We discuss what is considered one of the best adaptations of Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood. We draw on Michael Jeck’s commentary from the Criterion Blu-ray to explore the blending of Shakespearean tragedy, Japanese aesthetics (such as Noh theatre), and Kurosawa’s unique cinematic storytelling style.
We also dive into some of the TV tropes to highlight the film’s profound themes of power, guilt, ambition, and fate, along with Kurosawa’s masterful use of atmosphere and symbolism: Ambition Is Evil, Bloody Hallucinations of Guilt, Murder Makes You Crazy, the Sliding Scale of Free Will vs. Fate, and Villain Protagonist.