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RAN Reviews

1985

70
from 6441 members

For his 27th film, the 'sensei' of Japanese cinema, Akira Kurosawa, transposes Shakespeare's KING LEAR to feudal Japan. RAN, which translates as 'chaos' or 'turmoil', is the tragic tale of Lord Hidetora, a warlord who decides to divide his empire among his three sons on the eve of his 70th birthday. However, Hidetora's youngest .. Read more

Starring	Tatsuya Nakadai, Mieko Harada, Akira Terao, Yoshiko Miyazaki
Director	Akira Kurosawa
Genres	Action/Adventure, Drama, World Cinema

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Critic's review of RAN
View all (1)
- Kurosawa established himself as the best cinematic interpreter of Shakespeare with his recasting of Macbeth as a... read more on Time Out
- 46507
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:16
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of RAN
View all members' reviews (61)
- - 16
  - 4
  Classic Last Shout for Kurosawa
  
  Ran is Akira Kurosawa's 1985 epic adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear. Like Lear, Ran is about a king's (in
  
  this case ageing Japanese ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 18766
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - GraftheGreatest
  - 15 reviews
  - Harrow
  - 19 Sep 2004 at 15:00
Most recent members' reviews of RAN
View all members' reviews (61)
- - 0
  - 0
  Beauty and emotional power
  
  I think this is one of the truly great films, a work of astonishing emotional power achieved through awesome mastery of narrative and visual orchestration. The ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1111050
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - erp
  - 32 reviews
  - Manchester
  - 14 Apr 2012 at 15:37
- - 0
  - 0
  Kurosawa Masterpiece - Engaging, Unmissible
  
  I am always cautious of the Far East Genre of films, I do get tired of flying heros defying the laws of physics. Kurosawa has never been one to promote that ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1094931
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Zydor
  - 121 reviews
  - Headley Down
  - 21 Feb 2012 at 02:54
- - 0
  - 1
  You've got to like Shakespeare
  
  I didn't enjoy this film as much as I'd hoped. Certain aspects were wonderful, including the soundtrack which was perfectly suited to the film. However ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1076727
- - thefatherland
  - 2 reviews
  - Glasgow
  - 29 Dec 2011 at 16:29
- - 1
  - 2
  Japan's Finest.
  
  Just finished watching this on BlueRay.One of the best films I have seen to have come out of Japan.Everything about it was of the highest quality.Awesome!
  
  Report this review
- 1074137
- - Gak
  - 13 reviews
  - 17 Dec 2011 at 16:25
- - 2
  - 1
  Ran means Chaos and it is
  
  Bloody marvellous
  
  this is a fantastic movie which many punters won't appreciate because they want 90 minutes of Bruce Willis before they go on ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1063972
- - Goldenvision
  - 28 reviews
  - liverpool
  - 17 Nov 2011 at 22:28
- - 0
  - 1
  I'd RUN to see this film
  
  As with Kagemusha, I loved this film. To me it is beautiful in everyway. The sound (or lack of it) goes so well with the story and locations. Please watch this ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 982367
- - oli74
  - 44 reviews
  - olisykes74@gmail.com
  - 14 Apr 2011 at 12:54
- - 0
  - 0
  Enjoyable if daft fusion of Kurosawa and Shakespeare
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  A slightly crawling first twenty minutes gives way to a rollicking two hours in this crazy adaptation of King Lear by legendary Japanese autuer, Akira Kurosawa... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 982327
- - a customer
  - 14 Apr 2011 at 10:52
- - 0
  - 0
  A lengthy yet awesome ride
  
  First thing I have to say is how amazing the lead actor playing 'Hidetora' (the character who is the equivalent of King Lear in Shakespeare's ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 967310
- - brianw4815
  - 122 reviews
  - United Kingdom
  - 24 Feb 2011 at 00:11
- - 0
  - 0
  Another Kurosawa masterpiece
  
  Incredible version of King Lear. Even without my favourite actor Toshiro Mifune, all the actors were excellent, particularly Hidetora and his youngest son. I ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 947212
- - yamimami
  - West London
  - 16 Dec 2010 at 09:48
- - 0
  - 0
  Fascinating and Beautiful
  
  ..but not a masterpiece. This is an excellent film, and well worth watching. It’ just that it suffers by comparison with “King Lear”, upon which ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 942629
- - OldTom
  - 49 reviews
  - Berkhamsted
  - 26 Nov 2010 at 16:36
View all members' reviews (61)

- - 16
  - 4
  Classic Last Shout for Kurosawa
  
  Ran is Akira Kurosawa's 1985 epic adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear. Like Lear, Ran is about a king's (in
  
  this case ageing Japanese ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 18766
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - GraftheGreatest
  - 15 reviews
  - Harrow
  - 19 Sep 2004 at 15:00
- - 5
  - 0
  A Beutiful and Epic Tale
  
  Kurosawa's adaptation of Shakespears King Lear is a sight to behold, shot against an amazing back drop and steeped as ever in the culture of feudal Japan ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 64012
- - The Mighty Reptile
  - London, England
  - 13 Jan 2005 at 17:35
- - 4
  - 0
  A Beautiful Film
  
  My only hesitation in using the word 'masterpiece' to describe Ran is that the term is so often used without cause.
  
  Kurosawa's reading of... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 311783
- - MonkeyMoo
  - Surrey
  - 19 Oct 2004 at 18:12
- - 3
  - 0
  one of ak's best
  
  highly enjoyable ak movie - one of his best. okay so it's a shakespearian plot but it transfers really well into fuedal japan - and let's face it, no ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 88211
- - leon blank
  - rainy Wales
  - 04 Apr 2005 at 11:37
- - 5
  - 4
  RAN--run way!!!
  
  This film was reviewed in a book called 1001 films to see before you die.
  
  It said that RAN was a classic, with near perfect acting and a fantastic ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 613974
- - Klysk
  - 12 reviews
  - Wolverhampton
  - 15 Aug 2008 at 08:57
- - 2
  - 0
  classic cinematic shakespeare
  
  King Lear transposed to feudal Japan, The Chief Warlord has 3 sons of whom the 2 eldest are constantly praising him while the youngest is seemingly only eager ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 11699
- - Saty
  - Reading
  - 22 Jul 2004 at 14:48
- - 2
  - 0
  Beautifully filmed ...
  
  Beautifully filmed with a powerful cast. The plot twines in and out keeping you at the edge of your seats in a power struggle between brothers. Excellent.
  
  Report this review
- 41676
- - Francis#3
  - BUCKHURST HILL
  - 20 Jul 2004 at 11:04
- - 2
  - 0
  Clever and Enjoyable
  
  Another masterpiece from Kurosawa. I?ve always loved King Lear, and this ?Japanified? version is a wonderful and clever take on the story.
  
  Report this review
- 56947
- - Mark Adams
  - Manchester, England
  - 02 Dec 2004 at 12:43
- - 2
  - 0
  Long, but worth the effort!
  
  East meets west in master director Akiro Kurasawa's take on Shakespear's King Lear story.
  
  An ageing lord, tired of the fighting and intrigue ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 97849
- - Toni & Nic
  - Letchworth-Garden-City, England
  - 28 Apr 2005 at 17:15
- - 2
  - 0
  Ran
  
  Ran was an amazing creation. Based on King Lear it is also its own film. Ran loosely translates as Chaos, and the sense of order falling apart is strong ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 121917
- - Dan Horrigan
  - London
  - 08 Jul 2005 at 18:37

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Critic's review
- Kurosawa established himself as the best cinematic interpreter of Shakespeare with his recasting of Macbeth as a... read more on Time Out
- 46507
- - Time Out
  - 04 Nov 2008 at 00:16

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- RAN - HD
  
  For his 27th film, the 'sensei' of Japanese cinema, Akira Kurosawa, transposes Shakespeare's KING LEAR to feudal Japan. RAN, which translates as 'chaos' or 'turmoil', is the tragic tale of Lord Hidetora, a warlord who decides to divide his empire among his three sons on the eve of his 70th birthday....

- - Buy
- RAN - Blu-ray
  
  For his 27th film, the 'sensei' of Japanese cinema, Akira Kurosawa, transposes Shakespeare's KING LEAR to feudal Japan. RAN, which translates as 'chaos' or 'turmoil', is the tragic tale of Lord Hidetora, a warlord who decides to divide his empire among his three sons on the eve of his 70th birthday....

- - Buy
- RAN
  
  For his 27th film, the 'sensei' of Japanese cinema, Akira Kurosawa, transposes Shakespeare's KING LEAR to feudal Japan. RAN, which translates as 'chaos' or 'turmoil', is the tragic tale of Lord Hidetora, a warlord who decides to divide his empire among his three sons on the eve of his 70th birthday....