Every wondered what all the hubbub about Akira Kurosawa is, the B&W Samurai movie guy? And what is all this about Orson Welles being the best American director ever?Well, this weekend is a rare chance to catch both of these movie legends interpretation of Macbeth. Shakespeare's medieval tale of decent into madness on the big screen, here in New York. How apropo.
Orson Welles released his Macbeth in 1948 and while not a perfect film, it has been restored to the original directors cut with original sound track and was recently called a "visually stunning film that has the brooding atmosphere of a medieval nightmare."
Released 1957, Akira
Kurosawa's Thrown of Blood is based on Macbeth and is set in feudal/Samurai
sword carrying japan. In 1999 the UK paper the Guardian gave
this review. "As a piece of cinema, however, Throne Of Blood defeats
categorization. It remains a landmark of visual strength, permeated by
a particularly Japanese sensibility, and is possibly the finest
Shakespearean adaptation ever committed to the screen."
Both films are 50+ years in age. both are, without a doubt, cinematic masterpieces and while I have see almost all Kurosawa films, I have never seen any on the big screen. Can you imagine those 12 foot samurai swords slicing away furiously?
I love both directors for their ground breaking style and techniques that at the time blew people away. Kurosawa for instance was one of the first directors to use slow motion to play with time in his fast paced battle scenes, both men were masters of the long, seamless, unedited scene and dramatic, haunting visuals.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater is playing Welles' Macbeth tomorrow (Sat the 18th) at 7pm and Kurosawa's Thrown of Blood on Sunday night (the 19th) at 9pm.
Tickets are 11 bucks for each show and I know I can't wait to compare and contrast these "+3 reels of cellulose nitrate" back to back.
get your tickets online here
Welles' Macbeth tickets
Kurosawa's Thrown of Blood tickets
Both films are 50+ years in age. both are, without a doubt, cinematic masterpieces and while I have see almost all Kurosawa films, I have never seen any on the big screen. Can you imagine those 12 foot samurai swords slicing away furiously?
I love both directors for their ground breaking style and techniques that at the time blew people away. Kurosawa for instance was one of the first directors to use slow motion to play with time in his fast paced battle scenes, both men were masters of the long, seamless, unedited scene and dramatic, haunting visuals.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theater is playing Welles' Macbeth tomorrow (Sat the 18th) at 7pm and Kurosawa's Thrown of Blood on Sunday night (the 19th) at 9pm.
Tickets are 11 bucks for each show and I know I can't wait to compare and contrast these "+3 reels of cellulose nitrate" back to back.
get your tickets online here
Welles' Macbeth tickets
Kurosawa's Thrown of Blood tickets
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