* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: After Washizu becomes a SmugSnake utterly convinced his plan has gone off without a hitch, Miki's return as an ''onryô'', which causes Washizu to suffer a ''much'' deserved VillainousBreakdown. It is an incredibly satisfying moment.
* MagnificentBastard: The [[TheFairFolk Spirit of Spider's Web Forest]] is a supernatural being who ensures the natural cycle of life carries on. Bestowing the {{ambitio|nIsEvil}}us samurai Taketoki Washizu with a trio of fortunes, the Spirit [[AgentProvocateur knows his festering want]] will lead to Washizu [[ProtagonistJourneyToVillain killing his Great Lord]] to claim his domain. When the realm rebels against the steadily maddening Washizu, the Spirit uses [[ExactWords selective words]] to convince Washizu of his invincibility, sending him to his death and restoring progress to the land.
* NarmCharm:
** Washizu's goofy expression as the final arrow pierces his neck and his tempting fate beforehand as he browbeats his army is borderlines hilarity, but when you remember that "goofy" expression was brought on by the fact Kurosawa unleashed ''live archers'' on Mifune, who was ''terrified'' out of his mind, alongside the general SanitySlippage of his character, it somehow still works in favor of setting the insanity of the scene.
--->'''Washizu''': ''COWARDS!'' I see it now! You'll slay me and offer my head '''when you SURRENDER!'''\\
''(Gets an arrow shot into his side.)''
* TheyChangedItNowItSucks:
** It was originally criticized by a vocal minority of Shakespearean aficionados for changing and removing aspects that made ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'' great. However as noted in VindicatedByHistory, opinion has dramatically gone the complete other direction over time and it's become ''acclaimed'' for its cultural changes, while maintaining the spirit and atmosphere of the play so well compared to its many other western adaptions.
** Even now, many lament how Kurosawa removed the "Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow" speech and lamented the missed opportunity for Creator/ToshiroMifune to sink himself into that iconic scene, which even in translation would have been an amazing moment for such a great actor.
* VindicatedByHistory: The film was met with mixed critical and public appraisal on release and was widely criticized around the world for the liberties it took with Shakepeare's play. Over half a century later, it's considered a masterpiece of Japanese cinema and one of the greatest film versions of ''Theatre/{{Macbeth}}'' ever made.
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