MovieChat Forums > Ran (1985) Discussion > My rules on great films like this

My rules on great films like this

posted 14 years ago by bobdigital18
5 replies | jump to latest

Most of us will agree Ran is a masterpiece.

I would like to throw out my thoughts on how I approach films of this level.

When I see a great film there is a certain routine I go through. I am wondering if anyone else does this or has their own preparations for films they expect to be truly enthralled by.

#1 If possible I like to watch them alone (this is when i predict them to be great... for instance every Kurosawa film I have yet to see I'll watch alone).

I do this because it lets me feel better absorbed by it and less chance of interruption of having to pause for a bathroom break.

#2 I never watch 2 great films that close together... Sure the next day i may watch a popcorn flick but I like to take my time to reflect on and take it in. Maybe watch it a 2nd time. I would call this a bit of a digestion period... I give it at least a week before I watch another.

#3 I don't like to repeat the same directors or actors. I would maybe go... Kubrick, Kurosawa, Bergman than maybe then i will feel like i can go back to Kubrick again.

So anyone else do anything similar?

How do I get these ideas? It's like a gift, you know? It's like I can't control it.

[–] Tsiakkos 14 years ago

I have to realy agree with the alone part. You don't get distracted and you appreciate the movie. I do this with others around me too but if they are closeminded people that try to find faults in film this realy destroys my cinematic experience. This is a great film indeed and I realy appreciate your taste in movies. As far as not watching 2 great films together, I realy do that a lot too.
Not watching the same directors or actors back to back... well I disagree here. I like to watch Sylvester Stallone, Kirk Douglas, Toshiro Mifune, Mel Gibson, Bruce Lee back to back.
As far as directors Kurosawa, Kubrick, Francis Ford Coppola, Mel Gibson go back to back.

[–] rogermccarthy 14 years ago

Interesting/depressing that your rules preclude you seeing it at the cinema...

Back when I was lucky enough to live in Central London I made a point of never seeing a 'real film' other than at the cinema.

But now I have no option other than to watch them on DVD - and you miss so much even with a big screen TV.

But agree that if you are watching at home something like Ran needs to be seen alone - unless you can arrange a meeting of film buffs and stop the film when you have an observation to make (this is a technique which IIRC Roger Ebert uses at special festival screenings and with the right audience can be truly illuminating).

[–] iregaa 14 years ago

Agree there. Watched this on DVD but some films you have to watch in Cinema. Always remember watching unforgiven and there is one great scene of Eastwood standing against the skyline after they had killed one of the men. Always stood in my mind.

Hey Kid, Rock N' Roll,
Nobody tells you where to go
Baby

[–] liquidsouther 12 years ago

Apart from seeing the movie in the cinema, I too prefer to watch movies alone.

"He drank. He fought. He made his ancestors proud!"

[–] Noirkiss_3 11 years ago

I like watching an actor or director in groups. It allows for seeing continuity of style or laziness. I can see why some wouldnt enjoy this route though.

When there are two, one betrays-Jean-Pierre Melville