HBO MaxThrone of Blood (1957)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Center
Viewer Rating
Rating: 8.5
Overview
Returning to their lord's castle, samurai warriors Washizu and Miki are waylaid by a spirit who predicts their futures. When the first part of the spirit's prophecy comes true, Washizu's scheming wife, Asaji, presses him to speed up the rest of the spirit's prophecy by murdering his lord and usurping his place. Director Akira Kurosawa's resetting of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" in feudal Japan is one of his most acclaimed films.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
HBO Max
Apple TVBias Dimensions
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Race Swap: Yes
Buddhism: Positive
Overview
Returning to their lord's castle, samurai warriors Washizu and Miki are waylaid by a spirit who predicts their futures. When the first part of the spirit's prophecy comes true, Washizu's scheming wife, Asaji, presses him to speed up the rest of the spirit's prophecy by murdering his lord and usurping his place. Director Akira Kurosawa's resetting of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" in feudal Japan is one of his most acclaimed films.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
HBO MaxApple TVDetailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Center
Primary
The film's central subject matter, the corrupting nature of ambition and power, is a universal theme without a strong inherent political valence. It focuses on individual moral failings and tragic consequences rather than advocating for or critiquing specific political ideologies or systems, leading to a neutral rating.
The film features casting that is traditional for its historical and cultural context, without incorporating intentional race or gender swaps of roles. Its narrative explores universal themes of ambition and power, rather than critiquing traditional identities or centering explicit DEI themes.
Secondary
The film is an adaptation of Shakespeare's "Macbeth," whose characters are implicitly white/European based on the original setting. Kurosawa's adaptation portrays these characters as Japanese, which constitutes a race swap.
The film subtly portrays Buddhist principles through its narrative arc, emphasizing themes of impermanence, the suffering caused by greed, and the karmic consequences of violence. The presence of monks, particularly in the concluding scenes, offers a quiet, dignified moral counterpoint to the destructive ambition, suggesting a return to spiritual order and reflection.
Akira Kurosawa's 'Throne of Blood' is a jidaigeki adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth, set in feudal Japan. Its narrative centers on ambition, power, and psychological descent, without incorporating any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters, relationships, or themes. Consequently, the film offers no portrayal of queer identity.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Throne of Blood is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth. All major characters, including Washizu (Macbeth), Lady Asaji (Lady Macbeth), and Miki (Banquo), retain their original canonical genders from the source material. There are no instances of gender swaps.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
8.5
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
User Ratings
8.0
7.9
Critic Ratings
9.6
N/A
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