Ran (1985)

Ran: Directed by Akira Kurosawa. With Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryû. In Medieval Japan, an elderly warlord retires, handing over his empire to his three sons. However, he vastly underestimates how the new-found power will corrupt them and cause them to turn on each other…and him.

“With RAN (1985) Akira Kurosawa seems to be setting up a macarbe trap. The first section of the film is slow, following an aging warlord (Tatsuya Nakadaiu0026#39;s best acting in a long wonderous career.) dividing his castles amongst his unsavory sons. The action is slow, people talk in low tones, itu0026#39;s almost at snailu0026#39;s pace. But then, a battle scene like nothing you ever seen before explodes on the screen. The film takes a 180 degree turn and becomes more and more sinister, more compelling. You canu0026#39;t look away. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003enAkira Kurosawa (1910-1997) was responsible for elevating Japanese cinema to a front-runner in world cinema. Two of his films, RASHOMON and SEVEN SAMURAI were made in less than ten years after World War II. These films put a spotlight on Japanese culture. Some of his later films, THE HIDDEN FORTRESS, THE BAD SLEEP WELL, YOJIMBO and HIGH AND LOW became the basis for a good percentage of the major American films produced after 1960.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIf you sit down to see RAN, be prepared for a jaw-dropping experience.”