Ran (1985)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Reid V

  
  "Men prefer sorrow over joy, suffering over peace." Simply put: When an aging father gives various portions of his empire to his sons, let's just say things don't go exactly as planned. Kurosawa's brilliant epic is a powerful look at the insatiable lust for… More
  "Men prefer sorrow over joy, suffering over peace." Simply put: When an aging father gives various portions of his empire to his sons, let's just say things don't go exactly as planned. Kurosawa's brilliant epic is a powerful look at the insatiable lust for power that lurks in the hearts of men. How congeniality can turn to savagery at the slightest hint of gain. Also, and what I think is his most effective message of the film: We as a people lie, cheat, steal, and in some instances murder, yet expect the world to be fair to us in return. Like all Kurosawa films, he loves using nature to reflect what is happening in the story. As the family bonds being to fray, he often cuts to ominous clouds descending upon the castle. When the father realizes that he is no longer welcome in his kingdom, we get a close up of the sun and the sweat beading on his brow. These are just classic Kurosawa staples that are done beautifully here. While I was expecting this focus on nature, I was not however prepared for how graphic the film would be. There are extended gory battle sequences that frankly were very shocking to me. I have nothing against violence, I just haven't seen Kurosawa tackle it with such intensity. Although it is arresting, it is very fitting to the film as Kurosawa shows that these aren't men engaged in acts of valor, this is wanton violence brought on by greed. The music that plays over it isn't triumphant, it is of something lost. At the tender age of 75, you would think he wouldn't want to dabble in such brutality. But I guess 75 is as good as age as any to show some good old-fashion double suicides. While there is a lot to chew on, I think that if Kurosawa wants you to walk away with one message, it is to never give up power, especially to your rotten kids.

• xGary X

  
  After a lifetime of conquest, ageing Lord Hidetora hands the reigns of power to his eldest son, but banishes his youngest when he questions the loyalty of his two brothers. When Hidetora is betrayed as Saburo predicted, he is left to wander the desolate lands his armies had ravaged in… More
  After a lifetime of conquest, ageing Lord Hidetora hands the reigns of power to his eldest son, but banishes his youngest when he questions the loyalty of his two brothers. When Hidetora is betrayed as Saburo predicted, he is left to wander the desolate lands his armies had ravaged in earlier times. Ran was the last of Kurosawa's great epics for which he was forced to seek financial backing outside of Japan where he was considered too old-fashioned. It is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear and was clearly a very personal project for him. Unlike Lear, Hidetora is shown as a man repenting his past crimes, and on his wandering is constantly reminded of the life of conquest and butchery he had led up until this point. In fact everyone involved whose interests are in power and material wealth inevitably meet a sticky end and only his victims are shown to achieve any kind of peace. It is impossible not to compare Ran with his earlier works, and because he was virtually blind by the time this film was made, it misses his keen eye for composition and photography; despite the epic scale and colourful costumery, I personally preferred his black and white photography of his classics. The sets and costumes are as epic as the themes and it avoids the sentiment of a lot of Kurosawa's work, but I found Tatsuya Nakadai's performance a little too ripe for my tastes, and is as theatrical as his rather severe make-up. On the other hand the most formidable personality is to be found in the shape of Lady Kaede played by Mieko Harada who, unlike the coquettish Lady Asaji Washizu of Throne Of Blood, is a strong willed and wily adversary whose role turns the entire chain of events on its head. My criticisms are only born of the incredibly high standard of the rest of Kurosawa's work, and by any other it is a majestic period drama full of lush imagery and dark themes that leaves a lasting impression.

• Keiko A

  
  Project 1 (Epic Films) Directed by Akira Kurosawa and staring Tatsuya Nakadai, Mieko Harada, Jinpachi Nezu and Daisuke Ryû. The centre forge of such Isolation and Power is the main part of this epic. Do I love Akira films??? Yes I do and I have watched them over and over, this… More
  Project 1 (Epic Films) Directed by Akira Kurosawa and staring Tatsuya Nakadai, Mieko Harada, Jinpachi Nezu and Daisuke Ryû. The centre forge of such Isolation and Power is the main part of this epic. Do I love Akira films??? Yes I do and I have watched them over and over, this movie about the struggle of power and of course Kurosawa is very crone to Shakespeare that's how he made this movie all on his work but a more of our Japanese style to it. I remember when I first watched this and that was like years ago I didn't really like the film back then but today, this is one of my favourite epics ever. I read somewhere that Akira Kurosawa painted everything before he under took the movie and he get the idea from Lucio Fulci from his masterpiece The Beyond. The way Fucli painted the powerful images of hell and then took them to the screen with the films ending climax with the two Americans in an atheist vision of hell. As well as the croned haunted hell house. I just admire Kurosawa's visions of this epic with the burning of the 3rd castle that was just amazing. A story of greed, a lust for power, and ultimate revenge. The Great Lord Hidetora Ichimonji has decided to step aside to make room for the younger blood of his three sons, Taro, Jiro, and Saburo, the Lord's only wish now being to live out his years as an honored guest in the castle of each of his sons in turn. While the older two sons flatter their father, the youngest son attempts to warn him of the folly of expecting the three sons to remain united; enraged at the younger son's attempt to point out the danger, the father banishes him. True to the younger son's warning, however, the oldest Son soon conspires with the second son to strip The Great Lord of everything, even his title. I admire the films themes of Warfare: Saburo's assassination by a sniper also shows how individual heroes can be easily disposed of on a modern battlefield. Kurosawa also illustrates this new warfare with his camera. Instead of focusing on the warring armies, he frequently sets the focal plane beyond the action, so that in the film they appear as abstract entities. Chaos: The ultimate example of chaos is the absence of gods. When Hidetora sees Lady Sue, a devout Buddhist and the most religious character in the film, he tells her, Buddha is gone from this miserable world. Sue, despite her belief in love and forgiveness, eventually has her head cut off. When Kyoami claims that the gods either do not exist or are the cause of human suffering, Tango responds, the gods can't save us from ourselves. And of course there are powerful themes of Power, Greed and Nihilism. Even though it may not appear so it is based on the struggle of King Lear, well not entirely directed towards or near it I see the similarities or the two stories and how it was based on it. I read the book once upon a time and it was just beautiful to know were he got inspiration besides overusing Shakespeare. (Not in a bad way at all). The acting style is very strange and controversial. It's rather more body language and the way people reflect on there situation. It's mainly influenced by Noh theatre, it also more body language as I have sated and the distraction of silences that goes into that scene. Not just focusing on the scenery and what is happening to this struggle. Noh aspects of these two characters emphasize their ruthless, passionate, and single minded natures. I really liked the way with the camera instead of the simple one camera stands there and...Take done. No he uses more of the old technique and advances more on Long shots to catch the beauty of that scene and what is in view of it, such as the people and the building as well as catching there responses to that action. As well as the arrow hitting the man and the peoples reaction to the perpetrator doing so. I really liked the costume designs they took more then two years to make all of them by hand and for every lead and every extra and done so with such creative talent it's not just the leads that get the best it's all of them. I really liked the aspect of course with all the detail put into it, It's not today you see these sort of things anymore. So overall it was worthy of its Oscar for best costume design and I can think of a million other categories it should have won. The sets are just breathing again Akira spent years painting everything to his likening and everything had to be right down to every detail. The burning of the 3rd castle was just incredible no miniatures no computer generated imagery...No. Everything was burned to the ground in the order that it should and every actor or extra needed to know what they were doing. And its not just sets its scenery I remember the scene with the filed of gold they just went for miles and she was walking throw it like nothing because she was no greedy man. I think by the end every man, women, child needs to view this epic masterpiece. Keiko's score 100%

• Cindy I

  
  This film is more proof that Akira Kurosawa deserves every accolade and his reputation as one of history's greatest filmmakers. Everything about this film is brilliant -- performances, costume design, cinematography, score. Tatsuya Nadakai completely steals the film as Lord… More
  This film is more proof that Akira Kurosawa deserves every accolade and his reputation as one of history's greatest filmmakers. Everything about this film is brilliant -- performances, costume design, cinematography, score. Tatsuya Nadakai completely steals the film as Lord Hidetora, not just in the role as Warlord and patriarch of the House of Ichimonji, but also in his portrayal of the sadness and pain of old age. The first hour or so is exposition, so is a bit slow, although not in a bad way. But at that point the film kicks into high gear and never backs down. The battle scenes from here on out are among the best I've ever seen just in terms of their impact. And the final scenes of the film between Lord Hidetora and his son are heartbreaking. Like my favorite Kurosawa, Throne of Blood, this is based on a Shakespeare play, this time King Lear. Kurosawa had such a way of taking these plays and making them his own, it makes me wish he had just started at the top of The Bard's playlist and worked his way down. What would he have done with Hamlet? Romeo and Juliet? Othello? The mind reels.

• Michael G

  
  While Ran is indeed a well-done and solid picture, and for as much shit as I expect to catch for this, I believe its also seriously overrated. Possibly because of its Shakespearean roots which I also find myself rarely giving a damn about, but Ran was done decades after Akira… More
  While Ran is indeed a well-done and solid picture, and for as much shit as I expect to catch for this, I believe its also seriously overrated. Possibly because of its Shakespearean roots which I also find myself rarely giving a damn about, but Ran was done decades after Akira Kurosawa's most fruitful period and for as good as this was, it's more or less an afterthought for me. Admittedly, the cinematography was astounding (considering every other Kurosawa film I've seen has been in beautiful black and white--which oddly enough, I was almost wishing Ran was shot in) and as gorgeously unruly as the battles scenes were (the shot of the old man sitting there catatonic as the place is falling down around him was haunting) I did catch myself checking my watch more and more frequently during the last hour. I liked Ran, but I didn't love it. Hated the jester, but I loved that final shot though.

• danny d

  
  what a fantastic movie. this film is great, very similar in a lot of ways to kagemusha but much better. tatsuya nakadai does an absolutely wonderful job and each scene was shot beautifully. i cant believe that in akira kurosawa we had one man that could make so many incredible… More
  what a fantastic movie. this film is great, very similar in a lot of ways to kagemusha but much better. tatsuya nakadai does an absolutely wonderful job and each scene was shot beautifully. i cant believe that in akira kurosawa we had one man that could make so many incredible films. this is one of the best films i have ever seen and i can name 5 of his i liked better. there are plenty of characters in this film to root for and plenty of villians as well, great war film from fuedal japan.

• Randy T

  
  This may well be the best epic film ever made. It's certainly amongst the best I have ever seen.

• First L

  
  Ran is the epic tale of Japanese Lord, who in his advancing years has decided to hand the rule of his kingdom over to his sons. He makes his oldest son the absolute ruler all of his domain, and his middle son a ruler of his 2nd castle. But before he can get to his youngest son, the… More
  Ran is the epic tale of Japanese Lord, who in his advancing years has decided to hand the rule of his kingdom over to his sons. He makes his oldest son the absolute ruler all of his domain, and his middle son a ruler of his 2nd castle. But before he can get to his youngest son, the son speaks up and calls his father a fool, claiming the father's plan will destroy the kingdom. The father is outraged by his son's insolence and disowns him. Meanwhile, the two older sons are weak-willed cowards who are easily manipulated by a shrewish wife. She's power hungry and convinces the oldest son to betray his father. When the father realizes that all the youngest son predicted has come to pass, he's overcome with remorse, and in fact is driven mad. Although the story is loosely based on Shakespeare's "King Lear", it seems more suited to the japanese tradition of honor and respecting your parents, especially. It is revealed throughout the course of the movie that the Lord isn't a particularily sympathetic character, that his rise to power was built upon a great deal of bloodshed. I've read that this is Kurosawa's great anti-war piece, that the war is never glorified, but the chopped off arms and the arrows in the eye sockets do at times seem gratuitous. Still, the end result of building your kingdom on the blood of others is that you will live to see it crumble. From a filmmakers standpoint, Ran contains some of the best scenery ever put on film. Armies with different colored flags, mounted on horseback, sit atop great, misty green hills. Certain scenes seem almost like paintings. It's a visually beautiful film that blends eastern and western myth into a great piece of cinema.

• David L

  
  There is no doubt whatsoever that Akira Kurosawa was one of the greatest film directors who ever lived. Directing a myriad of great movies over a career spanning 50 years, Kurosawa was known by many as Japan's greatest director, and the term 'legendary' was used… More
  There is no doubt whatsoever that Akira Kurosawa was one of the greatest film directors who ever lived. Directing a myriad of great movies over a career spanning 50 years, Kurosawa was known by many as Japan's greatest director, and the term 'legendary' was used frequently to describe his vision and cinematic genius. Although some of his movies weren't quite as good as his best work, Kurosawa's greatest films continue to amaze, astound, engross and enthral us today. Ran is just one of the movies from his celebrated and acclaimed filmography, and as well as being a contender for his magnum opus it's undeniably and unquestionably one of the greatest movies ever made. Kurosawa effortlessly and successfully adapts Shakespeare's King Lear, and combined with the director's vision we get is a brilliant, flat-out masterpiece, and a film that adds even more repute to Kurosawa's already respected name. Retaining much of King Lear's story and themes, Ran is a faithful and successful adaptation of said play, considered to be one of Shakespeare's greatest works. Like most (if not all) of Kurosawa's films, the film is set in Japan ? medieval Japan, to be precise ? and the whole concept of Feudalism and warlords etc is substituted in brilliantly. Despite being set on an English play written 500 years prior, Kurosawa's own personal touch and style are added to it exceptionally. The whole story starts when Great Lord Hidetora, the head of the Ichimonji family, decides to step down as ruler of his kingdom. He divides his empire up into three, each one diminishing in significance and power in accordance with the age of his three sons (in lieu of three daughters as in Shakespeare's play): Taro, Jiro and Saburo. Sanjuro, being the youngest of the three, warns his father that the other two will develop a lust for power, and will destroy the Ichimonji family in their quest for the title. Enraged and furious at this claim, Hidetora banishes Sanjuro and disowns him as a son. Taro, being the oldest son, becomes the head of the Ichimonji family and claims all power and responsibilities, whilst his father still retains the title and privileges of Great Lord. But just as Sanjuro predicted, Taro's fealty to his father is nothing but a façade, and he plots to get rid of Hidetora by any means necessary, and hence become the real head of the family. Meanwhile, Jiro becomes the lord of the second Ichimonji castle, and will do anything to get his older brother out of the way ? even if it means civil war. Kurosawa's brilliant epic tracks the majestic rise and fall of the once mighty Ichimonji clan, and perfectly illustrates power, greed and revenge as the darkest and most contemptible aspects of human nature. Ran is a movie as close to utter perfection as you can get, and whilst it does have flaws (like every other movie), these are so, so minor compared to the greatness of the movie ? you're inclined to just ignore them. The fact is, the positives outweigh the negatives one million to none, and the audience can only be awestruck and astounded at the sheer masterpiece that is Ran. There are way too many good things about Ran, I simply can't write them all down in a review, let alone in an orderly fashion. Among other things, there's the wonderful screenplay (which, like I said previously, is excellently adapted), the visual-sumptuousness of the film and, of course, Kurosawa's grand and fine direction. Ran's excellence can only be fully realised when one watches the film right the way through; only then can you truly understand why it's considered to be such a great film. It's what an epic should be: sweeping and glorious but at the same time grim and bleak in its view of the world. Even though it's strictly for fans of drama, Ran is a must-see for any film aficionado. Trust me, you definitely will not regret seeing it.

• Robert C

  
  Visually stunning, but about one hour too long.

• Stella D

  
  kurosawa's epic king lear with some of the most beautiful cinematography ever. saturated in amazing colors

• Ken S

  
  This retelling of King Lear is a cornucopia of lush colors and textures. From the Kabuki theatrics to the immense & bloody battles, Ran delivers on all cylinders. Kurosawa's deep appreciation of John Ford can be seen through out this film. His use of master shots and… More
  This retelling of King Lear is a cornucopia of lush colors and textures. From the Kabuki theatrics to the immense & bloody battles, Ran delivers on all cylinders. Kurosawa's deep appreciation of John Ford can be seen through out this film. His use of master shots and landscapes allows the viewer to actually understand the tactics being used in the battles. A refreshing change from the "everything's a closeup" phase current cinema seems to be in

• Curtis L

  
  Okay. Much cooler than the shakespeare version.

• Luke B

  
  Kurosawa's final masterpiece (though he made brilliant films after this). The performances capture the madness of all that goes on, as a family is torn apart by greed and corruption. Kurosawa again adapts Shakespeare into something bigger and better. The colour and action are… More
  Kurosawa's final masterpiece (though he made brilliant films after this). The performances capture the madness of all that goes on, as a family is torn apart by greed and corruption. Kurosawa again adapts Shakespeare into something bigger and better. The colour and action are enough to declare it amazing but everything, including the exceptional score join together to make a God of a film.

• Matthew R

  
  I came to this without having seen any of Kurosawa's films (Seven Samurai and Rashomon most significantly so) and was surprised by many elements. I didn't expect this film to be so theatrical, even down to the make-up which seemed more theatrical than usual for naturalistic… More
  I came to this without having seen any of Kurosawa's films (Seven Samurai and Rashomon most significantly so) and was surprised by many elements. I didn't expect this film to be so theatrical, even down to the make-up which seemed more theatrical than usual for naturalistic cinema. I do wonder if maybe Kurosawa in his later period was delicate to Japanese criticisms that he was too "western" in his technique, and wanted to give it more of a Japanese feel; or perhaps he was deliberately paying tribute to the theatrical origin of the story. Even so, this is certainly a great movie, epic in range and with a huge emotional impact. "Ran" is basically an updating of Shakespeare's King Lear; the film sees the elderly Lord Hidetora Ichimonji deciding to hand over the reins of power to his three sons. His eldest, Taro, becomes the new Lord, while his younger sons Jiro and Saburo are each granted a province of their own to rule over. Saburo however protests, believing it to be a foolish decision that will split the clan and Hidetora banishes his third son. It isn't long however until Taro and Jiro's ambitions of power lead them to betray their father and the nation begins to fall apart, spurred on by Taro's manipulating wife lady Kaede. Kurosawa thus blends Shakespearean tragedy with a sweeping historical epic about the loss and gain of power. At the center of it all is a remarkable acting presence in the shape of Tatsuya Nakadai as the displaced elderly Samurai. At the beginning of the film he is a man of stubborn pride, but as his world crumbles and his people die, he soon finds himself with nowhere else to go. The emotional turbulence of being betrayed by his own flesh and blood drives him to his limits, but nevertheless he still refuses to contact Saburo because his warrior principles will not allow him. There seems to be a definite element of Kurosawa himself up there on screen, the director having been near the end of his career with his health failing and his wife having tragically passed away during shooting. Hidetora isn't a perfect ruler but as evidence of his cruelty and oppression during his reign mount up, he remains a sympathetic character, questioning his past decisions and what exactly it is he has achieved in his lifetime. He is the pillar that holds the film together and no mistake. He is aided by some impressive performances all round. Daisuke Ryo's impetuous, outspoken but loyal Saburo is a highpoint of course even if his screen time is limited, spending the majority of the storyline in exile. Jinpachi Nezu's Jiro is another remarkable presence, equally proud and stubborn as his father but beset by insecurities and mistrust. Mieko Harada's Lady Kaede is the film's most hated rouge; her performance is spot on as Kaede is a cold, calculating woman with vengeance on her mind at the best of times, during one pivotal scene towards the middle, she explodes with one dramatic emotional outburst to another, ranting, screaming and licking blood from a knife wound. The battle scene that forms the centerpiece is absolutely breathtaking, with legions of Samurai warriors storming a castle in total silence. There are no sound effects, no speech, just the sad musical overture for the majority of the fighting, until a particularly important gunshot rings out and we are plunged right into the maelstrom. Bodies are filled with arrows, blood drips everywhere and hundreds of warriors are slaughtered in spectacular fashion. It may be a glorious sight to behold, but it is the closest thing a historical epic has got to show that war is hell, no matter what period of human history it is set in. The more blood thirsty among us may then be disappointed by the second clash towards the end, a far more unremarkable skirmish that promised to be incredible after several scenes of armies maneuvering in anticipation. The greatness of Ran doesn't end at its visuals though. There is a fantastic narrative within these vivid and colorful vistas. It is a very slow paced film that dwells on certain scenes for a very long time, yet never overbearingly long. The story itself is fairly complex, as would be expected from such a grand scheme of a picture, yet as long as you stay with it, it is an incredible story with a great deal of subtext and underlying themes that serve to give it an even greater purpose as a revolutionary film. With any epic film like this you'd expect it to cover a lot of proverbial and existential ground and it certainly does. We see everything from the themes of close family bonds and loyalties, to the traumatic effects of war on the human mind and soul. Ran is a dramatic tragedy of lost innocence and peace. It is a harrowing look at the destruction of family and kingdom. Yet, despite these bleak themes, it still manages to be a stunningly beautiful film. This beauty serves to drive home the emotional impact of the film, engraving some very gripping images into your mind. In the end, Ran is an artistic masterpiece of such beauty and grandeur, that it can put one in an immense state of awe and wonder. It may seem theatrical at times, but like a watercolor painting that moves, it is beautiful to watch time and time again. Story: B+ Acting: B+ Direction: B Visuals: A Overall: B *** out of 4 stars

• Andy S

  
  Yet another Kurosawa work of awesomeness. See my review of The Seven Samurai, including the one flaw, as it kinda applies to this film as well.

• Matthew Y

  
  For anyone who hasn't, you must go see this picture I beg you. Ran is one of the most beautifully crafted and visually strikingly films ever made. It's haunting battle sequences were the inspiration for the famous beach of Normandy scenes in Saving Private Ryan. This is… More
  For anyone who hasn't, you must go see this picture I beg you. Ran is one of the most beautifully crafted and visually strikingly films ever made. It's haunting battle sequences were the inspiration for the famous beach of Normandy scenes in Saving Private Ryan. This is nothing short of a masterpiece of art and transcends the medium of motion pictures. A grand film and the only thing that could ever rival Seven Samurai. Though it wasn't actually Kurosawa's final picture it is still the greatest swan song a legendary filmmaker has ever delivered.

• Gevvy S

  
  Terrific adaptation of King Lear. Of course it is not a faithful adaptation of Shakespeare's play, it is more of a film inspired by it. Nonetheless, the very essence of Shakespeare's play is captured by Kurosawa's visually stunning epic about an old ruler's haste… More
  Terrific adaptation of King Lear. Of course it is not a faithful adaptation of Shakespeare's play, it is more of a film inspired by it. Nonetheless, the very essence of Shakespeare's play is captured by Kurosawa's visually stunning epic about an old ruler's haste and foolish decision which his entire family pays the price for. Tatsuya Nakadai gives a masterful performance as a once fierce and now shell-shocked old emperor. He is surrounded by a terrific cast. Kurosawa's vision however must ultimately be applauded for managing to show us just how gruesome the Bard's tale is; through the gore and violence, which make Tarantino's films look PG, teaching us the same lessons about war which Shakespeare wanted to teach us. Striking and breathtaking film, the length of Kurosawa's late masterpiece is of no importance because it is so engrossing. Cannot wait to revisit this film in bluray and see Kurosawa's bold colors again.

• Chris B

  
  Based on King Lear by Shakespeare, Ran is Akira Kurosawa's epic tale of a warlord (masterfully portrayed by Tatsuya Nakadai) who in his old age divides his kingdom among his three sons. The youngest son however, being blunt and arrogant to the father, is exiled and cut off from… More
  Based on King Lear by Shakespeare, Ran is Akira Kurosawa's epic tale of a warlord (masterfully portrayed by Tatsuya Nakadai) who in his old age divides his kingdom among his three sons. The youngest son however, being blunt and arrogant to the father, is exiled and cut off from the family and the kingdom given to the other two sons. As time slowly passed the sons, each greedy and morally corrupt, want more. The father is eventually exiled himself and hunted down by the sons in an attempt to get rid of him. The film is an epic in every sense of the word, as there are thousands of extras each with their period outfits and most portrayed on horseback. This created a massive scale project costing 12,000,000 USD and was the most expensive Japanese film to date upon it's release. Terrific animation, stunning cinematography and the hand of a true genius as the Director and editor, Ran is a late masterpiece by the ever talented Akira Kurosawa. This is a must see!

• Greg A

  
  Watching an old evil lose its head and find redemption and meaning in the most unlikely of sources, what a watch this is.

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