MovieChat Forums > Black Rain (1989) Discussion > naive movie?

naive movie?

posted 16 years ago by MajkiFajki
20 replies | jump to latest

I can't understand why this movie is so naive.

For me, Japan is a country of:
bushido
samurai
karate
Bolo Young
first Terminator :)

For Ridley Scott, Japan is a country of:
stupid cops
cops-sissies
Yakuza wchich can't deal with one rebel guy

US cop is smart, tough and indefeatable.

Let's look at in example - Kendo's scene.

Douglas comes in, Masu is training. Douglas at the begginig picks up a "sword" (in this moment he should be massacred by some kind of sensei for violation of some kind laws?), then he hits few times Masu with it (once again, in real world shouldn't Masu kick his ass for something like this?) and at the end, he pushes Masu to the ground - and what? Nothing! White gaijin pushes japaneese cop and NOTHING happens. Nice.

Ok - it's only a movie, but let stick to the logic. If we shoot a movie about jap/usa culture clash, let's be consistent! Don't portait japaneese as a idiots and wimps...

On the other, big applouse for De Bont as a operator and Scott as for director. Only script sucks :)

[–] nox1967 16 years ago

I do not think the kendo scene makes Masahiro out to be a wimp at all.
In fact it makes Nick look like the childish fool unable to control his base emotions, while Masahiro is the stronger man inside, the man who is in control of himself. Perhaps it depends less on the writing and more on perception. An American perspective might see Masahiro as the wimp because American pop culture values a certain kind of outward individualist bravado, while in most parts of Asia the same behaviour is likely to be considered rude.

[–] heinrichgruenwald 16 years ago

Nick look like the childish fool unable to control his base emotions

it was made very clear at the beginning of the film what type of pressure Nich was under - close partners of his have been convicted for corruption, with himself a hair's breadth away from the same. His career and life are one step away from being destroyed. When Masuhiro calls Nick a thief and then damns him morally with a 'I did not know what type of man you were', Nick's reaction is very understandable, at least from an american perspective.
I thought the scene was extremely well done, showing the contrast how an american/japanese deal with a situation emotionally, as well as how they view the chain of command

[–] ad058 16 years ago

I'm surprised you'd think of Bolo Yeung and Japan together since he isn't Japanese.

[–] jarmic6 16 years ago

What did you expect? A tourist guide?

That's all we do, isn't it - look at things and try new drinks?

[–] micaofboca-1 16 years ago

Very well-put, Miles (cool name). Even though Andy Garcia saves the movie with his great personality (as opposed to Douglas' mean-spirited demeanor), the movie is so maudlin it entirely collapses its potential when Garcia's out of the picture. And that sappy Allman brothers' music is so inappropriate, it reminds me of the music in James Caan's "Thief" by Tangerine Dream, another sappy inapropos soundtrack. But, as you pointed out, the xenophobic interpretation of Japanese culture eighty-sixes any good points the movie has, and relegates it to an anachronism and an expression of the solipsism and conceits that American culture constantly and unceasingly poisons its awesome cinematic potential with.

[–] heinrichgruenwald 16 years ago

For me, Japan is a country of bushido, samurai, karate

I think that would be a very naive stereotype of the country. Those words encapsulate a certain cultural foundation, but it would be silly to expect Edo period samurai to be walking around modern Japan

cops-sissies

Takakura Ken as a sissy? Lol - the one thing that man would not be able to portray is that. Ohashi as well was certainly played as someone very much in charge

For Ridley Scott, Japan is a country of stupid cops

Not sure where the japanese police were stupid - they found Sato's hideout, and very discreetly busted the place. Just had bad luck that Sato wasn't there

Yakuza wchich can't deal with one rebel guy

Yes, but they did decapitate Charlie. Nick almost got blown away in the factory as well

US cop is smart, tough and indefeatable

It is well established in the film that Nick is a tough as nails, unpredictable, do whatever it takes to get the job done cop. Concerning smart - Sato's gang very easily pulled one over him in the airport scene

massacred by some kind of sensei for violation of some kind laws

are you serious?

he hits few times Masu with it (once again, in real world shouldn't Masu kick his ass for something like this?)

Perhaps you should watch the scene again - Nick taps Matsumoto with it, whereupon Matsumoto reacts quite violently

Masu to the ground - and what? Nothing!

Matsumoto has a WTF?!, completely surprised expression on his face, as Nick dealt with the situation so differently than a japanese would

[–] bernardchan1 16 years ago

true to the mark, from the eyes and mouth of a moron trying to explain japanese culture when he dosent even know that young is a chinese name and that our 'jap' friend bolo is actually from hong kong.

[–] Yalmuk 15 years ago

Looks like some wapanese complaining again.

[–] Radalan 15 years ago

For me, Japan is a country of:
first Terminator :)

Wouldn't it have been easier to write "Robots" since that's what japanese are famous for, not for Terminator which is American film.

[–] camroncarter_280 15 years ago

Some kid who doesn't know anything about Japanese culture defending it?

Yeah sounds like a Wapanese to me.

[–] Sleazy_E 15 years ago

Well OP see it in this way, Bushido or not Michael Douglas is still way cooler then every jap

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