136 4 I just got this yesterday and immediately stuck it in the player . I have to agree with the last reviewer ; I was disappointed in the the picture on this disc . I was looking forward to it after the distastrous previous edition , but this picture seems both fuzzy and unnaturally colored . The green of the grass seemed unearthly . Many of the colors seem extremely bright . I skipped around in the first commentary track and that sounded very enjoyable , and of course this is one of the most wonderful films ever made , so if you have not seen it , you better . I am surprised to hear praise of this new DVD presentation . It makes me wonder if some discs are better than others ?
101 4 This Ranks as one of my favorite films of all time . It is sad and touching while at the same time very violent . The ending is simply amazing ! Worth seeing over and over again .
124 4 The print is beautiful , but the subtitles have been altered . For Saburo to say , It makes me nervous , instead of It isn't right , is preposterous , given his character . Why would Criterion even mess with the English translation ? Why do all that work just to ruin something ?
142 4 This is simply the greatest film ever made . It provides an insight into the human condition unmatched in film history . It ranks with the great masterworks in history Hamlet Illiad Mahabharata The Gospel According To Luke . It shows what humans are like and why our world is the way it is . No film can match this . If one ever does I will be sure to let you know .
147 4 This movie is now one of my top 3 favorites . It has everything a movie needs and more . The storyline is spectacular . . What more can I say . I recommend it to EVERYONE ! An amazing movie ! !
Ran ( Masterworks Edition ) ( DVD )
If you are going for Ran ( which is essential ) go all the way and get the Criterion Collection
Ran - Criterion Collection
. No half stepping with the
Ran ( Masterworks Edition )
. Do not do as I have done and try to get it on the cheap . Ran deserves the very best , and rewards the investment richly . Criterion from their earlier offerings of
Wild Strawberries - Criterion Collection
to
Grand Illusion - Criterion Collection
to Kurosawa's other works such as
Rashomon - Criterion Collection
, all the way to their latest , such as
Walker - Criterion Collection
, or the fully new
Seven Samurai - 3 Disc Remastered Edition ( Criterion Collection Spine # 2 )
are all of the highest quality both in restoration , production and in extras , and thus their prices do not come down . But you save nothing by getting the Masterworks edition instead .
Masterworks , the one I got , does indeed include in its extras section a comparison with an unrestored print . But it looks like the unrestored print was the worst one they could find , and I wonder how true are the colors Masterworks emplys . Too many scenes look like they have had an amber gel laid over everything .
You also find on Masterworks repeatedly and at predictable intervals the usual end-of-reel black square followed by black circle in the upper right hand corner which in the theatre signaled the projectionist to put down that soda , let go of his girl and go warm up the other machine , or on broadcast meant go to commercial , but here on a fully restored DVD edition looks like an artifact they should have corrected .
You have a choice of two commentators on the Masterworks edition , both really bad in either extreme , either annoyingly uninformative or annoyingly too informative . Apparently Criterion has excellent new commentators on their new three disk Seven Samurai production , and also excellent commentators on their Ran disk . Too often these commentators , with the consistent exception of the always brilliant and enthusiastic Mr . Alex Cox , when they are awake at all , drone on like an irritating guy in the theater seat in front of you who soon somehow receives your giant bucket of popcorn upon his noisy head .
Such is the second commentator here , who fortunately only wakes up in order to ruin something really interesting in the movie , but kills that entirely . He too soon reveals the secret of the flamboyant Peter , rather than as the director intends letting that secret unfold with all sorts of ambiguities , and leaving himself little more to say on the subject . He rouses himself from a long and merciful silence to walk all over the climactic decapitation scene , discussing once more fabric and destroying this scene altogether . One wishes he would please just please shut up , which he often mercifully does for long stretches , only to disturb everything with his uncertain tales of how he met her at a cocktail party and she was so polite and so short ( about five foot three , nothing like her character here , who seems twelve feet tall and so powerful ! Hey , fool , like , she's acting , dude !
Or he brags about hanging out with the Tango character , a real nice guy and good sportsman , he tells , as we watch him ably handling a horse , or about seeing the helmets on a table in the costume warehouse , and that table seemed to him a mile long , and what if Kurosawa had done such and such , and wheher Kurosawa regretted making mistakes in the final product the way he himself regretted the mistakes in his documentaries . Dude , Kurosawa was a perfectionist , with this film five years in storyboards . Dude , Kurosawa didn't make mistakes . He's Kurosawa , even if you think he stole lines from Shakespeare shamelessly .
The other guy is like an over eager associate professor at film school panicking for tenure , filling us with too much factual information about everything , including film technique ( see that ? that's a close-up ) . Please .
Save your pennies . Get the Criterion copy . I wish I had !
BEST LINE EVER ( not stolen from Shakespeare ) comes from Peter's character : Man is born crying . When he has cried enough , he dies .
Kurosawa here lays before our very eyes we are not allowed to see from Iraq , or Afghanistan , or Cleveland , or the Gaza : the absolute horrors of war and the banality of evil , the self-destructiveness of violence , the permanence of the evil which we do , and how cruelly it comes back to haunt us .
Kurosawa lays here before our eyes that , with the Sue character and the final image of the movie especially , our one hope lies in prayer , in meditation , in nonviolence , in overcoming the hatred within our own selves , in this culture a close adherence to Buddhism , in ours the living of the words of Jesus Christ : Love thy enemies , do good to those who hate us , forgive not seven times but seven times seven times per day , turn the other cheek , give twice what is asked for , etc .
In the words of prophet and Christian preacher and adherent to ahimsa , the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King , Jr . , now forty years a martyr for peace and nonviolence : We must learn to live together as brothers or die apart as fools .
In this film the brothers , but one , the compassionate one , die apart as fools . The compassionate one dies a martyr out of love for his father who had banished him . See this movie , in the best edition you can find , in the Criterion Colleciton . We need see it now , in this era of senseless and endless warfare which threatens to destroy us all .
001 4 Kurosawa's last undisputed masterpiece , Ran adapts King Lear ( Shakespeare was Kurosawa's favorite writer ) placing it during the 16th century in Japan . Like Throne of Blood ( another Kurosawa classic that also adapts Macbeth ) Ran melds action with drama in a unique way that only Kurosawa was able to do . Sure there have been other directors that have made films about Japanese culture , Feudalism and the Samurai but none with the keen insight and profound glimpse into what makes a culture tick as well as Kurosawa .
Kurosawa had lost most of his collaborators prior to the shooting of Ran . All of that informs the darkness and his identification for the main character . While Kurosawa freely borrowed from King Lear , he also informed the film with many issues facing himself ; he felt isolated from the Japanese filmmaking community and he was unappreciated in this late phase of his career having to scramble to get financing ( frequently going overseas to get it ) . Kurosawa felt isolated and alone without his collaborators . The loss of his wife just prior to shooting meant that Kurosawa threw his raging emotions into Ran using the story of Lear as a means to examine his own personal situation .
A beautiful , rich transfer from Criterion . There's few digital artifacts and there's virtually none of the issues that dogged the Masterworks edition of this film . The image isn't cropped ( the Masterworks edition had the edge of the frame cut off ) and the high definition transfer looks marvelous with rich colors , remarkable clarity and depth to the image . There is noticeable grain but that's part of the original theatrical presentation of the film and not a surprise given that the film is 20 years old . The Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack has no noticeable distortion with nice depth and clarity for both the dialogue and the music .
Chris Marker's marvelous documentary AK is included as part of the package on the second disc . That by itself would also make this worth repurchasing if you're in doubt about it . However , coupled with the terrific restoration and transfer done by Criterion here it makes this an essential purchase for fans of Kurosawa's films . We also get an appreciation by director Sidney Lumet , an episode of Toho Masterworks on Kurosawa that's also quite good ( although I prefer Marker's 74 minute documentary ) . It is Wonderful to Create focuses exclusively on Ran while Marker's documentary is a better overview of the director . Criterion has also used Kurosawa's original sketches and paintings to create sections of Ran as Kurosawa original saw it prior to actual production . Finally there's a new interview with lead actor Tasuya Kakadai . As usual Criterion has included an excellent booklet that includes a very good essay by film critic Michael Wilmington , a 1985 interview with Kurosawa about the making of the movie and a new interview with Ran composer Toru Takemitsu . This deluxe 2 disc edition makes the nonanamorphic previous edition look almost like a videotape by comparison in terms of the overall quality .
Stephen Prince provides interesting background about Japanese culture and Kurosawa's film style . Prince's commentary is a bit dry coming across as a lecture that one might sit through at UCLA or USC and isn't all that entertaining but it is quite informative . Personally , I would have preferred an interactive commentary with Prince discussing the film with , say , Lumet , Francis Ford Coppola or another well known film director .
This is an essential purchase for fans of Kurosawa . Kurosawa's last epic is , perhaps , his darkest and one of his most accomplished . The extras would make this worth purchasing by themselves but the beautiful , rich high definition transfer makes this the best version of Ran that has ever appeared on home video . I highly recommend this film .
002 4 The Ran : Masterworks Edition DVD could have been much better , but was badly botched by the producer ( Wellspring Media ) .
By far the biggest problem is the so-called digital restoration , which consists of two things : running the whole movie through a miscalibrated digital denoising filter , and increasing the contrast and color saturation to cartoonish levels . The latter change can at least be undone at the playback end , but the former does irreparable damage to the image . Most of the image problems mentioned here by other reviewers are due to this restoration , not to defects in the new transfer .
The damage from the digital denoising is severe and present throughout the film . It's easily recognized with experience , or when the denoised image is shown next to the pristine original . But since I don't have that luxury here , I'll just mention some of the more easily seen symptoms . Clouds seem slightly unnatural , as if hand-painted , because their delicate wispiness is interpreted as noise and removed ( see for example 0 : 11 : 45 and 2 : 18 : 00 ) . Thin bright lines against dark backgrounds sparkle or twinkle like stars ; this is caused by cross-frame denoising , which misinterprets movement of sharp edges due to frame jitter or camera movement as transient noise ( see for example the sunray pattern in the Ichimonji crest beginning at around 0 : 04 : 30 ) . Fast-moving objects shrink or disappear completely for brief intervals , again due to cross-frame denoising ( see for example Kyoami's legs as he runs , at around 0 : 09 : 15 ) .
The new _ Metropolis ( 1927 ) _ DVD includes a restoration featurette which explains why computerized denoising was not used in the restoration of that film , and shows examples of some of the problems described above . And denoising was only considered for that film because the available prints were badly in need of restoration . _ Ran _ does not need restoration , which makes this unnecessary damage all the more tragic .
Many DVDs released by Central Park Media have also been defaced in this way , notably the new two-disc edition of Takahata's _ Grave of the Fireflies _ . I think the same company is responsible for all of these botched restorations , since the modus operandi is always the same : moderate to severe denoising artifacts , grossly oversaturated colors , and a restoration demo comparing the restored version to a previous video release in a distinctive splitscreen format .
There are many other problems with this DVD , though they are minor in comparison to the above :
The new transfer was apparently made from a theatrical print rather than a higher-fidelity interpositive , since it contains reel change marks ( flashing black circles at the upper right corner of the frame ) . Surely such a beautiful film deserves better than this .
There are several embarrassing mistakes in the subtitles which would have been caught by a human being , but not by a software spelling checker . Apparently the producers of this DVD labor under the delusion that proofreading , like restoration , can be done by computer .
The MPEG - 2 encoding was done improperly , with the result that the image switches randomly between progressive ( film ) and interlaced ( video ) encodings , instead of remaining film throughout . This causes annoying random blurring and sharpening during playback on many DVD players , noticeable mainly in still scenes . ( See for example the long shots of Hidetora starting around 0 : 50 : 00 ; please note that this problem is not visible on all players . ) Some players can be reconfigured to mask this problem ( on software players choose bob rather than weave or automatic ) , but this will reduce the playback quality of properly-encoded DVDs .
Technical incompetence aside , this is not a bad disc . The subtitle translation is problematic , but I've seen much worse ; I can't complain too much here . What's lost in the translation is probably insignificant compared to cultural details which no translation could hope to explain . A short production notes extra fills in a few of those details but neglects others . Two uninteresting trailers for the film are included . The restoration demo is good for seething at in impotent anger , and also for seeing how Kurosawa probably intended the film to appear , colorwise , before it was enhanced for this DVD .
There are two commentary tracks . One , by Stephen Prince , focuses on narrative technique and is clearly intended for students . It's quite good . The other is by Peter Grilli , who was present on the set during part of the shooting of _ Ran _ ; he talks about his experiences there and his opinions of Kurosawa and his work . Though sometimes interesting , Grilli's comments make no sense as a commentary track since they're wholly unconnected to the action on screen . They should have been printed in a companion booklet .
The film itself is a masterpiece , of course ; even the shoddiest technical treatment can't mask its emotional impact . I would have given it five stars but for the problems with the DVD .
This is the first non-Central Park Media DVD that I've seen to use this digital restoration process . I'm frightened that it will spread further . I urge anyone concerned by this to write to Wellspring Media and tell them that they could have produced a much better DVD , with less effort , by simply omitting the restoration step . If you decide not to buy the disc for this reason , tell them that too .
003 4 That Ran is a masterpiece is not really up for debate . It's arguably the greatest film by arguably the greatest Japanese filmmaker of all-time ( and thus one of the greatest filmmakers of all-time from any nation , period ) .
However , this gem's transition to DVD has been cringe-worthy on Region 1 . The Fox Lorber edition is noted as being one of the worst transfers in existence , and while many were satisfied with the Masterworks edition , most who were familiar with the film ( and many who weren't ) recognized that there was an obscene amount of digital manipulation . The result is the film's colors looked utterly artificial and the film has nowhere near the serene look it normally does . The transfer is just deplorable .
But , true to their reputation , Criterion is coming to save the day . They've announced they're working on a release for late this year . Expect a deluxe edition that you WILL want to wait for , guaranteed . Let the current editions rot .
004 4 My star rating has nothing to do with the mertis of the film . It has only to do with the total hatchet job Fox Lorber did in their infamous DVD transfer . By no means buy this version of the film , even though you think you're saving a couple bucks . I agree entirely with the reviewer who said the only thing to do with the DVD and it's case is to use it for a coaster .
The images are muddy and dark . The sound is old 78s quality . It really is a shameful , shoddy piece of work . By all means , order the movie . It's Kurosawa's magnum opus , great in every detail . Just make sure you shell out a few bucks more for the Masterworks edition , or splurge and go for the Kurosawa multi DVD collection .
This review is meant solely for the Fox Lorber 1985 DVD release .
BEK
005 4 I'll repeat the title of the review . It's not the movie . I think Kurosawa is just amazing , and I feel this film is fantastic . I already owned the other DVD release of this film and I ordered this one because honestly , the picture quality of the other is harsh to watch . And it's true this version is much cleaner , but they changed the aspect ratio . Ran was shot originally in a 1 : 85 : 1 ratio . For this new DVD they scanned it into the computer using an HD system , and chopped the frame from 1 : 85 : 1 to 16 : 9 . It's hard to really compare the two ratios , but being a film geek when I started the film immediately I knew something was wrong when the image was bigger and the end of Kurosawa's name was chopped off . I pulled out my old version of Ran , and threw it on my computer and played the opening titles side by side . Sure enough , the edges of the film have been chopped off . Now , this won't bother most people . But for a film student like myself , it bothers me to see people mess with someone else's art in this manner . It's worse than Lucas butchering Star Wars or Speilberg and ET ( albeit not by much ) becasue it isn't even their film ! Other films have been cleaned up and placed on to DVD without distorting the image , many Kurosawa films in fact . It bothered me to see it , and I was pretty let down , this is just a fair warning to anyone else like me .
006 4 RAN is a masterpiece of a film and this review is not about the quality of the movie but about the quality of this DVD . If you play this DVD on a 32 non-widescreen TV the picture will look passable as a letterboxed film , but be sure to rent and try this edition out on your 50 or 55 or 65 wide-screen TV before buying ! The first problem is that the anamorphic picture cuts off the edges of the credits ( a clue that you're not getting all of the frame ) . Even more disturbing is that the image has an electronic video cast to it . Unlike good DVD transfers , there is twitching to still objects on-screen like lattice or anything with parallel lines . The colors are bright but lacking definition ( they give off an aura ) and again have an electronic cast that looks more like video than film . Overall this transfer is deplorable , and the fact that Wellspring is proud of this hi-def transfer is shocking .
As someone who owns over 300 movies on DVD and has seen the full range of quality from early full-screen knock-offs like National Lampoon's VACATION to fantastic DVD's like the LOTR editions and X-MEN , I know what the standard is for a special version of a DVD in November 2003 , and this disc does not cut it . Wellspring . . . get your act together .
007 4 Ran ( Chaos ) is the greatest cinematic adaptation of Shakespeare and a masterpiece in its own right . In adapting the broad scenario of King Lear to a setting in Sixteenth Century Japan , Akira Kurosawa felt free to manipulate it to his own purposes , leading to a film that is perhaps even more bleak than the play .
First and foremost Ran is a visually stunning film , unencumbered by the received tradition of Shakespearean language , which never translates well onto the cinema screen , he has allowed the scenario to develop into images that are beautiful and horrific . Filmed on the slopes of Mount Fuji there is a sense of unreality , or nightmare about the whole epic , as though it is taking place in a mythic space , at once recognisable and alien . For a director best known for his black and white movies ( Seven Samurai , Rashomon ) , Kurosawa surprisingly uses color to breathtaking virtuoso effect . The scenes of soldiers flooding in waves across the volcanic wasteland of Mount Fuji carrying vivid blue , red or yellow flags are amongst the most extraordinary ever filmed . The battle scenes shock and astonish , not least because Kurosawa's use of sound is so exquisite and original ; many of the most horrendous images of battle are shown without sound effects with only an elegiac musical accompaniment . Far from sanitising them , the effect is to shock you out of the viewing habits formed watching so many other war movies .
Yet Ran is so much more than a broad epic , or war movie . The more intimate scenes are carried off with understated conviction , the sly hypocrisy hidden behind formality and convention is conveyed in highly poised and stylised interior shots . This film can be both visceral ( prepare yourself for the beheading of Lady Kaede : as visually explosive as anything by Tarantino , and set within a film that is more than mere surface ) and restrained , depending on the nature of the scene . There are moments of quiet and tenderness that resonate long after the film had ended .
It is odd that so few successful films have been made from Shakespeare . The pre-eminent playwright of the western canon has translated beautifully into opera and stage directors can continually find fresh things to say about the plays themselves , yet in general film had been hopelessly incapable of doing anything of note with Shakespeare . Think of the ghastly declamatory rhetoric of Laurence Olivier in Henry V , or the inane pop video that Baz Lurmann made from Romeo and Juliet , not to mention Kenneth Brannagh's tediously self-important Hamlet . Somehow Kurosawa succeeds where all these others fail . His earlier Throne of Blood was a beautifully realised adaptation of Macbeth to the Samurai period in Japan : Ran builds on that achievement and surpasses it . Perhaps the fact that Kurosawa was Japanese allowed him more creative license to work with Shakespeare , able to approach it simply as valid material for film making , and not as the shibboleth that it is to western artists .
In Ran we have the late masterpiece of one of the greatest and most important film makers . It is a distilled and precise work , powerful , visceral , contemplative , epic and intimate . In short this is film making on a par with the greatest art . Ran shows us what mainstream film making can achieve , but so rarely does .
008 4 This review is from :
Ran ( DVD )
This is a magnificent movie . It is visually beautiful - the colors and the way the shots are framed are stunning . The visuals are controlled in ways that add to the poetic power of the story . I do not speak Japanese , but the sound of the language combined with the musical score also adds to the intensity of this movie . The subtitles are good , but I am sure that those who understand Japanese get even more from this story .
This is not a film of Shakespeare's King Lear . Rather , it is an adaptation and is based on the underlying themes of the play . It is not important for me to list the differences between the play and the movie , it is just important that a first time viewer not expect the Shakespearian story . If you know the play you will recognize aspects of the movie and enjoy the ways in which Kurosawa adapted the story to his own and Japanese sensibilities . It may nod to Shakespeare , but Kurosawa makes this his story .
The costumes , music , and acting are superlative . For me , the trademark Kurosawa battle scenes are more wonderful here than usual . This is a masterpiece by a filmmaking virtuoso who is also a sensitive enough artist to make a spectacular movie that is also poetic , humorous and heart breaking , tender and brutal as well images that are beautiful and others that are hideous .
This isn't light viewing or mind candy , but it has so much to offer that it is worth watching and learning from over and over again .
009 4 This is a magnificent movie . It is visually beautiful - the colors and the way the shots are framed are stunning . The visuals are controlled in ways that add to the poetic power of the story . I do not speak Japanese , but the sound of the language combined with the musical score also adds to the intensity of this movie . The subtitles are good , but I am sure that those who understand Japanese get even more from this story .
This is not a film of Shakespeare's King Lear . Rather , it is an adaptation and is based on the underlying themes of the play . It is not important for me to list the differences between the play and the movie , it is just important that a first time viewer not expect the Shakespearian story . If you know the play you will recognize aspects of the movie and enjoy the ways in which Kurosawa adapted the story to his own and Japanese sensibilities . It may nod to Shakespeare , but Kurosawa makes this his story .
The costumes , music , and acting are superlative . For me , the trademark Kurosawa battle scenes are more wonderful here than usual . This is a masterpiece by a filmmaking virtuoso who is also a sensitive enough artist to make a spectacular movie that is also poetic , humorous and heart breaking , tender and brutal as well images that are beautiful and others that are hideous .
This isn't light viewing or mind candy , but it has so much to offer that it is worth watching and learning from over and over again .
010 4 without a doubt we all know this movie is more then excellent , but if you already own the VHS tape of Ran then beware of this DVD ! the quality doesn't do the film justice , the subtitles are part of the transfer ( they can't be turned off ) and are sometimes hard to read , there is only a chapter search and you can't scroll through the chapter if you're in the middle of watching the movie . no clock will be displayed on your DVD player also , weird .
011 4 Yes I hate saying that because everything is called art these days when its not but this is . Every Kurosawa film is beautifuly made but this one takes the prize . Ran is as Roger Ebert called it A glorious achievement . Ran is Akira Kurosawa's version of William Shakespear's King Lear . I should say its more loosely based on King Lear but the film is so great that one shouldn't bother with that . Tatsuya Nakadai does a peformance that will blow you away . He can bring the physical and emotion to the roll and does it as great as seeing any british shakespear actor like Ian Holm do the roll . Since times have changed since Seven Samuari Kurosawa can use more blood on the screen to bring the horror of war and betryal more to life . There is about a 30 minute war scene that is one of the most beautiful scenes I've seen in a film . Kurosawa like Stanley Kubrick does not settle for the lowest . Everything is perfection . The costumes , the sound , the picture , the acting etc . . . . The ending is breathtaking and will get you thinking about life . I reccomend reading King Lear before you see it , to see what he did with the text . It also shows how universial Shakespear is . This may be Kurosawa's best film .
012 4 While i don't necessarily agree that this is Kurosawa's best film ( for me that would be either Seven Samurai or Kagemusha ) , it is huge , brilliant and gripping .
As with King's Ransome , the the American police procedural novel by Ed McBain that he adapted to modern-day Japan , Kurosawa finds themes in Shakespeare's King Lear which , while arguably universal , resonate particularly well with Japanese ideas and ways .
Tragedy is set in motion when Lord Hidetori , who has spent much of his life in the saddle , amassing a large fiefdom by conquest , decides that he is too old to rule properly and steps aside in favour of his eldest son , planning to settle lands and castles on his other sons , as well .
And thus into the familiar story from Shakespeare .
The sheer size and scope of this film are amazing ; the design is incredible and the battle scenes are overwhelming .
And Kurosawa's directorial bravura is always amazing - - in his next previous film , Kagemusha , he had staged the battle that destroys a powerful clan almost totally with sound effects and reaction shots of officers and others watching from the hills above . In , on the other hand , Ran , the battle for a castle is filmed in horrifying detail of gushing blood , dismembered wounded , fire and terror , but staged in complete silence . . . Until the shot from ambush that kills a Lord rings out , and then the full sound suddenly batters the viewer until the battle ends .
Brilliant , beautiful , huge and moving , this is a film for the ages .
Unfortunately , the DVD package doesn't live up to the film - - aside from a theatrical trailer , the only extras on the disc are text-only partial flimographiesof Kurosawa and star Tatsuya Nakadai . Such a huge and special film deserves a special package , but it fails to get it here .
If the film were any lesser in stature , the sparse DVD extras might lose one star for the package as a whole ; but this one gets five stars in spite of its lacks .
( ( Luckily , i understand that a much-more-extensive package , including another feature film and extensive other material , will be out in the near future . ) )
013 4 This masterpeice is one of the great films . Kurosawa's genius is diminished by the shoddy transfer to DVD that makes this all but unwatchable . The VHS version is far superior in every way . The folks who transferred this to DVD should be ashamed of their shoddy work !
014 4 It is no exaggeration to say that many fans of Kurosawa and his late-life masterpiece , RAN , have suffered through the indignity of two very sub-par DVD releases of this great film , at least in North America . Basically , almost since the advent of DVD , people who revered this movie and this director waited in frustration for a decent distributor to take charge of the project and do it justice .
Third time's the charm as the old saw goes . Criterion has answered our wishes in 2005 - - and how .
Not only have they given RAN a transfer so good that it may actually look and sound better than it did 20 years ago in cinemas when it was a new film - - they have also put on virtually every supplement fans could wish for .
Chiefly , Chris Marker's A.K . : a unique film , by a unique filmmaker , dedicated to a unique filmmaker . No ordinary ' behind-the-scenes , ' he creates an insightful but restrained tone poem about what a Kurosawa set feels like . This film was exceedingly difficult to see in the U.S . for a long time and is an excellent companion piece to the feature .
Elsewhere on disc 2 , Tatsuya Nakadai gives an interview , with great vitality , about working for the master and the immense challenge of the role of Hidetora .
Included is a Japanese TV documentary that provides a different , more straightforward but no less interesting look at RAN's production .
A gorgeous montage of Kurosawa's original art , from his long gestation period before RAN was finally green-lit for production , shows what a visionary and artist he was even when cameras weren't rolling .
Stephen Prince's commentary track on the film itself is fun and insightful .
Sidney Lumet's admiring comments and the creaky old trailers on disc 1 are non-essential but nice to have all the same .
The thick booklet is an interesting read , par for the course with some Criterion editions . It includes an essay plus two interviews , one with Kurosawa and one with the excellent composer Toru Takemitsu .
But the main attraction is , naturally , the great film which is RAN . . . Kurosawa's dramatic meditation on the problems of violence , vanity , greed and hatred in the human soul , expressed through an adapted scenario of Shakespeare's King Lear . It is a film to experience and re-experience for the richness of the drama , the grand , painterly and epic style which is near-perfect , and the universality of its themes .
And now , viewers can do so at home , in the best possible way . If you have hesitated to get a DVD of this classic , don't wait a moment longer . If you bought it before , sell it or throw it in the trash bin and be assured that your money is going toward the definitive edition which now does this masterpiece the justice it deserves .
Bravo , Criterion !
015 4 Kurosawa's RAN is one of the all time classics of world cinema , a unique and masterfully crafted epic full of extraordinary visuals . The film may be overly melodramatic and theatrical for some ( specifically those who rarely venture outside the latest Hollywood blockbusters ) , and its dark pessimism about human nature may turn others off . However , those that are open to the film's style will find it richly rewarding .
Unfortunately , RAN has now been twice let down on DVD in the US . The original release featured a horribly washed out print with poor compression , thoroughly destroying the impact of the amazing costumes and cinematography . The new Masterworks edition boasts of being digitally restored in hi-definition , and it certainly looks richer better - however , the DVD encoding is dreadful , featuring absurd application of edge enhancement and a very unstable encoding ( there are noticable leaps in sharpness every reference frame in the mpeg stream ) . Very poor quality control , and rather ruins the point of doing all that digital restoration .
The disc is not so bad as to be unwatchable , but it is certainly disappointing and diminished my viewing pleasure considerably . Those with a smaller tv would probably notice the flaws less , but I think there's a good argument to be made that Wellspring should recall and remaster the disc - or at least half the price they're asking for it .
016 4 First of all , I want to say that this is one of the greatest films of the past 20 years , in any language or genre . It is a true masterpiece and obviously the work of a master director ( who also directed Rashomon , Seven Samurai , Ikiru ) . The imagery is astounding ( and NO computer special effects , folks , it's all real ) , the sound is haunting and eerie , and the storytelling impeccable . For newcomers , this is essentially a re-telling of the King Lear storyline ( Shakespeare ) but in a medieval Japanese setting with warlords and samurai . It is an action film of sorts , but despite the obvious power of the action , the deepest strength of this film must lay within the tragic drama of the story . This is not a happy film nor a feel-good film but it is a film that will remind everyone in these days of MTV-editing and flashiness and loud bangs how powerful a film can truly be when in the hands of a master .
Ran is not for everyone , of course . It has a deliberate pace and is set in a non-English background , which makes it foreign to a lot of Americans . It is Japanese , so the cuts are long and scenes are allowed to play out . People who don't like slow films ( example , Kubrick films or Russian films ) might not like this aspect of the movie Ran . The style of filmmaking harkens to older days of cinema , but then again , I've always thought the older films were better than today's movies anyways .
I just want to say a few words about the DVD itself . It is truly bizarre and obviously one of the first wave of DVDs when DVDs were still new . The transfer is not so good . There are dust and scratch marks here and there , but I can accept this on an older foreign film ; picky DVD owners may not . It is also non-anamorphic and is essentially just an extremely good VHS copy placed on DVD format . At least it's in widescreen . But it is a weird widescreen , which instead of being centered , takes up the TOP 2 / 3 of the TV screen , with subtitles on the bottom . This takes some getting used to but it's acceptable . The WORST thing , though , which may definitely turn off potential buyers , is that the middle of the film has a really soft focused look to it , as if it were projected through a widescreen lens with condensation in it . The middle portion totally looks like poor VHS quality . Oddly enough , the first and last thirds of the film look okay in terms of focus . Was this some blunder by the DVD company in the transfer process ? I can't believe they let this slip by . Oh well .
Anyways , final analysis . . . the film gets a strong 5 stars but the unusual transfer bumps the final rating down to 4 stars . If you are a film buff like myself , you may overlook the shortcomings of the DVD and buy it anyways , especially since a re-issue is not going to happen anytime soon .
017 4 Just recieved this DVD for Christmas . . . watched it last night .
Before watching Ran , I read the Amazon online reviews - and thus , it gave me a sort of bias . Let me explain . . .
First of all , I read the mentionings of the high contrast and saturation - while it may be a bit too much at times , it's nothing to make your experience any less enjoyable . The only thing I found bothersome about the Masterworks Edition is that the subtitles are hard to read at some points ( because of said contrast / saturation blunder ) - at the opening scene in the plain , for example .
Secondly , there's mentionings of the aspect ratio being wrong ( not wide enough ) . I never noticed that anything being cut out . But then again , this is the first ( and only ) version of Akira Kurosawa's Ran that I've seen .
That being said , let me talk about the actual movie . It's got Kurosawa's beautiful cinematography , wonderful use of light and shadow ( which , by the way , would probably NOT be seen without the remastering ) , great character development - the usual from Kurosawa-san . As mentioned in an earlier review , he does an almost better job of telling King Lear's tragedy than Shakespeare himself .
The DVD extras include 2 trailers ( Euro and VHS ) , web links , production notes , and 2 commentaries .
* Interesting side note * The film is also based loosely on Mori Motonari and his three sons , but unlike in Ran , the family stayed aligned - even after loosing more than half their land .
Hope you enjoy the movie - I would suggest buying it if you're a fan - if this is your first Akira Kurosawa movie , check out Seven Samurai first .
Although Ran can be a bit tedious on the eyes ( subtitles vs film contrast ) , it's a beautiful film . Kurosawa-san's use of the clouds ' shadows wouldn't be viewable without the Masterworks Edition . It's very detailed .
Akira Kurosawa's Ran ( Masterworks Edition ) DVD gets 4 / 5 stars - 5 stars for the movie , 4 stars for the DVD .
018 4 I'd give this DVD of RAN 5 stars for the film itself , a terrific adaptation of Shakespeare's KING LEAR set in feudal Japan .
The restoration , though , rates a little lower at 4 stars . The movie itself has been remastered from a 35mm print , resulting in more vivid colors and greater image detail , although some Kurosawa enthusiasts may be put off slightly by occasional dithering and shimmering glitches that plague some restoration projects such as this . The sound , including the haunting orchestral score , have more presence and depth than in my old VHS copy .
Now for the bad news - this DVD only gets 2 stars for an amateurish subtitling job . It's obvious that the English subtitles were simply lifted from the theatrical release without much care , and too many misspellings abound , including one incident where Saburo was once named Suburo . ( What next - Subaru ? Will Lord Hidetora watch as his most abrasive son morphs into a Justy and spirits him off to safety ? ) Fortunately , the subtitles can be turned off .
Rounding up the scores , 4 stars to this DVD release . A film like this clearly deserves to be treated with much more care and respect when being translated for non-Japanese speakers , especially since Kurosawa has now passed away . If the folks at Wellspring Media want to prove to Kurosawa's fans that they're not gaijin no baka , they'll offer free replacement DVDs with the errors corrected . But that's just me .
019 4 Terribly dissapointing - the picture quality is flat , sort of dead , maybe the worst picture I've seen on a DVD and yes , I have seen Scarface . It doesn't end there - the letterbox is pushed all the way up the TV screen ! It's really sad that Fox Lorber is releasing classics by Kurosawa and Truffaut - I know that in the not too distant future someone else will release the versions of these films we deserve and I'll be stuck . Ran has been re-released to theatres in Sept . so maybe a good Ran is on the way - do yourself a favor : WAIT
020 4 This review concerns Fox Lorber's disappointing DVD production , rather than Ran itself , whose magnificence and raw artistry still manage to come through , though not undiminished . This DVD package gives a strong impression as an undisguised exploitation of Kurosawa's art on the part of unskilled amateurs .
The resolution of the film images for this stunningly wrought work of art is inferior . Kurosawa would withdraw the title on that basis , were he alive to do so !
Even the images of the English subtitles - - which , by the way , cannot be shut off - - are of poor technical quality , with characters breaking up and going fuzzy . The whole production - - with the exception of the sound track - - seems to have been dubbed from an old VHS copy in someone's garage . Really !
Also , for this 160 - minute film , there are a measly nine divisions in the scene access menu ! Why bother ?
This is the only Fox Lorber title in my collection . I suppose it's possible that I got a bad copy , altrough given the technology involved , and the remarks of others who have bought the DVD , I find that hard to believe . It's likely to remain my only Fox Lorber DVD !
021 4 Yes . . . yes I am .
Akira Kurosawa's Ran is one of those very rare films that is capable of making me actually stop and say , no way . Kurosawa has managed to craft a liberal retelling of Shakespeare's King Lear into a heartwrenching , almost totally crushing vision of the pathetic human condition that actually makes Shakespeare's point better than the Bard did himself . [ Wait on those torches and pitchforks ! Hear me out ! ] By removing the Edmund and Edgar subplot , Kurosawa has also oblitered the single hopeful aspect of the play [ Edgar triumphs , Edmund gets his just desserts ] . What remains is the central tale of an old king ( not a hugely sympathetic figure thanks to his rather brutal past and on-screen pride , but still worthy of respect ) being ground into the dirt and , eventually , killed . ( The death of Lear is no less a murder than the death of Hidetora . ) This happens through the treachery , avarice , and sheer lust for power of the king's children , who eventually drive him insane . In one sense , this is an extremely unpleasant movie to watch - - as the last shot so articulately shows us , the central message of the film is that man is born crying and when he has cried enough , he dies . Religion and friendship fall by the wayside in a film just as likely to make you weep from the sheer power of its argument as from the force of its filmaking .
. . . Which is nonetheless considerable . The much-referenced assault on the Third Castle is without a doubt one of the most stunningly perfect sequences ever put on film - - stunning no less because of its graphic depiction of the horrors of war than because of the lingering shots of the crazed Hidetora , unable even to kill himself , capable only of sitting in abject horror as flaming arrows rip through the air near him and all of his companions die around him . The sheer amount of suffering conveyed to us , both through the color palette of firey reds and smokey blacks and through the soundless screams of the wounded holding their own limbs or crawling towards the pig troughs for a final drink , is simply unbearable . The bright red blood draws attention to both itself and the entire subtle wrongness of the sequence - - is this really human nature ? Hidetora's reaction to the carnage becomes the viewer's own - - wordless , wide-eyed astonishment . Wide-eared , as well , since the sequence would not be half so affected if not accompanied by a slow , moving tune that only makes us more aware of the noises of battle that we can't hear , but imagine more vividly than we would like . The rifle shot that ends this tune ( generally inciting a slight jerk on the part of the audience ) is mechanized and harsh , and signals ( after a short flurry of sound ) a blasted silence as Hidetora walks , stunned , out of the castle . This sequence , while a perfect example of the amount of pure artistry present in this film , is by no means alone in its astonishingness ; the entire film is a work of genius .
As for the much-maligned DVD transfer , I'm afraid that I have no real basis of comparison as I have only ever seen the Masterworks Edition . As a little bit of a purist ( I don't watch pan-and-scan ) , I do find myself disturbed by the things that other reviews point out ; however , they obviously detracted little from my viewing experience . All-in-all , I would say that the current DVD is passable , but I look forward with great anticipation to a future version that truly respects this masterpeice ( and doesn't have obvious subtitle typos that make the viewer snicker ) .
In short , this movie is quite possibly my candidate for greatest film ever made . It paints a deeply despairing , nihilistic picture of both human nature and the world as a whole , and does so with a brutally ruthless frankness that I have seen almost nowhere else . Artistically , it is practically without fault - - powerful and moving , it is practically a how-to of effective moviemaking . I cannot recommend Ran too highly .
023 4 An epic japanese retelling of Shakespeare's King Lear which is quite brilliant ( as is generally the case with movies by Akira Kurosawa . ) The use of color , music , and silence in this film are all breathtaking . The performances are excellent and vaguely surreal , as is the general look of the movie - - much like something out of a dream . It does tend to lull a bit at certain points , but there are too many other things about this film that are rewarding for me to hold that against it . Shakespeare enthusiasts may find this interesting , but it will more strongly appeal to people who enjoy , or who have an interest in , classic Japanese films and the strange and evocative aesthetics that tend to make them so rich .
024 4 Before you read further , I highly recommend the MASTERWORKS edition recently released . Also , I absolutely love this film . You can read everyone else's reviews to reinforce that opinion . But Fox Lorber ? A disgrace they are . The whole movie is shifted to the top of the screen , leaving a giant black bar on the bottom of the screen . If that's not bad enough , the bright yellow subtitles are on the very bottom , making your eyes sore from moving them up and down constantly at a larger degree . The subtitles are burned in , so taking them off is not an option at all . The picture is completely not remastered , colors are way-off . It seems their only master was a worn out VHS copy that was at a Blockbuster down the street . To see what i mean by all this , get yourself the MASTERWORKS edition , and compare the restoration demonstration , the old DVD copy is just what the un-remastered material looks like . I warn you , this is better off as a very expensive drink coaster than a preservation of art . Kurosawa rolled in his grave when this was released . . . .
025 4 This review is from :
Ran - Criterion Collection ( DVD )
It's hard to know where to begin with this one . A movie immaculately filmed by one of the greatest directors of all time , given just about the most perfect presentation I've ever seen on DVD . I guess I'll start with the print : it's magnificent , with beautiful , golden colors , sharp focus , and barely a speck of dust on the film . As one would expect with a Kurosawa film , the composition is a feast for the eyes , with beautiful formal balances coming from the most mundane of elements in a shot . ( George Lucas was very influenced by Kurosawa in many ways , but this sort of beautiful , balanced composition is one thing he's never mastered . ) Then there's the score . Most people might not immediately think of the score when discussing a Kurosawa film , but I was struck here by how powerful and distinctive it is , while at the same time it never gets in the way of the film . Then there are the sets : simple , yet used to maximum effect . This was not a big budget film by Hollywood standards ( though it was the most expensive Japanese film up to that time ) , but it feels far more epic than any of the recent , very expensive Star Wars prequels , which just goes to show it takes more to make an epic than just money . Kurosawa reportedly only used something like 200 horsemen , yet you'll think you're seeing far more .
Then there is the cast . Tatsuya Nakadai , as Lord Ichimonji , manages to perfectly portray a man going man who is both frightening in his stubbornness and sympathetic in his pathos at the same time . Not an easy job , especially under a ton of makeup that made him look far older than he was . The three sons , played by Akira Terao , Jinpachi Nezu and especially Daisuke Ryu ( as the insightful and loyal Saburo ) are distinctive and well-developed . The androgynous Peter ( first name billed only ) as Kyoami is memorable for his flamboyant , almost drag-queen gyrations and taunting of the aging , increasingly senile warlord with insights into his predicament . Yet the standout performance , the one I always remember , is by the stunning Mieko Harada as Lady Kaede . While Ran is supposedly a loose retelling of King Lear , Kaede is more Lady Macbeth than anything else . She is in two very memorable scenes that both involve severed heads .
While the screenplay riffs on Lear , it also makes some notable changes . The three daughters are replaced by three sons . This Lear goes mad not because of a daughter's love but because , apparently , of the weight of wars fought in the past . The young Lord was very at odds with the image we see at the beginning of the film , of a man wishing to make peace with his demons . We discover through backstory that he has killed , kidnapped and waged much violence to bring together his kingdom , yet now he just wants peace and goodwill . I was thinking of the adage What goes around comes around , and wondered if Hidetora himself ever came to this realization . Is it what he was thinking as he emerged from the burning castle after a tremendous battle , dazed , wordless ? That scene , shot without ambient sound but with that haunting score ( composed by Toru Takemitsu ) , must go down as one of the greatest moments of film , and an example of how cinema can be used in a way no other art form can .
The bonus features are both bountiful and meaningful . First there is a full-length commentary by film scholar Stephen Prince , though I confess I've not yet listened to it . Director Sidney Lumet gives a brief appreciation of Kurosawa and Ran . He likens the film to the late Beethoven quartets or the Seventh Symphony . Such comparisons often come off as glib or meaningless , but this actually struck a chord in me . I indeed think the comparison of Ran's energies to the Seventh are apt , and the introspection reminds me of the late quartets , particularly Op . 132 . On the second disc , we have the A.K . , a 75 minute documentary on Kurosawa's life . ( In case you've seen the recent PBS documentary on Kurosawa , this one is different . ) Then comes a half hour film on the making of Ran , which shows what a grueling shoot it must have been , going every day to the base of Mount Fuji and often working there even at night . Finally there's a 35 - minute video piece exploring the costumes of Ran , as well as a new video interview with Tatsuya Nakadai ( Lord Hidetora ) . There's also a color booklet with interviews with Kurosawa and composer Takemitsu . In short , there's enough supplementary materials here to keep any fan of the movie or the director happy for weeks .
Many of Criterion's releases have defined what DVDs can be , but this title just takes the cake . What more could one ask for , short of summoning Kurosawa from beyond to talk about the film ? Even if you own Ran in one of its other video versions , they are all vastly inferior to this release . And if you've never seen the film , or any work of Akira Kurosawa , this is probably the best place you could start . Highly highly recommended .
026 4 It's hard to know where to begin with this one . A movie immaculately filmed by one of the greatest directors of all time , given just about the most perfect presentation I've ever seen on DVD . I guess I'll start with the print : it's magnificent , with beautiful , golden colors , sharp focus , and barely a speck of dust on the film . As one would expect with a Kurosawa film , the composition is a feast for the eyes , with beautiful formal balances coming from the most mundane of elements in a shot . ( George Lucas was very influenced by Kurosawa in many ways , but this sort of beautiful , balanced composition is one thing he's never mastered . ) Then there's the score . Most people might not immediately think of the score when discussing a Kurosawa film , but I was struck here by how powerful and distinctive it is , while at the same time it never gets in the way of the film . Then there are the sets : simple , yet used to maximum effect . This was not a big budget film by Hollywood standards ( though it was the most expensive Japanese film up to that time ) , but it feels far more epic than any of the recent , very expensive Star Wars prequels , which just goes to show it takes more to make an epic than just money . Kurosawa reportedly only used something like 200 horsemen , yet you'll think you're seeing far more .
Then there is the cast . Tatsuya Nakadai , as Lord Ichimonji , manages to perfectly portray a man going man who is both frightening in his stubbornness and sympathetic in his pathos at the same time . Not an easy job , especially under a ton of makeup that made him look far older than he was . The three sons , played by Akira Terao , Jinpachi Nezu and especially Daisuke Ryu ( as the insightful and loyal Saburo ) are distinctive and well-developed . The androgynous Peter ( first name billed only ) as Kyoami is memorable for his flamboyant , almost drag-queen gyrations and taunting of the aging , increasingly senile warlord with insights into his predicament . Yet the standout performance , the one I always remember , is by the stunning Mieko Harada as Lady Kaede . While Ran is supposedly a loose retelling of King Lear , Kaede is more Lady Macbeth than anything else . She is in two very memorable scenes that both involve severed heads .
While the screenplay riffs on Lear , it also makes some notable changes . The three daughters are replaced by three sons . This Lear goes mad not because of a daughter's love but because , apparently , of the weight of wars fought in the past . The young Lord was very at odds with the image we see at the beginning of the film , of a man wishing to make peace with his demons . We discover through backstory that he has killed , kidnapped and waged much violence to bring together his kingdom , yet now he just wants peace and goodwill . I was thinking of the adage What goes around comes around , and wondered if Hidetora himself ever came to this realization . Is it what he was thinking as he emerged from the burning castle after a tremendous battle , dazed , wordless ? That scene , shot without ambient sound but with that haunting score ( composed by Toru Takemitsu ) , must go down as one of the greatest moments of film , and an example of how cinema can be used in a way no other art form can .
The bonus features are both bountiful and meaningful . First there is a full-length commentary by film scholar Stephen Prince , though I confess I've not yet listened to it . Director Sidney Lumet gives a brief appreciation of Kurosawa and Ran . He likens the film to the late Beethoven quartets or the Seventh Symphony . Such comparisons often come off as glib or meaningless , but this actually struck a chord in me . I indeed think the comparison of Ran's energies to the Seventh are apt , and the introspection reminds me of the late quartets , particularly Op . 132 . On the second disc , we have the A.K . , a 75 minute documentary on Kurosawa's life . ( In case you've seen the recent PBS documentary on Kurosawa , this one is different . ) Then comes a half hour film on the making of Ran , which shows what a grueling shoot it must have been , going every day to the base of Mount Fuji and often working there even at night . Finally there's a 35 - minute video piece exploring the costumes of Ran , as well as a new video interview with Tatsuya Nakadai ( Lord Hidetora ) . There's also a color booklet with interviews with Kurosawa and composer Takemitsu . In short , there's enough supplementary materials here to keep any fan of the movie or the director happy for weeks .
Many of Criterion's releases have defined what DVDs can be , but this title just takes the cake . What more could one ask for , short of summoning Kurosawa from beyond to talk about the film ? Even if you own Ran in one of its other video versions , they are all vastly inferior to this release . And if you've never seen the film , or any work of Akira Kurosawa , this is probably the best place you could start . Highly highly recommended .
027 4 Dear reader . This is for anyone who has the misfortune of reading Sean Dragon Ninja's vomit-inducing review of this classic .
Sean , my man , first of all , you know nothing about films , least of all good ones . Secondly , you know nothing about samurai . You think you do , but trust me , you don't . Samurai did regularly use muskets , even if some thought it beneath them . Your whole ' knowledge ' of Japan seems to come from the Last Samurai's Hollywoodised version of bushido . You clearly have no understanding of Japanese character or of life in Feudal Japan . This explains your ignorant claims , when reviewing Seven Samurai , another of Kurosawa's classics , that the acting is bad , and that the samurai are savages . Also , why oh why can your tiny mind not realize that not all films have to contain Matrix-style over-the-top action . You say how in Seven Samurai , the action sequences are short and dull , and how in Ran , there are no proper battles , just massacres , and not enough of them . This is because both these films are supposed to be REALISTIC . Why did you expect an action epic , when Ran is based on a Shakespearean tragedy ?
Seriously , one of these days , either I , or another irate , but intelligent ( and strangely attractive ) reader , is going to come round to your house and poke you remorselessly with a gigantic spear . You can run , Sean Dragon Ninja , but you can't hide .
PS And even if you do hide , I'll find you .
PPS Why is your spelling SO bad ?
028 4 Director Akira Kurosawa has fashioned a brilliant version of Shakespeare's King Lear entitled Ran . The story is simple . In the 16th century Japan aged Lord Hidetora ( played by Tatsuya Nadakai , in a tour-de-force performance ) divides his kingdom among his three sons , Taro , ( played by Akira Terao ) Jiro , ( played by Jinpachi Nezu ) and Saburo . ( played by Diasuke Ryu ) Soon greed and rivalry take hold driving Hidetora insane and destoying his empire and his family in the process . Terrific battle scenes highlight the tragic nature of the film . Watch for scene stealer Mieko Harada as the vengeful Lady Kaede who gets her just desserts in very violent fashion . Watch for Peter as the entertaining Kyoami . Excellent score by Toru Takemitsu . Superb cinematography by Takao Saito and Masuhara Ueda . Costumes by Emi Wada took 3 years to make and won a deserved Oscar . Kurosawa's finest , most glorious movie ! ! ! A must see ! ! !
029 4 Aged warlord Hidetori Ishimonji ( Tatsuya Nakadai ) , influenced by an ominous vision , rashly decides to divide House Ishimonji between his three sons . His youngest son Saburo objects , understanding both the true nature of his ambitious brothers and knowing full well that his father's decision would likely mean the end of everything the old warlord has fought for . He speaks his mind , and is disowned for doing so . Yet he was prophetic . Within weeks his brothers are plotting war and conquest , and Hidetori finds himself relegated to the background , ignored and disrespected . War breaks out , and as the destruction mounts on both sides , Hidetori slowly descends into madness .
Some have alleged that this is King Lear transported to feudal Japan . Kurosawa did borrow from Shakespeare ( not just Lear but also MacBeth ) , but mixed into the plot elements from Japanese mythology and history , as well as his own feelings about loyalty . The end result is stunning to behold . Kurosawa's mastery of the cinematic art isshowcased here ; not since The Seven Samurai has he produced a film of such epic scope and power . Kurosawa's plot borrows liberally from King Lear , adds the 16th century Japanese legend of Motonari Mori , and incorporates elements from Japanese history , particularly the frequent conflicts between warlords that plagued the country's feudal era .
As Hidetori , Nakadai gives a sensational performance ; one can see in him the powerful warlord who conquered all in his sight , and his descent into madness is both wrenching and fascinating . Here is a man who is unable to comprehend that the destruction of all he fought for is his own fault ; in his ruthless conquests he made innumerable enemies , and the primary lessons he taught his sons are those of violence , greed , and destruction . He ultimately reaps what he has sown , perhaps drowning in his own hubris . Yet Nakadai and Kurosawa let us sympathize a bit with Hidetori ; in him we see the possibility of redemption and forgiveness . Indeed , Hidetori's exiled youngest son exemplifies those qualities when he comes looking for his father , not seeking revenge but hoping to relieve him of his madness .
Although Hidetori is the principal character , the plot also revolves around Lady Kaede ( Mieko Harada ) , the wife of eldest son Taro . In her we have touches of both Lady MacBeth and Machiko Kyo ( from Kurosawa's Rashomon ) , a woman of stunning evil and manipulative subtlety whose desire for revenge ( her family was slaughtered by Hidetori ) is so consuming that she will do anything to achieve it . When her husband is killed , she immediately turns her attention to Jiro , the middle son . In one of the film's defining moments , she first holds a knife to Jiro's throat . . . then seduces him on the floor . . . and soon after , she demands the death of the gentle Lady Sue , Jiro's wife . She manipulates Jiro into rash decisions , knowing that the ultimate result of her actions may be what she seeks : the total destruction of House Ichimonji . Harada's performance is outstanding , both emotionally powerful and charged with subtle eroticism ; she's demure and polite one minute , seductive the next . Her ultimate fate is not at all surprising , and perhaps expected .
Religion is a central element , embodied in Lady Sue's adherence to the ways of the Buddha in lieu of her desire for revenge . . . for her family was also murdered by Hidetori . Her devotion to her blind brother and her loyal lady servant is so strong that she risks death to ensure their safety .
In terms of direction , Kurosawa once again proves he is one of the genre's legends . We have scenes of both colorful beauty ( Kurosawa makes good use of the gorgeous Japanese countryside ) and shocking violence . The apocalyptic battle scenes are kinetic , bloody , and extraordinarily well-choreographed . An interesting touch is the use of silence during the battles , a welcome contrast to both traditional action films ( whose goal seems to be to make everyone in the world tone-deaf ) and the battle segments that do have sound . Each major event in the film is accompanied by changes in the weather , much like King Lear . Rolling , boiling clouds and sudden winds are frequently used throughout the story . The film's striking use of color and makeup was largely influenced by traditional Noh drama , and much credit must be given to those responsible for costume and production design ; rarely has a film had such potent visual elements seamlessly incorporated into its plot and structure . All in all , an epic of incredible proportions , a memorable effort from Japan's master filmmaker . Fans of this may also like Kurosawa's other films , such as The Seven Samurai , The Hidden Fortress , ( an influence for Star Wars ) , and Rashomon . The melodramatic miniseries Shogun deals with roughly the same time period ; for those who like Shakespeare and epic battles , see Kenneth Branagh's masterful Henry V .
030 4 The film is stunning - - a reenvisioning of King Lear , but set in the Japanese feudal period . It may be Kurosawa's most impressive film - - combining the bloody realism of Seven Samurai's war scenes with his keen insight into the establishing of mood through gesture with an incredible eye for color that is displayed in , say , Dreams .
The DVD transfer , on both the Fox Lorber and Masterworks edition , is at best passable - - a mere hint of the stunning beauty of the film ( I find my VHS copy to be an improvement on both of these ) . But there is good news ! ! ! A criterion release is on the way in November ! ! With a film like this , where the look is so amazing in the original , it is not worth it to go with a cheap transfer . Wait for the real thing , or the closest you can get without owning a theater and renting the 35mm print .
031 4 Ran is one of my favorite films , and so eager was I to have it on disc that the predictably sub-par Fox Lorber edition was one of the first DVDs I acquired soon after we bought our first DVD player . Fox Lorber did their usual quick-and-dirty ( but first-to-market ) job , basing their crude transfer on a copy of the film that was anything but pristine and was in no sense restored . Unlike the present edition , however , the subtitles were error-free and faithful to the original theatrical release of the film .
Needless to say I eventually bought this version , too , and to say that the image and sound on this edition are an improvement over the Fox Lorber edition requires a great deal of qualification ; it would be faster to say that they've been extensively processed but not necessarily improved in most respects , and I fully endorse Ben Rudiak-Gould's review of this DVD . My own less technically knowlegeable assessment is based on what I see and hear on this disc and what I saw and heard in the theatre when this restoration was screened theatrically a couple of years ago , compared with a still absolutely clear and distinct memory of my first theatrical experience of Ran in 1985 - - an experience which astounded me and profoundly enlarged my understanding of the possibilities of cinema .
My hope is that some day Criterion will acquire the rights to produce their own version of Ran ; one which , I'm confident , would finally do justice to this masterpiece in this medium . The history of Ran on DVD has been a sorry one , with the profiteers triumphing over those who sincerely love movies , especially this movie , and a more capable and ambitious writer than myself could almost discern apt points of comparison with the story of the House of Ichimonji and Shakespeare's tragedy of King Lear , on which it was based .
In the meanwhile I have two editions of Ran sitting on my shelf , neither of which are are worthy of this immense work of art , for which they are but faded simulacra .
032 4 Ran ( literally Madness or Chaos ) , legendary director Akira Kurosawa's 27th of 30 films , is a masterpiece on every level , with sequences ranging from one of the most overwhelming battles ever filmed to intimate scenes which begin with ritualistic formality but then erupt into volcanic passion . Kurosawa spent ten years meticulously preparing every detail of , and scouring the world for funding for , this magnum opus , a free adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear transposed to sixteenth century feudal Japan .
Kurosawa brings an uncanny balance of psychological insight , thematic density , and visual / aural mastery to his reinvention of Lear . He gives us a developed backstory for Hidetora ( although some would argue that Shakespeare's Lear is so dominating a presence , both on the throne and in madness , that he does not need more of a personal history ) . Tatsuya Nakadai's performance as Hidetora is , in a word , overwhelming . He brings out all of his character's pathos despite the traditional Noh makeup which Kurosawa has only this one actor wear . He begins with a fierce visage resembling the traditional demon mask , Akijo , but as he descends into madness , his deeply-lined face and red-rimmed eyes tellingly suggest Shiwajo , the sorrowing old man spirit forced to wander the earth to pay for his sins . What might have been a mere distancing technique in a lesser filmmaker is here shattering , as we are constantly reminded both of Hidetora's artifice and heartbreaking humanity .
Kurosawa also made an intriguing decision not only to expand the role of the Fool into a major character ( here named named Kyoami ) , but to make him both sexually ambiguous and totally beguiling . He is played by the Japanese transgender pop star known simply as Peter . Kyoami is , in a way , the healing opposite of the chaos ( Ran ) of the title , as he balances both masculine and feminine energy , great courage as well as flexibility and tenderness . As we see , those qualities are especially important in a rigidly hierarchical society , founded on macho posturing , like the one disastrously promulgated by Hidetora .
Kurosawa's other major addition is Lady Kaede ( brilliantly played by Mieko Harada ) , who exists as a sort of demonic opposite to Kyoami . Although based on Shakespeare's Goneril , she is a much more complex and important character in the film . Her unstoppable vengeance brings down Hidetora's entire family , first as the wife of Jiro the second son , then as the mistress of Taro , the eldest son . Without giving away some of the film's most dramatic plot revelations , let it be noted that what Hidetora did to Lady Kaede's parents , years earlier , provides the reason for her unwavering hatred .
Kurosawa is a visual master - although some people find his style , especially in the later films ( including Ran ) , austere . But for me , his use of image and sound is exceptionally revealing about his subjects and theme . Look at Ran's opening shot . Despite the stillness of four horsemen , on a hill , waiting in motionless silence , there are intense visual dynamics : The contrast of earth and sky , the severely limited number of planes ( this effect was created by using a telephoto lens and shooting a great distance from the actors ) , the tension produced - despite the bright full sunlight - by having each of the riders staring in a completely different direction ( plus there was the added mystery of not knowing what they are searching for so intently , since we are not yet aware that they are on a boar hunt ) . This one image sets up the entire film , both visually and dramatically : Those four warlords , standing at sharp right angles , will soon pull apart not only each other but their entire world .
For a stunning contrast , look at the overtly dynamic first battle , which some people consider the greatest war sequence ever shot ( it has inspired many pictures since , including the opening of Saving Private Ryan ) . Kurosawa films the battle with total silence , except for Toru Takemitsu's haunting score . He makes us view the carnage from a detached , almost omniscient point of view , then suddenly thrusts a new atrocity into the frame . The overwhelming power of this sequence is compounded by the deliberate , ritualistic pacing of the scenes which have preceded it .
033 4 I've watched many Japanese movies and have never ' felt ' them until I watched Ran . Powerful , ' Dark ' , you can almost guess what's going to happen but it still comes at you and makes it all the harder to bear . The Criterion Collection has done a wonderful , if not masterful remake of this classic . Wow !
034 4 Visited the Critereon Collection website today , April 4 , 2005 . Critereon just released Kurosawa's Kagemusha on DVD and the press release also read : Kurosawa fans can also look forward to Criterion's upcoming edition of Ran , due out in late 2005 in a special edition which includes , among other features , an exclusive interview recently conducted in Tokyo with star Tatsuya Nakadai .
EXCELLENT NEWS ! ! For those sorely dissapointed by the two previous editions of Ran on DVD this could not come as better news ! No word yet on other extras or number of discs . There is a chance , of course , like past Critereon releases that they could lose the license quickly ( reverts back to studio that owns the film ) and that it could be run in limited quantities ( like Straw Dogs was ) .
Hope this makes the discussion on the so-called Masterworks version versus the Fox Lorber edition moot . Finally this film will get the DVD treatment it deserves .
035 4 I can't believe it . I have been cheated twice now . The first edition of Ran was terrible . The new Hi-Def version is disappointingly mediocre .
It just isn't very good . Sure , now it has the right geometry on a widescreen TV and they fixed the horrible centering issue , but the quality of the video is very MEDIOCRE and sometimes POOR . For one thing , the color seems like it is overdone and unnatural . Secondly , the overall picture is often fuzzy , though sometimes acceptable . Thirdly , there are sparklies all over the place , where complex shapes or fine lines are PIXELLATED HORRIBLY and broken , causing vibrating movements and undulating saturation . I find this nearly intolerable .
If you have a widescreen TV , you'll surely notice this . If you have an old standard set that isn't too big , it might hide some of this in the fuzziness of the scanlines , but probably not all of it .
I am just very angry that this supposed chance at doing the film justice has been totally wasted . I saw Ran IN A THEATRE and it was FANTASTIC . Not so on the DVD . It looks like [ poo ] .
Here is a letter I wrote to the deplorable company Wellspring , which apparently handled this . . . job : To Whom it may concern :
I have a technical problem with the new edition of Ran , The Masterworks Edition .
Basically edges and lines in the picture tend to vibrate and jitter , and are very pixellated , causing a distutrbing and distracting motion and distortion in the overall image . It actually gives me a headache to watch it .
I find it hard to believe that you would go through the trouble to produce a new Hi-Def transfer and basically do such a poor job with the transfering and compression of the video .
I returned the first copy I bought at Virgin Records for another one , and the same problem exists on both . I have a Toshiba widescreen HDTV television for enjoying just such movies as this , and I am shocked that the picture is so grainy and problematic .
Can you explain this ? I have included some screen shots for you to look at . The first set is where the Lords are meeting for the first time . The four frames to show how the star in the crescent of the clan symbol distorts and sparkles . See the white rectangles and compare the regions . Some are darker in spots , some are lighter . They are all splotchy . When you put frame after frame up like this , you get a sparkling effect , which is very annoying .
In the second set , the white rectangles highlight the sparkling in the white lines in Hidetora's hat . You can clearly see that in some frames the line is solid and in other frames it is clearly broken or perferated . Again , this creates a disturbing effect in motion .
I'm not sure what you can do about this , but I have to say I'm disappointed in your compression techniques or whatever filters you ran this through .
Any information in answer to this problem would be appreciated . At the very least , perhaps future DVD's done by your company will not have this problem .
036 4 This review is from :
Ran - Criterion Collection ( DVD )
I am not going to write about the merits of Ran , i.e . , it is a given that it is perhaps Kurosawa's finest work . If you bought the previous Masterworks edition and are sitting on the fence whether to purchase the Criterion , don't hesitate . The Masterworks transfer is a travesty compared to the Criterion . The colors just bleed in the Masterworks , whereas here the colors are perfect and vibrant . On the Masterworks DVD there is a restoration demo , which I thought was a joke since they did a lousy job compared to the Criterion . Get this DVD if you are a Kurosawa fan ; you won't regret it . This is perhaps the finest Criterion DVD that I have purcased , and I own over 40 Criterions .
037 4 I am not going to write about the merits of Ran , i.e . , it is a given that it is perhaps Kurosawa's finest work . If you bought the previous Masterworks edition and are sitting on the fence whether to purchase the Criterion , don't hesitate . The Masterworks transfer is a travesty compared to the Criterion . The colors just bleed in the Masterworks , whereas here the colors are perfect and vibrant . On the Masterworks DVD there is a restoration demo , which I thought was a joke since they did a lousy job compared to the Criterion . Get this DVD if you are a Kurosawa fan ; you won't regret it . This is perhaps the finest Criterion DVD that I have purcased , and I own over 40 Criterions .
038 4 RAN , directed by Akira Kurosawa in 1985 at the age of seventy-five , is truly an amazing and soaring film masterpiece . The gorgeous cinematography looked like it was lifted directly out of 16th century Japanese screens . What's more , the numerous instances of violence , interspersed with fabulously well-acted scenes , are so beautiful , stylistically , they look more like seamlessly choreographed [ and very violent ] dance interludes . The colors ( reds , yellows , blues ) all glow as if from another world .
RAN ( English translation : WRETCHEDNESS ) is a Japanese version of Shakespeare's KING LEAR , and Kurosawa brilliantly interweaves the original plot [ of family inheritance and betrayal ] with his own examination of family loyalty and deception . The Great Lord Hidetora ( Tatsuya Nakadai ) , ascending into his declining years , decides to divide his kingdom into three parts , between his three sons , Taro ( Akira Terao ) , Jiro ( Jinpachi Nezu ) , and Saburo ( Daisuke Ryu ) . While the two older heirs , Taro and Jiro , proceed to bestow false praise on him , only to deceive him later , his youngest , Saburo , warns him , early in the story , of the grim reality of human deception [ particularly the deception that his brothers are luring his father with ] . In anger , Hidetora throws Saburo out of the kingdom for being insolent and disrespectful . Unfortunately , the young man's observations ring true when his brothers attempt to completely drive their father out of the kingdom and assert total domination of his estate . This drives their elderly father into complete insanity .
Ultimately , this is a very tragic story , but it is beautifully told in such a way that you are left with a great appreciation of the majesty of the beautiful aesthetics , the great acting , and even moments of great , unbridled humor . Particularly , Hidetora's fool , Kyoami ( Shiinnosuke Peter Ikehata ) breaks the tensions of this tragic tale with little songs and dances [ before the real violence erupts , of course , and then he is running for his life along with Hidetora and Saburo ] . This film has been compared with SEVEN SAMURAI as one of Kurosawa's best works of all time . I would agree that it is one of the best ones . Both films are exemplary for different reasons . While RAN utilized color , light and dramatic intensity in depicting this violent portrait of the downfall of a royal family , SEVEN SAMURAI masterfully showcased cutting edge camera tricks , shadow and light [ to give the ILLUSION that it was shot in color ] , as well as wonderful acting .
As a final note , this wonderful film which was the recipient of many film awards ( including an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film ) is rated R for a very good reason . As I said before , it is very violent and bloody ( this includes a decapitation , scenes of combat with bows and arrows sticking out of people's backs , eyes , legs and other appendages , and gunfire ) and there is a scene of suggested sex . Nevertheless , the scenes of numerous fatal battle scenes are filmed so beautifully that they truly are in a class by themselves . A gorgeous soundtrack envelops the sounds of excessive bloodshed , early on , and it is almost hypnotic to watch . Don't miss out on this amazing work of cinematic art .
039 4 It is the story in the Warring State Period in Japan . One day , Hidetora , who is the lord in a province and has three castles , talked his children to give them his patrimony suddenly . He also told his children the story that three arrows because he hopes they support each other to govern to flourish the province . However , his third son , Saburo , opposed that , He thought some conflict would happened between children to monopolize their patrimony if father gave them his patrimony . Although Saburo opposed Hidetora's suggestion , he did not listen to him , and he was angry . Therefore , Saburo was forsaken by Hidetora . One of guests , Fujimaki , who saw the quarrel between Hidetora and Saburo , favored Saburo . Then he invited his castle as his son - in - law . While Saburo is invited by Fujimaki , other two children plot to start fighting . Though , their father , Hidetora lived in the first castle which was given Ichiro , he was treated badly from both of his children . Moreover , he was attacked by them , it means he was betrayed from his children . Finally , he understand Saburo was right , but it is too late . He became crazy when two of his follower found him . The follower left one person and went to Fujimaki's Castle to call Saburo . Saburo went to seek his father with many soldiers . Jiro who is second son of Hidetora heard Saburo is coming to get Hidetora and afraid of Saburo's invading . Jiro followed his army to prepare the war . Then , he tried to kill Saburo when he went to seek Hidetora . However , Saburo was really smart because he makes hide his soldiers who have guns . Jiro was trapped Saburo's strategy and he finally lost the war . Then , Saburo found Hidetora and he went back with his father . However , the last tragedy happened . Saburo was shot by someone , and died when he went back his castle . And then , Hidetora also died after Saburo died .
The movie is described about the relationship between human very well . The struggle of parent's inherits also happen today . It is not only showing old time era but also today's inherit problems . Inheritance makes change relationships between people even they were very close before . The movie was drawn the look of that father became an insane very well . Although I have never watched Akira Kurosawa's movie , I felt his skill of an expression of people's feeling is awesome ! i have never seen such a good movie of period play . I understand why he is a famous around the world watching through his movie , Ran .
040 4 While reading the angry rant from the gentleman from Johannesburg , a question crossed my mind : Dear reviewer , when stating your case , is it asking too much that you get the most simple facts straight , or are you so consumed with unhinged vitriol that making assertions that are truthful is utterly beyond your capacity ? Just wondering .
You state - with some angry , seething ALL-CAPS thrown in - that Kurosawa's films were unpopular and despised in his home country . It fascinates me that a person would publicly embarrass themself by getting things so wrong . Where to start ? 1952 ' s Ikiru was such a huge popular success that it gave Kurosawa the clout to complete Seven Samurai - which ran over-schedule and over-budget - where it subsequently was a phenomenal box-office hit . Other huge popular successes included The Hidden Fortress , Yojimbo , and Red Beard . In 1979 , a group of Japanese critics and artists voted Seven Samurai the all-time greatest Japanese film , with over twice the votes of the runner-up , Tokyo Story ( a fine , heartfelt film in its own right ) .
Regarding Ran , the film is an epic , visionary masterwork that stands as a fitting culmination of Kurosawa's career . Although intelligent , well-reasoned dissenting opinions certainly exist , I'm afraid that such thunderous , fulminating hatred of the late Kurosawa such as appears on this page is not only misguided , but will take years off of one's lifespan .
041 4 It really is about time this masterpiece got the treatment it deserved . I have long held off purchasing this movie in its previous DVD incarnations because of the notoriously bad transfers . At long last , justice has been served . I couldn't ask for much more than this , short of getting to see it one more time on the big screen .
All the extras are great , and to me , more than justify the price . The commentaries are very much worth checking out , and the documentary on the second disc is quite fascinating just on its own .
As to the movie itself , there isn't really anything to be said about this stupendous achievement that hasn't been said already . Kurosawa very nearly bankrupted his studio making Ran , and it really is a miracle that the movie ever found its way to the big screen in the first place . Simply to refer to it as an adaptation of King Lear is to do injustice to Kurosawa ; he pillaged more Shakespeare than simply Lear ( Lady Kaede owes more to MacBeth than to Lear , definitely ) , but he drew from multiple sources , and ultimately , from his own story-telling ability . Ultimately one is left with a devastating portrayal of treachery , vengeance , the disintegration of well-laid plans , and the fragility of the human condition . If that isn't enough , the battle scenes kick ass .
If you love the art of movie-making , this is a movie that has to be part of your collection . Just make sure to get the right version !
042 4 Ran which a Japanese friend of mine translates as Coup or Upheaval sums this film up perfectly . The story is of a Warlord who wants to slow down in old age and give the reins of leadership to his oldest son . Almost immediately , the Weak minded eldest son gets pressured by his vengeful wife to betray his father's trust . The resulting war is as beautiful as it is graphic . Think Braveheart in Japan . I do have one problem with the DVD however , and that is lack of features . It is not very easy to use chapter search as there are only a few chapters included , so finding scenes is a little hard . Features are bare-boned , but the film more than makes up for it .
043 4 -
I'm not going to sit here and write about the greatness of Kurosawa's RAN - it's pretty clear we're dealing with the lifetime masterwork of one of film's few true geniuses .
I want to talk about this restored transfer . This butchered DVD presentation .
First , the aspect ratio is wrong , as has been mentioned before . It's not wide enough . We're obviously missing image on both sides of the screen .
But what bothers me is the color transfer . The colors are indeed more vivid than previous transfers , and the image sharper , but the overall effect has the film looking brittle and highly over-saturated .
The contrast ratio is very high . Much of the darker portions of the screen vanish into black . I know there is image there - I've seen it . But , the boneheads who supervised this restoration obviously have no clue how to do the job properly .
And , to top it off , this print was NOT struck from the original negative , but from a release print ! You can tell because the projectionist cue marks ( those holes in the upper right of the frame ) are on still on this film !
So , no original negative , bad transfer ( the compression is very bad - lots of artifacts ) , bad color correction , wrong aspect ratio , . . . .
AND , no extras on the DVD .
Take your pick .
This is one film everyone who loves movies must own . Yet , where do we go for a decent print ?
You tell me .
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044 4 When I first saw Ran , it had a huge affect on me emotionally . I don't think any other film has left me with such feeling as this has . The characters , the cinematography , the use of colors , and just in general every thing that has made Kurosawa one of the greatest film makers to ever set foot on this earth .
Scenes from this film will stick in your mind forever . The massacre of the lord's samurai ( that music still haunts me like a ghost from the past ) and his walk down the steps with the armies of gold and red departing aside like a river itself , the scenes of the countryside , the old fortress , and finally the classic Kurosawa metaphor ending .
In fact , I would go so far as to say that I like this film better than I do Shakespeare's King Lear . ( but that's my own personal opinion )
This is a wonderful classic in Japanese film history , and ( despite the review of the individual below , who must be an anti-scholar ) shall remain so as long as the world turns . Kurosawa has left many precious gems for the next generations to admire .
045 4 Akira Kurosawa is a genius and what I liked so much was how true he stayed to what we know as Shakespeares King Lear . His use of colour is what also makes this movie work so well . Japan as the backdrop adds additional character , along with the vibrant colour of the clothes , and banners . One thing you cannot do while watching this movie , is look away . Because as soon as you do something will be said or done that will become a key piece to this puzzle he is making . Also realize that you will need to watch this movie a number of times before you get the whole story . Simply because the music of the language , following the sub titles takes a lot of energy and some of the story may be missed . But watching it over and over is like going on a treasure hunt because you discover new hidden trinkets along the way . Sometimes I just pop the tape in and just sit back and marvel at the beauty and nothing more . It is a movie that bathes all the senses .
046 4 If you have yet to see Akira Kurosawa's Ran , then go buy it . Now .
This is , in the opinion of many , the finest movie ever made . It is easy to see why so many hold this view , as it combines great writing ( It's based on Shakespeare's King Lear afterall ) , incredibly cinematography ( the reason it is ONLY availible in widescreen in that Kurosawa is one of the only directors who knew how to use the letterbox format ) , and great action .
At the time of it's filming it was the most expensive Japanese movie ever made , and it shows . The costumes were given great attention , as were the spectacular battle scenes , all involving thousands of fully costumed extras . The battle scene in which no sound effects were used creates an incredible amount of tension and shows the collapsing mind of King Hidetora literally .
All in all this is one of the best movies ever . Buy it NOW !
047 4 I knew I should have waited ! I got impatient and bought the Masterworks DVD and after watching it once could not bear to see it again , the colors were that awful . Of course I have to get this , but it's still galling .
Now if they would only release El Amour Brujo .
048 4 I have just reviewed this disc , and as I anticipated , likewise Kagemusha , this criterion version surpasses the quality and presentation to Japanese version.This Criterion version is the BEST ONE among any versions available of this landmark film in past , including my 15 - years old LaserDisc , .
The image quality looks more saturated , and shows more defined sharpness than Japanese Masterwork Edition from Toho . The Criterion version has higher bit rate , since Japanese version carries too much on one disc ( Feature film + documentary ) . As the credit shows , the sauce was from French studio CANAL ( but don't worry , it is NOT PAL converted transfer . The picture is 24F progressive ) with French titles which is not in the Japanese version . The other major difference is that while Japanese disc has discreet 4 - channel surround sound with 384kbps , Criterion version includes 2 - Channel stereo with 448kbps . The difference is subtle , but I would raise the flag on Criterion for more aggressive , powerful sound .
Also , it was very delightful for me to get AK , an acclaimed making documentary as a supplement , and Image which was aired about 14 Years ago on Broadcast Satellite ( now those ware individually available with . . . well , about $70 here ) . AK in Toho Box Set is presented in 4 : 3 with 60f video frame rate , while the one in Criterion supplement is 16 : 9 with 24F progressive picture .
$40 is a bit steep for double-dipping , but I don't feel any regret . I can not wait for their upcoming The Bad Sleep Well , the most ( criminally ) underrated Kurosawa film .
049 4 Now that Amazon is offering the Criterion DVD of Kurosawa's RAN with a ton of supplementary material order it now ! In this two disc masterpiece will be AK the 74 minute film by Chris Marker which in itself is worth buying . Set to classical music this tribute on the filming of Ran long ago distinguished itself for being a superb film . Add a recent interview with RAN star Japanese actor
Tatsuya Nakadai , and you have it . Both my Japanese version of RAN and AK on laser discs have seen better days , and I can hardly wait for this great work to finally get a decent DVD transfer , and with Criterion you know it will . Just push the order button , and pray that November's release date comes real soon . . . and NOW IT IS HERE , and it is simply amazing . One of the best DVD's I have ever owned , and the supplemental disc on the making of Ran will blow you away . Mieko Harada the actress who plays Lady Kaede in her interview tells how Kurosawa's blunt comments as the film was being made got the actors and the production crew to form a very cohesive unit , and get the filming done right , and many times on the first take . Chris Marker's 74 minute visual treat AK is also included the first time this film has been available outside of Japan , and actor Tatsuya Nakadai's interview is wonderful . if you purchase no other DVD this year purchase this set . You will wear out your DVD player watching it time and time again !
050 4 Akira Kurosawa's ingenious blend of Shakespearean drama , traditional Japanese art , and an examination of the perilous nature of life in the modern political world radiates masterfully restrained tension from the very first scene . As the opening credits hover over a landscape rendered with colors more reminiscent of traditional Japanese painting than of modern cinematography , horse-mounted warriors in expressive , finely-crafted period costumes look down from a hill . They see many paths surrounding them in the distance . The subdued yet anxious music urges us to wonder , which path will they take ? The following sequence , a montage of a pig hunt led by the menacing ( and seemingly all-powerful ) Lord Hidetora that reaffirms Kurosawa's stature as the world's greatest film editor , gives us a hint in the direction of this movie's shocking and dramatically unsurpassed ending . Ran is one of Kurosawa's eight masterpieces ( the others being Rashomon , Ikiru , Seven Samurai , Throne of Blood , Yojimbo , Red Beard , and Dreams ; however , I haven't seen Madadayo or the uncut version of Dodesukaden yet and they may make ten ) . Anyone wishing to have even the most basic understanding of what cinema is and what it will become in the future MUST see these movies . Kurosawa made three basic types of movies : experimental narrative ( Rashomon , Dodesukaden , Dreams ) ; personal dramas ( Ikiru , Red Beard , Madadayo ) ; and action epics ( Seven Samurai , Throne of Blood , Yojimbo ) . Ran is the culmination of the development of the latter . It integrates a grand scope into a tightly controlled and simplified structure , displays extraordinary technical ability in everything from a small , perfectly formed circle of scheming people to an endless stampede of attacking horses and their felled riders , and creates characters and especially places that exhibit a Dostoevskian polyphony ( for those unfamiliar with the work of the master of voices and choices , this means that they seem to exist as objects independent of their creator ) . While Ran has a plot based on Shakespeare's King Lear and is costumed and acted in a style similar to Japanese Noh theater , one need not be familiar with either in order to understand it . The simultaneous descent of the land and Hidetora's mind into a state of ran ( chaos ) is made clear and crisp by the careful psychological composition of the frames and the sharp poignancy of the sounds and dialogue . By the last shot , we forget that its just a movie , forget that we're not in 16th century Japan , and we are surrounded by doubts about the integrity of our world . However , Kurosawa's movies , and Ran especially , work on a three viewing principle . All of the above can be absorbed the first time around , but Ran is so lush with images , sounds , and philosophies that even as the movie's beautiful soundtrack plays and the credits begin , it immediately invites us to see it again . The second viewing suggests another layer of meaning . Clouds and the sky , which bring up clear associations of god , feature prominently in many shots and sequences . Before Hidetora has the dream that causes him to make the strategic mistake of dividing his kingdom among his three sons , there is a cut to a brief shot of clouds moving across the sky . In the superb montage accompanied only by music that depicts Taro and Jiro's forces storming the Third Castle where their father , Hidetora , and his entourage are , there is another short cut to light streaming from the heavens just as the soldiers stream through the castle's broken walls . Finally , the shot where one of Jiro's soldiers on horseback announces preparations for the war that will eventually destroy the Ichimonji clan is framed almost entirely against a background of unmoving clouds in the sky . The image of Buddha is shown twice : once before the aforementioned attack on the Third Castle , and again as part of the ultimate desolation of the movie's ending . All of these instances call up images of god at precisely the most hopeless and nihilistic points of the movie . Also , the sound of the high-pitched Japanese flute is heard thrice : once when the still powerful Hidetora kills the pig at the beginning of the movie , once when Hidetora's is driven insane anew by the memories brought up by the blind Tsurumaru's playing of his flute , and once at the end of the movie when Tsurumaru stands alone at the edge of the cliff . This indicates a chain of harm , but if Hidetora caused the pig to suffer and Tsurumaru brought up memories for Hidetora that made him suffer , who , then , is causing Tsurumaru's suffering ? Several times the movie brings up the abuse of power . Hidetora orders his men to destroy a peasant village , but after he discovers that the peasants were not insulting him , we don't see him reverse the order . Jiro abuses his brother Taro's weakness and takes over the kingdom from him . Also , Lady Kaede , instead of responsibly helping to govern the land over which she is queen , deliberately strives for its destruction . These actions and their results move up in magnitude until we are left with the final question : who is responsible for the destructive forces that run wild in this whole world ? After the second viewing , one is left with the very serious issue of divine guilt . The third viewing of Ran , though not as forceful as the first two , brings further reward . We begin to pay close attention to the compositions , and see how they change from harmony to disharmony as the movie moves along . The backgrounds are carefully positioned so that a variety of deliberate symbols and spaces appear behind the heads of appropriate characters . We start hearing the small background noises of animals and artillery that make all the difference . Kurosawa makes expert use of new sound technologies , as the positioning of sound from appropriate speakers in Dolby Stereo is just right , and every gunshot and clap of a horse-hoof is recorded with individual crispness . Yes , there are some movies better than Ran , but I can count them with my fingers .
051 4 By now you have probably read enough reviews telling you that this is a great film , and probably read a few about how other DVD transfers are horrible , so let me just speak to the Criterion edition of this film .
This transfer is amazing ! The colours that Kurosawa used are finally given due justice . The image is sharp and without noise , the colours are rich ( especially the outdoor greens ) , the sound is great .
Finally The Criterion Collection has done justice to one of Akira Kurosawa's greatest films . As if an excellent transfer of an excellent movie wasn't enough , the second disc contains wonderful bonus material including a 74 minute documentary on Akira Kurosawa and interviews with key performers .
For anyone ever disappointed with previous releases of this film , your wait is over .
052 4 I remember first seeing Ran in High School back in 1986 . I was enthralled by the massive battle scenes , the use of color , and of course the story . As the years have passed and massive battle scenes have come along since such as Braveheart , LOTR , Glory , and Last Samurai this still holds its own against any of those in its enormity , and there were no computer visuals used just to show how great this movie was and is at twenty years old .
When I bought the Masterworks edition a year ago I thought the movie had looked better years ago but figured with the new technology my memory had been tainted . I was able to secure a Fox Lorber DVD copy of Ran a few days ago and can now see the weakness ' of the Masterworks edition .
The aspect ratio is not enough to be bothersome to me , but the color is atrocious , it almost looks animated . Complain if you will about tho older version , but the color looked much more realistic on the older Fox Lorber edition . The humid haze of Japan was removed , the colors to bright , and the overall original feel has been lost with the Masterworks edition .
This is an essential movie . If all that is available to purchase is the Masterworks edition then by all means buy it , but if you have the Fox Lorber original I would keep that . I am ditching the Masterworks now , and am enjoying the movie with the same appreciation I did twenty years ago with the alledged inferior version .
053 4 . . . story tellers , yes if there was one movie director who accepted his job as a mare story teller instead of a movie director , it is the grand old man of the east , Akira Kurosawa .
Kurosawa is a story teller , painter , musician , statesman , and a warrior . . . So , when you're watching Ran every still shot moving shot and close-up could be a painting on its on right , the sound - - from battles to the haunting flute conveys the nihilistic message of the film . . . and Kurosawa tells you the story of politics , and he depicts battles like no-one else ever comes close to . . .
Ran is not an artsy film , nor it is a mindless Hollywood action movie , and off course it is not an over-done Shakespeare as well . Watch this movie with an open mind , and remember that a grand old man is telling you a story .
This is all I can say about Akira Kurosawa and his last epic Ran . . . a masterpiece .
054 4 This is one of the most awesome and visionary films ever made . Few films can be compared to it . If a person only sees one Kurosawa film in his / her lifetime , or just one foriegn movie in general , it should be none other than ' Ran ' . It begins with warriors on horseback , watching the endless terrain for intruders . Haunting music plays in background , and one knows they are in for something special . An epic in every sense of the word , ' Ran ' is the story of a Lord dividing his territory between his three sons . Ignoring the warning of his youngest son , Saburo , the Lord exiles him . Before he realizes what he has done , his oldest son turns against his father . What happens next will be nothing but chaos , just as the title suggests . ' Ran ' has some of the most beautiful battle sequences ever filmed . One would think that watching dozens of being brutally slaughtered couldn't be beautiful , but one has to see this movie to believe it . ' Ran ' has also one of the most mischievous female characters created , Lady Kaede . The story is based on King Lear , but I'm willing to bet Kurosawa got the inspiration of Lady Kaede from Lady Macbeth . This woman will do anything and everything to have her way ; putting on a false face and tears , sleep with her husband's brother , and order the death of an innocent woman . In the end , things get very bloody and a little confusing , but the final scene suggests a cry to help humanity .
055 4 This film was the last of Kurosawa's great epics . It is loosely based on King Lear but with Kurosawa's own plot twists and injections of Japanese culture including Noh influences . The story basically revolves around the treachery of 2 of the Great Lord's sons after they are bequeathed his power and the rejection and final redemption of the son the Great Lord initially banishes . Although , the film is 2 and half hours long , it does not get boring . The acting is phenomenal , the battle scenes are spectacular , and the cinematography is breathtaking . The kind of filmmaking that Ran represents is virtually extinct . Movies no longer use thousands of extras and hundreds of real horses and can no longer convey the realism of movies like Ran . Fortunately for us , Ran is beautifully restored as you can see in the Restoration Demo under the special features . The commentary by Stephen Prince without a doubt establishes the 5 - star rating for this DVD . He analyzes the film constantly from beginning to end pointing out salient features of Kurosawa's style and making sure we understand everything relevant to Kurosawa's direction of Ran . The second commentary by Peter Grilli is not quite as interesting unfortunately .
Despite the absence of the incredible Toshiro Mifune , I highly recommend this DVD .
056 4 As I'm studying for a Ph.D and hoping to specialize in Renaisance English drama , it seemed a good idea to see this film , Kirosawa's adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear to feudal Japan . And I am very glad I did !
Kirosawa's tale may actually improve upon some of the things Shakespeare did in some cases . We're given a good view of what Lear was like in his youth through ruins and the fact that his two older sons are both married to women who's families he conquered and slaughtered . The Fool , a mainstay of the Shakespearean tale , is given a scene that shows the pathos of the man . Lamenting that he's spent his whole life being nurse / entertainer to Lord Hidetora , the audience can see why he'd want to pack up and run away . And yet he stays ( more than you can say for Shakespeare's Fool , who just disappears at one point and is never seen again ) . Kirosawa also answers the question of what happened to Lear's knights for his film . Hidetora's retainers still follow him , they don't just disappear , and it's their fate the fact it is caused by Hidetora's two older sons , Jiro and Toru , that ultimately drive him to extreme madness .
What Kirosawa adds also makes for a much nastier ending . Lady Kaede outscores all the Bard of Avon's shrews and masculine women as a manipulative demon . Without her influence , perhaps her husband Toru wouldn't have decided to humiliate his father , and most certainly younger brother Jiro wouldn't have goen to war . That she's punished for her actions is a certainty . . . that she was still successful adds an awful dimension to the film . Compared to her opposite number , the dutiful Buddhist Lady Sue , we can see the world of Ran is one that rewards treachery and force , while the quiet contemplative life won't get you anywhere . Hidetora's end was caused by his actions in life , and just as he's starting to finally come to terms with the man he was , the culture he lives in , and the events around him , it is far too late and all we're left with is a blind man almost stumbling off a castle wall .
057 4 This film is undeniable the most notable adaptation of any work of William Shakespeare to the movie . The insights in every detail , the superb cast , the overwheelming photography , the camera's handle makes us inevitably to remind that happy sentence of Orson Welles who said once :
One film is really extraordinary , when the camera is an eye in the mind of a poet .
Casually this film is made in 1985 , the same year of Welles'death .
Kurosawa was a truly master . Once upon a time a critical compared to Kenji Mizoguchi with Bach . If this methaphor is assumed valid , then Kurosawa would have his musical image in Ludwig van Beethoven .
The amazing scene of the castle in flames , with a remarkable red that invites us to reflect about the human condition , his hunger for power , the horror generated by that unthirsty ambition . The multiple readings that concern with the violence and the passion carrying the devasting facts that appear all along this film .
The opening sequences in which the three brothers are together with their father is filmed with such kind of perfection that I wouldn't wonder to know that this an obligated reference for all those students of direction . In this sense , this multiple exchange of points of view reveal us without affections of any kind , the essencial nature of the human being inmersed in the purest spirit shakesperian .
Kurosawa , like the great giants of th cinema handles the camera like Gods , includes the color and the nature's elements like adittional actors ( Dreams ) . Just remember that Akira was the first filma maker who dared film against the sun in that glorius film Rashoman from 1950 . His achievements all along his brilliant career are too many and certainly , would be beyond the reach of this shorts analysis .
This is one of these gems that you must see over and over , just when you admire this eternal masterpiece .
To be true the others Shakespeare's versions that deseve to be carried to the desert island would be in my opinion Titus 2000 ( Julie Taymor ) , Othelo 1953 ( Welles ) , Richard III 1955 ( Olivier ) , and Throne of blood 1957 ( Kurosawa ) .
But this movie is just several steps ahead all the titles above mentioned .
058 4 I recently saw this film for the first time ; It was a revelation . It is the greatest film I have ever seen . It is the greatest performance of Shakespeare I have ever seen - - and it doesn't even include any of the Bard's dialogue . It is the greatest period piece I have ever seen - - or read . It is , quite simply , a titanic masterwork . As I watched it unfold ( or rather explode , ) every shot was the most beautiful I had ever witnessed . The sound - - perfect . The cinematography - - perfect . Music ? You guessed it - - perfect . Acting ? For this movie - - perfect . Even the makeup was the best I've ever seen . My initial reaction at the end of Ran ? I couldn't believe such a movie even existed . Everyone always knew that nobody filmed men in motion like Kurosawa . Who knew that nobody filmed men at rest just as well ? And all in one film ?
Nobody insists that Kurosawa came from nothing . His stories came from Dostoyevsky , Shakespeare , and Japanese legend . Some of his film techniques came from Orson Welles . But nobody ever put it all together like this . The man spent ten years alone storyboarding while looking for cash - - and when Kurosawa storyboarded , he went all out . Full-sized paintings , sometimes dozens for one scene . And - - get this - - he was seventy five , and nearly blind . Keep that in mind during the last shot of the film , which , by the way , all respect to Truffaut , is the greatest ever .
The work paid off . Greatest film I've seen . Period . See it now . See it over and over .
059 4 Thank you Criterion ! This wonderful DVD presented by Criterion is the one to purchase . Having owned both the horrendous Fox Lorber DVD , and then the Masterworks DVD , I can state without any hesitation that this is the one to have . Ran is one of the GREAT films by director Akira Kurosawa . Many regard it as his last masterpiece , however , I still have a strong affinity for his later film Dreams , as well . But this is a MASTERPIECE . Many have already commented on the film , therefore , I will ONLY give a brief synopsis , and focus mainly on the latest CRITERION edition . If you have not seen the film , I HIGHLY recommend that you do . Moreover , for viewers that like this film , I would also like to recommend that you seek out HARAKIRI which was directed by Masaki Kobayashi , and also stars Tatsuya Nakadai in the main role . It is a classic !
In Ran , the films narrative centers on a father of three sons who is aging . Lord Hidetora ( Tatsuya Nakadai ) has fought many battles during his many years , and now with his vast empire without war , he decides that the time has come for him to retire and enjoy his remaining years at peace . He believes that this is the best thing to do so that when the time comes for him to die , there will be no unrest in the land . However , one of his sons objects to this . He tells the father that in doing this he will only weaken the empire . He warns that father that this will lead to tragic consequences . Which it will ! For his impudence , his father Lord Hidetora banishes him from the land . What the son envisions , however , comes to fruition as we see the other sons vying for more power and glory . To tell you anything further will ruin this great film for you .
As for the CRITERION release , it is great . The transfer of this particular DVD IS THE BEST PERIOD ! For those who had the Masterworks DVD , this latest CRITERION release does not have any cropped footage , and the color is absolutely beautiful . I have friends who liked their Masterworks DVD , until I invited them over to watch the CRITERION release - - they now have CRITERION editions . Also , there is an excellent behind the scenes documentary by Chris Marker on the second disc . This alone I would have paid for . Also , what I really enjoyed was the latest interview of actor Tatsuya Nakadai ( Lord Hidetori ) Plus , there is an excellent booklet [ as usual ] provided in the case with an interview by Kurosawa done in 1985 , concerning the film RAN . If there are any of you who were deciding which of the versions to buy - - then it is the CRITERION DVD . This is a wonderful film that I would love to watch with my wife in a movie theater some day . Highly , highly recommended . Enjoy this wonderful masterpiece of cinematic beauty ! [ Stars : 5 + ]
060 4 I was one of those unfortunates who actually purchased the Masterworks Edition DVD of Ran . When the menu came up showing a scene from the movie , I thought perhaps I was seeing things . What happened to the grass ? I asked myself . I had remembered lush green grass in the film , but here the grass looked like a weak greenish brown . I remember Kurosawa in a film once talking about how he always wanted his grass in his films to look lush and green . I asked myself , I wonder what Kurosawa would thing of this DVD ?
Looking through the film I realized that this was a poor transfer . Perhaps the worst part of the DVD was the restoration demo , showing before and after shots . The picture was notably sharper in the after shots , this is true , but also with a profound shift in the color and an overall desaturation . Thus , the before shots showed blurred but lush green grass , which became sharply-focused but brownish grass . In other shots , a blue sky was restored to a sort of rusty hue , while bright red banners were so desaturated they almost disappeared from view . I even tried to tweak the picture with the settings on my television , but to no avail .
The Masterworks Edition restoration demo , as brief as it may have been , has to be one of the most irritating viewing experiences I have ever had .
When I recently came across Ran listed here on amazon.com , I read the reviews and realized that many people agreed with me . I also realized I needed to get the Criterion Collection version . I love Criterion and they have very high standards . What a joy it was to pop my new DVD in the player and see Ran the way it was meant to be seen .
The Criterion Collection version of Ran is excellent . It is a beautiful sharp transfer with proper color saturation . There is a commentary by Stephen Price and a film appreciation by Sidney Lumet . Disc Two has some great supplements , including a documentary on Kurosawa , another documentary on the making of Ran , an absolutely ravishing tour through Kurosawa's paintings and sketches for the film ( which , by the way , clearly indicate Kurosawa's color preferences ! ) , and an interview with actor Tatsuya Nakadai . There is also a wonderful 28 - page booklet stuffed with interesting reviews and interviews .
Ran is one of Kurosawa's greatest films , and perhaps one of the greatest Japanese films ever made . It is not surprising that Criterion has given this film the stellar treatment . It is a splendid film and Criterion's version is a splendid addition to your DVD collection .
061 4 This review is from :
Ran - Criterion Collection ( DVD )
This reimagining of Shakespeare's King Lear by legendary director Akira Kurosawa is a fine addition to the Criterion Collection . Majestic in scope , Ran is Kurosawa's last epic masterpiece . The film is set in sixteenth-century Japan and evinces the folly of war as well as how treachery , greed , and a lust for power destroy a family . A special edition double-disc set , the second disc offers a number of first-rate supplements , including A.K . , a 74 - minute film on Kurosawa by Chris Marker , a 30 - minute documentary on the making of Ran , and a 35 - minute video piece reconstructing Ran through Kurosawa's paintings and sketches . An excellent 28 - page booklet featuring an insightful essay by film critic Michael Wilmington and interviews with Kurosawa and composer Toru Takemitsu is also included . This film - - particularly this Criterion Collection edition - - is a must for any Kurosawa collector .
062 4 This reimagining of Shakespeare's King Lear by legendary director Akira Kurosawa is a fine addition to the Criterion Collection . Majestic in scope , Ran is Kurosawa's last epic masterpiece . The film is set in sixteenth-century Japan and evinces the folly of war as well as how treachery , greed , and a lust for power destroy a family . A special edition double-disc set , the second disc offers a number of first-rate supplements , including A.K . , a 74 - minute film on Kurosawa by Chris Marker , a 30 - minute documentary on the making of Ran , and a 35 - minute video piece reconstructing Ran through Kurosawa's paintings and sketches . An excellent 28 - page booklet featuring an insightful essay by film critic Michael Wilmington and interviews with Kurosawa and composer Toru Takemitsu is also included . This film - - particularly this Criterion Collection edition - - is a must for any Kurosawa collector .
063 4 This movie has a mythological aspect to it , which I suppose comes from the experiences of the Great Lord Hidetora wandering the volcanic countryside in his varying levels of madness . This to me is the main part of the story , while in the background the destruction wrought by Taro's former wife brings down everything that Hidetora had built . This shows how quickly an empire built upon the bodies of one's enemies can come crashing down , especially if you leave vengeful people alive . Hidetora's early ruthlessness as a conquering Daiymo comes back to haunt him at every turn , now that he has been abandoned by most of his sons and peers . ( Which Hidetora set in motion himself by relinquishing power to his eldest son ) It is only the honest love of his youngest son Saburo that brings Hidetora back from madness , and even this is temporary , as once again his legacy of blood comes back to seek final revenge in the form of an assasin's bullet that kills Saburo . Hidetora then dies of a heart attack caused by the ultimate suffering he has endured for weeks without end . It is perhaps a deserved fate for Hidetora , but Saburo is the real tragic figure here , having done nothing but honor his father even when shunned by him early in the story .
The film itself shows excellent and breathtaking examples of the Senkogu ( sp ? ) period of war in Japan , with castle assaults and a small field-battle towards the end of the film . ( curiously absent is the lack of actual sword-to-spear combat scenes , most depicted combat in the film involves arquebus troops and cavalry ) The costumes and sets are excellent , no cgi here , just live actors in suits of armor and hundreds of horses . My only major complaint is the rather obvious ' red ' of the fake blood used for the battle scenes , and the way it was splashed onto the bodies depicted throughout the film , which wasn't a very good attempt on the part of the film crew to be realistic . It's the story that matters in this film though .
I have not seen the Masterworks edition , but the standard DVD has a slightly poor picture quality for a film from the 80 ' s , with some color issues ( faded coloring ) . Hopefully the Masterworks edition is of better quality , but my gripes are only minor and the standard DVD is satisfying enough .
064 4 You know , if I hadn't seen this movie and someone told me that it was a Japanified version of King Lear , I would probably scoff at the idea . We all know that creative remakes of Shakespeare usually blow big time . But Kurosawa did it so amazingly _ well _ here . Sure , it's undeniably King Lear , and most of the characters have clear parallels to the ones in Lear - but it's also undeniably Japanese , steeped in Japanese culture and tradition , and entirely within the bounds of reality of a feudal Japanese society . ( Not just because of the amazing costumes , either . )
That probably would be just artiness if the actors weren't so good - but they are . Nakadai is amazing as King Lear ( or his Japanified counterpart Ichimonji Hidetora ) - throughout the movie , we're told that he basically dug his own grave , having murdered thousands of innocent people in his day , but when we see his degraded , outcast state , it's impossible not to pity him . But he's not the only one . The Jester is great - we see his / her ( the Jester is rather androgynous ) inability to decide whether s / he hates Lear for the monster he was or pities him for the sad old man he's become , and it's really moving . Lady Kaede is chillingly evil , Lord Jiro is a very whipped and defeated man , and Lord Saburo is a rude guy with a heart of gold ( and all three are memorable ) . Jiro's general Lord Kurogane is also amazing - he's on the bad guys ' side because of his loyalty to Jiro , but he also is clearly an honorable man - and there will definitely be at least two times in the movie when you will want to loudly root for him .
However , probably the most compelling character is Lady Sue . She's presented as your typical sweet innocent girl archetype , but she's also very believable . You believe her when she says she is unable to hate Lear ( er , Hidetora ) for his crimes because after all , everything is decided in our past lives . She has a very small part , but she manages to become the most striking character of all , and her fate is probably the most unbearably tragic point in the entire movie .
King Lear is one of Shakespeare's most morose plays ; Ran is even gloomier . Despite several light moments ( the fox-head scene is absolutely hilarious ) , it's covered in hopelessness through and through . Like in the play , almost everyone dies needlessly , and even though the bad guys die too , they do it too late for you to feel good about it . But it's darker still . The main battle scene ( in the first half ) is horrifically brutal , but the most disturbing thing about it is that you don't hear the screams of the dying and the gunshots - all you hear is a funeral dirge , leaving the rest up to your imagination . It's really no surprise that Kurosawa had been taking his bitter pills when he was thinking Ran through - he had even made a suicide attempt at one point .
One other thing - Ran is almost 3 hours long . Don't let that stop you , though - it's the rare long movie that captivates you from beginning to end with its brilliant acting and directing . It definitely is Kurosawa's finest hour . If you like Japan , Shakespeare , Shogun , or King Lear , see it at once . If not , see it anyway . There's nothing anywhere that's quite like it .
065 4 . . . . . Or , to say the least , one of the greatest , doubtlessly . Akira Kurosawa , perhaps best known for his big , daring Samurai epics , once again provides the audience with a piece that is both rich in human content whilst technologically empowering with mind numbingly beautiful camera work , a masterful score and amazing , consequence-showing battle scenes . Once instance is in which an entire battle ( very one-sided , as well ) takes place with no sound effects , rather Toru Takemitsu's ingenius score .
The film itself is the Feudal Japan equivalent of King Lear , with small subplots and a reverse . The lord distributes his land among his three sons rather than his three daughters , as is the case with King Lear .
I will not divulge information about the plot , it's very complex and very . . . um . . . see it for yourself . My only regret is that the film's amazing score is not currently in print .
066 4 This is an amazing movie . Amazing battle scenes . Amazing visuals . Powerful depiction of loyalty and treachery among brothers , husband wife , etc . Calm turns to chaos as the plot escalates . And it completely blows my mind to think of how they got all those people and horses to make those unbelievably vivid battle scenes . Wow . The main female character is amazing , too . This is definitely an epic movie . It'll take a while to watch ( 3 + hours ? ) , so set aside time for it .
067 4 I grudgingly rented this movie on the recommendation of my brother ( who's taste in movies runs toward Conan the Barbarian and First Blood . ) For once , my brother turned me on to something worth watching . I was captivated . I became an Akira Kurosawa fan instantly . Loved Kaede-finally a female role with teeth .
068 4 I highly recommend watching this incredible motion picture , however be prepared for poor translation to DVD . There is no digital compensation an soundtrack emulation is miminal . No effort was taken to enchance or even capture faithfully the original masterpiece . Kurosawa would never have agreed to this graphic travesty . That being said , the production is bested by none , though Kagemusha comes very close . If you can tolerate the graphics , it is still a must , unless there is hope of a superior video translation .
069 4 Tatsuya Nakadai's performance in Ran is as ratcheted-up as the cinematic beauty of this look at a world of blood , taking us to the very brink of madness . It is a film about loss , betrayal , filial impiety , war , hate , hungry ghosts .
When released , the West heaved a sigh of relief : Kurosawa back and as magnificent as ever !
Sweeping away all hype and hyperbole is hard to do . I see this as a very expressionist-realist film . But , forget what I said ! And , don't compare it to Shakespeare ! At least , not at first . This is cinema .
Visually stunning , stylized acting producing a counter-point to the genuine emotions , a distanced camera giving us a long shot at a world hell-bent on self-destruction . . . changes of scale that intensify meaning : closeups of wildflowers , and a long shot of a burning castle .
Kurosawa built the enormous castle and had it burned for mere moments on film . But , what moments !
070 4 ( This review is for the Masterworks edition . )
This is the type of film that's so intense and powerful that afterwards the viewer may feel like s / he needs to unwind emotionally , to recover and come down from such a powerhouse of a cinematic experience . It's also the type of film that just gets better and better with each new viewing , as the viewer becomes more and more familiar with the story and characters and keeps picking up on new things s / he might not have paid much attention to before . And though the film is over two and a half hours long , it's one of those films where the time goes by like that , not a dull or wasted moment . Even those who haven't read ' King Lear ' can enjoy the story and get into it , though familiarity with the play does help a bit in one's understanding of some of the basics . Shakespeare really was a writer for all time , with his play able to be adopted so well hundreds of years later in an entirely different culture and milieu , the story of the old king and his three children just as compelling and relevant when it's transformed into a tale of feudal Japan . And while there are some things which are left out , most of the story stays pretty faithful to the original . One of the slight changes I loved was how the character of the Fool was a much more important character ; when I first studied the play as a highschool senior , my entire class and even the teacher really liked that character and didn't understand why he just disappears so suddenly before the play is even over . I can't think of a single flaw in this film ; the pacing is great , the color and cinematography are beautiful , there are so many great characters , everyone's acting is great , the music is very powerful ( particularly during the scene of the battle at the Third Castle midway through , when there's no sound except for the music ) , and the themes are ones for all time , just as relevant today as they were in feudal Japan or when the film was made . Overall , it's the type of film one can't really appreciate the greatness of for oneself until one actually sees it . Hearing a lot of words of praise just can't hold a candle to having that experience for oneself .
The extras are trailers , weblinks , a demo of the restoration used ( the difference between the color on this version and the earlier one is stunning ) , a filmography , production notes , and audio commentaries . Of the commentaries , my favorite was the one by Stephen Price , which added a lot to the viewing of the film . The second one , by Peter Grilli , has its moments , but is more about the making of the film and Kurosawa's personality than the actual story itself , in contrast to the other commentary . There are also way too many long , long , long pauses in this commentary , so it doesn't add as much to one's understanding and appreciation of the film . Since I don't really understand or deeply care about the differences between certain types of aspect ratios , I can't really comment on the version used for this transfer , but it does sound like the print used on the newer Criterion edition is even more beautiful than this one . The extras on that version also sound far superior to the extras on the Masterworks edition , so it seems like the Criterion DVD is the only one to get for those who love this film and want it to get the deluxe treatment it deserves .
071 4 There is now doubt about the quality of this film . Ths issue is the substandard encoding or transfer used for this new DVD . Through out the first 40 min . of the film , there are intances of both horizontal and vertical blanking - a static which appears on all vertical and horizontal lines . It is also obvious that this film was mastered from a film print and not the interpositive - - the blacks are fuzzy and the dark scenes look as if they have a scrim or screen over them . I also noted two instances of sound drop outs .
All of these are issues which could have been fixed . It's very sad that greater care wasn't taken with this film , and at the price point which Winstar is charging , they should have at least tried to get it right .
Hey Winstar - - third times the charm . . . . .
072 4 After watching Akira Kurosawa's adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear , I was reminded of a quote of his I once heard . Someone had apparently asked him what one of his films meant , and to this he simply replied that he did not know , and that if he knew , he would not have had to make the film .
For Ran , it is interesting how Lord Hidetora's struggle in the film mirrors Akira Kurosawa's own life . Not as appreciated in his own country as he was earlier in his career , Kurosawa had trouble getting funding for his films during the latter part of his life . Compounded with this was the fact that he was slowly growing blind , and had tried to commit suicide but failed . Lord Hidetora in the film , after dividing up his kingdom to his sons , faces a violent backlash when his sons try to cease power , causing him to try and commit suicide , but failing , and eventually going insane . Great directors imbue their films with their own thoughts , passions , and emotions , and Ran is nothing short of a brilliant summation of a Master filmmaker .
Ten years in pre-production profferred a film of unbridled scope and vision . Everything from costumes to production design to music were meticulously planned , bringing about one of the most amazing films I have ever seen . Kurosawa always had a way of engraining his films with latent humanism , and in Ran , every shot , every color , every symbol , every line , every action , is imbued with meaning and conviction . The pacing is slow and methodical , almost meditative . The camera rarely jumps in for close ups , as is the case with many Hollywood films , but instead sits back , as if it is observing from a god-like point of view . There are moments in the film that are breath taking for its beauty , its violence , and its emotional resonance . It is a film so alive , that only a man near the end of his life would be able to make .
The DVD transfer does not even come close to doing this film justice , but it is great film and needs to be seen regardless . Ran is a triumph of filmmaking , and an example of how great films always stay with you .
073 4 RAN is one of the few films that , should a global disaster strike Earth , deserves to be put in a time capsule for future generations to find after they climb from the rubble to rebuild everything .
Based loosely on Shakespeare's King Lear ( with more than a passing nod to Macbeth ) , RAN proves the paradox that the more culturally specific a work of art , the more universal are its themes . In 16th-century Japan , old Lord Hidetora ( Tatsuya Nakadai ) is nearing the end of his life , and so decides to essentially split his kingdom among his three sons , under the command of his eldest . His youngest son , Saburo ( Ryu Daisuke ) , counsels strongly against it ; he knows the motives of his brothers all too well . But Hidetora , in his hubris , believes himself the wiser . He disowns Saburo - the only one of his sons who truly has his best interest at heart - and lives to regret it .
For Western audiences especially , the very foreign-ness of RAN throws its bitter meditation on human nature into sharp relief . Like the best works of art , RAN's strong , elegant , simple design expresses both great aesthetic beauty and Spartan functionality . Not a moment is wasted ; not a single composition haphazard or thoughtless . Watching it is a bit like falling into a profound dream .
RAN really deserves the THX treatment , and given the respect that Kurosawa's work commands among filmmakers , it is shameful that at least one of them has not yet stepped forward to do so . As it stands , this DVD lacks the sharpness and fidelity due its subject , although I actually like the off-center letter boxing , as it allows the subtitles to appear below the picture without covering it . Given RAN's extraordinary imagery , that is a blessing .
074 4 This is supposed to be the story of an actual Medieval Japanese Warlord who divided his realm among his sons . It looks suspiciously like a reworking of Shakespeare's King Lear . Kurosawa has borrowed from Western literature before : Throne of Blood reworked MacBeth ; Yojimbo was derived from Red Harvest ; and Seven Samurai patterned itself after the Hollywood Western . Hollywood , of course , repaid the complement with The Magnificent Seven .
The familiar story of Lear is well-told , the cinematography is spectacular , and the battle scenes are absorbing . The subtitles can be somewhat off-putting , but once you become engrossed in the story , you willingly cope with the minor inconvenience . Actually , the subtitles add to the artistry of the movie . Dubbing would have made the show look like one of those B grade Kung Fu movies .
075 4 I strongly agree with those who were as disappointed that the quality of the digital transfer did not match the greatness of this film . It was a big turnoff . I remember so clearly what it looked and sounded like on the big screen . This wasn't even close !
076 4 Upon seeing Ran a year back , I knew immediately it was a standout . Let's see - - intriguing plot , clever cinematography , incredible costumes , solid acting - - yup , it's a winner . I almost forgot - - it contains one of the greatest battle montages ever produced , not to mention a bone-chilling score . Movies really don't get much better than this .
077 4 Amazingly powerful and poetic . A masterpiece from the master who is obviously still in his stride . King Lear has never had a backdrop like this before . It is such a romantic and beautiful piece , every cent went to good use . There is no use in looking for a bad spot in the film because it doesn't exist .
078 4 Ran , as well as most of his other movies , prove definitivly that Kurasawa is the one of the greatest directors in a of movie making history . He translates the story of King Leer into Japenesse culture perfectly . This movie is astounding !
079 4 Akira Kurasawa reaches epic proportions in this rich cinematic tribute to Shakespeare's King Lear . The visual scope of his directing abilities become evident with breadthtaking landscapes , and large populated scenes . But the mark of a master is to keep the viewer intimately involved beyond the wide expansive scenes , drawing you into the intrigue between the primary characters . It is hard to improve upon Shakespeare , but Kurasawa's directing has done it . A must see !
080 4 Ran is the first film I've watched by Akira Kurosawa . Now I'm a huge fan of his work thanks to my Amazonian friends who had already seen it . When a legend like Kurosawa , does a King Lear adaptation at the tender age of 75 , one would expect a small-scale film concentrating on the human elements of the story . That he produced an epic of such proportions makes a further evaluation of the great man's contribution to cinema necessary .
Ran is set in medieval Japan and follows the basic King Lear narrative closely . Lord Hidetora is an aging warlord and , wanting a peaceful retirement , decides to divide his kingdom up amongst his three sons . After banishing the youngest , Saburo , for pouring scorn on the idea , Hidetora finds himself an unwanted obstacle to the older two . After repeated humiliations , pride forces Hidetora into vain wanderings on the open plain , his state of mind declining as rapidly as his entourage .
The film sets itself the unenviable task of trying to explain the precarious position man holds within the universe . Man is seen to be elevating himself to such a level that he dreams of challenging the very laws of nature . Hidetora has achieved his status through deception , callousness and violence ; his notion to wash away the blood he has spilt in happy retirement is scornfully thrown back by the elements . The speed and manner in which he is forced to lie in the bed he has made for himself should serve as a warning to all .
The films large set pieces , particularly two quite stunning battle sequences , are staged magnificently , but ' Ran ' is no empty epic . The characters and their motivations are fully explored and the tension built up by the dialogue fully compliments the action . With an ending which offers no redemption ' Ran ' paints a bleak picture - the colors and brushstrokes it employs however , turn it into a dazzling masterpiece . The battle scenes are some of the best I have seen . One point - the second main battle reminds me of ' Zulu ' with the soldiers lined up on the skyline shouting down . The makeup used on Hidetora to mimick the Noh theatre makes this film that much more dramatic .
Don't expect to be uplifted with a standard samurai flick . This is one of the most historic beautiful films I've ever seen . Before you watch this try placing this on big screen with good color registration and good sound because Kurosawa uses as much of the screen as he can .
081 4 If Mr . Blakes_Angel from PA ( review ) thinks Fellowship of the Ring is more exciting or emotional than a movie like RAN , then God save us .
RAN and Kurosawa's other epics are way above the rest . His movies leave a lasting impression that one carries for a long time .
But I guess nowadays the mentality of movie watching has dropped down to 12 - 14 year olds , and indeed epics like RAN would appear boring to those people .
A thousand times recommended for those who like movies with depth and are interested in fundamental human psyche .
082 4 this shows that the american oscars are one big fashion show joke . it won for costume design ? ? ! ? ! this was the best movie of 1985 , no movie even scratched the surface of greatness that year , costume design . . . B S . this movie is great and everybody should see it atleast once .
costume design . . . . .
083 4 This review is from :
Ran - Criterion Collection ( DVD )
This is the 4th version of Ran that I have purchased . Having expensive redundant DVDs isn't fun ( the first was VHS ) . The Fox Lorber first DVD release made my eyes hurt . The Masterworks edition was a better transfer but still reminded me of changing a 32 - bit image to 8 - bit , or compressing a jpeg to the max so that contrast is increased but in-between shades of color disappear .
This release is up to Criterion's quality standards . They probably saw that they had to do it after looking at the other releases . Just as a check , you can look at the horses ' flanks and withers in the opening scenes on Mt . Aso ; they now have contours and shape from the better shading . The colors of the greens of vegetation and the yellows on the tent are now vibrant .
If you own all the others like I do , because you wanted a better version of this masterpiece of film-making , it's now worth coughing up the $ to get the best version out there . You won't have to buy another version unless something replaces the DVD format . If you're wondering at which version to get because of price , stop looking , you get what you pay for and with the cheaper ones you don't get that much , but with this one you get the high quality transfer , commentary , and the 2nd DVD of extras .
When the DVD arrived , I had only planned to compare the 3 DVDs and started swapping them out . By the end of the comparison , I was drawn into this new edition all the way to Tsurumaru dropping the scroll of Buddha . This one is easy on the eyes and worth repeated viewing .
084 4 This is the 4th version of Ran that I have purchased . Having expensive redundant DVDs isn't fun ( the first was VHS ) . The Fox Lorber first DVD release made my eyes hurt . The Masterworks edition was a better transfer but still reminded me of changing a 32 - bit image to 8 - bit , or compressing a jpeg to the max so that contrast is increased but in-between shades of color disappear .
This release is up to Criterion's quality standards . They probably saw that they had to do it after looking at the other releases . Just as a check , you can look at the horses ' flanks and withers in the opening scenes on Mt . Aso ; they now have contours and shape from the better shading . The colors of the greens of vegetation and the yellows on the tent are now vibrant .
If you own all the others like I do , because you wanted a better version of this masterpiece of film-making , it's now worth coughing up the $ to get the best version out there . You won't have to buy another version unless something replaces the DVD format . If you're wondering at which version to get because of price , stop looking , you get what you pay for and with the cheaper ones you don't get that much , but with this one you get the high quality transfer , commentary , and the 2nd DVD of extras .
When the DVD arrived , I had only planned to compare the 3 DVDs and started swapping them out . By the end of the comparison , I was drawn into this new edition all the way to Tsurumaru dropping the scroll of Buddha . This one is easy on the eyes and worth repeated viewing .
085 4 Having waited for a long time for a re-issue of this classic by Kurosawa , I was lucky enough to see this digitially restored disk when Wellspring released it in their Limited Edition Kurosawa Collection in the Fall of 2002 . Not only is the film everything it's known to be , but this new DVD which is a Hi Def , Digitally restored one in 16 : 9 , is simply stunning . The visuals are all one would hope for , and the commentary tracks ( 2 ) are insighful and thoroughly enjoyable . Once you view it , you will now understand why RAN was nominated for so many Academy Awards and , more importantly , why it won for Best Costumes . This Masterworks edition is a Masterworks on multiple fronts . . . a master's work on film , by a masterful director with a DVD product that is masterful in its own right !
086 4 I watched the VHS version ( in widescreen ) , and was impressed by the quality . I appreciate the comments about the DVD version , because it would have been one of my first purchases in building a DVD library .
As for the film itself . Although the ' Lear ' story presents no suprises , I was in constant amazement through the course of this film . Although it was definitely Lear , the infusion of feudal Japanese values was powerful . The sets , the use of costumes , the battle scenes , the cinematography are all absolutely amazing . The music is also a step up from that employed in ' Yojimbo ' and ' The Seven Samurai . ' The orchestral dirge in the background during the attack on Hidetora's tower amplifies that imagery .
This is simply the finest staging of samurai battle I have ever seen in a movie . The castle's were superb . Mieko Harada as vampire-like Lady Kaede was an absolutely brilliant and chilling performance . Her cunning manipulations and stylistic , Kabuki movement is intense ; especially in the scene where she overpowers Jiro .
087 4 I believe Kurosawa's Ran is a great film-maybe even a masterpiece ; but I also think it makes a lot of demands on those of us who aren't intimately familiar with Japanese culture . Personally , when I started watching Japanese films , it took me a long time to adjust to the manner of speaking . The actors would seem to be shouting or almost screaming at one another at times when the subtitles would seem to be conveying a totally different tone altogether . Ran is no exception , and this is just one of the factors that makes it difficult to form a true estimate of the merits of a film about an alien culture . However , in my opinion , there is no doubt that visually this film is an amazing , artistic spectacle . The version I own is not the Criterion nor the Masterworks , but is probably the first DVD version produced . The tv I watch it on is a ten-year-old 50 - inch Toshiba . But I have to tell you that I find the battle scenes breathtaking . The colors are bright and emotion-inducing . I thought the soundtrack was awesome ; especially during the battle scenes-the slow , somber , orchestration is like a simultaneous requiem being played for the dying soldiers cut down by arrows and gunfire . The final battle sequence has an intense visual and sonic presentation of apocalypse-the assembled hosts , the waving banners , thunderous pounding of galloping horses , smoke and flames pouring forth from the large castle tower under a dark and menacing sky . All of this may sound like a conventional battle scene , but it seemed to me that Kurosawa succeeded in capturing the nightmarish quality of such a conflict as well as its dramatic spectacle . On a sensual level of sight and sound , I think this film is magnificent . As for the story , it is of course , King Lear , adapted to Japanese culture , and a powerful story it is . The elements of the situation that unfolds and the temperaments of the characters involved produce an extreme range of human emotions : greed , revenge , hate , ambition , loyalty , treachery , pride , lust . These swirling , roiling urges propel the story along toward an inevitable culmination that seems almost Armageddon-like in its destruction . The final image , far away and isolated , of a lone blinded figure standing on the edge of a cliff under a baleful sky is both symbol and solid evidence of man's folly . In general I thought the acting was very good , but I must raise another point about a possible issue of cultural misunderstanding . At times it seemed to me the actor who portrayed Lord Hidetora , the King Lear counterpart , indulged in overacting bordering on parody . Whenever he was agitated by emotion , he would flail his arms , grimace hideously and scuttle backwards against a wall , boulder , or whatever was at hand . Based on American standards of behavior , these antics seemed grotesquely melodramatic . But perhaps from the Japanese perspective this sort of self-expression is considered natural and expected of someone living the nightmare that befell poor Hidetora . Or , perhaps Kurosawa was injecting some of the stylized traditions of the No plays into his character . All this is only conjecture on my part . I have to assume there was a reason behind it , but I must admit I found it to be jarring at times on what was otherwise a very enjoyable cinema experience .
088 4 Greed , deception , betrayal , and war are the main theme's here in Ran . A beautifully shot Japanes war epic with a weaving story of politics and violent battle's . A father of three son's step's down as Great Lord to leave his oldest son with the title of Great Lord , another brother is shunned for his discontent with his father's decision , while the other brother secretly plan's his takeover of the throne . It's very sad how greed and deciept take over this family as the bloody war's breakout , with scene's that make most Hollywood movie's pale in comparison . This is a beatifully directed film with great performances , gory battle's , gorgeous landscapes , and a great story . Highly Recommended .
089 4 This is a cinematic masterpiece and just goes to show that a good story ( adapted from Shakespeare's King Lear ) is far superior to special effects ( not that the effects are bad or anything ) . Anyone iterested in Japanese samurai culture will love this . Anyone who just loves good film will also enjoy it . I have loaned this to people who thought they had no interest and they raved about it . Highly recommended .
090 4 Ran is one of the best films of the 80 ' s and the culmination of Kurosawa's lengthy career . A vast tableau of color and epic pageantry , it is probably one of the last films that gets better with repeated viewings .
The dvd itself is at times awful , but the commentaries do help to ease the pain somewhat . I believe the Fox Lorber came with practically nothing . . .
While famous for the battle sequences including the attack on the third castle ( the set cost $1.6 million and was made as an homage to silent films ) the long boring moments are no less intense . While the quiet scenes are at first demanding , they soon prove themselves to be the key elements to the film being so full of intimation .
Mieko Harada is chilling as Lady Kaede , brimming with evil while using the most minimal amount of physical movement . Her few violent outbursts are all the more intense after such formal restraint . Her handling of the two Ichimonji sons is fascinating ,
from merely suggestive with the eldest , Taro ( in a too brief performance by Akira Terao ) to physical and emotional seduction with the second son , Jiro ( played by Jinpachi Nezu ) .
As Kurogane , Hisashi Igawa gives a wonderful commanding performance as Jiro's aid , vainly trying to keep his Lord focused on the responsiblities of subduing his kingdom . His strength lies in his submissiveness to his duty : He obviously is better leadership material then Jiro , but his devotion to the kingdom is more important to him than personal gain . The scenes between him and Harada are the strongest in the film , and while the final beheading isn't all that realistic , it is effective .
His alter-ego Tango , played by former sporting goods store owner Masayuki Yui ( who auditioned for Kagemusha after reading an ad in the paper looking for extras and ended up with a key role ! ) is equally devoted , more so to Hidetora and Saburo than to an empire .
Kyoami , the court jester , is played flamboyantly by Peter , who was famous for cross dressing roles ( as was Tom Hanks ) .
Tatsuya Nakadai , a longtime Kurosawa cast member gives an over the top theatrical performance as old Hidetora . His makeup was designed after masks in the Noh tradition , first as an evil spirit , then later as a condemned wandering spirit . While not to everyones taste , it is a memorable performance nonetheless .
With some patience and an open mind , Ran will continually reveal its vast and intrically nihilistic textures more and more through repeated viewings and firmly cement itself as one of the greatest Kurosawa masterpieces . Catered to Americans my . . . !
091 4 Akira Kurosawa ` s RAN from 1985 is addapted from Shakespear ` s King Leer . This film starts excellently with Lord Hidetore ` s guards watching over his kingdom and Hidetore goes hunting for wild boars shows his skills as a warlord .
Kurosawa had financial problems in the late 70 ` s so he couldnt make this Masterpiece of cinema at an early stage , he had to wait to get financial support so he decided to make Kagemusha ( the shadow warrior ) and its commercial succes gave Kurosawa enough money to make RAN ( he had thought of making RAN for over 10 years ) . With help from G . Lucas and Spiellberg and all the great cast and crew RAN became a major succes and earned lots of Awards and pricez .
Now Published out by the Masterworks Edition RAN is one of the greatest Akira Kurosawa DVD ` s you can get .
Highly recomended , this is my Fav . Kurosawa DVD .
092 4 Ran takes place in the 14 - 16th century - the Unsettled Period , where Japan was fragmented and fought for between a number of warlords .
Ran is , basically , the story of King Lear in samurai Japan . An old warlord , Lord Hidetora , decides to leave his power and territory to his three sons , wants to keep his title , and expects peace to reign . His elder , Taro , gets the biggest castle , and Jiro , the middle son , gets the second castle - the last son , Saburo , sees the stupidity of this plan and argues , but his father expels him .
Lord Hidetora's plan crumbles as each of his son kicks him out of their castle , and band together to destroy his army . Lord Hidetora goes insane and walks off in the desert with only his Fool and a former councillor for company , while war brews and allegiances shift .
Make no doubt about it , this is as depressing as King Lear or any other Shakespeare play . Everything is already determined , there is scheming a plenty , and everyone dies at the end . It's what goes in-between that's interesting . The gorgeous plains where the action takes place , the large-scale battles with swords and muskets ( not an inaccuracy , by the way ) , the philosophical musings of the Fool ( interestingly played by a popular androgynous Japanese actor only known as Peter ) , the plays on human nature , the subtle music , all contribute to make this an eminently watchable movie .
Saburo : Men prefer sorrow over joy . . . suffering over peace !
093 4 I first saw this film in a movie theater and hearing that this new remastered version was coming out on DVD made me very excited . I was very satisfied with the quality of the image on the DVD , in contrast to some other reviewers . I watched it on my TV , but also played some sequences on my Apple computer LCD display , and I don't see any of the pixellated images or sparkling that some reviewers complained about . Since some also said there was no commentary or other special features ( my disk had several special features ) perhaps there is more than one disk run out there , or production was uneven .
As far as the film quality itself , it is one of my favorite films , because of the beauty and terror of the scenes , the terrific interactions of the players , in word and expression , and the character of Lady Kaede - - she is just magnificent . . . no words can adequately describe the character Kurosawa wrote nor the performance by the actress .
094 4 This is one of those films that I HAVE to see once a year or two . Basically , Ran ( translates into Chaos ) is the Japanese version of Shakespeare's King Lear . Never read King Lear ? Don't worry , I haven't either and I still love this film . I'll admit that this movie can be slow at times , but the rest of the movie makes up for that . ESPECIALLY the two battle scenes . The first one is really good because it is SILENT . Your ears don't hear the sounds of swords clashing , arrows whizzing , people screaming , etc ; but your mind hears . There is , however , music playing during that battle and it conforms so PERFECTLY with the battle . Then , best of all , is how Kurosawa BREAKS the silence . Between battles , some of the interesting characters are this silly little man who tries to cheer up his elderly liege and , finally , a woman who will draw a knife on you one second and try and make love to you the next . Then there's a part about a fox-head that was really funny . The last battle utilizes muskets more than swords , but it's still good . Oh , then there's the beheading . No , you don't see the head fall off , but you do see the wall get wet with blood . It's the graphic parts like this that make it rated R . If you've never seen a Kurosawa movie , this is a good place to start . Also try Sanjuro , Yojimbo , and The Seven Samurai by the same director . Just about all of his movies are officially 4 stars .
095 4 I'm not very familiar with King Lear , much less Shakespeare but Akira Kurosawa did a magnificant , if not brilliant take on a Shakespeare classic . Despite my lack of knowledge behind King Lear I was deeply moved by the main theme of this movie which was loyalty . Even blood relatives could turn on each other . Based on what little I know of Kurosawa , he was big on the theme of loyalty and the importance of it . The scenery in the opening of the movie was stunning . The battle scenes were brutal yet at the same time the viewer cannot help but be in awe of the director's ability to capture the reality of war . Simply stunning to say the very least . I think the slight problems I had with this movie was that some of the scenes tended to lingered on and seemed repetitive , particularly the scenes with the father who had gone mad from the trauma of death and rejection . Fitting for someone who banished his youngest son for speaking the truth I suppose . The young companion whose sole purpose in the movie was as a court jester kind of got on my nerves too but he was young and impetuous . Asides from those flaws , I thoroughly enjoyed this movie . Definitely a classic epic brought to you by the late and great Akira Kurosawa .
096 4 I was skeptical before viewing this movie , doubting if Shakespeare's King Lear could be told effectively in the Japanese rendition . I am pleasantly surprised by the outcome now starting to appreciate respect why many of Akira Kurosawa's works are declared as silver screen masterpieces . The spectacle is superb , probably on-par with Ben Hur , Gladiator , Braveheart . Considering that this movie was made in 1985 , Akira's achievement is hard to fault . Many movies these days are drowned by special effects overkill but Ran has a soul . Towards the end , I couldn't help but overwhelmed by this fastidiously directed movie , by none other than Akira Kurosawa . I'm converted , indeed . Highly recommended a must-have collector's piece .
097 4 Ran typifies Kurosawa's style in the second half of his career . Deliberate , omniscient and sedately beautiful . A moral tale of family loyalty , Ran is an intensely artistic stab at Shakespeare's King Lear and some elements of feudal Japanese history . The color and intensity of the drama are off the charts , with the castle raid i the middle being absolutely unforgettable . If one were to criticize anything , the film is almost too high minded or too deliberate . But by the end , our journey recalls Hidetora's in the film , Under the clouds of a God , we also feel almost unworthy . He was the true master and Ran is a fitting display of his grandeur .
098 4 After watching The Seven Samurai , I was enthralled by Kurosawa's incredible work , but I worried that I'd see his best already . I never would have expected Ran to take my breath away , but that's what happened . The film's dazzling colors against a stark landscape , the piercing music against long interludes of silence and the dizzying plots that weave together seamlessly and tragically very quickly hypnotized me . Overall , though , it was Tatsuya Nakadai's genius portrayal of the aged warlord Hidetora that made this a masterpiece . Here is a character whose very expression and stance allows one to see the depths of his soul . Brilliant .
099 4 This is an all-around masterpiece . The word breathtaking is often abused , but it can be applied almost literally to this expression of Kurasowa's artistry . If you are appreciative of great cinematography you must own a copy of this film . For me , only John Ford's The Searchers is as visually powerful . The battle scenes are justifiably legendary and possess that innate Japanese sense of poetry that permeates just about everything else Kurasowa has done .
100 4 It is a tribute to the incredible genius of Kurosawa that he could make a shakespeare play more interesting to an english-speaking person in the form of a Samurai movie than the Shakespeare itself . With his loss , along with Hitchcock the world of film will never be the same .
103 4 i must say that this is perhaps one of the most beautiful motion pictures ever . not only is it well-crafted visually , it is also packed with thematic elements that are universal . the work that went into this motion picture was very long and detailed and anyone who's seen it will tell you that it was worth it . not only is this one of kurosawa's best films it is perhaps one of THE best films and it's rerelease will perhaps allow a whole new generation of movie lovers to immerse themselves in the beautiful artwork of Mr . Kurosawa . i highly recommend it .
104 4 This is a truly mesmerizing film which I've been watching at least once a year for the last 10 years or so . It is a dark film in mood , but beautifully filmed ; and the violence seems neither gratuitive nor trivialized . I find it a much more powerful statement than even Olivier's King Lear . My third favorite movie of all time ( following My Dinner with Andre and Annie Hall ) .
105 4 This is the only DVD in which I've ever doubled dipped . I had the original Fox Lorber DVD , which was atrocious , even by Fox Lorber's horrible standards . They were issuing DVD's when the DVD format first started out , and nearly 90 percent of their transfers were wretched , like the one for Ran . Luckily , Criterion restored this film ( along with Kagemusha ) to a proper , 1.85 : 1 aspect ratio . The older DVD copies had a black bar across the bottom of the screen , but not one on the top ( resulting in an awkward transfer ) , and the subtitles weren't the greatest either . There were no extras ( except for a trailer and a very scant filmography ) . Now , with the Criterion edition , you get a great transfer ( this is the first time I've seen the film properly ) , and you get Chris Marker's great documentary A.K . ( on the 2nd disc ) . Marker's documentary reminds me of Wim Wenders's wonderful Tokyo-Ga , which was made a few years earlier than A.K . ( and has a very rare cameo by Marker himself , who is notoriously shy ) . It's fascinating to see Kurosawa do his magic , and I've always liked older filmmaking documentaries , because they were generally rare in those days , and most of them are done in a very cinematic style ( and people don't play for the cameras ) .
As for the film itself , it's Kurosawa's greatest work ( made when he was 75 ) . Kurosawa did make 3 films after this one ( Dreams , Rhaspody in August , and Madadayo ) , and while they're great ( especially Dreams and Madadayo ) , this was really Kurosawa's last great epic film . It's my favorite Kurosawa film and one of my top ten favorites . This is a masterpiece , and the Criterion DVD does it justice .
106 4 This review is from :
Ran - Criterion Collection ( DVD )
Born in 1910 Japan , Akira Kurosawa first studied painting before moving into film in the late 1930s . A well-known director in Japan throughout the 1940s , his 1950 production of RASHOMON launched him to international acclaim - - and throughout the remainder of his long career he was widely acknowledged as among the world's greatest film directors , the creator of such films as THE SEVEN SAMURAI , THRONE OF BLOOD , and YOJIMBO . Released in 1985 , RAN would be among his final films and is generally felt to be among his finest .
Kurosawa often borrowed plot lines from Western literature , and with RAN - - the Japanese word translates loosely as chaos - - he lifted the basic story from William Shakespeare's KING LEAR . In Kurosawa's retelling , the Lord Hidetora Ichimonji ( Tatsuya Nakadai ) divides his kingdom between three sons : Taro ( Akira Terao ) , Jiro ( Jinpachi Nezu ) and Saburo ( Daisuke Ryu ) . When youngest son Saburo upbraids his father for foolishness , Hidetora banishes him - - only to find Taro and Jiro turning against him just as Saburo predicted . Kurosawa shapes the Shakespearean story to 16th Century Japan , so it would be easy to belabor comparison with the original ; at the same time , however , it is worth pointing out that he actually captures the story more effectively than any western filmmaker has to date .
As in many Kurosawa films , RAN alternates moments of great stillness with rapacious action , enclosed spaces with wide vistas . In stillness , the film focuses upon its actors and their intrigues - - perhaps most notably the perfidious Lady Kaede , a truly dark character frighteningly realized by actress Mieko Harada . Indeed , all the cast is remarkably fine . But the great centerpiece , and the great performance , of the film is Tatsuya Nakadai's Lord Hidetora , whose mixture of good intention and folly leads first to humiliation and then to madness . Perhaps the single most stunning moment of the film occurs when Hidetora , betrayed by his sons , walks down the tower steps of the third castle following a vicious battle . It is difficult to imagine many actors who could perform such a scene ; it is equally difficult to imagine many directors who could stage it .
Few directors are able to convey the sense of chaos , destruction , and fear with which Kurosawa endows battle scenes , and RAN is no exception . There are several , and the battle of the third castle ( in which Hidetora is bested by sons Taro and Jiro ) is easily among the finest battle sequences of Kurosawa's career . Presented without any sound except a simple , eloquent music score , flash-cutting between different groups in the struggle , the result is a unique mixture of beauty and horror - - and in my opinion unequaled by any other film I've seen .
It should be noted that RAN , unlike RASHOMON , THRONE OF BLOOD , YOJIMBO and many other Kurosawa films , is in color . I have long been used to the remarkable shading of Kurosawa's black and white films , and I missed it - - but only for a moment . Kurosawa proves no less adept in color than in black and white , and RAN's use of color is remarkable . For this reason I particularly recommend the Criterion Collection edition of the film over any other ; it is very fine . But regardless of the particular version , this is a film which must be seen by any one who appreciates Asian or world cinema , truly a masterwork by a great master .
GFT , Amazon Reviewer
107 4 Born in 1910 Japan , Akira Kurosawa first studied painting before moving into film in the late 1930s . A well-known director in Japan throughout the 1940s , his 1950 production of RASHOMON launched him to international acclaim - - and throughout the remainder of his long career he was widely acknowledged as among the world's greatest film directors , the creator of such films as THE SEVEN SAMURAI , THRONE OF BLOOD , and YOJIMBO . Released in 1985 , RAN would be among his final films and is generally felt to be among his finest .
Kurosawa often borrowed plot lines from Western literature , and with RAN - - the Japanese word translates loosely as chaos - - he lifted the basic story from William Shakespeare's KING LEAR . In Kurosawa's retelling , the Lord Hidetora Ichimonji ( Tatsuya Nakadai ) divides his kingdom between three sons : Taro ( Akira Terao ) , Jiro ( Jinpachi Nezu ) and Saburo ( Daisuke Ryu ) . When youngest son Saburo upbraids his father for foolishness , Hidetora banishes him - - only to find Taro and Jiro turning against him just as Saburo predicted . Kurosawa shapes the Shakespearean story to 16th Century Japan , so it would be easy to belabor comparison with the original ; at the same time , however , it is worth pointing out that he actually captures the story more effectively than any western filmmaker has to date .
As in many Kurosawa films , RAN alternates moments of great stillness with rapacious action , enclosed spaces with wide vistas . In stillness , the film focuses upon its actors and their intrigues - - perhaps most notably the perfidious Lady Kaede , a truly dark character frighteningly realized by actress Mieko Harada . Indeed , all the cast is remarkably fine . But the great centerpiece , and the great performance , of the film is Tatsuya Nakadai's Lord Hidetora , whose mixture of good intention and folly leads first to humiliation and then to madness . Perhaps the single most stunning moment of the film occurs when Hidetora , betrayed by his sons , walks down the tower steps of the third castle following a vicious battle . It is difficult to imagine many actors who could perform such a scene ; it is equally difficult to imagine many directors who could stage it .
Few directors are able to convey the sense of chaos , destruction , and fear with which Kurosawa endows battle scenes , and RAN is no exception . There are several , and the battle of the third castle ( in which Hidetora is bested by sons Taro and Jiro ) is easily among the finest battle sequences of Kurosawa's career . Presented without any sound except a simple , eloquent music score , flash-cutting between different groups in the struggle , the result is a unique mixture of beauty and horror - - and in my opinion unequaled by any other film I've seen .
It should be noted that RAN , unlike RASHOMON , THRONE OF BLOOD , YOJIMBO and many other Kurosawa films , is in color . I have long been used to the remarkable shading of Kurosawa's black and white films , and I missed it - - but only for a moment . Kurosawa proves no less adept in color than in black and white , and RAN's use of color is remarkable . For this reason I particularly recommend the Criterion Collection edition of the film over any other ; it is very fine . But regardless of the particular version , this is a film which must be seen by any one who appreciates Asian or world cinema , truly a masterwork by a great master .
GFT , Amazon Reviewer
108 4 This movie is spectacular ! I just bought the Masterworks Edition DVD recently , and it is better than my older Ran DVD . I don't know what people are talking about-I thought the picture on this DVD was really good ( Criterion Collection could probably do a better job , they are superior ! ) and the sound was brilliant . There could have been a little more extras though . . .
For the uninitiated , this is Kurosawa's take on Shakesphere's King Lear . I had read King Lear before watching the movie , and yes , I dare say it . . . I like Kurosawa's version of King Lear better ! ( if that is a fair statement since Kurosawa's is a little different ) . Anyway , this movie is really , really superb and magnificent in every category . You name it-visuals ( absolutely breathtaking ) , audio , acting , action sequences , costumes , etc . Many scenes in this movie are really , really memorable ( especially the scene where Hidetora and his men are attacked in a castle by Hidetora's sons Jiro and Taro - one of the best action sequences on film ! ) . Why this movie didn't win Best Picture of the Year or at least Best Foreign Film in 1985 is totally beyond me ( it only won Best Costume Design ! ) .
So overall this movie is an amazing film . It is truly a masterpiece of masterpieces ! In fact , I think this film is only rivaled by some of Kurosawa's other films ( Seven Samurai and Rashomon ) . Anyway , if you haven't seen this film yet , ( the words of Napoleon Dynamite , IDIOT ! ) go buy / rent it now . Any movie buff will love this movie , but Kurosawa fans , war movie fans , and period action movie fans in particular will love it . This movie definately deserves 5 stars .
109 4 Kurosawa has tackled Shakespear before , like in the brilliant Throne Of Blood , but in this film he shows why he is one of the greatest directors of all time . Kurosawa was in his 70 ' s at the time of making this film and proves he never lost his edge .
The story is set in the time of the samurai . A lord is turning over his rule to his oldest son , a desision that dose not sit well with his youngest son , who warns his father that his move will cause nothing but pain , and betrayal . He proves to be correct .
The movie is just like Kurosawa's other films in that it has the feel of a grand , sweeping epic but never makes you feel like you'r watching Ben-Hur . THe cinamatopraphy is outstanding and the acting is some of the best I have ever seen in a Japaness film , or any for that matter .
If you are looking for one of Kurosawa's best works this is a great place to start if you haven't already seen The Seven Samurai , this is a great peice of film making and somthing every film maker can learn from . I just wish as many people saw this film as have seen the last Friday The 13th , that would be sonmthing .
110 4 Ran is the Japanese version of King Lear . It is hypnotic . Once you begin to watch it , you can not help but becomed entranced . Any time I have seen it on IFC or Bravo , no matter where it is in the film , you can't turn it off . And the colours and the landscapes . . . . The DVD is so beautiful , sometimes I just put certain scenes on to look at the Costumes , or the flags flapping in the wind , or the battle scenes . This movie is simply a masterpiece by a master director .
111 4 Great film . Unfortunately , Criterion just announced this title as ' out of print ' due to rights issues . Grab one while you can !
112 4 I know that a lot of folks don't necessarily give Kurosawa's later works their proper due . Choosing to focus on his earlier masterworks like Seven Samurai , Ikiru , Yojimbo , Throne of Blood , The Bad Sleep Well , Stray Dog , etc , which are indeed astounding films . However , Ran should not be overlooked in the slightest . Without going into the nitty gritty of the piece it is basically a transposition of King Lear into a period of feudel Japanese history with the notable difference being the presence of three sons rather than daughters . It is a film of epic scope and contains within a final five minutes that could most likely bring tears to the eye . Aesthetically , this film is unmatched . It is gorgeous , colorful and vibrant and yet incredibly dark and cynical . Humanity does not get any gold stars in this one and justifiably so . Criterion films are very expensive but as is the case for most of them this one is worth every single penny . The image and sound are both pristine . The audio commentary is insightful and Chris Marker's documentary tone poem on disc 2 is worth the cost in and of itself . As a package it is absolutely stunning . To say much more would be superfluous as the film is epic , yet intimate , emotionally driven , yet possessed of one the most heart stopping battle sequences I have seen committed to film . For once you feel the tragedy . If you are a fan of Kurosawa but haven't explored his later works then do yourself a favor and pick this one up . IF you are brand new to his work I might start elsewhere with something a little less stylized like Ikiru or Seven Samurai but keep this one high on the list because it is without a doubt another one of his masterworks .
113 4 I agree that this is a great movie . Also that this DVD is not a good transfer . The resolution is mediocre . However , the main problem is that it has no time display and won't accept Last Memo . Nobody has noted that . There are ( only ) nine scenes which can be accessed directly . To be sure , within each of these there are several skip points , but these are nowhere identified , relying entirely on the memory of the viewer and trial and error to return to the last point seen . I for one rarely watch a movie continuously . There are errands , sleep , etc . . You'd have to leave the player running on pause to save your place , and some players won't even do that for more than a few minutes . These lacks are essentially fatal flaws , but this DVD is the only version available . You don't expect this kind of stuff except on . . . Madacy discs and the like . Some other DVDs have this same problem . Why ? How hard can it be ? Also , on this one there are no special features , unless you call a preview special , and there is no insert pamphlet - short shrift for a World's Greatest Movie . I await a redo .
114 4 Akira Kurosawa was the greatest Japanese director ever . Many of his films went on to be corner stones of modern film making . One of his films , The Hidden Fortress , was remade into a small film called Star Wars .
Kurosawa adapted two Shakespeare plays to Samurai films . The first was Throne of Blood which is based on Macbeth and this one is his adaptation of King Lear . King Lear is a tragedy . Lear had no sons but three daughters . Rather than waiting for his death to give his kingdom to an heir , he decides to split his kingdom in three and give one to each of his daughters . Regan and Goneril both greedily accept his offer but Cordelia doesn't want to disrespect the natural order . Lear cannot understand this and casts Cordelia out . The two other daughters conspire against their father and his power . This creates civil war and with every Shakespearean tragedy all involved must die .
Kurosawa kept with the storyline except there was no way that Lord Hidetora could give the land to daughters so he created sons . But the sons were dominated by their wives .
The war scenes are some of the greatest ever filmed . They are poetry in motion . When I first saw the film I was amazed by these scenes . I told everyone just watch the film , you don't need to read the subtitles to understand it . The beauty of the film is breathtaking .
Every so often there is a Director's film . That is a film that the visuals are more important than the dialogue . This is definitely one of these films . Of course , at Oscar time these films should win the Director award but never do . ( I do want to say that the dialogue and acting is great especially Meiko Harada as the evil daughter in law ) .
DVD EXTRAS : None
THIS IS FOR THE STANDARD EDITION NOT THE CRITERION OR MASTERWORKS EDITIONS .
115 4 I'd heard all the horror stories of the previous DVD transfers , and as soon as I saw Criterion Collection on the cover , I knew the wait was over for the definitive edition of the movie .
If you've been waiting for a masterful edition of the film , then your wait is over - as expected Criterion lives up to their reputation and supplies a great film in a great transfer .
I imagine most of the people reading these have already made up their minds on the movie itself , and I can say little that hasn't been said by others to sway you towards the movie - for those who haven't , I recommend watching this version of the film - it's the best edition out there bar none .
116 4 After reading many of the negative reviews on Amazon concerning the DVD transfer of Ran , I expected problems when I watched the DVD on my 32 flat screen TV . The Masterworks Edition is the only version of Ran I have seen and I was not disappointed with the quality of the transfer . Of course , I need to see the film as it was intended to be seen by Kurosawa to fully understand the criticisms of the many experts who have complained about the various tenchical inadequacies of the Masterworks Edition of the film .
Additionally , several reviewers have complained about anachronisms such as rifles being used before they were invented . Others suggest that Ran is a poor adaptation of King Lear , the play on which Ran is based . Many anachronisms can be found in Shakespeare's plays . This inaccuracy does not lessen the value of the work . Also , I did not expect to see a perfect adaptation of King Lear . Instead , I was interested in Kurosawa's artistic vision of the classic themes in one of Shakespeare's greatest plays . Ran , like King Lear , is complex and one viewing will not be enough to understand completely what happens in the film . A brief synopsis of the plot follows .
An aging Japanese war lord decides to divide up his kingdom among his three sons . His oldest and middle son accept the gift , but the youngest son argues against the old man giving up his power and authority . The youngest son is banished and the two older sons quickly turn against their father and force him to leave his castle to fend for himself by living off the land . The father is astonished by this unhappy turn of events and he goes to war against his sons , losing his entire guard , wife , concubines , and servants . He is left with only a court jester and a faithful retainer to help him survive .
Ran , like King Lear , is a tragedy from first to last and my brief sketch only suggests important elements of the plot . Whom can we trust ? Certainly not those people who appear to be friends , but have their own interest at heart and who are willing to betray us to further their own interests . Those who disagree with us , often at great risk and personal sacrifice , may be the people we can count on for support in difficult times .
The War Lord tries to understand the total disaster that leaves him desolate . His gods do not help him . Like Job , he discovers that it is impossible to understand God's ways to man . Also like Job , he is completely ruined even though he thinks he has done the right thing .
Kurosawa is one of the great directors of the 20th Century and Ran is one of his best films . Highly recommented .
117 4 with a focus in Shakespeare ( her dissertation topic is Memory in Shakespeare's works ) . I bought this for her when she had not seen it . She went absolutely GAGA for it when she finally did .
I am a movie person , and I love Kurosawa . I had seen this , but didn't get the Shakespeare context like my wife did . She's teaching this movie now at her college .
This is a brilliant adaptation . See it , study it . It is an artifact , and a vehicle for communication about the differences in Asian vs . Western culture .
118 4 Kurosawa's late-career triumph is a vibrant , colorful epic , its drama magnified by an awesome visual sweep encompassing both period pageantry and setting . Shakespeare's fundamental themes of loyalty and betrayal play out with full force , thanks to superb performances by both Nakudai ( a Kurosawa veteran ) and Ryu in the pivotal roles . Another breathtaking achievement from this revered master of cinema .
119 4 After I got finished watching Ran I reflected on the fact that Japanese movies almost never have a happy ending . This is because the Japanese don't always need the happy ending , they can deal with the reality that life doesn't always have the good turn . With this in mind I realized that the Japanese must really love Shakespeare's tradegies .
Ran is Akira Kurosawa's retelling of Shakespeare's King Lear . An aging warlord wants to divide his kingdom into equal parts for his three sons . The youngest protests and warns that such a plan will breed rivalry . His elder brothers talk the warlord into doing it and the youngest is banished . After the warlord turns his throne over things begin to fall apart . The king is attacked at the famous Assualt of the Third Castle scene . His entourage is wiped out by his sons as they attack him . He goes mad , and escapes into the wilderness .
Some people have called this an action movie . If you get this expecting to see dramatic samurai duels you will be sorely dissapointed . I would classify this as a graphic look at jealousy in humanity . The overwhelming desire for man to have more is captured in the bloody and decietful fight between the brothers . Kurosawa captures the ultimate suffering men can inflict on each other in order to better themselves . Not only do we see how the king is wronged by his sons we also see perhaps one of the most pitiable characters in the film , the former prince who had his eyes removed on the king's command . There are few likeable characters in this movie , only those to be pitied .
Kurosawa out does himself on the filming of Ran . The use of bright colors especially in the midst of battle is impressive . Through the smoke from musket fire are bright reds from the blood and banners flying as well as yellow banners . The knave is another standout , with his strange , jovial dress he really stands out in the cast . The king's wardrobe of white , the Eastern color of death , is appropriate since he caused so much in his life and now it stalks him .
Despite criticisms of the poor quality DVD I really can see no problem with it . I would enjoy this film no matter what the contrast or screen size was . Ran is not really a film to sit down and enjoy . At no point could I tell myself that this was some kind of war film . Check out Ran , and have your mind blown .
120 4 This review is from :
Ran ( DVD )
Ran is a beautiful , colorful film . Filled with action , battles , drama , intrigue , Kurosawa's adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear takes a unique flavor with a serious undercurrent of Buddhism . The message of the film that God is watching as men destroy each other ; that God mourns the cruelty is pushed home directly in the final scene as the image of Buddha lies fallen on the ground below one of the old ruler's victims .
Emotionally touching , it is a heavy , but enjoyable film .
121 4 Ran is a beautiful , colorful film . Filled with action , battles , drama , intrigue , Kurosawa's adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear takes a unique flavor with a serious undercurrent of Buddhism . The message of the film that God is watching as men destroy each other ; that God mourns the cruelty is pushed home directly in the final scene as the image of Buddha lies fallen on the ground below one of the old ruler's victims .
Emotionally touching , it is a heavy , but enjoyable film .
122 4 Kurosawa , samuri , and shakespeare what more do you really need . Apparantley in 1985 great movies were only voted for in the costuming category
123 4 I was just browsing around Amazon and saw that this version of Ran had finally been discontinued . I was thinking about writing something after seeing Lionsgate was publishing the Blu Ray after the problems last year . In all my DVD ownership I've owned every version of Ran from the non-anamorphic Fox Lorber , to the botched Masterworks , and Criterions usual superlative double disc edition . The Blu has a good list of features but nothing as packed as the Criterion DVD .
The film itself is one I'd consider my favorite film of all time . I saw it fifteen years ago aand could get behind the epic nature of the warfare and violence . Every time since then its one of those films that reveals a different thing that I'm amazed about . If you somehow have never heard of Ran , know the main thing is the movie is an adaptation of King Lear as a feudal samurai drama . Hidetora has decided to live out his life under the care of his sons , one of whom He makes warlord . Upon the news one son insults him telling him the honest truth and is banished for his efforts . To make it simple the wife of one son is part of a family who was conquered by Hidetora and sets out to turn the family against each other . Hidetora seeking to maintain some type honor retreats to a castle where the remaining sons attack his entourage and He goes insane being rescued in a field by a loyal vassal and the Japanese version of a jester in Kyoami and theres more .
Outside of the story everything in the movie is perfect to me from Kurosawas staging that reminded me at times of a more play-like presentation ( especially in the famous castle burning scene where a mad Hidetora marches out on castle steps with two types of warriors parting , something in the scene reminded me old Met operas that were broadcast on Public television ) . Kurosawa also scored big in the casting with Mieko Harada being the main choice as Lady Kaede who uses her sexuality to gain the upperhand against men . My favorite character though is Kurogane played by Hisashi Igawa who starred in the remaining Kurosawa films . Here Kurogane is the type of character Toshiro Mifue would have played - not to take anything away from Igawa . The character is a loyal soldier , second in command who finds himself at odds with Lady Kaede . He supports Lord Jiro in his betrayl of Hidetora but as Jiro pulls away from his leadership He finds himself sabbotaging Kaede's efforts . Basically He's struggling to be honorable to his leader , and He does get the best scene in the movie . When you see it you'll know what I'm talking about .
Like I said the Criterion so far has been the best version of the film . The image was greatly improved over the Masterworks edition which also had a problem with the audio . But the features were stacked with an inciteful commentary from Stephen Prince , a video interview with Sidney Lumet and all of the trailers for the film on the first disc . The second has the bounty of the disc starting with A.K . a documentary on the making of the film ( its on the Blu ) . Theres also the usual It is Wonderful to Create program that comes with almost all of the Kurosawa films , this one focusing on the making of the film , a piece Ran through artwork done by Kurosawa and a video interview with Tatsuya Nakadai . And as usual theres the Criterion inclusion of an extensive booklet .
Anyway this is the definitive version of a true film masterpiece . And I love the film so much its inclusion to Blu-Ray is enough to make me finally upgrade to the format ( fourth time for the movie ) even if Criterion made the more superior product .
125 4 This review is from :
Ran ( Masterworks Edition ) ( DVD )
This is an amazing movie . If you're a Kurosawa fan , don't hesitate to buy this . If you're not yet a fan , you may want to start with Seven Samurai - - less blood .
126 4 This is an amazing movie . If you're a Kurosawa fan , don't hesitate to buy this . If you're not yet a fan , you may want to start with Seven Samurai - - less blood .
127 4 We meet the warlord Hidetora ( Tatsuya Nakadai ) as a pleasant old man , satisfied with his success in life , desiring only to bring peace to the land by dividing his kingdom among his three sons ( Akira Terao , Jinpachi Nezu , and Daisuke Ryu ) and to spend his waning years spending time with each in turn . Soon , the colossal hubris of the man becomes apparent . He disowns the one son who has the integrity to tell him to his face that his idyllic plan will never work . Hidetora should have listened . After a lifetime of subjugating others with his armies , he believes that his desires will come to pass simply because he wishes it . However , his remaining sons have been raised in the house of a warlord during a time of constant warfare , and they have no intention of living in peace . Rather , they fall upon each other in a struggle for supremacy , turning the old man out as an inconvenience .
As our sympathy for Hidetora grows , we are also made to realize how richly he is reaping the seeds that he has sown through two important characters . Lady Kaede ( Mieko Harada ) , who manipulates one of his sons into facilitating the downfall of his house , watched her family murdered by Hidetora . Tsurumaru ( Mansai Nomura ) , a young blind man who lives a wretched , solitary existence , suffered the plucking out of his eyes at Hidetora's command when he was a young boy . Growing increasingly senile , Hidetora wanders through a land in chaos as the suppressed passions generated by the horrors he perpetrated bear full fruit . This is a complex , dramatic and often beautiful film .
128 4 I won't add anything more about the greatness of this film , but will say that it has got to be the last great REAL epic ever made . That would have been Dances With Wolves , but Costner ruined that film by adding another hour of utterly worthless material to it . And it also could have been The Last Emperor in 1987 , but that had the opposite damage done - an hour was removed for idiot American audiences , resulting in the film being an incomplete hack-job ( and it STILL won Best Picture and Editor ! ) .
RAN , when you watch it , amazes . It is Noh Theatre shot on location and it works . The score is a Mahlerian wonder by Toru Takemitsu and I treasure the two cd set I hunted down in Japan . The use of color , the acting , and Lady Kaede's lethal Kriemhild-like revenge . . . just astounding . Kurosawa , who loved silent films , was clearly influenced by Fritz Lang's DIE NIBELUNGEN films , because the burning of the Third Castle in RAN is identical , and just as dangerously spectacular , as the burning of Attila's palace in Kriemhild's Revenge .
Kurosawa made several films after this before he died , but RAN is the validation of his magnificent career .
129 4 Ran is long , like a number of Kurosawa's great films , but its imagery is beautiful , majestic , and stunning - - also harrowing . Of course , this is Kurosawa's King Lear , but the Japanese twist is both intelligent and elegantly delivered . It's a little like Stravinsky's neo-classic works - - the references to Shakespeare are sometimes sardonic or ironic , usually meaningfully reverent , and never stoop to parody . The result is an imaginative reinterpretation that crosses cultures .
A + direction and acting , and do notice the film score !
130 4 Ran , by Akira Kurosawa , is indeed a masterwork but I feel some scenes were overly dramatized and therefore am not a huge fan of the direction on this film . In this film , an elderly Samurai lord , Hidetora Ichimonji , passes the lordship to his three sons asking only in return that he be welcomed in their castles and allowed to live out the rest of his days . His three sons , Jiro , Taro , and Saburo have differences in opinion . Mainly Saburo thinks that Hidetora's decision is partly due to him becoming senile and therefore doesn't agree . As a result Saburo is banished and the two other brothers unite to conquer and attempt to kill Hidetora by cornering him into a tower in hopes that he will commit seppuku or ritualistic suicide . However , Hidetora escapes and later joins back up with Saburo , who forgives him . In an epic battle , Saburo joins forces with another ally to defeat the united forces of Jiro and Taro .
While very lengthy with what I felt as sometimes too much of a focus on drama , this film is very authentic in that it presents the true nature of the samurai in feudal japan . This film is so full of subtleties about the samurai culture that are neglected in other samurai films . In comparison to movies like The Last Samurai or others , this film is as authentic as it gets . From shaved eyebrows and elaborate male hairdoes to kimono attire , this film captures it all and isn't lacking when it comes to maintaining accuracy in depicting the samurai world . I really found it interesting and unique how the director used the different colors to denote which army was which . Also the irony in a samurai lord who is forced to seek help from a boy who he had ordered to be blined with a hot iron cannot be ignored neither can the comparision when Hidetora and the jester are roaming aimlessly , without hope or home , in the ash fields to being lost and alone in damnation . In sum , while I found Ran to be very intersting and useful in depicting the actual culture and way of life of the Tokugawa era samurai ( the samurai in this film were using rifles which were adapted and traded from the dutch and other western merchants during the last last days of the Tokugawa rulers ) , I felt that quite often scenes were drawn out sometimes repeated when not necessary to the plot . This is a very intersting move , but I feel that sometimes a drama / epic movie can risk being flawed by over dramatizing certain parts that don't necessarily need it , drawing out scenes that could take seconds to get the point across into several minutes .
If you prefer drama combined with epic or are really looking to take a glimpse into the life of samurai in the last days of feudal Japan , then this is the film for you .
131 4 Kurosawa's adaptation of King Lear succeeds in every way , and does so brilliantly : the visuals , plot , and score have no equals either individually or taken as a whole .
Criterion has done an excellent job at reproducing the vibrant colors of the movie , which are essential . The plot is based on King Lear , but where it diverges it is an improvement - the final scene has no parallel in King Lear , and is in my opinion the most moving .
Unforgetable .
132 4 Kurosawa's great retelling of the King Lear play , with three sons vying for the father's riches rather than three daughters . Two of the sons cowtail to the father's bidding , seeing only their rich inheritance ; the third ridicules his father , calling him mad and telling him that what he is doing will only divide their kingdom up and have the brothers fighting each other for it . The father banishes him . Of course that is exactly what happens and not even the banished son , who returns to try to put things right , can save the kingdom . By film's end all have been killed and the castle's in flames . Kurosawa is a master craftsman , and the battle scenes are stunningly photographed with the camera remaining stationary and , other than music , no sound . Perhaps at 3 hours it's a bit long , but it's never boring . Marvelous .
133 4 When Ran was released 18 years ago I remember seeing it at a small art house and not really following the story too clearly but being impressed with the sheer magnitude of the affair . The previous video version of the film did little to dispel my doubts . The film was too foreign for a mainstream audience to fully grasp .
Today after having viewed the Masterworks Edition of Ran I can finally say that I understand where the great master was trying to take his audience with this his last great epic . Ran in this edition is truly spectacular . The colors pop off the screen , every instance of ambient sound is enhanced in a 5.1 Dolby soundtrack and finally the subtitles ( while still not perfect ) have been set onto the film in such a way that they are a joy to read .
Ran is one of those great films that becomes better as its audience ages . On a basic level this is Kurasawa interpreting Shakespeare's King Lear in a Japanese fuedal tradition . But it is much more also . This film deals with Buddist philosophy , the impact of war on society and family disintegration . The title can be roughly translated as chaos .
Some of the special features on this disc need to be mentioned . The commentary by Stephen Prince is easily woth the price of the disc . Turn off the subtitles and listen to Mr . Prince's shot by shot analysis for one of the truly great commentaries on Kurasawa's work . Also the more sparse commentary by Peter Grilli is worth a listen for its anecdotal information on the great director . The disc is finished with two theatrical trailers and a short restoration demo .
All in all this is a difficult and important film that is well worth the time it takes to view . Do yourself a favor and see one of the great films by a true master of the cinematic art .
134 4 Nobody does action like Akira Kurosawa , says Stephen Prince , one of two commentators on Ran .
The film shows that the master had lost none of his touch for mayhem , even as he reached his mid - 70s . Ran's battle sequences were so convincing that Japanese press reports claimed he used as many as 120,000 extras as soldiers ( really about 1,400 ) .
Ran , in the 1.85 : 1 ratio that Kurosawa adopted in his later years , also posts improvements in image quality , as demonstrated on a restoration-comparison feature . Still , the film quality has suffered over the past 18 years , with a fair amount of instability in the images . Even stationary objects seem to quiver at times . The 5.1 surround mix sounds terrific , elevating the experience without calling attention to itself . The music of Tori Takemitsu is in full force during the famous battle scenes .
Prince , author of The Warrior's Camera , about Kurosawa , spends much of his talk on the director's signature techniques such as shooting scenes from afar with multiple cameras fitted with telephoto lenses .
His long lenses transform space , completely changing realities as they existed in front of the camera , Prince notes .
Ran is filled with amazing performances . Tatsuya Nakadai plays Lord Hidetora ( King Lear ) , whose three sons battle for his kingdom . Mieko Harada plays his daughter-in-law Kaede , one of Kurosawa's most powerful characters , male of female . Check out the astonishing scene as she dominates one of the sons - - mentally , physically and sexually .
A second commentary , by Japanese culture expert Peter Grilli , is largely ancedotal , telling of the difficulty Kurosawa had in raising funds for the film . His talk is interesting , but a bit strange as he settles for extended silences throughout .
135 4 This is , quite possibly , the greatest Japanese movie ever made .
The late , great Kurosawa was , and is , the primer filmaker of modern-day Japanese cinema .
This take of Shakespeare's King Lear is full of heart wrenching betrayal , unrequited loyalty , and a bloodlust for power . With a film score by the peerless Toru Takemitsu and the hawk-eye of the wonderful Asakazu Nakai , Ran tells the tale of a old king , abdicating his throne to his three sons , who then squabble over the remains of the kingdom . Set in fedual Japan around the 17th centuary , I assume , Ran is a masterpiece any gormand of Japanese cinema should at least once . Multiple times if you can afford it .
138 4 Think true masterpiece . And not in the way the word masterpiece is tossed around these days . Think Proust's In Search of Lost Time . Think Picasso's Guernica . This is not easy entertainment but a multi-layered epic with a tangled web of complex themes . This film is an experience - an experience rich in countless rewards . I pray that reviewer Blakes_Angel from PA is an adolescent and will one day come to appreciate the difference between soda pop and a fine bottle of aged port .
139 4 Ran , based on Shakespeare's King Lear is an excellent movie . . . a classic film directed by Kurosawa . To think that someone would suggest remaking this movie for a more modern audience is a disgrace . This movie is by far more superior than a lot of epic movies that were made recently ( and this was made in 1985 ) . It was excellent when it first came out , it is excellent now , and it will be excellent for future generations . There are things that are meant to be left alone , and Ran is one of those examples .
140 4 This movie is a masterpiece . But it's not for people who are looking for light entertainment . Based on Shakespeare's King Lear , the film may leave you with a feeling that there's no hope left in the world . The battle and massacre scenes at one of the castles are stunning . It's what I imagine Dante's Inferno would look like . And the images of the old lord leaving the burning castle are truly unforgettable .
Tatsuya Nakadai plays the lead character , Lord Hidetora . He starred in dozens of movies , many of them classics . But he gives perhaps his finest performance in Ran . It's also worth seeing this movie just to watch Lady Kaede , played by actress Mieko Harada . She is the one person everyone will remember . Kurosawa has a knack for creating female characters who can make their macho samurai husbands look like wimps . If you've ever seen Throne of Blood , then you'll know what I'm talking about . The scene where Kaede finds a bug on the floor is not to be missed .
141 4 Fans of Kurosawa's black and white samurai films starring the incomprable Toshiro Mifune will find this film to be their equals . An Adaptation of Shakespeares King Lear , Kurosawa's take on the play is extraordinary . A stunning Japanese film with very vivid colors and superb shots of the japanese landscape , architecutre and culture . Akira Kurosawa pulls no punches in creating this modern masterpiece .
New audiences to Kurosawa's films will be stunned , and old fans will be spellbound at the DVD quality . A must have for anyone who enjoys great movies .
p.s . Lady Kaede is one of the most wicked characters in modern film history .
144 4 Ran is a great film for anyone who has not seen a Japanese foreign film or who never not yet seen any of Kurosawa's work .
Loosely based on King Lear mixed with a good dash of Macbeth , the story revolves around a warlord , and his sons who conspire to control his fiefdom . The battle scenes are nothing short of miraculous cinematography . Since there is little dialog and a lot of fighting , this film should appeal to people who normally hate subtitled or foreign films . There is also a completely wonderful Lady Macbeth character who goads her husband and sons into revenge for her clan's annihilation .
Once you get a taste for Kurosawa , other films such as Seven Samurai , Sanjuro ( kind of a sequel ) and Rashomon are good ones to follow up with . Kagemusha ( Shadow Warrior ) is similar to Ran and also a late Kurosawa work .
145 4 First , let me say I found this film amazing , though I only saw it once . Now , does any one else agree with me that the painfully long scene involving Heditora and the jester rather . . . boring . I'm sure many of you feel Kurosawa is the greatest filmaker of all time , and can surely give me some input as to the importance of this scene . I thought the point was made much faster than the part lasted . Contact me at
chatham @ baka.com
146 4 I loved this film . I did think it was a bit overlong . Rashomon bests this , but this is still slightly better than Yojimbo . But everything is exellent . There are some truly beautiful visuals . This definatly ranks with Kwaidan and Gate of Hell as one of Japan's most beautiful films . Toru Takemitsu's score is horrifyingly beautiful . This film has one of the most horrifyingly beautiful endings as well . Also , I think that this film doesn't deserve an R rating . I think it deserves PG - 13 . There was some blood but there was nothing trully R rating . There isn't even any cursing . This is an OK video transfer . I thought that this film had a 2.35 : 1 aspect ratio and it's presented in 1.85 : 1 . The letterbox appearance is also not to good , it's just one big black bar at the bottom . All in all recommended to Kurosawa fans around the globe .
148 4 This is a visually stunning masterpiece , but that's not all . It is also packed with colorful characters , intricate plot , and the vintage Akira Kurasawa .
149 4 This review is from :
Ran ( DVD )
This is the classic story of an aging Japanese lord who , with confidence , divides his land amongst his three sons . As predicted by the youngest ( and least favorite ) son , things go awry and the sons , beset by greed and confusion , declare war on each other . The father , with nobody to turn to , is saved by the most unlikely of people . This is a masterpeice of cinema , and is both visually and emotionally stimulating . I saw this movie as a child , and it was a great pleasure to finally capture it on DVD !
150 4 This is the classic story of an aging Japanese lord who , with confidence , divides his land amongst his three sons . As predicted by the youngest ( and least favorite ) son , things go awry and the sons , beset by greed and confusion , declare war on each other . The father , with nobody to turn to , is saved by the most unlikely of people . This is a masterpeice of cinema , and is both visually and emotionally stimulating . I saw this movie as a child , and it was a great pleasure to finally capture it on DVD !
151 4 What can I say that hasn't been said . Kurosawa's great retelling of King Lear is his ultimate film . And at the age of 75 even a greater accomplishment . But DVD copy is somewhat a disappointment . No chapter breaks . Subtitles appear washed out . However , sound and colour are excellant .
152 4 Ran , meaning chaos in Japanese , perfectly captures the spirit and atmosphere of this film . Essentially a Japanese version of Shakespeare's KING LEAR , RAN follows the story of the Great Lord Hidetora , who decides to divide his kingdom among his three sons : Taro , Jiro , and Saburo . What occurs is the systematic and tragic destruction of Hidetora , his family , and his kingdom as the sons continuously conflict with each other . Deep emotion and stunning action scenes accentuate the violence and tension of the film . One of Kurosawa's last films to date ( after all , he has been directing since 1946 ) , RAN is also one of his greatest , easily on par with RASHOMON , THE SEVEN SAMURAI , and YOJIMBO . The only missing element is the late , great Toshiro Mifune in the lead . END
153 4 The story line is superb . . . the scenery is stunning and gorgeous , vast mountains and green valleys , walled castles and fortresses . Hidetora , the aging warlord , holds a conference with his three sons and local chieftains on a mountainside . He announces his decision to relinquish the leadership of his kingdom to the eldest of his three sons . Only one son , the youngest , dares to speak up and state that during his lifetime he has known only war and fighting , he predicts the same after the transfer of power . He believes there will be power struggles between his two older brothers due to jealousy . The youngest brother personally has no desire to be warlord . Hidetora planned to leave one castle to each of his three sons . He has each son hold an arrow and asks them to break it in half , which they easily do . He gives them in succession , three arrows bundled together , representing the unity of the family , none can break the bundle . This is Hidetora's example of how the family will remain strong if they remain unified . He envisions the House of Ichimanji to be powerful and his eldest son to be overlord of the kingdoms attained during Hidetora's own reign of power . In his anger , Hidetora banishes the youngest son accusing him of defying his wishes . . . Yet Subarua , the youngest , holds his father in esteem and respect throughout the predicted battles which come to pass .
Hidetora visits Taro's castle after the power transfer and finds his concubines have to bow and kneel to Taro's wife , Sue ' . They are forced to move out . Hidetora discovers after the transfer of power , he is no longer respected . Sue ' married into the family to consolidate land holdings and property attained as the spoils of war , a war in which her parents were murdered . She harbored revenge in her heart ever since and now urges her husband to fight his brother , Jiro . Hidetora's court jester creates a mocking song about Taro being like a gourd , spinning this way and spinning that way , implying he can not make a sound decision and stick with it . At a family gathering Taro hears the song and is outraged . . . In a surprise move , Hidetora and his guards leave to visit Jiro . Hidetora discovers he is not welcome there either , not at all what he expected . He left abruptly . . .
The treachery to gain power and control over the lands and castles by the two older brothers consumes them . As predicted by Subaru , the younger brother , war is inevitable . Local chieftains must decide where their loyalties lie , which brother to support . Hidetora goes into hiding . Eventually he goes mad . His only guard and caregiver , the jester , does not leave his side . This film contains very strong battle scenes . The desire for control and power is the true motivator for both older brothers . Loosely based on Shakespeare's King Lear , this Japanese version is astonishing in scope and grandeur . The costumes and scenery are fabulous . In the film , there are tender moments between the jester and Hidetora . There are moving scenes where Jiro's wife escapes to find her brother who was blinded in a past conquest and lives alone in a cottage . . . The producers and directors create a phenomenal ending and conclusion . At some point , Hidetora reawakens from his madness long enough to recognize the impact of his decision on his family and the near destruction of the kingdom he once ruled . The ending is climactic and leaves a major impression on the viewer . The film is amazing !
Erika Borsos ( erikab93 )
154 4 This review is from :
Ran - Criterion Collection ( DVD )
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film .
Ran is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear and remains one of Kurosawa's most popular films .
It is about an aging feudal lord who divides his land between his three sons . The elder sons are satisfied and the younger one becomes corrupt .
The film is very well made and includes an excellent scene of a burning castle that was constructed and burned solely for the film . The costumes are also very well designed and there are many other things about this film which make it very good .
The Criterion DVD has some excellent special features too .
Disc one contains the film with optional audio commentary by Stephen Prince , theatrical trailers and an introduction by Sidney Lumet .
Disc two contains A.K . a film about Kurosawa directed by Chris Marker , a segment of Akira Kurosawa : It's Wonderful to Create about the making of the film , an interview with actor , Tatsuya Nakadai , and a 35 minute montage of storyboard paintings and sketches .
155 4 This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film .
Ran is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear and remains one of Kurosawa's most popular films .
It is about an aging feudal lord who divides his land between his three sons . The elder sons are satisfied and the younger one becomes corrupt .
The film is very well made and includes an excellent scene of a burning castle that was constructed and burned solely for the film . The costumes are also very well designed and there are many other things about this film which make it very good .
The Criterion DVD has some excellent special features too .
Disc one contains the film with optional audio commentary by Stephen Prince , theatrical trailers and an introduction by Sidney Lumet .
Disc two contains A.K . a film about Kurosawa directed by Chris Marker , a segment of Akira Kurosawa : It's Wonderful to Create about the making of the film , an interview with actor , Tatsuya Nakadai , and a 35 minute montage of storyboard paintings and sketches .
156 4 This review is from :
Ran ( Masterworks Edition ) ( DVD )
If you are going for Ran ( which is essential ) go all the way and get the Criterion Collection
Ran - Criterion Collection
. No half stepping with the
Ran ( Masterworks Edition )
. Do not do as I have done and try to get it on the cheap . Ran deserves the very best , and rewards the investment richly . Criterion from their earlier offerings of
Wild Strawberries - Criterion Collection
to
Grand Illusion - Criterion Collection
to Kurosawa's other works such as
Rashomon - Criterion Collection
, all the way to their latest , such as
Walker - Criterion Collection
, or the fully new
Seven Samurai - 3 Disc Remastered Edition ( Criterion Collection Spine # 2 )
are all of the highest quality both in restoration , production and in extras , and thus their prices do not come down . But you save nothing by getting the Masterworks edition instead .
Masterworks , the one I got , does indeed include in its extras section a comparison with an unrestored print . But it looks like the unrestored print was the worst one they could find , and I wonder how true are the colors Masterworks emplys . Too many scenes look like they have had an amber gel laid over everything .
You also find on Masterworks repeatedly and at predictable intervals the usual end-of-reel black square followed by black circle in the upper right hand corner which in the theatre signaled the projectionist to put down that soda , let go of his girl and go warm up the other machine , or on broadcast meant go to commercial , but here on a fully restored DVD edition looks like an artifact they should have corrected .
You have a choice of two commentators on the Masterworks edition , both really bad in either extreme , either annoyingly uninformative or annoyingly too informative . Apparently Criterion has excellent new commentators on their new three disk Seven Samurai production , and also excellent commentators on their Ran disk . Too often these commentators , with the consistent exception of the always brilliant and enthusiastic Mr . Alex Cox , when they are awake at all , drone on like an irritating guy in the theater seat in front of you who soon somehow receives your giant bucket of popcorn upon his noisy head .
Such is the second commentator here , who fortunately only wakes up in order to ruin something really interesting in the movie , but kills that entirely . He too soon reveals the secret of the flamboyant Peter , rather than as the director intends letting that secret unfold with all sorts of ambiguities , and leaving himself little more to say on the subject . He rouses himself from a long and merciful silence to walk all over the climactic decapitation scene , discussing once more fabric and destroying this scene altogether . One wishes he would please just please shut up , which he often mercifully does for long stretches , only to disturb everything with his uncertain tales of how he met her at a cocktail party and she was so polite and so short ( about five foot three , nothing like her character here , who seems twelve feet tall and so powerful ! Hey , fool , like , she's acting , dude !
Or he brags about hanging out with the Tango character , a real nice guy and good sportsman , he tells , as we watch him ably handling a horse , or about seeing the helmets on a table in the costume warehouse , and that table seemed to him a mile long , and what if Kurosawa had done such and such , and wheher Kurosawa regretted making mistakes in the final product the way he himself regretted the mistakes in his documentaries . Dude , Kurosawa was a perfectionist , with this film five years in storyboards . Dude , Kurosawa didn't make mistakes . He's Kurosawa , even if you think he stole lines from Shakespeare shamelessly .
The other guy is like an over eager associate professor at film school panicking for tenure , filling us with too much factual information about everything , including film technique ( see that ? that's a close-up ) . Please .
Save your pennies . Get the Criterion copy . I wish I had !
BEST LINE EVER ( not stolen from Shakespeare ) comes from Peter's character : Man is born crying . When he has cried enough , he dies .
Kurosawa here lays before our very eyes we are not allowed to see from Iraq , or Afghanistan , or Cleveland , or the Gaza : the absolute horrors of war and the banality of evil , the self-destructiveness of violence , the permanence of the evil which we do , and how cruelly it comes back to haunt us .
Kurosawa lays here before our eyes that , with the Sue character and the final image of the movie especially , our one hope lies in prayer , in meditation , in nonviolence , in overcoming the hatred within our own selves , in this culture a close adherence to Buddhism , in ours the living of the words of Jesus Christ : Love thy enemies , do good to those who hate us , forgive not seven times but seven times seven times per day , turn the other cheek , give twice what is asked for , etc .
In the words of prophet and Christian preacher and adherent to ahimsa , the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King , Jr . , now forty years a martyr for peace and nonviolence : We must learn to live together as brothers or die apart as fools .
In this film the brothers , but one , the compassionate one , die apart as fools . The compassionate one dies a martyr out of love for his father who had banished him . See this movie , in the best edition you can find , in the Criterion Colleciton . We need see it now , in this era of senseless and endless warfare which threatens to destroy us all .
157 4 If you are going for Ran ( which is essential ) go all the way and get the Criterion Collection
Ran - Criterion Collection
. No half stepping with the
Ran ( Masterworks Edition )
. Do not do as I have done and try to get it on the cheap . Ran deserves the very best , and rewards the investment richly . Criterion from their earlier offerings of
Wild Strawberries - Criterion Collection
to
Grand Illusion - Criterion Collection
to Kurosawa's other works such as
Rashomon - Criterion Collection
, all the way to their latest , such as
Walker - Criterion Collection
, or the fully new
Seven Samurai - 3 Disc Remastered Edition ( Criterion Collection Spine # 2 )
are all of the highest quality both in restoration , production and in extras , and thus their prices do not come down . But you save nothing by getting the Masterworks edition instead .
Masterworks , the one I got , does indeed include in its extras section a comparison with an unrestored print . But it looks like the unrestored print was the worst one they could find , and I wonder how true are the colors Masterworks emplys . Too many scenes look like they have had an amber gel laid over everything .
You also find on Masterworks repeatedly and at predictable intervals the usual end-of-reel black square followed by black circle in the upper right hand corner which in the theatre signaled the projectionist to put down that soda , let go of his girl and go warm up the other machine , or on broadcast meant go to commercial , but here on a fully restored DVD edition looks like an artifact they should have corrected .
You have a choice of two commentators on the Masterworks edition , both really bad in either extreme , either annoyingly uninformative or annoyingly too informative . Apparently Criterion has excellent new commentators on their new three disk Seven Samurai production , and also excellent commentators on their Ran disk . Too often these commentators , with the consistent exception of the always brilliant and enthusiastic Mr . Alex Cox , when they are awake at all , drone on like an irritating guy in the theater seat in front of you who soon somehow receives your giant bucket of popcorn upon his noisy head .
Such is the second commentator here , who fortunately only wakes up in order to ruin something really interesting in the movie , but kills that entirely . He too soon reveals the secret of the flamboyant Peter , rather than as the director intends letting that secret unfold with all sorts of ambiguities , and leaving himself little more to say on the subject . He rouses himself from a long and merciful silence to walk all over the climactic decapitation scene , discussing once more fabric and destroying this scene altogether . One wishes he would please just please shut up , which he often mercifully does for long stretches , only to disturb everything with his uncertain tales of how he met her at a cocktail party and she was so polite and so short ( about five foot three , nothing like her character here , who seems twelve feet tall and so powerful ! Hey , fool , like , she's acting , dude !
Or he brags about hanging out with the Tango character , a real nice guy and good sportsman , he tells , as we watch him ably handling a horse , or about seeing the helmets on a table in the costume warehouse , and that table seemed to him a mile long , and what if Kurosawa had done such and such , and wheher Kurosawa regretted making mistakes in the final product the way he himself regretted the mistakes in his documentaries . Dude , Kurosawa was a perfectionist , with this film five years in storyboards . Dude , Kurosawa didn't make mistakes . He's Kurosawa , even if you think he stole lines from Shakespeare shamelessly .
The other guy is like an over eager associate professor at film school panicking for tenure , filling us with too much factual information about everything , including film technique ( see that ? that's a close-up ) . Please .
Save your pennies . Get the Criterion copy . I wish I had !
BEST LINE EVER ( not stolen from Shakespeare ) comes from Peter's character : Man is born crying . When he has cried enough , he dies .
Kurosawa here lays before our very eyes we are not allowed to see from Iraq , or Afghanistan , or Cleveland , or the Gaza : the absolute horrors of war and the banality of evil , the self-destructiveness of violence , the permanence of the evil which we do , and how cruelly it comes back to haunt us .
Kurosawa lays here before our eyes that , with the Sue character and the final image of the movie especially , our one hope lies in prayer , in meditation , in nonviolence , in overcoming the hatred within our own selves , in this culture a close adherence to Buddhism , in ours the living of the words of Jesus Christ : Love thy enemies , do good to those who hate us , forgive not seven times but seven times seven times per day , turn the other cheek , give twice what is asked for , etc .
In the words of prophet and Christian preacher and adherent to ahimsa , the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King , Jr . , now forty years a martyr for peace and nonviolence : We must learn to live together as brothers or die apart as fools .
In this film the brothers , but one , the compassionate one , die apart as fools . The compassionate one dies a martyr out of love for his father who had banished him . See this movie , in the best edition you can find , in the Criterion Colleciton . We need see it now , in this era of senseless and endless warfare which threatens to destroy us all .
158 4 Some things are universal . Many worshippers of middle English literature say that about Shakespeare , and in a way they're right : what Shakespeare wrote about ( the doubts of leaders , the avarice of merchant-barons , the laughability of petty concerns ) is common to every culture throughout history . People are people .
In this case , Kurosawa has chosen King Lear as his template . The plot summary is simple : an aging benevolent king has decided to divide his kingdom amongst his sons . However , they are not all worthy of his trust , and are not content to take one third of his kingdom when each could have it all . And their treachery is the ruin of them all .
What sets Ran apart from other adaptations of King Lear is its stunning visual beauty . Ran is simply breathtaking . The colors are most intense than life itself , yet they fit the mood . The armies are casts of hundreds , if not thousands , and are beautifully choreographed ( can a medieval battle be compared to a dance ? ) . The actors are larger-than-life .
In fact , it is the presentation of the actors that prevent a five-star rating . The acting style is very much over the top . This is in keeping with traditional Japanese kabuki theater , but most American audiences will find this style heavy-handed ( dare we say , Shatner-esque ? My . . . sonsdon't . . . under . . . STAND me . Spock . ) and it might interfere with an American audience's experience of the film . And , since despite my attempt to be worldly ( whatever THAT means ) , I remain American , it matters .
At least , to me .
Nonetheless I recommend Ran . It illustrates vividly what makes Kurosawa special , and its choice of Shakespeare is a bridge-building tool that can help someone new to Japanese film make the transition . If a viewer finds nothing else in this film but the flawless cinematography , that is more than enough . Ran is a masterpiece by a master filmmaker .
159 4 Ran takes its time to engage the audience . Approach this as you would an afternoon in a Greek amphiteatre overlooking the Aegean . Thunderclouds threaten . You may get rained on . But by nightfall , you have lived through an unforgettable experience .
The experience includes a display of color that will haunt your mind forever . It also includes perhaps the most overwhelming film score since Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky .
As for Shakespeare , he's probably o.k . with this . Paul Scofield and Peter Brook this is not , but what it is belongs next to their King Lear in anybody's collection of great adaptations .
