Throne of Blood: Criterion Collection

Using Shakespeare’s Macbeth as his jumping off point, Akira Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood (1957) takes a fascinating look at the chaotic swirl of turmoil and treachery that was feudal Japan. The play dealt with notions of civil disorder and battles for... 

Rashomon: Criterion Collection

When Akira Kurosawa made Rashomon (1950), he had left Toho Studios and made movies for three other companies before returning. It was with one of these other studios that the director made this film, but it wasn’t easy. He had a hell of a time getting... 

Godzilla Raids Again

You just can’t keep a good monster down. After the success of Gojira (1954), Toho quickly put a sequel into production and Godzilla Raids Again (1955) pitted a newly resurrected Godzilla (hey, didn’t he die in the first film?) against another monster... 

Seven Samurai: Criterion Collection

Without a doubt, Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai (1954) is the most famous samurai film ever made. It spawned countless imitators all over the world, including Hollywood (most famously remade as the also legendary western, The Magnificent Seven). More... 

Stray Dog

Akira Kurosawa made Stay Dog (1949) only a few years after World War II while Japan was still occupied by Allied forces. He used the genre trappings of a crime thriller to comment on the post-war conditions of his country. The Criterion Collection has...