Ran

Rating:
Summary: Kurosawa's brilliant epic
Review: 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."

Rating:
Summary: No Time
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Kurosawa blends Buddha into King Lear
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Astounding
Review: Ran is the history of the Shakespeare's King Lear, but here the daughters of Lear are Sons, three samurais. Most of the power of the film besides on the combination of the Isabelline theathre with the Kabuki, the traditional Japanese theater. The movie has an extraordinary rithm, and the tragedy runs for itself. As all the Kurosawa's movies, this talks about the war and the dehumanization of the people. Is a great history, maybe the kurosawa's best.

Rating:
Summary: This Is The Greatest Film Ever Made
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Battles were never filmed better
Review: "Saving Private Ryan" shows the horrors of 20th century war,
but Kurisawa's masterpiece "Ran" shows battles. When "Ran" was
first released, I saw it on a big screen in London. Up to SPR,
"Ran" and Sam Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch" were the most moving
films I had seen - it terms of being thrilled by what was up on
the screen.

Of course, it also helps for "Ran" that William Shakespeare's
hand is all over the story.

Rating:
Summary: Utterly compelling.
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing Work -- What Kurosawa could do with color....
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Kurosawa's Masterpiece
Review: A film only Kurosawa could make, and then only in his late career. The King Lear story told this time in feudal Japan, three sons instead of three daughters. The fool, the old man, the madness, the storm. Wonderful film, truly capturing the essence of the Shakespearean plot. 'Kagemusha' made a few years earlier was the grand master's 'practice' at filming large, intricate battles involving horse and soldier and color coded armies. Lakes of fake blood used in this one. While so many films are unduly termed a 'classic', RAN earns the title and more. A must for lovers of the Samurai epic. BANZAAAIII!!

Rating:
Summary: god is watching...so becareful...
Review: I am giving this movie a 5star, BUT I have to complain about the DVD. OK, the image are pretty sharp but what a waste of space!! The entire movie is 2/3 up on the screen! Why, why??

With that aside,and with so many reviews before me, I will go straight to the point & say that 3 major characters that sticks on my mind is Kyaomi and Tango, the loyal fool and retainer , the 2 lost souls that drift along loyally with the great lord Ichimonji and Kurogane, the loyal henceman to lord Jiro.

Tango is wise and patient, while kyoami is childish, impatient and acid tongued, but their loyalty to the great lord till his last breath was extremely touching, and I cried during the funeral march. I don't see Kurogane as a "bad guy" but it is his loyalty that force him to kill. I cheered Kurogane twice, once when he give it good to lady Kaeda with the foxhead, and the second time when he removed her permanently.

The one I pitied the most is infact, the oldest son, Taro. He is naive and harmless , but used and manipulated by kaeda, killed by his own brother. Saburo is one tough little dude and he do just fine on his own.

I love Tatsuya Nakadai, and I noticed that his acting gets better and better the older he gets. Compare him in Yojimbo, Sanjuro...then watch him in "Kwaidan" then see him in Ran and differencr is amazing.

Kurosawa to me is one of the gods of cinema, second being Zhang Yimou of course. And for anyone who loved Ran, I strongly suggest you try to catch all his other films particularly Yojimbo, Throne of Blood, Seven samurai,...etc etc.