Product: The Bad Sleep Well (1963)
Rating: 5.0
Based on Hamlet
Most people who watch Akira Kurosawa's films don't seem to read much Shakespere. Of course, I may be wrong. However, it hardly seems so because only one of the reviews bothers to mention that this particular film is based upon Hamlet, a work by Shakespere. This is the case, really, for most of Akira's films. Throughout his life, he often drew inspiration from the ideas and themes expressed throughout Shakespere's works. This film is hardly tedious, though it requires as much attention as would witnessing a play by shakespere. The good part about this film is, you don't have to understand the old English that Shakespere used in writing his plays. I watched it when I was only 13 years old and understood it perfectly. Not only that, I found myself enthralled and inspired by it. It's a wonderful and simple indroduction to the works of Shakespere for anyone interested in reading any of his works. The Japanese sensibilities and cultural nuances attached to this film only add to the lushness of it and broaden the observer's experience. It shows the observer that the themes and ideas of Shakespere's stories are international and timeless. A masterpiece in any language. However, I would not recommend this film for the common movie goer expecting a "cheap thrill". This story is no "Titanic" or "Legally Blonde". It has only good actors a fine plot and an excellent director.It is cinema gourmet not fast food.