One of my favourite movies is "Throne of Blood" by Akira Kurosawa, a movie and title that has caused a fair few raised eyebrows from my students. In Japanese the title is "Kumonosu-j? or Spider’s Castle", and it is a telling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, moving the story from the Scottish Highlands to Feudal Japan, and is considered by many to be one of the best adaptations of the material despite obviously not using the actual text. Essentially the story is a tragedy concerning prophecy, determinism, murder and destiny, with Washizu/Macbeth and his wife plotting the murder of the local Daimyo and taking power, but of course it being a tragedy nothing works out as planned. It is a great story and movie that explores many interesting themes, so next time you can’t decide what movie to rent try "Throne of Blood", I am sure will enjoy it. I just wonder what Shakespeare would have thought of the Samurai setting. I am sure he would have loved it!?! 新宿校インストラクター/Tim
