Note how many of the critics who trashed this film said it took place in "Tokyo" despite the film making it VERY clear many times that it take place in Osaka!!! More evidence that critics for national publications don't actually watch the movies they trash.
Yūsaku Matsuda aka "Crazy Eyes" also inspired Spike from Cowboy Bebop and Kenshiro from Fist in the North Star and Akoji from One Piece. He also made a TV appearance after this film for a series but because of the cancer being so advanced he couldn't do the scripted "run" with an actress because his body was in constant pain but, like all the stars in Black Rain said, Matsuda kept it professional throughout.
The Japaense cop Matsumoto's actor Ken Takakura used to be nicknamed the Japanese Clint Eastwood and is possibly the main inspiration behind the character design of manly Anime assassin Golgo 13 (even played him in a live action version in the early 70's not to be confused with the later live action version starring Sonny Chiba of course) so yeah the man played badasses since the 60's.
True, but the gun sounds were exaggerated to hell and back. The sound of Harry Callahans .44 Magnum was used for countless revolvers like Dr. Loomis in the original Halloween.
@@Draliseth thank you, many gloss over about the risks of practical effects, also another tragic example was the accident from The Twilight Zone movie.
This was a great film and terrific review, properly paying homage to its gritty glory. There's actually an interesting plot element regarding how the Yakuza chairman took up the counterfeit movement to destroy our currency as payback for Hiroshima. Hence the black rain. I was shocked though that there was no jab/hook at Kate Capshaw for miraculously being in a film not directed by hubby Spielberg. Again, great job Razor!
I just watched this film and it is a super stylised 80s neon-noir classic. It's true that every frame drips with that smoky 80s style and I kinda wish Michael Douglass had done more stuff like this. I do wish those Blood Dragon stings were actually in the film though, that was hilarious.
When I think of Japan. I imagine it the way it looked back in the 80's movies; The Karate Kid part II, Mr. Baseball, and Gung ho. I may have to add this movie to my delusions of Japan.
@@jimthar17 Yeah, I guess but I can never get it out of my head that Cobra was initially a rewrite of Beverly Hills Cop. I know it ended up very far from the original source but the thought is still in there.
The thing i love about Ridley Scott's directing is that instead of going James Cameron and using the best technology available to create a movie that only looks impressive for a certain time period but the story is almost always forgettable; Ridley emulates Kubrick's style where he uses camera angles, sets, light, atmosphere, and unrivaled practical effects to create a living breathing world filled with beauty....say whatever you want about Black Rain, its effects hold up way better than terminator 2.
Dingo D. Manhunter Don't you think it's a bit unfair to compare effects in movies, one being a cop action flick and one being a science fiction film about two robots time traveling? The CGI and Animatronics in Terminator work very vell and are carefully used but the only effects you can directly compare are the chase scenes and the 'splosions. In those regards Terminator 2 is vastly superior.
+Dingo D. Manhunter That's like saying effects in Die Hard hold up better than effects in Star Wars. It might be true, but they're on a completely different level of complexity and uniqueness. Also, Ridley Scott made Prometheus, a movie filled with CGI.
+Dingo D. Manhunter I think both are great at what they do but T2s practical stunt work is still some of the best ever filmed. Are you telling me the storm drain chase with Arnie cocking that shotgun one handed or the huge truck chase in which he runs over the front of the truck, blasts a clip into the T1000 and then flips the truck over spilling liquid nitrogen all over the shop have aged as practical effects? Get real, man. That shit fucking ruled then and it rules now. Furthermore, Black Rain doesn't even attempt to show things on the scale of T2 so the comparison is unfair anyway. Maybe you can criticise the CGI T1000 effects but look at Gladiator's arena or Roman cityscapes and tell me they haven't aged too, not to mention how rubbery some of the effects were in Prometheus (which also had a shit story filled with idiotic characters). Both directors are great but both have had flawed work that can be criticised too. Also, the stories in T2 and Aliens are awesome and very memorable.
I don't know where you are getting Kubrick from because I don't see anything Kubrickian in Scott's work. Ridley Scott is more akin to Steven Spielberg and David Lean.
Ehh theres a lot to be desired but this is our storie and I say theres lots of room for creative forces to work. If anything its the lame mentality of living in yesterday that hindering us as well as living for tomorrow. Not enough of just living for life.
Oh man. The video froze on me when Douglas gave the thumbs up at the end but the music kept going. At first I thought you edited it that way lol. As an 80's action nut I must say THANK YOU for reviewing it. This is a CRIMINALLY under-rated action movie. Asides from all the 80's action tropes as you've pointed out, you've got Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia, music by Hans Zimmer and directed by Ridley Fucking Scott. What more can you ask for? Oh and I can listen to that keytar all day.
Your sign-off has me believing that you may have actually "spent a lot of time in Japan". That and our shared love of the keytar means we have much in common, Grasshopper.
So Razorfist. Any chance of a review for any Kurt Russell movies? My suggestions would be The Thing, Escape from New York and Big Trouble in Little China
If you do any Kurt Russell + John Carpenter movies. Make GODDAMN CERTAIN you give a shout out to the AMAZINGLY fun commentary track on Big Trouble and Little China. Where it's clear that they were slowly but surely getting their asses HAMMERED. Starts off on point talking about the movie. By the final third of the movie they are barely remembering that they ARE doing a commentary track and what you're listening to is just a couple of very good friends lubricated by booze and having too much goddamned fun shooting the shit with each other. ^_^
Since the start of this subseries of yours I've seen at least three movies I hadn't before. Because of that my balls have grown three sizes. This was the first.
I had seen a few of these before watching this sub series. I have seen a couple of them now, latest one was this particular one. It is on Hulu for the moment.
Love Black Rain, the style and Michael Douglas' performance make it. Only problem is that the only copy of the film I own is a shitty Pan and Scan transfer.
From what I've read, Issei Sagawa was arrested and tried in France, because that's where he committed his murder/cannibalism while getting a phd at Sorbonne. He killed his classmate, and was arrested while disposing of the body. The French justice system released him after finding him insane and dropping the charges. They deported him to Japan, where the authorities attempted to have him imprisoned. But because France dropped the charges, they sealed ALL of the court documents and evidence, leaving the Japanese authorities with literally NOTHING to hold him on. France fucked over Japan here.
That moment you realize the actor who played Sato was doing so while suffering from bladder cancer which he refused to have treated fearing the chemo would affect his acting leading in it becoming terminal. He had apparently sacrificed hearing in one ear after ignoring an ear infection for the same reason. Now that's fucking dedication.
The motorcycle race sets up the hero as a rebel archetype and the whole race itself was a Chekov's Gun, i.e. a setup for the payoff of Nick chasing down Sato in a dirt bike. It was apt and dare I say, not gratuitous.
The one thing I remember from this movie is the decapitation scene. What I never could understand is, why did he just stand there? It’s like that rolling spaceship in Prometheus. Just jump to the side. It’s almost as though it’s directed by the same… oh.
+LukeMM95 Yeah, it seems like if there's an American 80s or 90s action movie with a bunch of Asian bad guys, there's about 50/50 chance of him being included.
Always enjoyed this movie. Still have some posters and promo stuff from it. Also like that Douglas' character is taking home a sack full of goodies for his son. Including some Yoroiden Samurai Troopers stuff.
Dude, your commentaries are incredibly amusing, clever, and astute. I hope you get paid well. Keep going. Do you have a review of "The Evil That Men Do"? Or "The Mechanic"?
This has to be one the best "feel good" buddy cop films not just of the 80's but probably ever. By the films end I always have a big porceline white, toothy grin on my face!
I never could get into BLACK RAIN. Michael Douglas was never quite good at being macho unlike Kirk. I will say this, Jan De Bont's cinematography was fuckin' gorgeous.
Man i loved this movie when I saw it on cable! I loved the late 80's feel and the slick style of Master Director, Ridley Scott! Too bad this film was released came out a bad time. Douglas at his best! The movie carries so much style and action!
Hey Razorfist, I would love to see your take on the 1986 Sci-fi Action Animation movie with one liners that make Bruce Willis jealous with high octane 80s metal and power rock Transformers The Movie.
This is probably the only Michael Douglas films ive seen aside from lime traffic. It freaked me out a bit especially living in a majority Asian neighborhood that did not like me where I was. But like black rain I found my way and place in it and over came the adversity I faced since I was a minority. Hell I found alot of things I loved becuase thouse days to. Maybe not as awesome as some stories or as hardcore but its funny how this reminds me of quaint times.
I forgot all about this flick. One of Scott's oddest offerings. Great stuff. 80's apotheosis. EDIT: It's worth it for nothing more than Kate Capshaw in her prime. What a dish. She remains my favorite Indiana Jones-girl.
Soo...when is there going to be a Charles Bronson review from you razorfist? Any movie staring Bronson is fine, but it must be done by you, because the sheer awesomeness if it will help save the world and save every human being ever in the process