Ran: More Than Just Samurai Swords and Stunning Visuals?

Okay, international film buffs, Priya here! I've been thinking a lot about Kurosawa's Ran lately and wanted to throw a theory out there. We all know it's loosely based on King Lear, a story about pride and terrible decisions leading to utter destruction. But is it just a straight adaptation, or is Kurosawa trying to say something more specific about power, legacy, and maybe even...fate itself? I keep coming back to the scene where Hidetora (Lear's stand-in) is basically abandoned in the wilderness. The sheer pointlessness of his power at that moment, stripped bare, really hit me hard. He thought he was securing his legacy, but all he did was unleash chaos. It's not simply about his bad judgment, though. It's like he was almost destined to fail, a pawn in some larger cosmic game. The way the camera lingers on the vast landscapes, dwarfing the characters, makes you feel like humanity’s struggles are insignificant in the grand scheme of things. I mean, the imagery is breathtaking, but it's also bleak AF, right? And then there’s Lady Kaede. Talk about a complex villain! Is she purely motivated by revenge, or is she also trying to wrest control and impose her will on the situation? I kinda think it's both. She's a force of nature, just as destructive as Hidetora's ego. To me, she is the living embodiment of the consequences of unchecked ambition and the way it corrupts everything it touches. (Also, the costumes in this film? UNREAL. I could write an entire post on just the styling alone.) Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I feel like Kurosawa isn't just telling a story about a foolish king. He's exploring something deeper about the human condition, our inherent flaws, and the futility of trying to control the uncontrollable. What do you all think? Am I totally off base here? Let's discuss!