship displayed between the two in the English versions of the Macbeth films. Most of the twists and unexpected additions of this production are interesting supplements; however, the significant deletion of the character Macduff and the Weird Sister's warnings to Macbeth are a shame! It is hard to imagine a Macbeth production without Macduff! At any rate, Kurosawa manages to produce a wonderfully Japanese take on Shakespeare's Macbeth and succeeds in showing that themes dealing with human nature are universal. These are themes we can all understand. Kurosawa's is a very good production indeed!  "Somethings are missing."No comment. All I can say it........ it could have been better.  "Shakespearean SAMURAIS"I am a student at Nagoya International School and recently in my english literature class, we studied the great play of Macbeth, written by Shakespeare. After watching all the english versions of this play, our class watched the Japanese version produced by Kurosawa. I suppose Kurosawa has picked up the basic ideas and points thoroughly and has modified the play to suit the time period of ancietn Japan. Although Japanese is a completely different language and viewers may think that the same message would not be passed on, however Kurosawa resolves this problem through various visual techniques and minimizes the language in the play. In order to boost up the dark and evil atmosphere, Kurosawa continuously applies 'effects' such as fog, haze, lightning, rain, spooky music, etc. The most significant scene in the play was how the witches were presented as a 'mononoke'(monster) spinning a wheal that indicates evil fate (same affect with witches), instead of three wicked women. As we can see Kurosawa did not leave out any details that needed modifications. The only major bit that Kurosawa left out was Macduff's existence; he never appeared in this version, thus there was only one prophecy for washizu (Macbeth) to be aware of. And finally, I'd like to point out the relationship between Washizu (Macbeth) and Asaji(L. Macbeth). In the original Shakespearean version, we see passion and love between them, but as the Japanese culture do not show much passion nor love through action, in this movie there are no physical attraction observed. However, the ambition of Asaji to achieve the 'goal' probably is the most distinctive than any other versions of "Macbeth". "From King to Tono"The black and white movie, "Throne of Blood" is a successful remake of Shakespeare$B!G(Bs Macbeth. Instead of showing literal bloodiness as Polanski did, Kurosawa is able to express blood without using color. Washizu (Macbeth), with his violent character, is not afraid of murder. The bloodiness within Kurosawa$B!G(Bs movie is not visually seen but the cruelness of the couple, Washizu and Asaji (Lady Macbeth) reflects bloodiness. The audience is able to imagine the blood instead of seeing it. Many of the characters experience tragic deaths, including Washizu. However, Kurosawa also adopts Shakespeare$B!G(Bs technique to lighten up the scenes. Similar to Polanski$B!G(Bs version, torches deliver light to scenes. Polanski eliminates light in scenes with the three witches to emphasize darkness, but Kurosawa includes light in the scenes where Mononoke (the witch) takes part. Mononoke sits in unusual light in a deep dark forest. Mononoke still remains a mystery after viewing the film, yet the significance of the witches in Macbeth is reemphasized. Both Shakespeare and Kurosawa$B!G(Bs techniques interact to build the scenes of $B!H(BThrone of Blood.$B!I(B Though a personal view, I believe that Kurosawa$B!G(Bs version of the famous play is somewhat more successful in achieving Shakespeare$B!G(Bs intentions than Polanski$B!G(Bs. "Somethings are missing."I will rather watch the original version of Macbeth than this film. Washizu is such a bad actor and I could do better than him. Only if I could speak Japanese. |
