Customer Reviews

Black Rain (Bilingual Special Collector's Edition)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Another masterpiece from director Ridley Scott, Black Rain stars Michael Douglas as Nick Conklin, an NY cop who is under pressure from internal affairs and has just had a divorce. Along with him is his happy-go-lucky partner Charlie (Andy Garcia), who loves a good time (it's weird how they call each other "babe"). After arresting Japanese Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) boss Sato (Yusaku Matsuda), they are assinged to return him to Japan. When Sato escapes and humiliates the cops, Nick is determined to bring him in, but has to cope with the strict ways of the Japanese law enforcement. With the help of the by-the-book cop Masahiro (Ken Takakura), Nick vows to bring Sato down. With great supporting actors/actresses, good story, and great action, it's great for any person who likes action or Michael Douglas. It's only real flay is its absurdity, but that's not going to stop you from seeing it, is it?

I'm not sure why this movie is described as a 'guilty pleasure'. I don't feel at all bad about liking it. And I do like it, a lot.

For one thing, I like Michael Douglas. I liked him thirty years ago in _The Streets of San Francisco_, I liked him even better after he turned _One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest_ from a great book and a great stage play into a great motion picture, and I've kept right on liking him every time he's gotten himself cast in a stylish, well-scripted film.

And this _is_ a stylish, well-scripted film. It's every bit as dark as you expect from Ridley Scott, and although there's a fairly well-defined villain, the 'heroes' are morally ambiguous. I like that in a movie.

The reviewers who say Michael Douglas's character Nick Conklin is an 'ugly American' are right, but they seem to have missed the fact that this is part of the point. This film is a fairly ambitious, though not terribly deep, attempt to bring off an East-meets-West theme in what looks superficially like just another buddy-cop movie. The 'black rain' of the title is one of the aftereffects of the nuking of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and it's the symbolic stand-in for the Western 'decadence' bemoaned by the more traditional Nipponese (even the crime bosses).

But that doesn't mean Japan wins the dramatic argument. On the contrary, the Nipponese cop (played with endearing self-effacement by Ken Takakura) learns a few things from his new cowboy friend 'Nick-san' too. (And the karaoke scene with Takakura and Andy Garcia is priceless.)

Kate Capshaw doesn't really need an excuse to appear in a film, and that's good, because here she doesn't really have one. She's an expatriate American who inexplicably keeps turning up at the center of the action. She gives the film a bit of _Casablanca_-like flavor, but it's more a matter of mood than anything else.

I won't tell you anything about the plot except that it involves the Japanese underworld and that it zips along at a fast clip. Don't look away or you'll miss something.

The whole thing is rendered most atmospherically, with the sort of dark and brooding edge that I like in a film (and at which Ridley Scott excels). In general I'm not the biggest fan of Hans Zimmer's scores, but for the most part he's used pretty effectively here.

This is a first-rate action-adventure thriller, and I don't feel the slightest bit 'guilty' for taking a very great deal of pleasure in it.

This is one of the best movies that Ridley Scott has made and one the best if not the best movies on the Yakuza ever done.

The acting of Michael Douglas and especially that of Ken Takukura and the main villain is especially excellent as well as the cinematography of Ridley Scott really rounds out the movie.

The interplay between the characters is quite good and brilliant with a very very nice ending to round out the movie.

The commentary is OK and also the interviews of the director and cast is excellent.

One of my favorite films--if for no other reason, it is signature Scott. However, it is a very good film all around! Douglas, Takakura and Capshaw were outstanding! Some may not like the genre or Scott, hence, some of the reviews. A caution: Be sure to read the reviewer's comments about the quality of the DVD version on down the list.

An unimportant film with unimportant consequences, BLACK RAIN is the story of two New York detectives (Michael Douglas and Andy Garcia) who have the task of delivering a mob thug back to Japan ... where they end up in the middle of international intrigue with all entirely unbelievable plot twists.

However, BLACK RAIN has long been a 'closet favorite' of filmgoers worldwide. It is sumptuously photographed, and the action -- while not entirely fulfilling -- is beautifully choreographed. Perhaps its greatest strengths are, as well, its greatest detractors.

I can't help wondering, though, how the film would've played had the two principles (Douglas and Garcia) switched roles. Dramatically, it would've had more effect, and, stylistically, Douglas is looking to old for these kind of roles anyhow.

See it for the guilty pleasure of watching the sumptuous Kate Capshaw as the perfect 'blonde escort' conducting her business for the benefit of Japanese business. She's worth any viewing, or any price, in my little black book.

This movie is one of my favorites. I am a Japanophile, and although Douglas does portray an "ugly American," he does it well! Sometimes you have to realize that different cultures clash, but if the desired end result is the same, who cares? One way is not always the best, and this movie shows you how American muscle and persistence combined with Japanese harmony and sophistication can achieve the desired result. Aside from that, there is good action, beleiveable characters (exception being Kate Capshaw) and great on location shooting.

A Maverick New York City Detective (Two Time Oscar-Winner:Micheal Douglas) and His Partner (Andy Garcia) are Assigned to Deliver a Yukuzn Gangster (Yusaku Matsuda) to the Japanese Authorities but Once, they Arrived in Japan, the Cops ended up losing the Criminal and then the Cops are in the Search of the Felon, who Escape from Them. Despite Protests from the Japanese Police, the American Cops are Staying in Japan and the Lead Detective (Ken Takakura) is Forced to Help Them.

Directed by Ridley Scott (Thelma & Louise, 1492:The Conquest of Paradise, White Squall) brings a Stylish Action-Thriller, which is Entertaining and Visual Good-Looking Flick, thanks to Cinematogrpher:Jan De Bont (Cujo, The Hunt for the Red October, Basic Instinct) and Screenplay by Criag Bolotin and Warren Lewis makes this Action Movie Works. Micheal Douglas gives a Solid Performance. This was a Box Office Hit in the Fall of 1989. One of the Top-Best Cops (Action-Thriller) Films of the 1980`s. It was Oscar Nominated for Best Sound Editing and Best Sound. Panavision. Grade:B+.

fairly straight forward cop drama about two american cops sent to japan to deliver a gangster arrested on american soil. Michael douglas and andy garcia are sent on an ill-fated journey to japan to return a japanese thug to his home turff. predictable at times but still entertaining. at the heart of the story is douglas's character who is allowed to redem himself for his crimes in america as well as japan. Garcia adds much needed flair to the story. Ridley Scott's direction could be more fine tuned but you get the feeling he was walking through this on his way to other things. The cinematography is excellent as well as the musical score. The only real let down is the lack of development for all of the characters except for douglas. but if the televison is no good on a saturday afternoon there are worse movies to rent

While the movie is pretty good overall - the best part is that there is some great action in it. My buddies and and I always slow-mo the scene with the motorcycle and the sword - if you've seen the movie you know what I mean and if you haven't I can't ruin it for you!

Ok, some may think this is a fine example of late 80's cheesy action fare. However, the acting is incredible, the characters are complex, and the motivations are unique. This is not a black and white good vs. evil movie. Which gray area do you agree with? If you've never seen this movie, stick with it until the last half hour...