Ran
Universal Germany RC2
Warner UK RC2
Wellspring Masterworks Edition US RC1

While all transfers are derived from restored and cleaned up high definition material, the PAL transfers dwarf the carelessly restored Wellspring edition, that fails just where Kurosawa put his attention and efforts in: The picture is slightly cropped to a ~ 1.75:1 aspect ratio (pic#2). The image is oversaturated (pic#1, pic#3), overcontrasted (pic#3, pic#4, faces in pic#2) and lacks fine detail (see grass in pic#1, faces in pic#2). The transfer is plagued by color noise, shimmering, edge enhancement and jittery scene transitions The reel change marks were not removed during restoration. The Universal/Warner transfer (produced from a 35mm low contrast print) boasts natural colors, well balanced contrast, good detail resolution and the original aspect ration of 1,85:1. The two PAL transfers are almost identical, but the Warner transfer offers good picture definition throughout; the Universal transfer has occasionally been softened to minimize color noise (pic#5). Some edge enhancement is present (silhouettes in pic#3).