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Why isn’t this film highly regarded as a war film?

posted 4 years ago by Ed (525)
1 reply | jump to latest

Ran is a masterpiece, one of the greatest films ever. Certainly one of my favorites, and generally well-regarded all around. And yet, it never appears on any list of top war films. Never! I don’t know why not. There are huge battle set pieces in it.

Is it because it’s a Shakespeare adaptation? That it is really more a character drama than an action flim? Or the war is fictional?

[–] christomacin (4655) 3 years ago

War is certainly part of the film, but it's concerns and scope go far beyond that. The battle scenes aren't in any way romanticized or glorified, and mostly come across as futile and senseless. That's probably why it isn't though of as a war film so much. The battle at the end of Seven Samurai is a lot more heroic and exciting (though also a bit grim), whereas here the warfare is simply soul-crushing.