Rating: 
Summary: witches counts as 'mononokes'?
Review: I am a student at Nagoya International School, and have recently studied Shakespeare's Macbeth in my English class. After reading the original Macbeth, we watched several versions (Polanski, BBC, and RSC) which included Kurosawa's version of Macbeth, "Throne of Blood". Each of Polanski, BBC, and RSC version reflected Shakespeare's original version of Macbeth, its rich and fluent language, and its fabulously distributed plot. Because of language difference, and difficulty to transfer Shakespearian language directly into Japanese, it seemed as though the value has been lost, but as a Japanese citizen, I was eager to understand that Kurosawa had used old fashioned Japanese language in his film, which created an harmony which can be compared to or to support the lackness of Shakespeare's language. I also enjoyed the way how Kurosawa transferred the witches of the original version, into 'evil spirits' or what is called 'mononoke' in Japanese. Kurosawa probably named the forest and the castle to match the evil spirit , or Macbeth's (Washizu) fate. The evil spirit appeared in white robe, with white messy hair, spinning a wheel in its hand, a stereotype of what a Japanese would imagine as a 'mononoke'. Cobweb or 'spider' was such a great aspect to extract the evilness of the original witches of Macbeth, because of the replacement of the witches to a 'mononoke'. The black and white film also contributed to express the 'spookiness' in the evil spirit. With some of these changes, Kurosawa perfectly fitted Macbeth itself from an English story into a brand new Japanese film, using ancient Japanese culture (ex. feudal systems, japanese chivalry). He was successful in translating the original Macbeth for the Japanese, to spread the wonderfulness of the Shakespearian plays to a new and wide ranged people.
Rating:
Summary: Throne of Blood
Review: I have read Macbeth by Shakespeare before and I was amazed how effectively the film Throne of Blood interpreted Macbeth. Kurosawa Akira conveyed the atmosphere and the feeling of the original Macbeth successfully. I am Japanese who has lived in Japan all my life, so maybe that$B!G(Bs why, but I personally thought that the movie is unique and has been well developed with Japanese modes of expression. All the setting, characters, and language are in Japanese, such as old-Japanese castles, the samurai with swords and old the Japanese language that even now-days Japanese will suffer from understanding.
It is also interesting to see how Kurosawa interpret Macbeth differently from Shakespeare, especially at the end where Macbeth or Washizu dies. In Throne of Blood, Washizu is killed by the army on his side which makes it more dramatic, tragic, and striking. You can$B!G(Bt neglect this creative Japanese-style Macbeth which you will gain a lot of new ideas and thoughts. This movie might change your interpretation or understanding of Macbeth and you might feel differently from before. It will be a good opportunity to check this out and compare with other versions of Macbeth. I, myself felt it was worthwhile watching the movie Throne of Blood so I$B!G(Bm sure people can experience a different concept of Macbeth.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great Film From Kurosawa
Review: Widly considered as one of the greatest shakespearean film adaptations ever made. Akira Kurosawa's Throne of Blood is a very different adaptation of Macbeth set in feudal japan. the characters are somewhat different from shakespeare's version. It is no doubt one of Kurosawa's finest films made in the height of his career. Mifune is at his finest here as well. I definitely recommend this movie to any film lover out there who enjoys great storytelling and fine acting.
Rating:
Summary: "Kurosawa Knows His Shakespeare"
Review: As a student attending an international school in Japan (NIS) it was very interesting to study Shakespeare's Macbeth and compare it to different movie versions of the same tragic story, the main one being Kurosawa's Throne of Blood. Each version of Macbeth; Polanski's, BBC's, RSC's, and Kurosawa's, illustrate the play from a different angle. BBC's edition is rather boring compared to the other adaptations for it consists of just the actors. Scenery and props are scant. The RSC version modernizes everything (the clothing, weapons, and housing), but the language is kept to Shakespeare's exact wording. Personally I felt that Polanski's rendition ran parallel to Shakespeare's vision and execution of the play. The time period is correct and Macbeth's transition from an honorable man to a murderous, power-craving beast is depressingly realistic. The blood, guts and fear in Polanski's version is exactly what the victims would have experienced and is dramatically shown on the screen. As for the Throne of Blood, the way Kurosawa takes an Elizabethan play and converts it into a Japanese tale of chivalry, power, treachery and murder is simply amazing. Certain elements of Shakespeare's play have been modified to better exemplify the Japanese culture. The three "weird sisters" or witches, who prophesy to Macbeth, are changed to just one unisexual spirit in Kurosawa's version, for in Japan witches with pots and potions do not exist. Although Kurosawa's version is black and white, the contrasts are so clear that even the bloodshed is nauseating. Camera angles are carefully thought out so that low-level shooting represents social positions, and close-up shooting causes the audience to feel the pain that the characters are experiencing. And where many may fear that the essence of Shakespeare and his Macbeth may be lost when translated into Japanese, Kurosawa--through the strength of the Japanese actors' voices and their body motions-- maintains the same themes of deceit, honor, blood and supernatural powers that is so strongly felt in the original play. I especially enjoyed studying Macbeth from many different viewpoints and I highly advice those who have not had the chance, to take the time to compare two impressive renditions (Polanski's and Kurosawa's) of Shakespeare's Macbeth.
Rating:
Summary: Kurosawa's horror show
Review: "Throne of Blood," loosely based on "Macbeth," is widely regarded as one of the most successful film adaptations of a Bard play. The 1957 film is full of fog, wind, rain and lightning -- sound and fury indeed -- reflecting the descent into madness of the film's Macbeth, Lord Washizu (Toshiro Mifune). It was the closest Kurosawa came to a horror film. A match for Mifune is the veteran actress Isuzu Yamada, arguably the most chilling Lady Macbeth of them all. The black-and-white "Throne of Blood" retains some speckling and a few jumpy transitions, but looks considerably better than previous versions. The high-definition transfer comes from a fine-grain positive. The film comes in its original 1.33:1 aspect ratio. Considerable work was done on the mono audio as well, benefiting its haunting score. In a wildly unorthodox piece of packaging, the "Throne of Blood" DVD offers two separate sets of subtitles, both dramatically different in tone and translation. The authors explain their philosophies in the DVD's handsome booklet. The academic approach continues in the commentary by Japanese film expert Michael Jeck, recorded last fall. Jeck's voice sounds like a cross between Casey Kasem's and Mr. Roger's, taking quite a while to get used to, but it's well worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: I just read Macbeth in British Lit class
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Akira Kurosawa just knew how to make great movies.....
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Macbeth around the globe
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Looking, but Witless Version of Macbeth
Review: I love Kurosawa, but this stripped down version of Macbeth is no Ran, his tribute to King Lear, which even my 11 year old loved. The dialogue is tedious, the wife is boring and not the catalyst she should be psychologically, and all but disappears once she takes matters into her own hands-- until the out damned spot scene. Too many scenes of riders approaching the castle in real time, etc. Some great scenes, but lo-oo-nnngg dry stretches in between. And where is the stand in for McDuff? That's the dramatic tension along with the wife. Both are inexplicably blown, here.
Rating:
Summary: 1 star for the DVD, 5 for the flim
Review: The remastering is slightly noticably better than the VHS,
but only slightly. The image format is also not wide-screen.
The two special features, a running commentary and a second
subtitling, disappoint. The commentary focuses largely on comparing the film to macbeth.
Macbeth was an inspiration for the film, but Throne of Blood is
not Macbeth. Yet the commentator insists on referring to the
protagonist as Macbeth! The commentator also assumes that the
viewer is thoroughly familiar with Macbeth and all the
characters in it, making frequent references to scenes, plots,
and characters in Macbeth instead of discussing the film on hand.
For commentaries well done, see those of the Seven Samurai and
the Road to Perdition. The second subtitling by Hoaglund is much inferior to the
original subtitling by Richie (also on the VHS version).
Here's Richie's subtitling of the opening chorus:
Behold, within this place/Now desolated, stood/
Once a mighty fortress/Lived a proud warrior/
Murdered by ambition/His spirit walking still/
Vain pride, then as now, will/Lead ambition to the kill.
That of Hoaglund: Look upon the ruins/Of the castle of
delusion/Haunted only now/By the spritis/Of those who
perished/A scene of carnage/Born of consuming desire/
Never changing/Now and throughout eternity.
I don't know Japanese and cannot tell which is closer to the
original. However, I find Richie's immediate, direct, and
tight, while Hoaglund's is wandering, limp, and tepid.
The same for the subtitling of the dialogues. In the first
scene, when a messenger rushes in to tell the Lord that the
battle has been won, Hoaglund has him use "tides of war"
instead of just plainly saying "we've won." Which common
peasant soldier would use term such as "tides of war"? Hoaglund
also use "barricade," "confine," etc. instead of "siege," the
general term used when holding a castle. When the rebel sues
for peace by offering to shave his head, Hoaglund doesn't even
mention this in the subtitle! The two subtitles cannot be shown
together for comparison either. The slightly better image may be worth five bucks, not thirty.
|
