RAN

Rating:
Summary: The Greatest Adaptation of Shakespeare to Film
Review: "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.

Rating:
Summary: The DVD Butchering of a Masterpiece
Review: -

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.


-

Rating:
Summary: Shakespeare, Kurosawa Style
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: 5 Star Film, 2 Star DVD
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: I was watching the Oscars several years ago when they gave Kurosawa a lifetime achivement award. I was touched by his humility. They showed clips from several of his films. The clip from "Ran", only about 10 or 15 seconds, was so elloquent that I immediatly understood what the film was about. When I finally saw it, I learned that my initial impression was not wrong; but the story was so fascinating and detailed that I felt my understanding of not only the story, but the principles behind it were "complete" after watching it.
Tatsuya Nakadai did a brillinat job of bringing the Lord Hidetora character to life. His triumphs and suffering were an actual visceral experience.
I make it a point to watch this, and other Kurosawa films, at least once a year.

Rating:
Summary: The greatest action movie ever
Review: If you thought Seven Samurai was a masterpiece, you aint seen nothing yet until you've seen RAN. I recall Sydney Pollack's character in Woody Allen's Husbands and Wives coming out of the theater with the bimbo woman character trying to explain that this was Kurosawa's King Lear...Yes, somewhat based on Shakespeare's work but very Japanese in nature. The use of color, direction, cinematography, and acting all KICK BUTT!!!

From Lady Kaede to Saburo to Hidetori--all standout performances. I love this film. I get chills just hearing the soundtrack before and during battle scenes. A truly awesome feat of cinema.

Rating:
Summary: RAN (MASTERWORKS EDITION)...
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: WHO WILL ENJOY THIS SENSATIONAL MASTERPIECE:
Review: People who care about grandiloquent visuals yet a controlled palette accentuated by the immemorable use of sound -- or, in one major battle scene, the absence of the sounds of the battle, the horrors of war somehow magnified by the silent screams and the unheard bullets, only the quietly mournful dissonance of the haunting background score to be heard.

Castle gates close with resounding, hollow booms, shutting people out, shutting people in. A crescendo of cicadas. And the final anguished shriek of a flute lending a much more effective voice to the great tragedy that has been played out than closing words might have done.

If you're expecting flaming Gladiator-type fight scenes or Samurai action, you may be disappointed. That said, the battle scenes are magnum opus if you know how to appreciate visual splendor. The screenplay may be relaxed overall, sure, it takes a while to unfold a tale of filial destruction ("King Lear" adaptation) but when the forts crumble and arrows fly asunder, the pace of the film is unbridled.

Whether you're a film philistine or a major Kurosawa buff or simply someone who relishes tastefully done cinema, this is absolutely worth the ride. I highly recommend this as a rental, but the discerning types may also want to add it to their collections. It's among Kurosawa's best.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not great.....
Review: This is a good rendition of Shakespear's epic "King Lear". But the visual quality of the movie on DVD is fair or mediocre at best. First of all, the movie is not in it's original widescreen format. You can obviously tell part of the image is cut out. Also the movie looks dated, for instance it was made back in 1985 but it looks like it was made in 1970.
The plot is a little hard to follow because the brothers look very similar and you will mistake one for the other and lady Sue & lady Kaede also look very similar. The acting also was not believable at times. The battle scenes are well done though!
The price is a little more than what you would pay normally for a DVD movie.
Why are foreign films always more expensive?

Rating:
Summary: A rich experience worth viewing over and over again
Review: 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.