War is hell - Kurosawa is a cinematic god.

Rating: 10/10 (28 August 2002)

Massive SPOILER ahead.
A truly wonderful study of war. It is a story about what should have been a simple family feud, but because of the position of the family in question in the Japanese hierarchy many thousands of people have to die senseless deaths. It's especially significant to note that, like in almost every war in human history, the leaders who were responsible for the carnage do not die until the very end. It is an incredible relief to finally see them die, and perhaps that is the only element of the ending that makes it a rather "happy" one. It's difficult not to feel sorry for them when it happens, yet it is the most satisfying feeling knowing that had they been killed much earlier, then so many innocent people would have been spared. The scene that symbolizes this theme best is that of the fallen emperor as he walks away untouched from a battle, in which everyone, including all of his best warriors, and his wives, is killed. They all die because of a decision he made, yet he is the only one who survives - what a wonderful, and true to life, irony it is.
This is quite likely the best war film ever made, matched only by Hoffman's "Deluge" and Chen Kaige's "Emperor & The Assassin", although neither of these other two films made such a powerful philosophical statement. It is Kurosawa's greatest work, and far more mature and interesting than any of his previous work. "Seven Samurai" was fun, and most popular amongst american audiences, but hardly his best film, even "Hidden Fortress" was more cinematically interesting. "Ran" is simply magnificent. A true work of art.