RAN

Before we get started, let me say that one of the great things about any holiday weekend in America is the Twilight Zone marathon that comes on the SciFi channel. Fan-freaking-tastic. God bless America.

Ran is a movie based on King Lear, directed by Akira Kurosawa. Lord Hidetora Ichimonji decides to bequeath control of his family estate to the eldest of his three sons. Alas, they decide to use their new status to get rid of him (spurred on by the treacherous Lady Kaede, whose family was destroyed by Hidetora. Actors you've heard of: probably none, unless you grew up in Japan.

In basketball and golf, you hear announcers talk about a player's shotmaking ability. That's all I could think about watching Ran. Some of the shots Kurosawa puts together are really terrific. Lord Hidetora sitting alone in a burning castle under siege. The siege itself. Hidetora's face whenever life throws another flaming bag of poo in his lap by having his sons turn against him or another one of his companions murdered in front of his eyes. Every single battle scene. It's all wonderfully put together. Monumentally depressing, but really well done.