Review of Ran (1985) by Scott G — 09 Jan 2010

Akira Kurosawa's Ran is difficult to review. One can make a checklist of things that are great about this movie: the art direction, the cinematography, the score, the acting the so on and so on and so on.

And yet there is something in the pacing that eludes me. Sometimes dragging, yet at the same time absolutely appropriate in length for the coverage. It is a big film... epic in scope, yet sometimes leaves me feeling claustrophobic.

I do not think that the error lies so much in the film as it does with me. Just as the late quartets of Beethoven confuse me at times, Ran is a work of art that may be beyond my full comprehension.

Nevertheless, I do not wish to give the idea that this is an inaccessible, dry "classic." You know one of those famous things you should experience just because it is famous. This is a beautiful movie with some of the greatest action sequences you'll ever want to see and an amazing use of color. When I think of this movie I think of color. You can tell that this was made by a master painter.

At any rate, catch this film. You will not feel at all disappointed. Hey, and catch the Beethoven String Quartet in C# minor Op. 131. You'll like that, too.