Everybody should watch "Ran". It's amazing to think that Kurosawa was nearly blind when he made it - the imagery is astonishing! The battle scenes are EPIC with a capital "E". This is how you make a film!
Ran is the only movie I've ever watched where there were applause in the middle of the movie. We all knew we were watching one of the best things we'd ever see.
One of? This was my first Kurosawa film, and it's undoubtedly a Masterpiece, and far better than many of my previous favorite movies. If you could recommend a film from him which you believe is better, please do!
@@MajorJakas Have a watch of any of his other films. They're all brilliant. Try The Hidden Fortress, Seven Samurai, Throne of Blood, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Ikiru, Kagemusha or Dreams.
*Ran* is a master class in filmmaking. Anyone with passion for cinema should *ABSOLUTELY* watch it. Every frame, every scene, every shot, every line, every movement --- all are meticulously directed and delivered, not one moment is wasted.
If it wasn’t for these guys my teenaged, Caddyshack-lovin’ self would never have seen this film or others like it. They opened my mind and made me interested in art that I may not have experienced otherwise. They were uniquely important to my generation.
I can’t remember the name of the lead actress, but holy cow she delivered a POWERFUL performance! I actually had to rewind several of her scenes because she was stealing my eyes from the subtitles!!! It’s one thing to have a movie with a strong female lead, it’s another when the lead can emote beyond angry and deadpan. Here we get it all, anger, cunning, outrage, true motive, subtlety, manipulation. This lady delivered in spades!
@@1001Montresor Lady Kaede is my favourite movie character of all time. If you consider what Lord Ichimonji did to her family, and also her sister-in-law, she is a total HERO. Also she is a complex character.
Her character was a great addition to the story, and one that was missing from Leer (a story I didn’t like much). A formidable actress for a formidable role.
I just finished watching it. Although it was long, I never for a moment thought it was dragging. It had me on the first scene right up to the end. A true masterpiece and Im glad I got to experience it
A Rose that Blooms in Early May Sure, there’s that, but also Tsurumaru represents mankind in totality. Alone, on the edge of a precipice, unaware that good (his murdered sister) has left the world, standing in the ruins of what was once civilisation (his castle), blind, afraid and without any god, who has left him. It’s horrifying in fact.
Akira Kurosawa made with Ran one of his greatest masterpieces, even as he could ever imagined The sadness for the loss of a kingdom, the ending of loyalty, the ending of a samurai. Ran is the peak of the twilight of the epic samurai genre... And nobody can shoot action like him
I saw this episode of Siskel and Ebert first run as a teenager and was fascinated by their review of Ran so much so I had to see it. So began my love affair with Kurosawa’s films. I’ve looked for many years for this specific episode and thanks to you I finally found it again! Thank you for uploading this!
I love how this movie hits all the beats of King Lear but adds so much of its own stuff. Instead of monologues we get pregnant facial acting. Instead of the battles being implied, the strategy of the battle makes a metaphor for the characters (like Jiro's blunder showing his naivety). Instead of long death scenes, we got blunt, immediate deaths. Such a great movie and adaptation.
And how! Holy shit the storming of the Third Castle is one of the most incredible sequences I've ever seen. The images are so vivid and the music so haunting; it's like something out of a nightmare. Great movie.
I randomly bought this movie earlier (I know who Kurosawa is but never seen any of his movies except for little clips from Seven Samurai and Yojimbo..etc) and going to watch it tonight.. pretty excited lol.
I really miss Roger! From high school on I learned so much about films and the art of watching them from him(and Gene too). Ran is a film of such profoundness and tragic beauty about family, the human condition and life that it's hard to put it into words!
Love their discussion about the film and Kurosawa's work in general. Didn't know that he worked while blind that's very interesting. Ran is one of his very best I loved it, and it justify's the length too.
I agree, I would even call her the 2nd most important character in the film. Everyone praises the beautiful cinematography and imagery, and it truly is without peer, but its the characters that draw me into the story. Besides Lord Hidetora and Lady Kaede, I also love Kyoami the Fool's part, his quips often driving home the dark irony, and many of them are hilarious when he is alone with Hidetori in the burnt out third castle. And while there were only a few brief scenes, the character of blinded Tsurumaru was quite tragic.
Close contact with director Akira Kurosawa! The camera time slipped in July 1984 at the shooting site of the movie "Ran". You can meet a master who gives gentle and polite acting guidance to actors who do not scold other than the assistant director. While attending Kwansei Gakuin University, he collaborated with a video cameraman and director as a filming assistant and audio manager at the production site of "Ran". It was an exclusive independent production with permission from Director Kurosawa. Instead of having to pay the accommodation fee, the making of random production right was granted to the Herald movie at that time, and it is out in the world
I'm surprised Roger isn't gushing about this movie here. Here's a cinephile who has just witnessed one of the legendary Kurosawa's greatest films - which subsequently means one of the greatest films period. And yet Roger uses understated words like "great".
I disagree from what im hearing hes gushing over it what did you want him to say he said fabulous not great i dont think you were listening closely enough
Having seen roughly 10,000 films, Ran is easily my fav film of all time. I don't need to explain the plot that much here because that is explained here by Roger and Gene in a reverse order of King Lear and instead of three sisters, its three brothers and them not getting along with their father/ king thus dividing the kingdom. Be that as it may, its geniusly directed by my choice for the greatest director of all time, Akira Kurosawa. And yes Gene, you should have have talked for the rest of the show, well actually for an entire show, or even longer about Kurosawa's career or Japanese films, especially Japanese classic films, because they bring a style of honor more than anything else, which has and does seriously lacks in film from around the world. Yes, Roger and Gene, the images are impeccable and unforgettable, even if you've seen the film for the 50th time in which I probably have. Those battle scenes in which so many films rely on CGI nowadays, well not here are amazing to watch. And to know that Kurosawa was 3/4's blind and 75 years old when the film was made makes it so so so impressive. But the best thing?Lady Kaede wow what a b**ch and a truly evil character. She's my choice for the second greatest villainous, most evil diabolical character ever created for film, only behind Orson Wells in Touch of Evil that fat pig of a man. And in a film like Ran or any other film that demands evil characters, isn't it great to have juicy characters that you absolutely love to hate?
nirvanaispus It has maybe the best shot Kurosawa ever composed -- that haunting image of a blind man at the edge of a cliff, which is the last shot of the film. That's an image I'll never forget, but I find this film a second to Seven Samurai -- still the most engaging and enjoyable film ever made for me. I can watch both of them every day and never get tired of them. I would put Ran second and Ikiru third in a list of the best Kurosawa.
Alan Falleur Greetings! Yeah that final shot of the blind man dropping the "portrait" of a Japanese god, Buddha I think it is, Kurosawa showed the world that in the end man is to be alone and left in his own misery, is one of the saddest, but real truths there is in living. One other thing about Ran, I've seen it with 4 different English translations! I think the best translation in on Blu-ray. That one has, to me, the one with the most meat. I have seen The Seven Samurai several time also. But be warned, there is a version here on youtube. Avoid it at all costs! The characters dialogue/ subtitles are not in sync with what the characters are actually saying. So I switched it off. And its missing about 1/2 an hour at any rate. Now shame on me, but the first time I saw it, I was bored. But every other time, it was so entertaining, enlightening, and simply fabulous to watch. Now many 3 hour epics can do that? Its pretty close to 0 for me, but there are a few such as Children of Paradise. W hat are a few of your other fav films? Some of mine are Hair, Wages of Fear, Yojimbo, Koyaaniaqatsi, Alexander Nevsky, The Fall, Touch of Evil, Ugetsu, Planet of the Apes, The Day The Earth Stood Still, Danton, Breaking Away, The Wild Bunch, The Best Years of Our Lives, Bringing Up Baby, Pride of the Yankees, Vertigo, Aguirre The Wrath of God, Amadeus, Red Cliff PTS I and II, Schindlers List, Seven Samurai, . Samurai Trilogy, Dazed and Confused, The Usual Suspects----- many many others
nirvanaispus Of course watching movies on youtube is a crap shoot since the uploader may not know what they're doing, or they're trying to throw off the bots that scan youtube for copyright, so they change the pitch of the audio or whatever. I found that the Criterion Collection is the go-to source for reliable copies of old movies. They support foreign films very well and Kurosawa's work has benefited from their patronage. I think I must have first seen Seven Samurai on TCM late one night, and I was just immediately captivated by it. I felt like I was with those samurai "fighting the good fight" against the bandits and helping the peasants. I soon got my hands on the Criterion Collection version and must have watched it like three times in one weekend. I just couldn't stop watching it. I felt like he had made that movie for me and was speaking directly to me, and I still feel that way. A list of some of my favorite movies would be: The Big Sleep (1946), Seven Samurai, Ikiru, Ran, Throne of Blood, Le Samourai, Dr. Strangelove, Chinatown, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Godfather Trilogy (I like #2 the most, #3 the least probably like most people), Jaws, Star Wars Episodes IV and V (I don't consider myself a hardcore Star Wars fan, but I think those two films have aesthetic appeal that far surpasses or transcends Hidden Fortress -- a film I find barely watchable), Raiders of the Lost Ark (the only Indiana Jones film worth defending, in my opinion), Tootsie (my choice for the funniest film every made), Alien, Bladerunner, Robocop, some of the films by Takeshi Kitano such as Hana-bi and Dolls, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away (I've seen all the other Hayao Miyazaki films too but don't find them nearly as appealing), Jackie Brown, Last Life in the Universe, and all the Coen Brothers' movies. I've seen about half the movies on your list and I like most of them. I think Amadeus should be on my list. I've recently been watching a lot of Soviet films like Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears, The Diamond Arm, and Solaris. I think I'm starting to break through Andrei Tartovsky's films, but they're very challenging.
Alan Falleur Yeah. I must admit that the Criterion collection are absolutely wonderful prints. If only I had the cash to purchase them, I most certainly would. But my budget is severely limited. So that is out. I saw the Seven Samurai in a theater for the first time. I was bored. That is so bad of me. But every other time, probably about 20, its a masterpiece. And its been remade so many times from, the Magnificent 7, Battle Beyond the stars (crap), to Ironclad (terrible), to the 13 Assassins, and I am sure that I am missing a few. But the story is universal. But as far as criterion, you can find most on Hulu. And there are a few on youtube. But RUclips has Wages of Fear, Ugetsu (a few Mizogushi he's my second fav director), Mirror, Stalker, Dersu Uzulu, Ballad of Narayama (oh you gotta see this one if you haven't seen it) etc etc etc. So that's not too bad. MMmmm!!! I Loved the Hidden Fortress. To me, its the most fun I've ever had at the movies. Now we do differ from Tootsie because I didn't laugh once. I tried so hard to get into it, but I just couldn't. I thought the transformation of the Hoffman character was way too quick from him being to a man to a woman. I wanted to see that exploration of the in between, of the transformation as there was precious little. I felt severely cheated. But the again, I must admit that my sense of humor is completely gone off the grid from the rest of the world also. Takeshi Kitano... mmmmm Battle Royale. Doesn't it p**s you off that Hunger games is taking all the glory? After all, all it is is a glittered up version - book included. Yes. I agree Hayao Miyazaki is great! I hate the way the Oscars are doing their lifetime achievements nowadays. Howl's Moving Castle, to me, is his masterpiece. Have you heard? There's going to finally be a Bladerunner sequel. Harrison Ford is on board and I think Ridley Scott is also. Have you been to this site?explore.bfi.org.uk/sightandsoundpolls/2012/directors/ It is a site that to me is the only poll that matters. The reason is, is its a worldwide poll. And its only taken once every decade. And its a director and critics list of the best films... have a look. It was taken in 2012. To my amazement, I had seen the top 19 (there is a tie), of the top 20 films in the directors poll. Tarkovsky has 3 in the top 30. Granted, there are some films I would not even think about putting on my top 10,000 but that's life. well gtg please always tc and have fun -Michael
nirvanaispus I'm glad to see that the Criterion Collection has come down in price recently. I know I've seen their stuff on Amazon.com for $20 - $30. You're right -- ordering direct from their website will cause you to pay an arm and a leg. I have heard about Bladerunner II, and I'm willing to give Sir Ridley Scott a fair viewing, but I must admit I haven't found his recent films very appealing. I couldn't stand Prometheus because I couldn't stand any of the characters in that film. I will try it again later because I know the film has developed a kind of cult following now, but for now I don't see what they're seeing in it. One the directors' list you mentioned, it's an interesting list, and I'm a bit embarrassed to admit I haven't seen a lot of those movies, especially the European movies. I should do myself a favor check out more Fellini films and Jean-Luc Godard because I'll probably like them. What French and Italian films I do manage to see, I usually like. I think the main thing I look for in a movie is the human interest factor. I'm interested in movies that are interested in people. Kurosawa, I think we will agree, is probably THE filmmaker to go to for this, and there are a lot of others.
I use to play this very old Samurai game for the PC, it was in the "Total War" game series and the opening cut scene was of the old man and the attackers outside. I was thinking, man they spared no expense making that cool scene. But it turned out it was footage from this very movie. I played that game until no modern computer could run it. I think medieval 2 total war kingdoms is now the best in that series because you get spies, princesses, merchants, assassins, priest, bishops-if promoted and generals and I end up trying to groom one to perfection because they build up traits over time and you really feel a sense of loss if one is killed in battle or assassinated. Now I kind of associate this movie with Total War Games.
I love Kurasawa and I really want to love Ran, but unfortunately I do not. Visually it's breathtaking but for some reason the story doesn't flow well for me. Parts of it are fantastic to be sure. But between those parts Ran's plot meanders a bit too much. But it could very well be my problem. It's worth revisiting though and I hope things will start clicking with subsequent viewings.
“Kaede-no-Kata” is the most impressive character on this movie. I suppose “RAN” must be more incredible one rather than “KAGEMUSHA”, and more suitable to receive OSCAR trophy.
OK, there are WAY too many comments on how to properly pronounce "Ran". I have THE definitive and correct answer. It's spelled "Ran". But it's pronounced "THROAT-WOBBLER MANGROVE".
Not my favorite Kurosawa film, but worth the time if you are a fan of epic drama and Japanese culture. "The Hidden Fortress" is much more entertaining, and probably my favorite Kurosawa film.
+Brendan Lawrence My top 10 Kurosawa films.. 1. Ikiru 2. Rashomon 3. Seven Samurai 4. Ran 5. Yojimbo 6. High & Low 7. Throne of Blood 8. The Hidden Fortress 9. Sanjuro 10. Dersu Uzala
I agree on The Hidden Fortress being Kurosawa-light. It was a deliberately more commercial effort as payback to his film studio Toho for letting his three previous films, The Idiot, The Lower Depths, & Throne Of Blood, be more risk-taking.
Seriously, whichever critic it was at the beginning saying the movie was about a warlord trying to give up his title while maintaining his power has it ass-backwards. The entire conflict was about him giving up his power but keeping his title be of Great Lord. Fuck critics. Aways have an opinion; never an education.
I was told by someone who speaks Japanese (and is from Japan) that it is pronounced "Rahn"....sort of like the American name "Ron" as in director Ron Howard.
I haven't be able to respond until now: because your comment was written over 5 years ago. But Gone With The Wind trumps All About Eve in just about everything. Its ironic you call Gone With The Wind a Soap Opera, when All About Eve is the text book definition of Soap Bubble mush. . It is a horrid movie. with Bettie Davis over acting every chance she gets. It can never compare to Gone With The Wind . Gone With The Wind is a masterpiece not just for story line and acting, but stunning cinematography, costumes, and enhancements that rival any film made today. It is not in any way possible a Soap Opera. Because I HATE Soap Operas and GWTW is my very favorite movie. All About Eve is a Soap Opera full of hammy bad actors. Sorry!
Al Cd This was during the pre-Internet days where information like proper pronunciations was very often not readily available. Considering how culturally insular most of America still is today, give Siskel & Ebert credit for being way more culturally open-minded than most Americans tend to be.
La La Land is the most overrated piece of crap I've ever seen. Don't compare that shite to Kurosawa's masterpiece. Anyone with a semblance of a brain knows this.
Ted Striker I don't remember any part of the film that fits that description, either for the time you're claiming or for the action. Even when Hidetora is nearly catatonic in the later scenes, his fool is moving around and talking. Surely you're not just commenting on a movie you claim to but haven't really seen based on this video? Because that would be really pathetic.
jackal59 That's all I remember. An old man staring and pondering, then shouting a bit, and then staring again. I do not see why the film had to be so painfully slow paced.
Ted Striker So, you don't remember the boar hunt that starts the film, the massive and very bloody attack on the castle by two armies in the first third of the film, or the even larger battle in the woods toward the end with the cavalry charge being repeatedly cut down by crossfire from the tree line? Instead, you remember something that might kind of describe a single scene in the middle of the movie, which comes after a ten-plus minute battle sequence in which you see (among other things) a man sitting in mud and blood while fighting rages around him, holding his own severed arm? You've never seen this movie.
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Everybody should watch "Ran". It's amazing to think that Kurosawa was nearly blind when he made it - the imagery is astonishing! The battle scenes are EPIC with a capital "E". This is how you make a film!
Its really powerful.
Having grown up on Japanese monster movies, this is a big step up
It's like Beethoven going deaf. This really is Kurosawa's Ninth Symphony.
Ran is the only movie I've ever watched where there were applause in the middle of the movie. We all knew we were watching one of the best things we'd ever see.
One of my favorite Kurosawa films. It is AWESOME!!!! The montage of the chaos at the castle is worth watching alone.
One of? This was my first Kurosawa film, and it's undoubtedly a Masterpiece, and far better than many of my previous favorite movies. If you could recommend a film from him which you believe is better, please do!
@@MajorJakas Have a watch of any of his other films. They're all brilliant. Try The Hidden Fortress, Seven Samurai, Throne of Blood, Yojimbo, Sanjuro, Ikiru, Kagemusha or Dreams.
@@mphylo2296 I just might have to, thank you.
@@MajorJakas I understand, but I watch all of his films. In my opinion, Ikiru is my favourite. But Ran is up there in my top 5.
@シュウヒラタです- This Is Shu Hirata Love that one too.
I remember watching this masterpiece in a theatre and was just blown away by this man’s greatness
One of the most visually stunning film ever made
*Ran* is a master class in filmmaking. Anyone with passion for cinema should *ABSOLUTELY* watch it. Every frame, every scene, every shot, every line, every movement --- all are meticulously directed and delivered, not one moment is wasted.
If it wasn’t for these guys my teenaged, Caddyshack-lovin’ self would never have seen this film or others like it. They opened my mind and made me interested in art that I may not have experienced otherwise. They were uniquely important to my generation.
I can’t remember the name of the lead actress, but holy cow she delivered a POWERFUL performance! I actually had to rewind several of her scenes because she was stealing my eyes from the subtitles!!! It’s one thing to have a movie with a strong female lead, it’s another when the lead can emote beyond angry and deadpan. Here we get it all, anger, cunning, outrage, true motive, subtlety, manipulation. This lady delivered in spades!
Her name is Mieko Harada.
@@jnsurg947 She was amazing. She kinda stole the movie in the few scenes she had.
Absolutely. The character of Lady Kaede is one of the most memorable villains in cinema, and that's elevated a lot by Harada's performance.
@@1001Montresor Lady Kaede is my favourite movie character of all time. If you consider what Lord Ichimonji did to her family, and also her sister-in-law, she is a total HERO. Also she is a complex character.
Her character was a great addition to the story, and one that was missing from Leer (a story I didn’t like much).
A formidable actress for a formidable role.
I just finished watching it. Although it was long, I never for a moment thought it was dragging. It had me on the first scene right up to the end. A true masterpiece and Im glad I got to experience it
The ending made me cry and reflect on life for a bit. A damn good film.
"Blindness leads us to the loneliness of life" --- that's the message that I get from the ending.
A Rose that Blooms in Early May Sure, there’s that, but also Tsurumaru represents mankind in totality. Alone, on the edge of a precipice, unaware that good (his murdered sister) has left the world, standing in the ruins of what was once civilisation (his castle), blind, afraid and without any god, who has left him. It’s horrifying in fact.
Akira Kurosawa made with Ran one of his greatest masterpieces, even as he could ever imagined
The sadness for the loss of a kingdom, the ending of loyalty, the ending of a samurai. Ran is the peak of the twilight of the epic samurai genre...
And nobody can shoot action like him
First undeniable masterpiece I saw first run. And I started watching films in theatres around 1972.
I saw this episode of Siskel and Ebert first run as a teenager and was fascinated by their review of Ran so much so I had to see it. So began my love affair with Kurosawa’s films. I’ve looked for many years for this specific episode and thanks to you I finally found it again! Thank you for uploading this!
One of my absolute favorites.
I love how this movie hits all the beats of King Lear but adds so much of its own stuff. Instead of monologues we get pregnant facial acting. Instead of the battles being implied, the strategy of the battle makes a metaphor for the characters (like Jiro's blunder showing his naivety). Instead of long death scenes, we got blunt, immediate deaths. Such a great movie and adaptation.
I found "Ran' to be very sloooow-moving but then, BY GOD, the pay-off toward the end. One of the most extraordinary sequences I've ever seen on film.
+pendorran
Kurosawa movies tend to be slow paced but the slow build up usually pays off with incredible climax!
And how! Holy shit the storming of the Third Castle is one of the most incredible sequences I've ever seen. The images are so vivid and the music so haunting; it's like something out of a nightmare. Great movie.
I was glued and engaged the whole time. One of the greatest films ever, could be a contender as the greatest.
It's dope from the very beginning homie
I randomly bought this movie earlier (I know who Kurosawa is but never seen any of his movies except for little clips from Seven Samurai and Yojimbo..etc) and going to watch it tonight.. pretty excited lol.
One of the best movie I had ever seen .
I really miss Roger! From high school on I learned so much about films and the art of watching them from him(and Gene too). Ran is a film of such profoundness and tragic beauty about family, the human condition and life that it's hard to put it into words!
A stunning movie, one of the very best ever. I have watched it countless times and it is timeless.
Love their discussion about the film and Kurosawa's work in general. Didn't know that he worked while blind that's very interesting. Ran is one of his very best I loved it, and it justify's the length too.
This movie was a giant kick in hollywood´s skanky ass.
Unbelievable that both Ebert and siskel had long been dead. RIP the greatest
One of the best films I have ever seen.
My favourite Japanese film ever. Seven Samurai is awesome too, but Ran dethrones it.
GODZILLA (1984) is the best Japanese movie 🇯🇵
Is a classic masterpiece for sure.
Ran is a masterpiece
Great film reviewed by great reviewers. Lady Kaede steals the film. She is one of my all time favourite characters.
I agree, I would even call her the 2nd most important character in the film. Everyone praises the beautiful cinematography and imagery, and it truly is without peer, but its the characters that draw me into the story. Besides Lord Hidetora and Lady Kaede, I also love Kyoami the Fool's part, his quips often driving home the dark irony, and many of them are hilarious when he is alone with Hidetori in the burnt out third castle. And while there were only a few brief scenes, the character of blinded Tsurumaru was quite tragic.
Close contact with director Akira Kurosawa! The camera time slipped in July 1984 at the shooting site of the movie "Ran". You can meet a master who gives gentle and polite acting guidance to actors who do not scold other than the assistant director.
While attending Kwansei Gakuin University, he collaborated with a video cameraman and director as a filming assistant and audio manager at the production site of "Ran". It was an exclusive independent production with permission from Director Kurosawa. Instead of having to pay the accommodation fee, the making of random production right was granted to the Herald movie at that time, and it is out in the world
I'm surprised Roger isn't gushing about this movie here. Here's a cinephile who has just witnessed one of the legendary Kurosawa's greatest films - which subsequently means one of the greatest films period. And yet Roger uses understated words like "great".
I disagree from what im hearing hes gushing over it what did you want him to say he said fabulous not great i dont think you were listening closely enough
My three favorite directors ever: Spielberg, Hitchcock and this guy. Master classes in movie making.
What about Scorsese?
John Cassavetes >>>>> Scorsese
Spielberg never made a good film after "The Duel"...lol
Having seen roughly 10,000 films, Ran is easily my fav film of all time. I don't need to explain the plot that much here because that is explained here by Roger and Gene in a reverse order of King Lear and instead of three sisters, its three brothers and them not getting along with their father/ king thus dividing the kingdom. Be that as it may, its geniusly directed by my choice for the greatest director of all time, Akira Kurosawa. And yes Gene, you should have have talked for the rest of the show, well actually for an entire show, or even longer about Kurosawa's career or Japanese films, especially Japanese classic films, because they bring a style of honor more than anything else, which has and does seriously lacks in film from around the world. Yes, Roger and Gene, the images are impeccable and unforgettable, even if you've seen the film for the 50th time in which I probably have. Those battle scenes in which so many films rely on CGI nowadays, well not here are amazing to watch. And to know that Kurosawa was 3/4's blind and 75 years old when the film was made makes it so so so impressive. But the best thing?Lady Kaede wow what a b**ch and a truly evil character. She's my choice for the second greatest villainous, most evil diabolical character ever created for film, only behind Orson Wells in Touch of Evil that fat pig of a man. And in a film like Ran or any other film that demands evil characters, isn't it great to have juicy characters that you absolutely love to hate?
nirvanaispus It has maybe the best shot Kurosawa ever composed -- that haunting image of a blind man at the edge of a cliff, which is the last shot of the film. That's an image I'll never forget, but I find this film a second to Seven Samurai -- still the most engaging and enjoyable film ever made for me. I can watch both of them every day and never get tired of them. I would put Ran second and Ikiru third in a list of the best Kurosawa.
Alan Falleur Greetings! Yeah that final shot of the blind man dropping the "portrait" of a Japanese god, Buddha I think it is, Kurosawa showed the world that in the end man is to be alone and left in his own misery, is one of the saddest, but real truths there is in living. One other thing about Ran, I've seen it with 4 different English translations! I think the best translation in on Blu-ray. That one has, to me, the one with the most meat.
I have seen The Seven Samurai several time also. But be warned, there is a version here on youtube. Avoid it at all costs! The characters dialogue/ subtitles are not in sync with what the characters are actually saying. So I switched it off. And its missing about 1/2 an hour at any rate. Now shame on me, but the first time I saw it, I was bored. But every other time, it was so entertaining, enlightening, and simply fabulous to watch. Now many 3 hour epics can do that? Its pretty close to 0 for me, but there are a few such as Children of Paradise.
W hat are a few of your other fav films? Some of mine are Hair, Wages of Fear, Yojimbo, Koyaaniaqatsi, Alexander Nevsky, The Fall, Touch of Evil, Ugetsu, Planet of the Apes, The Day The Earth Stood Still, Danton, Breaking Away, The Wild Bunch, The Best Years of Our Lives, Bringing Up Baby, Pride of the Yankees, Vertigo, Aguirre The Wrath of God, Amadeus, Red Cliff PTS I and II, Schindlers List, Seven Samurai, . Samurai Trilogy, Dazed and Confused, The Usual Suspects----- many many others
nirvanaispus Of course watching movies on youtube is a crap shoot since the uploader may not know what they're doing, or they're trying to throw off the bots that scan youtube for copyright, so they change the pitch of the audio or whatever.
I found that the Criterion Collection is the go-to source for reliable copies of old movies. They support foreign films very well and Kurosawa's work has benefited from their patronage. I think I must have first seen Seven Samurai on TCM late one night, and I was just immediately captivated by it. I felt like I was with those samurai "fighting the good fight" against the bandits and helping the peasants. I soon got my hands on the Criterion Collection version and must have watched it like three times in one weekend. I just couldn't stop watching it. I felt like he had made that movie for me and was speaking directly to me, and I still feel that way.
A list of some of my favorite movies would be: The Big Sleep (1946), Seven Samurai, Ikiru, Ran, Throne of Blood, Le Samourai, Dr. Strangelove, Chinatown, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Godfather Trilogy (I like #2 the most, #3 the least probably like most people), Jaws, Star Wars Episodes IV and V (I don't consider myself a hardcore Star Wars fan, but I think those two films have aesthetic appeal that far surpasses or transcends Hidden Fortress -- a film I find barely watchable), Raiders of the Lost Ark (the only Indiana Jones film worth defending, in my opinion), Tootsie (my choice for the funniest film every made), Alien, Bladerunner, Robocop, some of the films by Takeshi Kitano such as Hana-bi and Dolls, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away (I've seen all the other Hayao Miyazaki films too but don't find them nearly as appealing), Jackie Brown, Last Life in the Universe, and all the Coen Brothers' movies.
I've seen about half the movies on your list and I like most of them. I think Amadeus should be on my list.
I've recently been watching a lot of Soviet films like Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears, The Diamond Arm, and Solaris. I think I'm starting to break through Andrei Tartovsky's films, but they're very challenging.
Alan Falleur Yeah. I must admit that the Criterion collection are absolutely wonderful prints. If only I had the cash to purchase them, I most certainly would. But my budget is severely limited. So that is out. I saw the Seven Samurai in a theater for the first time. I was bored. That is so bad of me. But every other time, probably about 20, its a masterpiece. And its been remade so many times from, the Magnificent 7, Battle Beyond the stars (crap), to Ironclad (terrible), to the 13 Assassins, and I am sure that I am missing a few. But the story is universal.
But as far as criterion, you can find most on Hulu. And there are a few on youtube.
But RUclips has Wages of Fear, Ugetsu (a few Mizogushi he's my second fav director), Mirror, Stalker, Dersu Uzulu, Ballad of Narayama (oh you gotta see this one if you haven't seen it) etc etc etc. So that's not too bad.
MMmmm!!! I Loved the Hidden Fortress. To me, its the most fun I've ever had at the movies.
Now we do differ from Tootsie because I didn't laugh once. I tried so hard to get into it, but I just couldn't. I thought the transformation of the Hoffman character was way too quick from him being to a man to a woman. I wanted to see that exploration of the in between, of the transformation as there was precious little. I felt severely cheated. But the again, I must admit that my sense of humor is completely gone off the grid from the rest of the world also.
Takeshi Kitano... mmmmm Battle Royale. Doesn't it p**s you off that Hunger games is taking all the glory? After all, all it is is a glittered up version - book included.
Yes. I agree Hayao Miyazaki is great! I hate the way the Oscars are doing their lifetime achievements nowadays. Howl's Moving Castle, to me, is his masterpiece.
Have you heard? There's going to finally be a Bladerunner sequel. Harrison Ford is on board and I think Ridley Scott is also.
Have you been to this site?explore.bfi.org.uk/sightandsoundpolls/2012/directors/
It is a site that to me is the only poll that matters. The reason is, is its a worldwide poll. And its only taken once every decade. And its a director and critics list of the best films... have a look. It was taken in 2012. To my amazement, I had seen the top 19 (there is a tie), of the top 20 films in the directors poll. Tarkovsky has 3 in the top 30. Granted, there are some films I would not even think about putting on my top 10,000 but that's life.
well gtg
please always tc and have fun
-Michael
nirvanaispus I'm glad to see that the Criterion Collection has come down in price recently. I know I've seen their stuff on Amazon.com for $20 - $30. You're right -- ordering direct from their website will cause you to pay an arm and a leg.
I have heard about Bladerunner II, and I'm willing to give Sir Ridley Scott a fair viewing, but I must admit I haven't found his recent films very appealing. I couldn't stand Prometheus because I couldn't stand any of the characters in that film. I will try it again later because I know the film has developed a kind of cult following now, but for now I don't see what they're seeing in it.
One the directors' list you mentioned, it's an interesting list, and I'm a bit embarrassed to admit I haven't seen a lot of those movies, especially the European movies. I should do myself a favor check out more Fellini films and Jean-Luc Godard because I'll probably like them. What French and Italian films I do manage to see, I usually like.
I think the main thing I look for in a movie is the human interest factor. I'm interested in movies that are interested in people. Kurosawa, I think we will agree, is probably THE filmmaker to go to for this, and there are a lot of others.
This is the greatest movie of all time with 2001 & Godfather
& Lala land
@@johnboy2349 airbud
Am I the only one that thought Ran was a bit better than Seven Samurai?
Ran was so good. Kurosawa in color is amazing.
Kurosawa killed it with his Shakespeare adaptations, "RAN" is definitely my favourite. Alongside "Throne Of Blood"
Takemitsu's music is wonderful
I use to play this very old Samurai game for the PC, it was in the "Total War" game series and the opening cut scene was of the old man and the attackers outside. I was thinking, man they spared no expense making that cool scene. But it turned out it was footage from this very movie. I played that game until no modern computer could run it. I think medieval 2 total war kingdoms is now the best in that series because you get spies, princesses, merchants, assassins, priest, bishops-if promoted and generals and I end up trying to groom one to perfection because they build up traits over time and you really feel a sense of loss if one is killed in battle or assassinated. Now I kind of associate this movie with Total War Games.
Have you tired Shogun 2? It's very good!
Kurosawa is the Beethoven of movie-making.
黒澤明監督に密着取材！カメラは映画『乱』の撮影現場1984年7月にタイムスリップ。助監督以外は叱らない、俳優には優しく丁寧な演技指導を施す巨匠に出会えます。
関西学院大学在学中にビデオカメラマン兼監督と『乱』の製作現場を撮影助手兼音声担当として共同取材。黒澤監督に許可を得た独占自主制作でした
Beautiful movie...
but it is illegal and wrong to upload here without copyright. Even if it is for a good reason, it is still wrong
I love Kurasawa and I really want to love Ran, but unfortunately I do not. Visually it's breathtaking but for some reason the story doesn't flow well for me. Parts of it are fantastic to be sure. But between those parts Ran's plot meanders a bit too much. But it could very well be my problem. It's worth revisiting though and I hope things will start clicking with subsequent viewings.
Dersu Uzala.
They did not have repeating rifles at all.
“Kaede-no-Kata” is the most impressive character on this movie.
I suppose “RAN” must be more incredible one rather than “KAGEMUSHA”, and more suitable to receive OSCAR trophy.
OK, there are WAY too many comments on how to properly pronounce "Ran". I have THE definitive and correct answer.
It's spelled "Ran".
But it's pronounced "THROAT-WOBBLER MANGROVE".
Not my favorite Kurosawa film, but worth the time if you are a fan of epic drama and Japanese culture. "The Hidden Fortress" is much more entertaining, and probably my favorite Kurosawa film.
+Brendan Lawrence
My top 10 Kurosawa films..
1. Ikiru
2. Rashomon
3. Seven Samurai
4. Ran
5. Yojimbo
6. High & Low
7. Throne of Blood
8. The Hidden Fortress
9. Sanjuro
10. Dersu Uzala
+Jeremy Film Buff just watched it for the first time bec Netflix has it. Blown away.
omg. It's on Netflix? I know what I'm doing tonight!
The Hidden Fortress is Kurosawa light.
I agree on The Hidden Fortress being Kurosawa-light. It was a deliberately more commercial effort as payback to his film studio Toho for letting his three previous films, The Idiot, The Lower Depths, & Throne Of Blood, be more risk-taking.
Seriously, whichever critic it was at the beginning saying the movie was about a warlord trying to give up his title while maintaining his power has it ass-backwards. The entire conflict was about him giving up his power but keeping his title be of Great Lord. Fuck critics. Aways have an opinion; never an education.
RAN in Japanese is pronounced as 'run' in English not 'ran' in English as the critic pronounced it.
I was told by someone who speaks Japanese (and is from Japan) that it is pronounced "Rahn"....sort of like the American name "Ron" as in director Ron Howard.
Vowels in Japanese are pronounced almost exactly like Spanish... the "a" in Ran is pronounced like the "a" in, uh, taco
@@gc3k your description is the only one I've read that's anywhere near close. The others are way off.
I haven't be able to respond until now: because your comment was written over 5 years ago. But Gone With The Wind trumps All About Eve in just about everything. Its ironic you call Gone With The Wind a Soap Opera, when All About Eve is the text book definition of Soap Bubble mush. . It is a horrid movie. with Bettie Davis over acting every chance she gets. It can never compare to Gone With The Wind . Gone With The Wind is a masterpiece not just for story line and acting, but stunning cinematography, costumes, and enhancements that rival any film made today. It is not in any way possible a Soap Opera. Because I HATE Soap Operas and GWTW is my very favorite movie. All About Eve is a Soap Opera full of hammy bad actors. Sorry!
"Gone with the Wind" is right up there with "Birth of a Nation" and "Triumph of the Will"...
It's pronounced "run."
+zopiclone199 RAHN
These guys cannot pronounce Japanese words at all!
Al Cd This was during the pre-Internet days where information like proper pronunciations was very often not readily available. Considering how culturally insular most of America still is today, give Siskel & Ebert credit for being way more culturally open-minded than most Americans tend to be.
Al Cd I know it’s not obvious but these guys aren’t Japanese.
Yes,if only Americans could pronounce Japanese as well as Japanese pronounce English... Sigh.
Lala land is way better in my opinion
La La Land is the most overrated piece of crap I've ever seen.
Don't compare that shite to Kurosawa's masterpiece. Anyone with a semblance of a brain knows this.
@@lonestar6709 you got trolled brah
I fell asleep during this film. I recognize its quality, but if a film makes me fall asleep, it's a failure in my book.
Ted Striker Or maybe it's something lacking with you.
jackal59
Oh please. Watching an old guy stare intensely into the distance for ten minutes in a row is kind of boring.
Ted Striker
I don't remember any part of the film that fits that description, either for the time you're claiming or for the action. Even when Hidetora is nearly catatonic in the later scenes, his fool is moving around and talking. Surely you're not just commenting on a movie you claim to but haven't really seen based on this video? Because that would be really pathetic.
jackal59
That's all I remember. An old man staring and pondering, then shouting a bit, and then staring again. I do not see why the film had to be so painfully slow paced.
Ted Striker
So, you don't remember the boar hunt that starts the film, the massive and very bloody attack on the castle by two armies in the first third of the film, or the even larger battle in the woods toward the end with the cavalry charge being repeatedly cut down by crossfire from the tree line? Instead, you remember something that might kind of describe a single scene in the middle of the movie, which comes after a ten-plus minute battle sequence in which you see (among other things) a man sitting in mud and blood while fighting rages around him, holding his own severed arm?
You've never seen this movie.