Throne of Blood

Kurosawa's Throne of Blood incorporates elements inspired by Kurosawa's own Japanese heritage into the heavily acclaimed film adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth.
Throne of Blood stands out as a heavily acclaimed film because of its unique take of the classic Shakespearean work. This is achieved through mimicking the Japanese play style of Kabuki. Kabuki would emphasize subtle movements by players often garbed in fantastic or otherworldly silk and masks. These traits are most easily recognized in the actress Isuzu Yamada, who practiced Kabuki before her role as Lady Asaji Washizu. Until her drastic scene of failing to cleanse herself of blood, and thus her actions, Yamada's actions are subtle and measured carefully. Because of these more subtle actions, each yields a greater response from the audience. Toshirô Mifune however, introduces an acting method unheard of until this production. Through his elaborate gestures, once a foreign concept within the region, Mifune evokes strengthened emotions from his audience. Now, these acting styles have either faded, or are to be expected within the era. This unique approach to cinema shows the importance of an era and its culture in regards to how the overall work is received by the audience.
Through these unique and groundbreaking approaches, Kurosawa's Throne of Blood storms the norm and warps it into a new and alien medium. However, through this arduous process, Kurosawa is able to take pride in his work as it is recognized as a massive success. Because of this infusion of tradition and exploration, Kurosawa successfully created a masterpiece, recognized as the most heavily acclaimed film adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth.