Black Rain (1989)

People are voting emotionally.

Memorable, crazy movie

Great Film overall

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Michael Douglas and Andy Garcia play cops sent to Japan to investigate counterfeiting. While there tragedy strikes and Douglas ends up unofficially helping a Japanese Detective - in a great move, they don't exactly become friends, but do learn respect for one another. The Yakuza villains aren't cookie cutter bad guys and are frightening.

Film Review: "Black Rain" (1989)Here comes one of the ultimate action thrillers of the 1980s in crystal-clear, punch-lining 120-Minute-Final-Cut by editor Tom Rolf (1931-2014), who had received moody, stark to neo-film-noir visuals by one-and-only collaboration between director Ridley Scott and Jan De Bont, making his reputation shine as fully-competent as classic-to-innovative cinematographer, when R. Scott fights out of the corner in his cranking director's chair of the mid-1980s after two mixed-received features with fantasy spectacle "Legend" (1985) starring Tom Cruise and romantic thriller "Someone To Watch Over Me" (1987) starring Tom Berenger; coming out in this motion picture produced Sherry Lansing & Stanley R. Jaffe, known for another Michael Douglas film success "Fatal Attraction" (1987) directed by Adrian Lyne, when Ridely Scott plays his cards with high-focus directing as well as ancient to world-war-II-beating Japan in researched post-war developing underworld to an one of a kind thriller event movie from Fall 1989.In "Black Rain" is every film department in place with leading actor Michael Douglas as originally-written, down-on-his-luck New York City Cop detective Nick Conklin, who gets found by his new assignment by transferring Yakuza-uprising-criminal Sato, performed by late menacing as brilliantly-authentic actor Yusako Matsuda (1949-1989) to suspense accelerations of live-action-splendors with motorcycles chasing New York streets, Tokyo back alleys, handling on-ride samurai swords to mud-sprinkling cross trails of rural Japan to continuous twisting plot points and further supporting character conflicts, including deeply-atmospheric Japanese night club encounters between Michael Douglas and actress Kate Capshaw as Joyce, an American woman of 35 in exile; to cultural difference-battling new-partners with Tokyo cop Masahiro, performed by honors-indulging Ken Takakura (1931-2014) and Andy Garcia as reckless as lively New York buddy cop Charlie Vincent, all in favor for a well-written story-arc of Micheal Douglas' tight-gripping interpretations of Nick Conklin, making this standing-out action thriller an tremendous success for the matured hard-boiled-loving audiences with regards to the neighing 30th anniversary of "Black Rain" directed by Ridley Scott at age 51. © 2018 Felix Alexander Dausend (Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC)

"Black Rain" is a product of its time. In the 1980's, there was a not-so-latent fear in America that its superpower position was being eroded by the rise of Japan's economy. Black Rain plays on those fears as well as the culture clash between two nations that are more similar and more historically tied together than either would like to admit. The movie is not subtle: in the opening scene, NYPD detective Nick Conklin on his Harley races a young upstart on a Kawasaki. We learn that Nick is under investigation by Internal Affairs for association with crooked cops. Nick represents that world weary American willing to cut corners to get the job done. His partner, Charlie, is young and idealistic--the flip side of the stereotyped American character. However, when both capture a Yakuza upstart named Sato after he perpetrates a vicious murder in New York, both detectives have to escort him back to Osaka, an alien place neither American can understand or function in effectively.Ridley Scott movies are a brand. A stamp of quality. And this one doesn't disappoint, even almost 20 odd years later. The exoticism of Japan (and Nee York too) are lovingly manifested in the dazzling cinematography and Hans Zimmer's spot on score. Plus there are top notch performances from Douglas, Garcia and some of Japan's finest semi modern acting lineage. The premise of the story is interesting although not dealt with too deeply. Like I said, the atmosphere of the film is overwhelming, which is really all the film needs. The clichés and stereotypes don't matter so much when you are involved this much. Hans Zimmer (his first film with Ridley Scott) provides a deeply emotional and very melodic score that'll be rattling around in your head for days.Overall rating: 8 out of 10.

How about, some vintage action film from late 80's by none other than Ridley Scott ? It has Yakuza, must be good! Right?1 minutes - and I already love the scenery, music and what I see... Ah, 80's and 90's, those were the times...2 minutes - oh... music is made by Hans Zimmer... that explains it 23 minutes - the action is decent and so far it is a pleasure to watch it 54 minutes - boring1h 55minutes - LOL at the final fight scene, this is badOh well, I don't know... I hate films which are not bad but far from good, and this is one of them. If you are really a fan of Michael Douglas or Ridley Scott, go ahead and try it. If not, you will miss nothing skipping this one.tgchan's rating: 6/10