Rent Ran (1985)

3.9 of 5 from 293 ratings
2h 35min
Rent Ran (aka Revolt) Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
  • General info
  • Available formats
Synopsis:
Akira Kurosawa's acclaimed study of power, revenge and retribution is set against the magnificent backdrop of feudal warfare in sixteenth century Japan. Transposing the events of Shakespeare's King Lear to the blood-thirsty 'Period of Warring States', 'Ran' tells the story of a bitter power struggle within the family of Warlord Hidetora Ichimonji (Tatsuya Nakadai). After fifty years of ruthless slaughter Hidetora divides his kingdom among his sons, seeking peaceful retirement. However, as his life descends into chaos, he is unable to escape the corruption within his family and the torment within his soul.
Actors:
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Hitoshi Ueki, ,
Directors:
Producers:
Masato Hara, Serge Silberman
Voiced By:
Seizô Katô
Writers:
Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni, Masato Ide, William Shakespeare
Others:
Emi Wada, Shohichiro Meda, Tameyuki Aimi, Chihako Naito, Noriko Takamizawa, Yoshiro Muraki, Shinobu Muraki, Masaharu Ueda, Asakazu Nakai, Serge Silberman, Masato Ide, Takao Saitô, Masato Hara
Aka:
Revolt
Studio:
Warner
Genres:
Action & Adventure, Drama
Collections:
10 Films to Watch if You Like All Is True, Award Winners, Films & TV by topic, Films to Watch If You Like..., The Best Films Based On Shakespeare, The Biggest Oscar Snubs: Part 2, The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to: Akira Kurosawa, Top 10 Award Winners at the London Film Festival, Top Films
Countries:
Japan
Awards:

1987 BAFTA Best Foreign Film

1987 BAFTA Make-Up And Hair

1986 Oscar Best Costume Design

BBFC:
Release Date:
03/05/2004
Run Time:
155 minutes
Languages:
Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0, Japanese LPCM Stereo
Subtitles:
English
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.85:1
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • 'A.K. - The Making of Ran' by the Celebrated Director Chris Marker (71 Mins. Approx.)
Disc 1:
This disc includes the main feature
Disc 2:
This disc includes the following special feature:
- The Making Of Run
BBFC:
Release Date:
28/09/2009
Run Time:
162 minutes
Languages:
Castilian Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, German DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles:
Castillian, Danish, Dutch, English Hard of Hearing, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.85:1
Colour:
Colour
BLU-RAY Regions:
B
BBFC:
Release Date:
19/07/2021
Run Time:
161 minutes
Languages:
Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles:
English
DVD Regions:
Region 0 (All)
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.85:1
Colour:
Colour
BLU-RAY Regions:
(0) All

More like Ran

Reviews (6) of Ran

Impressive - Ran review by NW

Spoiler Alert
18/01/2012

I am shocked. No-one quite managed to tell me how good this film is ... how stunningly powerful. Shakespeare would, I fancy, have loved it. It lacks, of course, so far as I can tell from sounds and sub-titles, his ingenuity and beauty of language: but this is a different medium: the poetry of words is replaced, and at least equalled, by the sharpness, the beauty and the effect that is achieved visually.

There are, however, further strengths in Ran which are possibly not matched in Lear, as well as some possible flaws to which I shall return later. While the setting is a mythical one, it did, I felt, give me a deeper insight into actual Japanese historical culture and sensibility than I had had before. It also touched moral and philosophical depths - and posed problems - which I have never quite felt that Lear reached. Lear, I have felt, takes a rather stylised set of social conventions as its basis and does not go beyond the personal consequences to examine the more political ones ...

This is surely not the greatest film I have seen, but within its context I cannot recall praising another so strongly. Kurosawa is, it seems, one of the few directors who can use both colour and a wide screen without being overwhelmed by them and he presents battle scenes, where - as so rarely - you can follow what is going on both tactically and strategically and can understand the lie of the land. On the other hand ... this is an impressively lavish production and also a rather long film, at 155 minutes: it can carry this, but I increasingly feel that directors and producers should be more restrained and hold films to tighter limits. (Unless it is Bollywood with a lot of songs and dances!) Further, Kurosawa does seem to dwell rather more than is seemly on extended violence and gore - facing reality is healthy; wallowing may be unhealthy! You need it, though, to appreciate Japanese history fully …

5 out of 5 members found this review helpful.

A classic tale of rivalry and greed. - Ran review by CP Customer

Spoiler Alert
19/05/2006

This Japanese epic based on Shakespeare's King Lear tells the tale of an aging Japanese aristocrat named Lord Hidetora who divides his land between his three sons. As predicted by the youngest son things soon go wrong and overwhelmed by greed and rivalry the sons declare war on each other and as his family self destructs Lord Hidetora descends into madness. If you've never seen an Akira Kurosawa film before then 'Ran' is a great place to start. The acting is great, the battle scenes are spectacular, and the cinematography and use of colour is simply breathtaking. If you're a fan of Shakespeare, Japanese cinema or just great films in general then 'Ran' is a must see.

4 out of 6 members found this review helpful.

Epic - Ran review by JO

Spoiler Alert
20/09/2018

I saw 'Ran' 20 years ago and remember the powerful, striking imagery throughout. It has retained its power to captivate and enthrall the viewer. The story is a retelling of King Lear although the setting has been transposed to ancient feudal Japan and instead of the aging King bestowing his land on his daughters Kurasawa decides to make sons the beneficiaries. Kurasawa cannot rival Shakespeare's ingenuity of language but there are some deeply poetic speeches in 'Ran' and it may be more impressive in the original Japanese rather than the English translation. The performances are excellent. Nakadai is both commanding and humble as the proud King but equally impressive is Mieko Harada as the scheming wife of Ichimonji (the second son). The film's first battle sequence is worth the admission ticket alone: it is one of the most grisly yet beautiful set-pieces of any film I've seen. An astonishing technical achievement, 'Ran' ranks as one of Japanese cinemas greats.

2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.

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