A champion of illumination and experimental shading, Kurosawa brings his unerring eye for indelible images to Shakespeare in this 1957 adaptation of Macbeth. By changing the locale from Birnam Wood to 16th-century Japan, Kurosawa makes an oddball argument for the trans-historicity of Shakespeare's narrative; and indeed, stripped to the bare mechanics of the plot, the tale of cutthroat ambition rewarded (and thwarted) feels infinitely adaptable. What's lost in the translation, of course, is the force and beauty of the language--much of the script of Throne of Blood is maddeningly repetitive or superfluous--but striking visual images (including the surreal Cobweb Forest and some extremely artful gore) replace the sublime poetry. Toshiro Mifune is theatrically intense as Washizu, the samurai fated to betray his friend and master in exchange for the prestige of nobility; he portrays the ill-fated warrior with a passion bordering on violence, and a barely concealed conviviality. Somewhat less successful is Isuzu Yamada as Washizu's scheming wife; her poise and creepy impassivity, chilling at first, soon grows tedious. Kurosawa himself is the star of the show, though, and his masterful use of black-and-white contrast-- not to mention his steady, dramatic hand with a battle scene--keeps the proceedings thrilling. A must-see for fans of Japanese cinema, as well as all you devotees of samurai weapons and armor. --Miles Bethany

Red Beard (1968) / region free DVD / Audio: Japanese / Subtitle: English, Franch, Chinese / Actors: Toshirô Mifune, Yûzô Kayama, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Reiko Dan, Miyuki Kuwano / Directors: Akira Kurosawa / Run Time: 185 minutes ASIN: 7010084483 DVD Region Code: 0

Stray Dog (1949) /Region Free DVD / Audio: Japanese / Subtitle: English, Chinese / Actors: Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Awaji, Eiko Miyoshi, Noriko Sengoku / Directors: Akira Kurosawa

Ikiru (, Ikiru?) is a 1952 Japanese motion picture written and directed by the acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. The title Ikiru translates to "to live" in English. The film examines the struggles of a Tokyo bureaucrat and his final quest for meaning.

Collection Akira Kurosawa 3 DVD : Scandale / L'idiot / Region 2 PAL DVD / European Edition / Audio: Japanese / Subtitle: French / Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Shirley Yamaguchi, Yoko Katsuragi, Noriko Sengoku, Setsuko Hara / Director: Akira Kurosawa ASIN: 7508055799 DVD Region Code: 2

Una obra magistral de Akira Kurosawa que narra la turbulenta relación entre un arrogante joven doctor y el compasivo director de una clínica. Una actuación impecable y emotiva de Toshiro Mifune llevan la trama de esta historia a límites nunca alcanzados por kurosawa en sus obras dramáticas. ***************** RED BEARD (DVD) Starring : Toshiro Mifune / Tsutomu Yamazaki / Director : Akira Kurosawa Story : An ambitious young medico Yuzo Kayama, who aims at the imperial doctor, however, takes a job at a public clinic in the slum district. Toshiro Mifune plays the head of the clinic and his attitude and philosophy finally changes the progressive notion of Kayama. The film allegedly Kurosawa's peak of perfection. Indeed, its soul-stirring scene of the earthquake and the tragic episode which the beggar family committed suicide deeply impress the audience. ****************