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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. ^_^
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.
have to be honest , I'm old like 54 old and i must admit i enjoyed this review of the film as much as the actual film way back then. nice to hear an articulate voice with a clear opinion, not some grovelling wimp fawning over some woke BS . well done you.
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.
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.
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.
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"?
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.
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.
Hey +xRazorFistx, how long were you in Japan, and where you there for the traditional job of teaching English? I am also a Japan vet and am therefore curious.
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
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.
Great review dude! One of my favourite films of all time and couldnt agree more with your conclusion. Might I suggest you do John Woo's The Killer for a future review? Interested to see how you would rate it.
Douglas was so good in this movie and was in his prime.
He should have done more violent action films like this.
Ehh it was lighting in a bottle I think just the right stuff all happening at the right time
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.
@Tito. This is very common. e.g. Roger Ebert often got major plot points wrong.
Yeah, that can be a major turn off for reviews to me, glad nowadays it can be somewhat curbed with the internet.
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.
Especially the badass manager of the Chunichi Dragons…
Love Golgo 13. Wish that character got more recognition in the US even though he did get two censored NES games back in the day.
@@alucard624 it's just a pervy version of Western type characters.
Wasn't he in the movie The Yakuza ?
@@akfreed6949 yep
The guy playing 'Crazy Eyes' was dying of stomach cancer and in constant pain while making this film.
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.
So he’s like Bosman. I like him even more now.
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!
One of the few times Capshaw almost didn't annoy me.
"I usually get kissed...before I get fucked." the best line the movie
"You mustu habu patienceu!"
"Fuck patience."
_hard cut to sitting around waiting, smoldering with 80s anti hero intensity_
- "I can take anything I want?"
- "Anything.."
Best scene in the movie. And the music is just icing on the cake.
I'll take a Colt Python please.
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.
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.
80's action movies, where filmmakers used REAL gunshot effects(as opposed to CGI ones that are used today)
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.
Tell that to the Lee family.
I'm for practical whenever possible, but safety trumps everything else.
@@Draliseth thank you, many gloss over about the risks of practical effects, also another tragic example was the accident from The Twilight Zone movie.
An American Cop in Japan. Their country. Their laws. His rules.
My review.
Epic description.
RIP Ken Takakura.
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.
I noticed something about Hans Zimmer, almost every time he works with Ridley Scott he's a genius. When he works for anyone else, he sucks.
His work in BvS showed the guy completely lost it
Jose Colella I hated his shit for The Dark Knight Trilogy and Man of Stool.
Or when he makes video game music. Crysis 2 and MW2
@@derekmensch3601 The credits for MW3.
What in the actual fuck?! A 17 minute review?!
Damn Razor, that editor of yours must have been doing overtime haha.
Lava, sparks and murder. Three products which make an 80's action movie a real action movie
No movie did that better than Cobra.
@@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.
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.
16:47
when are you going to review "They Live?"
Agreed, Id shit my pants to see some SJW's aliens blown away
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.
Watching this movie makes one marvel at the inadequacy of the 21st century.
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.
I wonder if he's ever seen Falling Down...starring Michael Douglas.
DicloniusGames More than likely, I'd think.
Great movie.
One of Scotts hidden gems. Not quite on par with Blade Runner or Alien but could very well be number 3
"Hans Zimmer prior to forgetting soundtracks can have more than two notes." lol
I need that keytar sting for my text message tone XD
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
Tango and Cash
Dwarfman01 Kurt Russell + John Carpenter = gold
What about the seminal classic stargate
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. ^_^
"Escape From L.A." was pretty good too.
Hey Razor Fist, if it's possible could you one day review the Dolph Lundgren's "The Punisher"?
Ha! The only thing I remember from that movie was the ninjas on neon slides.
Those keytar riff always got me cracking up
This is an old VHS fave. The fight sequence at the end is very cool. Douglas is perfect for the role.
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.
Having a character nicknamed "Crazy Eyes" with hands down the best Zandig promo dialogue of all time... Perfection.
have to be honest , I'm old like 54 old and i must admit i enjoyed this review of the film as much as the actual film way back then. nice to hear an articulate voice with a clear opinion, not some grovelling wimp fawning over some woke BS . well done you.
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.
Not the last. Consider his Death Wish 2 review if you want your ball size to increase a fourth time.
🎸🎶
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.
Yusaki Matsudo the actor for Sato died around the release of Black Rain so I think they let his character live out of sensitivity and respect
Here's a movie team up, Sato and Hannibal Lecter...
Amazing! How am I just coming across this review?! Very underrated film and one of my all time favorites.
You gotta do Falling Down, Fist!
THIS!
The Critical Drinker did
This is probably the best movie review I've ever seen. THANK you
I probably never would have seen this movie if not for this review and, yes, it is fucking glorious. Thanks, man!
Bro the keytar riffs you edited in made me smile ear to ear
Look up the soundtrack to the videogame "Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon". Thats where it's from.
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.
Now the Japanese know what America and Britain have known for centuries now...
FUCK THE FRENCH!
well, this is the last video i needed to watch to completely see the razorfist anthology. God speed razorfist. Godspeed.
I love how both the Internal Affairs detectives are in Office Space 😂
This is a personal favorite of mine. Back in the late '90s I had this, Mr. Baseball and The Yakuza (both with Takakura Ken) on almost constant repeat.
Have loved this movie since it first came out. Had the full sized poster of this movie hanging in my room forever. I have this gem on bluray.
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.
Really enjoy that Douglas' main weapon is a S&W model 19 snub.
I’m dyslexic and read this as SJW model....
Holy shit... was that Endo who fell back into the car after being shot at 13:53?? As in Lethal Weapon "hit him again Endo"?
+RagingPapist That's stuntman Al Leong. If you watch enough 80s action flicks, you'll see him everywhere.
+RagingPapist Also that guy from Die Hard who sets up at the candy counter before the SWAT team rolls up and nicks a Crunchy bar.
+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.
~he had a good fight with brandon lee at the end of rapid fire aswell . . .
He had a bit part in They Live during the alleyway shootout with the Alien cops.
I was living in Japan when this came out. Saw it with some Japanese friends. They were amused.
Hey where did you get that 'keytar riff' from?
I was in high school and worked at a theater when this movie came out and watched it about a million times. I still love it.
I think this is the best movie review I have ever seen! That was just pure awesome.
Agreed. If Fist did an hour long review I'd still want more.
My dad fucking loved this movie and bought it on VHS, DVD, and Blu Ray. God love boomers.
just discovered rageaholic.u r awesome bro.glued to Ur reviews.most entertaining thing I ever came across.
Great review RazorFist, can you do one on Hard Boiled, Escape from New York (Any Kurt Russell movie), Platoon or The Warriors ? Please :)
5:22 *_I WAS WONDERING WHERE THAT RIFF CAME FROM_*
The keytar riff slayed me. (Slow dramatic clap)
This completely makes up for the pro-wrestling interlude.
This was great! You should totally do "Year Of The Dragon."
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"?
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.
Right as I finished watching the review, the movie started on TV, I guess it was fated that I should watch it.
This and “The Ghost and the Darkness” are the two best Michael Douglas movies.
Why the hell hasn't cobra gotten a criterion release!?
Still Life stole the "I usually get kissed before I get fucked" line.
Hey Razorfist, ever thought of doing To Live and Die in LA?
I LOVE that film! William Petersen was terrific!
When will we see a review of Crying Freeman?
You need to start doing more movie reviews, brah, it's your specialty. So many classics you need to do - Rambo trilogy for a start,
razor fist you ever going to do double impact kickboxer or bloodsport?
A.K.A. "Smoke Machine: The Movie". Honestly, someone should have told Ridley to ease up a bit. There is use of the smoke machine in almost every shot!
09:58
Wow...can't even watch Razorfist without having this woman show up in some type of way. I swear, she's a meme at this point.
No kidding. Still though, Razor is well-known for calling out con-artists, condecending boobs, and other folks alike, so she's more than fair game.
I'm surprised you didn't use Soundgardens Black Rain for neither the in- or outroes.
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.
Do you have plans to do more movie reviews in the future?
Got to agree. One of the best and most fun movie reviews I have seen... Ever.
Oh and that was the shogun assassin lone wolf playing the old boy gangster !
These reviews are better comedy than any movies or stand up I've seen. Rage on Rageaholic.
Where can I get that riff?
It's from the Blood Dragon soundtrack. Tital: SLOAN
Ok, now I really want your Michael Douglas is a badass music keytar tone as my official walk up music whenever I enter a building.
DO "REMO WILLIAMS: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS"!
Woman should stay home and make-uh babies... preferably manchild...
"You move like a pregnant yak!"
One of my top 10 movies 👍♥️
Best movie ever!!! I saw this in the theater and own a digital copy. Badass cast and flawless action. Viva 80s!!
How many times did you use that synthesizer riff?
And where did it came from?
Blood Dragon
Hey +xRazorFistx, how long were you in Japan, and where you there for the traditional job of teaching English? I am also a Japan vet and am therefore curious.
Oh God, the Mormon family joke, I died. I came back to life to finish watching the review, but I fucking died of laughter for a second there.
Razorfist have you ever thought about reviewing the Rambo movies for your channel.
Hell yes, I love these movie reviews.
I first saw this movie when I was in my 7th grade year of middle school.
Great stuff--in my opinion, it is...
I beg for just a teaser of whatever idea you have for the next episode.
love your movie reviews. just subed looking forward to all the other reviews. thank you in advance.
How do you feel about The Last Boy Scout, Razor?
Best channel on TH-cam. PLEASE make a Deadfall episode.
Wait what Razor actually speaks Japanese?!
Would you do a review on Leon the Professional, please?
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
6:14 That looks so 80s if I didn't know any better I would of guessed it had been filmed back then.
One of these days, Razor, ya gotta do a video about your life!
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.
Yup, and also motorcycles were kind of a theme throughout.
This and SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME are the two 'forgotten' Ridley Scott movies from the 80s.
Great review dude! One of my favourite films of all time and couldnt agree more with your conclusion. Might I suggest you do John Woo's The Killer for a future review? Interested to see how you would rate it.
I don't know why but i was constantly reminded of 1980's "heroic bloodshed" neo-noir movies from Hong Kong.
Awesome review of one of my favorite late 80's movies.