The best of Japanese cinema!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Ran" is Kurosawa's version of Shakespeare's "King Lear". Now, Shakespeare wrote a lot of great plays, but not many would call "King Lear" his best play. Likewise, Kurosawa directed a lot of great films, but not many would call "Ran" his best movie. The visuals are all on point. The cinematography, the colors, the sweeping landscapes and action scenes are all beautiful. Above all, Kurosawa can still artfully frame and block a shot. The problem with the film comes from the characters. Every character is in some deranged state of mind. Everyone is crazy, insane, mad or some combination of the three.

Nothing like the old days. The scale of the production and film length. Real horses and massive amount of extras. Like it's title. The story line becomes chaos. That ending, poor kid ...

Sprawling- albeit slow moving- work of art with absolutely stunning cinematography and intense performances.

Kurosawa’s second adaptation of an Shakespeare classic and his last masterpiece is a grand epic that should be watched by fans of the Japanese auteur

A dark masterpiece that shows the extent of war’s horror and the depravity of mankind.

Masterpiece. Impossible to forget. Best production and costume design in cinema history. Makes modern day CGI fest look like slop. Film of this caliber will never be made again.

In the same breath one of the most beautiful and bleak spectacles ever filmed. Kurosawa once again gives evidence for being one of the all-time masters of the art.

Very well done and moving.

From the story full of meaning to the wonderful landscapes along with the colors and epic costume design, makes ‘Ran' an enjoyable film to watch until these days.

Ran is epic storytelling with breathtaking cinematography. While its runtime may be daunting for some, the overall experience is richly rewarding.

Ran is an absolute masterpiece when it comes to storytelling centered around revenge. This film flawlessly captures the essence of vengeance, weaving a gripping narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The characters are brilliantly portrayed, drawing you into their world of intrigue and payback. The plot is a finely crafted web of suspense and retribution, leaving no loose ends and providing a satisfying resolution. Every element, from the direction to the performances, is top-notch. Ran is a perfect example of how revenge can be a compelling and thought-provoking theme in cinema. It's a must-watch, and I'd give it five stars without hesitation.

I felt moved to add my two penny worth after watching a tv programme about the making of the film. I saw it on a rainy Sunday night in Tyneside in either 85 or 86, almost forty years ago. I was tired and out of sorts but l sat in the balcony riveted from beginning to end. I am 68 now and have spent a lifetime watching movies; l would say without hesitation this is one of the best. The fact l remember so clearly the circumstances tells you that. I know it's all a matter of taste but l am truly baffled that some people don't like it.

Epic length and some great cinematography - but I'm not seeing the greatness in the acting or the fighting while giving it grace for being an 80s flick. The King Lear plot line is so on the nose that it doesn't hold anything exciting.

"Ran" is somehow my first exposure to the classic story "King Lear," so I went into the film not knowing how the story would play out. There is a lot of political scheming and some stellar battle sequences that make this an engaging watch when it comes to the story. However, this film shines with its use of visual artistry and color. Kurosawa didn't have the opportunity to make films in color for most of his career, but this film is a clear example that he utilized technology to the fullest. It often looks dazzling visually and even when the story slows down pace-wise, it always looks visually spellbinding. Overall, it is a film that has an epic and grand story that dazzles with its visual flair and should be watched by any fan of Akira Kurosawa.

I've been long overdue a rewatch of Ran but it always feels like a discredit to Kurosawa when you watch any of his movies on a small screen. Taking Shakespeare's King Lear and crafting an accomplishment that's a feast of colour, motion and sound, all the stops were pulled out for this one. Overwhelming on a physical scale Ran plays to Kurosawa's obsession with loyalty and his love of expressionistic film techniques, playing with a beauty that suggests a kind of drunken, barbaric lyricism. The horrors of life transformed by art into magnificence. I once called Ran an unparalleled masterpiece, and I still stand by that to this day, but given its brethren include Yojimbo, Seven Samurai and Ikiru, it remains one hell of an achievement. Any fan of westerns, war movies, or period films, in general, owes themselves at least one viewing of Ran in their life.

A masterpiece simply beautiful.

What a wonderful and thought provoking movie.

This Japanese take on King Lear is an essential experience in filmmaking.

An All Time Classic. Every fundamental element is honestly flawless. The shots are framed, filled with color and so intricate with depth of field use its amazing to see. The acting is very distinct and really well done with great expressions on the characters faces. The story itself is as epic as the sweeping presentation is. Anyone who is interested in learning about Akira Kurosawa or international films in general should watch this.