yes!!

Does anyone know if this Criterion release of Ran is mislabeled? Or is my receiver's PLII mode decoding the track incorrectly?

The back just notes a STEREO track, but there is quite a bit of surround activity happening, particularly with the score.

Most of the reviews appear to take the packaging at its word; I think the only one linked at DVD Basen that mentions a surround track is DVD Journal's review.

Other Criterion Collection DVDs with DD 2.0 tracks mention SURROUND when applicable (including Brazil, Naked Lunch and Do The Right Thing.)

I want to do the right thing myself. Should I force the receiver to play it in STEREO?

I'm frequently bothered by the stupidest things.

With Dolby PLII your a/v rcvr creates a 5.1 soundtrack out of a stereo source. It is fake surround sound you are hearing, not the real thing.

I can confirm the "fake" surround on my copy as well.

My receiver it defaults to 2.0 Stereo, NOT surround.
compare to Brazil or Do The Right Thing, they both default to 2.0 surround