Ran (1985)

So, here it is. A nearly three-hour film by the master, Akira Kurosawa, that was mixed at FILM CLUB. Oh well, you can't please everyone -- but you can please me. This is a beautiful film, amazingly choreographed and designed, with a story that remains heart-felt and emotional each and every time it is viewed. To this young critic, this movie is the backbone to such films like "Braveheart" or any of the "Lord of the Rings" movies. There is just a Shakespearean resonance (obviously borrowed from the Bard), but also a full-slab of originality. My favorite parts involve Lady Kaene and the words spoken from the mouth of our Jester - Kurosawa has this ability to bring secondary characters out of the shadows and flesh them out completely. The bold colors involved pull all of your senses together to ensure a phenomenal film watching experience. Now fully out-of-print via Criterion, this should have been one of their Blu options if Lionsgate wouldn't have forced the rights back to them. A sad moment, but short-lived knowing that I can show this edition to anyone that cares to be involved with amazing cinema.

If it isn't obvious, this is getting a green highlight with blue stars - only to be watched again and again and again. Given to me as a gift (not this edition, but a great starter), I cannot wait to give this film to someone else - allowing them to experience the power of both Kurosawa (who was nearly blind when this was being made) and the ability of Criterion to release amazingly refreshed classics. Oddly, found in my "Encyclopedia of Japanese Cinema", I cannot wait to resurface this film - to see these battles in full color once again.