Ran

The true pleasures of a private screening are always the little things. Yoko translating the end credits "Akira Kurosawa. End." Sylvia's phone going off at a crucial moment. The sheer volume of food being passed around. Julian's complete inability to stop saying "Bloody good movie" afterwards. The awareness we were meant to be watching Rashomon.

Ran itself didn't disappoint. Kurosawa was a monumentally talented man, and this labour of love was extremely powerful. Its use of colour, the music, the cinematography, the sheer scale of the spectacle (without a CGI shot in sight), nothing disappointed. The greatest criticism I can make is that the artificial reverb attached to some of the voices felt stagey at times.

Special mention has to go to Kaeda. I loved this character. Absolute psycho, but you had to admit, she had a point. I wasn't entirely clear on why she was so determined to wipe out Su\'e, however. Anyone with any idea can comment. ;)

A very, very intense movie, I definitely felt the need for a break at the end of it. Of course, looking at the list, we've got a way to go. Under no circumstances should we watch Hotaru no Haka next week. (I actually own a copy, which should save on rental costs...)

Bloody good movie.