Review of Throne of Blood (1957) by Chris W — 31 Mar 2012
Akira Kurosawa's first flirtation with Shakespearean material, and arguably his best. A loose interpretation of Macbeth, it's stunningly composed and shot, brilliantly acted and, oddly, very leisurely paced.
Like a lazy stroll through a moonlit enchanted forest, it blends its more fantastic, mystical themes with a dark edge, setting it all against a hazy, eerie backdrop. Kurosawa veteran Toshiro Mifune is the inescapable center of attention as a power-hungry young general who's slowly, violently losing his mind.
His rapid descent into lunacy is vibrant and ensnaring, especially when he's fully lost the plot, dodging arrows in the unforgettable penultimate scene. Although its deliberate, methodical speed left me sleepwalking a few times, that's a small price to pay for the riches it delivers in other areas.
This review of Throne of Blood (1957) was written by Chris W on 31 Mar 2012.
Throne of Blood has generally received very positive reviews.
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