Search - Throne of Blood [Criterion Collection] on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Violence, Not For Children Movie Release: 1957 DVD Release: 05/27/2003 Format: DVD - Black and White Edition: Dual Layered,Special Collection Audio Tracks: Japanese Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 49 mins Studio: Criterion Members Wishing: 36 Genres: Drama, Period Film, Tragedy, Samurai Film See Also: Essential Art House: Throne of Blood [Criterion Collection]

Macbeth is reimagined as a samurai in feudal Japan in director Akira Kurosawa's classic adaptation of the Shakespearean tragedy. Familiar with Orson Welles's more faithful adaptation, Kurosawa chose to place a more personal stamp on his version by translating the events and characters to historical Japan. The equivalent of the tragic Scottish lord is Taketoki Washizu (Toshiro Mifune), a valiant warrior whose life is transformed by an encounter with a ghostly female spirit. The spirit offers several predictions, finally stating that Washizu will rise to power over the current warlord. When these predictions begin coming true, he and his ambitious wife decide to ensure his ascendancy to power by murdering the current ruler. As with Macbeth, Washizu achieves his goal, but his guilt and the suspicions of others soon bring about his downfall. The shift to Japanese settings is seamless, creating a historically accurate and resonant work with a culturally distinct visual style. The supporting performances also recall Japanese tradition, particularly Isuzu Yamada's creepily unemotional take on Lady Macbeth, while Mifune proves consistently gripping in the sheer intensity of his performance. The intelligence of Kurosawa's alterations retains the drama's tragic impact, especially during the conclusion, in which Washizu makes a memorable final stand against an advancing army. Impressive in every regard, Throne of Blood seems secure in the pantheon of superior film adaptations of William Shakespeare. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

Toshiro Mifune - Taketoki Washizu
Isuzu Yamada - Asaji
Minoru Chiaki - Yoshaki Miki
Takashi Shimura - Noriyasu Odagura
Akira Kubo - Yoshiteru
Takamaru Sasaki - Kuniharu Tsuzuki

Criterion produces yet another excellent release of an Akira Kurosawa film with their version of Throne of Blood. The film is presented in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The Japanese soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. It would be accurate to say the film has never looked or sounded better on home video. English subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials include a commentary by Japanese cinema scholar Michael Jeck, an essay written by an author who has written extensively about Kurosawa, two different versions of the English subtitles and a featurette on the process of creating subtitles, and the original theatrical trailer. This disc will be of great interest to anyone with a love of cinema. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide