Review of Ran (1985) by Colin H — 30 May 2011

How do I review a Japanese adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear in feudal Japan? I have enough trouble reviewing Shakespeare adaptations in general!

Oddly, I will begin by saying the DVD was useless. Despite it being set with subtitles on, and even selecting it anyway, the film did not start with them on! The only option I had was to start from the second scene available, only then did the subtitles worked!

Ran follows a Great Lord Hidetora, who is eventually banished from his lands after giving over power to his arguing three sons. As the three factions wage war upon each other, and even amongst their own ranks, the Lord is slowly driven mad as his kingdom collapses.

Akira Kurosawa directed the classic Seven Samurai, which I enjoyed a great deal, and this epic does host similarities and a few memorable performances. However, I felt several characters crucial to the story had been pushed aside initially, only to return in the final acts jarringly, while others had received too much screen time for little more than metaphorical effects.

An epic, without question, with great set pieces and battles, yet a little meandering with its characters.