Ran - Criterion Collection
Rating:
- What an experience!(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.
Rating:
- Memorable, important cinema"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!
Rating:
- Now I see why my friends love this so much."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.
Rating:
- The only time I've ever upgraded a DVD was with this Criterion edition...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.
Rating:
- RanKurosawa'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.