ClassyWas Excellent, smart action film.

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Benas Mcloughlin Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

Cheryl A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

poetcomic1 There is little that has been left unsaid about this great Kurosawa film, but in the role of a lifetime Isuzu Yamada as the venomous Lady Asaji made the hair stand on my neck a good dozen times. Sometimes it would be a faint rustle of her silk robes, or the way she stood very, very still like a spider waiting for her web to vibrate. And, of course, the mad hand-washing scene has never been topped in England or anywhere. The way her madness is imparted to her rushing swilring bewildered handmaidens creates a scene as beautifully choreographed as a Kurosawa battle. The actress died just a few years ago, well into her nineties and was a sweet, cheerful and popular actress. Kurosawa got something super-human from her performance.

classicsoncall 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.

ben hibburd Throne of Blood is Akira Kurosawa's adaptation of William Shakespeare's play Macbeth. This adaption sees the classic story transported to feudal Japan, a change that worked to the films advantage as the themes of honour and betrayal felt more authentic and consequential. As with all Kurosawa films it's impeccably shot, the film has an epic, grandiose scale. The cinematography is atmospheric and the use of nature and weather help to bring life to the film.The film stars Toshiro Mifune as Taketoki Washizu a samurai warrior who along with his close friend Yoshiteru Miki (Akira Kubo) come across a spirit in the woods. The spirit prophesied that Washizu shall become ruler of cobweb castle and that Miki's son will rule after him. Leading to him becoming fearful of eventually being usurped. The film follows the play fairly closely with none of the major events being drastically altered.The characters in the film are given deep characterisation. They all felt unique with distinct personalities. The standout in the film was Isuzu Yamada as Lady Asaji Washizu. She gives a brilliant, conniving snake like performance. Her whispers and manipulations in her husbands ear felt natural and authentic. You see the wheels of mistrust turn in Washizu's mind as her words begin playing on his mind, confirming that he needs to take action before being betrayed himself.Throne of Blood is one of the best Shakespeare adaptions I've seen. It's also one of Kurosawa's most accessible films. There's not a-lot too add that people haven't already said, only that Throne of Blood is a bona fide classic.

Kirpianuscus or, more specific, admirable meet. because Macbeth of Kurosawa is one of the most impressive Shakespeare adaptations. without can say why. but the atmosphere, the performances, the words are translations not of the play but its spirit. in this film , you feel Macbeth tragedy step by step, nuance by nuance. it is fair and almost predictable to define it a masterpiece. but it is more. like a letter from a far land, from a loved one. the precision of performances and the cold air of the dinner. the prediction and the fear. the entire last part as a fresco about the fundamental fight from universe of appearances and ambitions and deep vulnerabilities. all in the perfect form. short, a real admirable work.