Saw Akira Kurosawa's RAN for the first time on the big screen. The Castro theater is a great place to see such films since, well, they're one of the few big screens that will show them. In an ideal world, the Castro would have stadio seating and cupholders like the 1000 Van Ness. The only thing about that movie that was over two hours long was the damn bricks they call seats. Oh leg room might have been nice as well.

Anyway, I nearly had forgotten how great a film RAN was. The absolutely brilliant colors, hordes of armored men streaming across a hill in a blur of red banners, swords and lances coupled with thunderous hooves tearing up the hillside or the rhythm and menace of Taiko drums. Then the drama. Varying degrees of loyalty, betrayal, deceipt and hopelessness.

Tatsuya Nakadai was amazing as the doomed Lord Hidetora Ichimonji (thanks in part to old-man/ghost make-up by Christian Dior!). I don't think RAN won anything besides maybe Best Costume Design or something minor at that year's Oscars. Shame.

My spirit is charged from seeing such brilliance. But my ass sure does hurt.