WasAnnon Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Raymond Sierra The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

PauloFloyd This 1957 masterpiece is one of the best films of one of the best years for film, if you don't know where to start with the master Kurosawa, Throne of Blood is the my recomendation. Also, If you're like me, was never much interest in Shakespeare, this picture is also a great starting point, it will make you hungry for more movies based on Shakespeare, also the most important, it will make you wanting to read it.

Anssi Vartiainen The story of Macbeth by William Shakespeare as seen by Akira Kurosawa. Two generals of a powerful warlord return home from a great victory, but on their way through a haunted forest they encounter a spirit. He reads their future and tells that one of the generals would take their lord's place as the next lord of the castle. But he also reveals that it would be the son of the other general that would be the lord after that.And thus we follow these two wretched souls as they in vain try to fight against their destiny only in doing so end up fulfilling it. The story is about man's irrelevance to the world and about his arrogance despite this. Kurosawa drew heavily from Japanese Noh theatre tradition, which emphasizes hard, big emotions, stillnes and explosive movement intermixed and also clearcut stereotypical character archetypes. And for this story it works wonders. The sets are vast and detailed, at times almost drowning the actors, emphasizing their smallness. The dramatic acting fits the mythological and heavily thematic story very well, helped along by an ensemble cast.It should be noted that the pacing can feel weird to a Western audience. The traditions of Noh, as well as Japanese cinema in general, mean that the film has its own rhythm that takes some getting used to.Nevertheless, this is a masterful film and my favourite Kurosawa so far. Definitely worth a watch for all fans of epic, myth and the inevitable.

JP_Shay Akira Kurosawa's "Throne of Blood" is a retelling of Shakespeare's "Macbeth". I am no expert on Shakespeare but the story seemed very familiar. It is a faithful adaptation of the classic story and Kurosawa utilizes his magic to create a tragic tale that is both haunting and triumphant in its own right. The story begins as Washizu (Toshiro Mifune) and Miki (Minoru Chiaki) travel their way through the magical Spider's Web Forest where, through the fog, they meet an otherworldly Spirit who foretells each man his prophecy. Washizu is to become Lord of Spider's Web Castle while Miki becomes Lord of The First Fortress and his son eventually will take over Spider's Web Castle. This scene brilliantly captures the ethereal tone of the film and sets up what is to come. The story of MacBeth deals with the supernatural. Kurosawa brilliantly blends the Western ideology with traditional Japanese folklore to create an atmosphere that is visually intriguing and original. The two men's confrontation with the Spirit is a haunting scene that is magnified by the men's acceptance that what they are seeing is a real spirit from another world. The vast fog surrounding them gives the feeling of loneliness and uncertainty. One thing this film has is a lot of fog. I found that the fog symbolized uncertainty of the future. We see the men riding off into the fog but we are unable to see what is ahead. Along with being a faithful adaptation, Kurosawa, nonetheless, made it his own. The entire cast does great but Toshiro Mifune is a standout as the war-hardened general Wishizu. Just the intensity his eyes give off is a scene in itself. I have yet to see a film where Mifune gives anything less than an amazing performance. Isizu Yamada is very good at playing his wife, Asaji. Some of the best scenes in the film are with those two. She convinces Wishizu to kill their Lord so he can take over the throne and fulfill his prophecy. Thus, the tragedy begins and a trail of bloodshed ensues...one bad omen after another. "Throne of Blood' is a story of betrayal and we reach a point where we know it cannot end well for the main character. In doing research, I learned that Kurosawa incorporated elements of Noh Theatre, a traditional Japanese artform, which is evident in costume design, music and character interactions, such as the interactions between Washizu and his wife. The characters struggle with their conflicting beliefs, but ultimately the thirst for power wins. The film was shot on and around Mount Fuji, which has a rugged landscape and lots of natural fog. I thought it was pretty cool that Kurosawa decided to film there. The landscape works perfectly. The cinematography is very good too. For many outside shots, there is an eerie atmosphere that the fog presents and a rugged, uneasy view of the world. Inside shots are very balanced and calm, as we view the inside of a room from the outside framing. These contrasting shots say a lot. Akira Kurosawa was a master at making every shot count and here, there is no exception. It sucks you right into the world of these individuals and keeps you wondering what will happen next. The ending is sure to satisfy!

jacobjohntaylor1 This is based on the classic play Macbeth. It changed so that in takes place at the same time Macbeth was supposed to save taken place. But instead of being about Scotland it is about Japan. This is a classic horror story. It has a great story line. It also has great acting. It also has great special effects. It is very scary. It got an 8.1 which is good rating. But it is such a great film that 8.1 is underrating it. I give it 10 out of 10 because it is a awesome movie. It is one of the best horror movies ever. This about an evil emperor of Japan who gets supernatural powers from spirits. The is a great movie see it. Macbeth (1948) is better. But still this a great movie. It is a must see.