Thanks for the memories!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

RELEASED IN 1993 and directed by Philip Kaufman based on Michael Crichton's 1992 novel, "Rising Sun" stars Sean Connery & Wesley Snipes as two L.A. detectives familiar with Japanese culture who are assigned to investigate the murder of a prostitute at a Japanese owned skyscraper. Harvey Keitel plays the tough cop in charge of the investigation while Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa appears as the charismatic Japanese suspect.It should be stressed that this isn't an action movie, like the "Die Hard" flicks, it's a modern film noir suspense thriller with a Far East mystery. Yes, there's some action, but it's more crime drama. That said, I generally enjoyed the movie. Connery and Snipes have good chemistry and there are a several genuinely amusing moments (e.g. Snipe's explanation of gang culture paralleling Connery's explanation of Japanese culture) or insightful lines (e.g. "He's plundering our natural resources" and "Look, 'sempai,' apple pie, whatever").The film's interesting in its insights on Japan's culture (the Taiko percussionists), including the dark side (e.g. their abuse of women, ethnocentrism and corresponding racism) which, to be expected, outrages whiney politically correct pundits. Crichton's novel emphasizes the differences between the Japanese and Western mindsets, particularly in the areas of business strategy and corporate culture."Rising Sun" scores pretty well on the female front, highlighted by Tia Carrere, Alexandra Powers, Tylyn John and Tatjana Patitz. But there's too much sleaze quotient for my tastes, although it's anticipated considering the plot.Speaking of the plot, there are too many eye-rolling plot holes if you look too closely, like the reporter's elaboration on the burnt-to-a-crisp guy in the car immediately following the accident. Why sure! Another example is when Connery's character confidently claims that criminals in Japan expect to be caught because convictions run 90%. This is neither true nor proves that criminals are being caught and convicted. Japanese police only investigate crimes they think they can solve. If they find a slain prostitute in an alley with her throat slit, for instance, they'll write it up as a suicide or accidental death. It's easy to SAY you have low crime and low unsolved murders and high convictions (for the obvious honor of the nation and governing officials), but it's harder to prove the right people were caught as opposed to just "rounding up the usual suspects." Were crimes labeled accurately or for the convenience and honor of police and politicians? How many dead bodies are hidden in the concrete of some Japanese skyscraper and written up as missing people instead of homicide victims? (Which, to the film's credit, IS noted in the movie).THE MOVIE RUNS 129 minutes and was shot in Los Angeles, as well as Long Beach & Venice. ADDITIONAL CAST: Kevin Anderson appears as an American lawyer linked with the Japanese company while Ray Wise appears as a senator.GRADE: B/B- (6.5/10)

I just have read the fantastic novel in a week and i'm glad our dad picked the movie adaptation ! This karaoke bar opening may be disastrous but i discovered that Crichton has worked on the screenplay. So the movie looks really like the novel but it's more easy to follow, more polished, and above all, it offers new scenes but also new facts about the case and the characters as well! I don't know if Crichton wrote originally with Sean in mind but he's perfect here, as the old wisdom cunning sage (even if it's Giorgio(s suit is awful). However, Snipes has nothing for him : he looks a Jar-Jar, not bright, good for kicks only and that wasn't the liaison agent i followed in the novel.

My favourite buddy cop film and one of my favourite films simply because of how entertaining, unusual, laid back and fun it is. This is a film that took me by surprise when I first watched it because of how chill and easygoing it is, much like character John Conner, played by Sean Connery, an eccentric detective and friend of the Japanese businessmen they're investigating, who knows the Japanese inside out and is therefore the best man for the case. It's almost comical to see Connery deal with the Japanese and give wisdom to his "Kohai" played by Wesley Snipes, knock out opponents like a ninja and spout mind-bending expressions, putting the American police department he derides to shame all the way, especially an arrogant, crooked detective played by Harvey Keitel. Connery couldn't be more perfect as he knocks out a tough body guard and then quips to the other "they say if you have to resort to violence you've already lost...would you like to find out Jeff?" He's justifiably and hilariously pleased with himself, but not the point of smugness as having learned from a superior culture as opposed to the "fragmented mtv rap video" culture of America he's basically a far better detective. The Japanese expect to be caught in Japan, but in America they take advantage because they think the American authorities are crooked and stupid, and aren't often wrong, so when a murder occurs in the Nakumora building during vital business negotiations, an obsequious, highly Americanized little subordinate thinks he can sloppily cover up a scandal with murder and forged evidence. It's up to John Conner to casually play golf with the head of the company get free membership and gain information on the Japanese' terms while Snipes learns and becomes a better detective. It's also a bit of an educational film about the way the Japanese do things, far more direct, simple and precise, and with honour of course, and I guess some kind of strange Japanese/American relations film. It's light entertainment, colourful and fun with a great cast all round, also including Steve Buscemi as a reporter who gets told by Sean Connery. Sean Connery steals the show in quite possibly my favourite performance of his so far, and it's worth watching for him alone. Also it was great to watch Ray Wise from Twin Peaks play a senator. There's a Twin Peaks reference at one point, and there's some Leland Palmer in his performance.

A woman is found dead in a Japanese company offices in L.A. Police detective Tom Graham (Harvey Keitel) investigates. Web Smith (Wesley Snipes) is called in but he's told to bring John Connor (Sean Connery) along. He's a former police Captain and Japanese expert. The woman is a professional escort who dies during rough sex. Senator John Morton (Ray Wise) opposes a deal with the Japanese. Connor receives the surveillance footage of the murder implicating Eddie Sakamura (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) but it's been digitally altered.The plot is a little too complicated with hidden agendas. The Japanese sensibility was interesting at the time. It would be better if the plot has fewer twists and a bit more clarity. Connery and Snipes don't really have good chemistry. It may also be better if Smith is more of a greenhorn. That chemistry would probably be more compelling.