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Plot : A film adaptation of William Shakespeare's "King Lear". A father gives leadership of his three castles to his three sons , but his sudden decision angers some and eventually forces a war within the kingdom itself.
Story : This is very different than what I'm used to seeing from Kurosawa and it is not an original story - rather an adaptation. Instead of the having straight forward events , with complex emotions and meanings like Seven Samurai - it has a complex telling of events and pays much less attention on an emotional level. I do like some parts of the story , but it dosen't have anywhere to go once your about 2 hours in. The story wasn't powerfull at all , being that major events go from happening very dramaticly to incredibly subtle - which makes it seem like it throws away it's story up to that point and makes a new one.
Visuals : The first Kurosawa film I've seen in color (one of his last films) , it has many breath taking : huge scale shots. Colors are used very well , my favorite part of this being in color : would probably be the scene with all the soilders in red armor. There is also the castle attack scene which is an amazing feat well worth seeing this movie just to see that part. Overall the images throughout are amazing and it's a shame the story didn't amaze me like they did.
Synopsis : Although it looks like a great Kurosawa film , the story dosen't interest me at all - and plays out like a soap opera : rather a dramatic war epic.

Plot : A film adaptation of William Shakespeare's "King Lear". A father gives leadership of his three castles to his three sons , but his sudden decision angers some and eventually forces a war within the kingdom itself.
Story : This is very different than what I'm used to seeing from Kurosawa and it is not an original story - rather an adaptation. Instead of the having straight forward events , with complex emotions and meanings like Seven Samurai - it has a complex telling of events and pays much less attention on an emotional level. I do like some parts of the story , but it dosen't have anywhere to go once your about 2 hours in. The story wasn't powerfull at all , being that major events go from happening very dramaticly to incredibly subtle - which makes it seem like it throws away it's story up to that point and makes a new one.
Visuals : The first Kurosawa film I've seen in color (one of his last films) , it has many breath taking : huge scale shots. Colors are used very well , my favorite part of this being in color : would probably be the scene with all the soilders in red armor. There is also the castle attack scene which is an amazing feat well worth seeing this movie just to see that part. Overall the images throughout are amazing and it's a shame the story didn't amaze me like they did.
Synopsis : Although it looks like a great Kurosawa film , the story dosen't interest me at all - and plays out like a soap opera : rather a dramatic war epic.