List
Ran

Director: Akira Kurosawa
Writer: Masato Ide, Akira Kurosawa
Producer: Katsumi Furukawa, Masato Hara, Hisao Kurosawa, Serge Silberman
Theatrical: 1985
Rated: R
Studio: Wellspring Media, In
Genre: Drama
Duration: 160
Media: Digital
Collection ID: 1266
DVD Details
Languages: Japanese
Subtitles: English
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Aspect Ratio: WideScreen
Picture Format: Letterbox
Discs: 1
Region: 4
Release:Apr 2003
Price: $34.98
Credits
Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
Tatsuya Nakadai
Taro Takatora Ichimonji
Akira Terao
Jiro Masatora Ichimonji
Jinpachi Nezu
Saburo Naotora Ichimonji
Daisuke Ryu
Lady Kaede
Mieko Harada
Lady Sue
Yoshiko Miyazaki
Shuri Kurogane
Hisashi Igawa
Kyoami
Peter
Tango Hirayama
Masayuki Yui
Kageyu Ikoma
Kazuo Kato
Shumenosuke Ogura
Norio Matsui
Mondo Naganuma
Toshiya Ito
Samon Shirane
Kenji Kodama
Takashi Watanabe
Masuo Amada
Koyata Hatakeyama
Takeshi Kato
Hanbei Kawai
Sakae Kimura
Ryo Nagasawa
Tsurumaru (as Takeshi Nomura)
Mansai Nomura
Ryojiro Oki
Masaru Sakurai
Masaaki Sasaki
Akihiko Sugizaki
Seiji Ayabe
Jun Tazaki
Nobuhiro Fujimaki
Hitoshi Ueki
Yoshimitsu Yamaguchi
Tetsuo Yamashita
Takao Zushi
Yoshitaka Zushi
Saburo Naotora Ichimonji
Daisuke Ryû
Kyoami
Pîtâ
Kageyu Ikoma
Kazuo Katô
Koyata Hatakeyama
Takeshi Katô
Ryûjirô Oki
Yûichi Hibi
Koyata Hatakeyama (voice)
Seizô Katô
Summary
This is a magnificent movie. It is visually beautiful - the colors and the way the shots are framed are stunning. The visuals are controlled in ways that add to the poetic power of the story. I do not speak Japanese, but the sound of the language combined with the musical score also adds to the intensity of this movie. The subtitles are good, but I am sure that those who understand Japanese get even more from this story.This is not a film of Shakespeare's "King Lear". Rather, it is an adaptation and is based on the underlying themes of the play. It is not important for me to list the differences between the play and the movie, it is just important that a first time viewer not expect the Shakespearian story. If you know the play you will recognize aspects of the movie and enjoy the ways in which Kurosawa adapted the story to his own and Japanese sensibilities. It may nod to Shakespeare, but Kurosawa makes this his story. The costumes, music, and acting are superlative. For me, the trademark Kurosawa battle scenes are more wonderful here than usual. This is a masterpiece by a filmmaking virtuoso who is also a sensitive enough artist to make a spectacular movie that is also poetic, humorous and heart breaking, tender and brutal as well images that are beautiful and others that are hideous.This isn't light viewing or mind candy, but it has so much to offer that it is worth watching and learning from over and over again.