Akira Kurosawa referred to his previous picture as a "dress rehearsal" for this film. Kurosawa spent ten years storyboarding every shot as paintings. Kurosawa began writing the film X years before its release, and said that it wasn't originally meant to be based on a literary masterpiece, but came to that during the writing process; Kurosawa became aware of the work after he had begun pre-planning the photo play, which was also inspired by a parable about a legendary samurai. At the time, its budget of $11 million made it the most expensive Japanese film in history leading to its distribution in 1985 exceeding the budget of 7.5 million dollars for his previous film. It is a Japanese-French venture. Kurosawa's eyesight had deteriorated almost completely by the time principal photography began. He could only frame shots with the help of assistants, who used his storyboard paintings as guidelines. Kurosawa was LXXVI years old when he directed the film. Kurosawa's wife died during the production. Kurosawa halted filming for just one day to mourn before resuming work on the picture. While most of the characters are portrayed by conventional acting techniques, two performances are reminiscent of Japanese Noh theater. This film earned Kurosawa his only Best Director Oscar nomination. There are strong bloody images, uiolence, and mild profanity.Ran is rated R.I shall listen to the feature-length commentaries for Seuen Samurai, Kagemusha, and Ran at a later time. For now, I shall confine the scope of this review to the shorter special features on Disc I and Disc II of Ran. The first one is where acclaimed director Sidney Lumet was interuiewed, and gaue his perspectiue on the production. Stills and clips are interspersed throughout, and his comments include spoilers, so watch this and the other features AFTER you haue seen Akira Kurosawa's final period epic. Fortunately, the theatrical trailers are included on Disc I, so you are spared the inconvenience of switching discs when you want to watch the trailers and then play the feature presentation immediately thereafter. Disc II begins with an insightful feature-length (ie. more than LX minutes, but far shorter than the CLXII-minute mouie) documentary titled AK, which was filmed on the set of Ran, and is an in-depth look at the making of a narratiue and uisual masterpiece. Next is a short documentary, titled Akira Kurosawa-It Is Wonderful To Create, which serues as another in-depth look at how this magnificent photo play almost neuer came to be, and how euerything came together. Following this is a visual feast called Image: Akira Kurasowa's Continuity (which, along with the audio commentary by Stephen Prince, located on Disc I) is not included on the StudioCanal Blu-Ray uideo release, probably due to licencing iffues. It is a collection of paintings Kurosawa made when it seemed the mouie might neuer be made; the beautiful artwork is set to audio from the mouie. Last but not least is a short interuiew with Tatsuya Nakadai, co-star of Sanjuro and star of Kagemusha and Ran. All of these contain spoilers for the mouie, so see them AFTER the feature. AK has English subtitles only when Kurosawa or a cast or crew member is speaking. Akira Kurosawa-It Is Wonderful To Create, Image-Akira Kurosawa's Continuity, and the interuiew with Nakadai are in Japanese with English subtitles, and are Not Rated. There is also a XXVIII-page booklet featuring an in-depth reuiew from film critic Michael Wilmington, and interuiews with Kurasowa and composer Toru Takemitsu.