Michael Crichton:

Rising Sun

Starring:
Sean Connery - John Connor
Wesley Snipes - Web Smith
Harvey Keitel - Tom Graham
Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa - Eddie Sakamura
Kevin Anderson - Bob Richmond
Mako (I) - Yoshida-san
Ray Wise - Senator John Morton
Stan Egi - Ishihara
Stan Shaw - Phillips
Tia Carrere - Jingo Asakuma

Directed by: Philip Kaufman
Music by: Toru Takemitsu

USA 1993

American-Japanese relations, once again

Controversial discussion about American- Japanese relations and Japanese hi-tech are the main topics of this movie written by Michael Crichton. This movie was made in 1993 and it was successfull mostly because of it's topic which can be understood almost in political level; American-Japanese relations.

Sean Connery performs quite well as detective John Connor, who starts finding reason for murder mystery of party girl which took place in brand new Nakatomi- tower. (Wasn't it Nakatomi tower in Die Hard 1??) Other stars are Wesley Snipes who acts Web Smith, partner of detective John Connor (or kohai) and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. Also Tia Carrera is seen as a role of Japanese video technician.

Character of John Connor is definably most interesting in the movie. He seems to know more about Japanese manners than Japanese people themselves, he have answer for everything.

This sort of supercool character of his works really well. Unfortunately, this is the only interesting thing of the movie.

Sempai- kohai - sempai - kohai

This movie leaves me with the question that what was the very message of this movie. The discussion doesn't go deep enough, Japanese culture is seen too distant, too exotic. It forgets to describe Japanese people as humans. Quite interesting but too much repeating facts of sempai-kohai relationship aren't enough for me personally. Also role of Tia Carrera as half Japanese hitech guru doesn't convince me. (Especially after I've seen that Indiana Jones- serie of her, that's terrible!) Where are all Japanese characters in a movie which should handle Japanese - American relations?

Though this movie includes few interesting parts, like Sean Connery's good acting, Black Rain beats this movie. I rated this at IMDB with 6.

See also: Rising Sun at IMDB.