Review of Ran (1985) by Amasa G — 29 Aug 2010

Before I say the terrible thing that I am about to say, I would like to give this movie as much of a running start as possible:

Ran is one of the most incredibly shot and visually impressive movies that I have ever seen in my life. Some of the things that are done in this movie probably couldn't even have been done as effectively with CG (which is what the modern film maker would have resorted to). This movie trots itself around the screen as a prize visual masterpiece. Let's face it - it's a moving work of art.

The acting in this movie is also pretty fucking good - as much so as you can expect from Tatsuya Nakadai. I cringed a little bit when I saw the ridiculous over acting of Mieko Harada (Lady Kaede) but maybe that's just me.

Another thing that fits with the aesthetic quality of this movie is the fact that the score was written by Toru Takemitsu - the product does not disappoint the name.

Now time for the bad part. As we all know, 'Ran' is an appropriation of Shakespeare's 'King Lear' - which is a good play in its own right. And to the credit of Ran, it does a wonderful job of translating that play in to its own cultural context whilst retaining its own identity as a story.

The one thing that this story keeps which I wish it wouldn't is Shakespeare's story structure. The ridiculous and meticulous and numerous folds of narrative that is a Shakespearean play does not translate as well as one would hope to the big screen. Perhaps it is because the modern audience doesn't feel it has the time for 20 different archs to unfold which a simultaneous circular narrative is in place - We love Shakespeare because he is a genius and because his stuff is flat out impressive. We don't love Shakespeare because his stuff makes for bland appropriations and re-interpretations.

What this movie needed was the inspiration of Shakespeare and the sweetness of Akira Kurosawa (who is a modern Shakespeare in his own right) - we do not see that sweetness in 'Ran'.

BUT - if you can stomach a 2h 40m spiral in to depression, then enjoy this otherwise masterful work.