Review of Throne of Blood (1957) by Sarfaraz A — 22 Feb 2012

Throne of Blood.

Directed by Akira Kurosawa.

Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Isuzu Yamada.

After watching this grand film by Akira Kurosawa, I was forced to think, why do I love these films, and why did films of this sort stop coming, and the world stuck to, just visual-effects and so on? Just look at the art-direction, cinematography, and above all direction-work from Akira Kurosawa.

Asakazu Nakai perfectly uses cinematography work, just looking at few scenes, where Lady Asanji (played by Isuzu Yamada) goes into a dark room to fetch a sake and moments later her coming out of room, sends two notes to audience, a thrill in the scene as well as coldness of nature of character Asanji, this is a dazzling cinematography work, other being the banquet scene, where Washizu (Toshiro Mifune) has phantoms of Miki's (Minoru Chiaki) spirit. Toshiru Mifune as 'Taketoki Washizu' has acted in superior way than any other he collaborated with Akira Kurosawa. Washizu's death scene, oh my God, the expression, and realistic stunt performed; it simply startled me, and to read about the creation of this scene is even more exciting to read it. Akira Kurosawa had to use volcanic ashes from Fiji mountains for the set-designs of Spider Web Castle.

A vitally grand loose adaptation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, set in feudal Japan.