Rising Sun (1993) User Reviews

Fear of Other Cultures, Learning to Understand Them and the Seemingly Obvious

[jzappa · 7/10 · 15 June 2007]

Michael Crichton's Rising Sun is an extensive, dense, unpredictable mess. The actors have a lot of fun and the story is a splurge of entertainment, but it's not paying enough attention to a couple of things. One of them is what its focus is. Is the film about the murder, the two men solving the murder, the clash of American and Japanese cultures, or what? The other thing the film forgets could be a drawback of the first thing. It's that it doesn't tie up all its loose ends. At the end, there are strands left with no ending, even a mysterious ambiguous one. It just ends because it feels the pace of the film requires it to fade out at that particular point.

The film is not bad, mostly because it's far from boring. In fact, there are many scenes of dialogue, despite a few corny scenes of dialogue, that are subtly interesting. We don't quite understand why the exchanges are interesting until later, when we realize that the characters are so deeply contemplated that the scene felt as real as the room you're sitting in. But maybe I'm giving the film too much credit for simply being a load of fun for Michael Crichton to write. After all, he wrote and directed one of the greatest heist films ever made, The Great Train Robbery, also with Sean Connery.

Sean Connery, of course, is the highlight of the film, because there's hardly a way he cannot be. Despite his irrepressible suavity, he does not play himself. He plays a resentful, inflexible, self-indulgent veteran cop, and we are supposed to like Wesley Snipes more because the film centers, well, seems to want to center around his character and also we're given more backstory and information on him. However, we don't like Snipes more than him. Connery may play a stubborn old jerk, but I'd rather one of those than a pompous, intolerant, overpround young jerk like Snipes can hardly help but play.

I cannot reach a verdict on this film. How can I? There are so many things to enjoy at the same time they are hazardous to the film's health.

Mystery killing with politics background about East-West confrontation

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 8 November 2007]

The background of the film is the American-Japonese business competition in L.A. where a cop (Wesley Snipes) accused by corruption teams up with old man (Sean Connery) , expert on Japanese world . They're investigating a killing case filmed in videotape recording and located at an important corporation run by powerful manager (Mako)and it implicates a senator (Ray Wise) . The homicide is committed on a boardroom table while a beautiful prostitute is strangled when having sex with her lover , being prime suspect a Japanese executive (Gary -Hiroyuki Tagawa). The identity of the murderer is taken by a security camera on a missing disk . Meantime , another tough police( Harvey Keitel) is also investigating and they're helped by a gorgeous video expert (Tia Carrere). Soon discover on the final breaking point that even the truth can lie .

The tale mingles suspense , thriller , mystery , quick action , buddy movie and is quite entertaining . However , the complicated script contains some flaws and gaps , originating fails on credibility but gets its nice moments here and there . Based on controversial novel by Michael Crichton , it is adapted by Philip Kaufman and Crichton, blending business, Japanese customs, high technology and international politics, turning out some confusing and silly . For that reason, the screenplay was rewritten several times, focusing more the killing suspense and relying heavily on relationship between two leads and the differences US-Japan . Michael Crichton, author of the book and co-author of the screenplay, wrote the part of Connor with Sean Connery in mind. Writers Michael Crichton and Michael Backes quit the project largely over disagreement with director Philip Kaufman that one of the lead characters should be changed into an African-American . Evocative Japanese music score by Takemitsu (Kurosawa's usual musician) and appropriate cinematography with stylized camera techniques by Michael Chapman . This one gets acceptable direction by Philip Kaufman (Quills, Right stuff, Body snatchers) . The film will appeal to Wesley Snipes and Sean Connery fans.

OK on its own terms

[preppy-3 · 6/10 · 1 September 2007]

A woman is strangled to death while having sex in a Japaneses' corporation building. Lt. Webster Smith (Wesley Snipes) and Japan expert Captain John Connor (Sean Connery) are assigned to solve it. All the evidence points to her Japanese boyfriend but there's more to this than meets the eye.

Michael Crichtons novel was a frightening and powerful story about how it seemed (at the time) that Japanese corporations were taking over everything. As an adaptation to that this is a joke. Smith is made black for no good reason, the anti-Japanese slant was toned down a lot, there was no romantic interest between Snipes and Tia Carrere as is shown in this movie and the identity of the killer was completely changed! It really destroyed the book. But, if you ignore the book, this is OK on its own terms.

It's well done and written and there's some good acting by Connery, Ray Wise (as a slimy senator), Harvey Keitel (as a cop) and Steve Buscemi (still not sure what he was). But the story is way too convoluted, goes on far too long and has an ending which is more than confusing. Also Connery and Snipes do not work well together. There's no spark between them--they seem to be acting in different movies. There's also plenty of pointless female nudity. This lessens what could have been a good strong movie. So it's an OK thriller. Worth catching if you're a Connery fan. The book is much better.

Great Book Turned Into Average Thriller on Film...

[MovieAddict2016 · 17 March 2003]

"Rising Sun"

There is an old Japanese motto: "Business is war." Well, that sentence is taken to new heights in the Philip Kaufman thriller "Rising Sun," based on the best-selling novel by Michael Crichton.

Wesley Snipes plays Web Smith, a Japanese-American liaison officer in LA who is called on duty after a young woman is found dead at the opening party for the new Japanese company named Nakamoto. Sean Connery plays John Connor, a retired liaison officer who is an expert on Japanese customs and culture. He is requested to come on call as well, and does, trailing along with Web.

When they get to Nakamoto, they find Tom Graham (Harvey Keitel) and other cops hovering over the body of the dead woman. Soon, foul play is suspected, and Smith and Connor must find the killer before it is too late.

"Rising Sun" is taken from a great novel, and turned into an average thriller. There is nothing spectacular about the film. It stays surprisingly true to the book, but the very few things that stray from the course of the novel turn out to be the blunders.

There are no sparks flying between Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes. I think that Snipes was a bad casting decision. Connery is perfect for the character of John Connor, but Snipes just doesn't fit Peter Smith - whose name was changed to Web Smith for the film, for no apparent reason other than Peter isn't a suiting name for Snipes.

The director/screenplay writer of "Rising Sun" - Philip Kaufman, who brought us "The Right Stuff" - seems to have charisma and obviously tries to keep the film true to the book. Unfortunately, however, there is an element of suspense missing from the film. There are no real surprises. In the novel, Connery's character John Connor seems to know everything that is going to happen, but there is still a sense of suspense. In the film, however, Connery's Connor seems to know TOO much about everything that is going to happen. Instead of being one step ahead like he was in the book, he seems to be twenty steps ahead in the film. There is one scene that really jumped out at me where Connor walks in and says, upon discovering a man believed to be dead, "Oh, I was wondering when he'd get here!" In the novel, Connor gives a reason why he knew the man wasn't dead. In the film, he just seems to know the man is still alive for no apparent reason. If Connor knows everything that is happening, everything that has happened, and everything that is going to happen, why keep Web - and us - in the dark?

At least Connery fit the character of Connor - it would have been about ten times worse if they had chosen someone else.

Believe it or not, the film might have been better if it had NOT been so close to the book. What I mean by this, is that by making everything just like the book, Kaufman raises the expectations a notch, and when ONE SINGLE THING is changed from the book, the audience is disappointed, because by then we have come to expect everything in the movie to be like the book. Expectations wouldn't have been so high if he had made everything different from the book. Which is NOT to say I don't enjoy that he stayed true to the book.

It's a confusing opinion. In some ways, I enjoy how true to the novel the film was. But there is just something missing. Even though the cast is top notch for the most part, Snipes just didn't fit. And while Connery was perfect as Connor, he seemed to know too much about what is going on. There is no real suspense. Perhaps that is the biggest flaw of the film.

A great book turned into an average thriller worth seeing once.

3/5 stars -

John Ulmer

A surprisingly efficient thriller

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 11 May 2011]

What could have been a tired entry in the buddy-buddy cop thriller genre turns into something else at the hands of expert director and craftsman Philip Kaufman (INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS). Sure, it's no masterpiece, but this adaptation of a Michael Crichton novel makes for compelling viewing, a fun entry in the East-meets-West sub-genre of the films detailing the conflict that arises when two different cultures are forced to come together.

The plot is essentially that of a murder mystery, but with Crichton as source material there's the expected preoccupation with technology (a piece of CCTV footage plays a pivotal role here, throwing up questions as to privacy and manipulation, with the film feeling way ahead of its time some twenty years later). The presence of Wesley Snipes as the lead begs the question "miscasting?" but I found him on top form here and a darned sight better than he was in the same year's DEMOLITION MAN. Connery bags the best role and steals all of his scenes, while Harvey Keitel gives a volatile performance and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is a pleasure when he's given the chance to act (and not typecast as the villain, either). Altogether the culture clash plot kept me watching to the end and I wasn't disappointed, the complexity of the mystery carrying the viewer through some of the more unbelievable moments..

Dumbed-down, yet effective

[ricardovs27 · 7/10 · 6 April 2011]

This adaptation of Crichton's novel of the same name is flawed, specially in some key casting (Snipes is wrong for the part) and tone choices (the main relationship is badly portrayed, some characters enter and leave without regard and the action scenes seem very off).

However, it makes the grade into the above-average category of high-tech thrillers for the excellent Sir Connery performance and the adherence, in about 80%, to the gripping and quite scary, economically speaking, original plot.

Crichton was never afraid to take a stand and the movie version, although clearly into a more action-driven-politically-correct approach, tried to present a more layered portrayal of the business war arena, without hiding the author's criticism of the American posture towards the velvet covered Japanese iron hand on such matters, which is refreshing.

The pace is lightning fast, the convoluted plot is presented in a very satisfactory fashion - the audience can understand what is going on and why - and the almost 2-hour movie passes by with grace.

The little disappointment goes for the last 20 minutes, that present a rather stupid conclusion (different from the book, I might add) and wastes the audience time with perfunctory developments that could, easily, have remained in the edit room floor.

Interesting if slightly dated thriller

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 20 July 2009]

This is a fairly solid thriller with great performances from Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes as Capt. Connor and Lt. Smith, two Los Angeles police officers called in when a woman is found dead on the boardroom table of a Japanese company.

When the officers arrive at the crime scene they find their investigations are being impeded by the Japanese who are desperate to avoid a scandal at a time when they are negotiating to take over a major US defence contractor. After a couple of hours stonewalling they hand over the discs for the boardroom's security cameras which appears to show the murder being committed by the victim's boyfriend. There are however the possibilities that it wasn't murder but kinky sex that went too far or that the camera footage has been edited.

As the investigations continue it appears that somebody does not want the case to be solved, Smith finds an allegation of corruption being made even though he'd been cleared of it years before and Connor is accused of being anti-Japanese which is a bit of a surprise given that his police colleagues suspect that he'd gone native while living in Japan.

In some ways the film seems somewhat dated, Japan no longer has the sort of economy that is able to buy up any Western company they want and technological advances mean that the idea that video can be doctored is no longer shocking but something we take for granted. That doesn't spoil the film though as it is a decent story which is well acted, hhile Connery and Snipes are clearly the stars the film includes good actors like Harvey Keitel and Steve Buscemi in relatively minor roles.

Death Of A Gasper

[seymourblack-1 · 7/10 · 20 July 2016]

Based on Michael Crichton's novel of the same name, "Rising Sun" is an absorbing murder mystery that's spiced-up by some high-tech wizardry, culture clashes and the friction that develops between a couple of mismatched cops. The action takes place at the U.S. headquarters of the Japanese Nakamoto Corporation in L.A. where, what first appears to be a straightforward investigation into the death of a young woman, becomes complicated by the discovery of a conspiracy, a cover-up and a political dimension to some negotiations that the corporation is involved in with an American company called MicroCon. The presence of a number of possible suspects, a desire to protect the reputation of the Japanese business and a need to navigate some important cultural differences, then make the whole investigation rather challenging.

After the dead body of blonde prostitute Cheryl Austin (Tatjana Patitz) is discovered lying on a boardroom table in the Nakamoto offices during a party hosted by the corporation, LAPD investigating officer Lieutenant Tom Graham (Harvey Keitel) arrives on the scene and deduces that she was a "gasper" whose enjoyment of asphyxiation during sex had contributed to her death. Forensic evidence and film of the incident during which she died (which was captured on laser disk), then support the view that the killer was her current Japanese boyfriend Eddie Sakamura (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa). Graham isn't able to wrap the case up immediately and so Special Services liaison officers Lieutenant Web Smith (Wesley Snipes) and Captain John Connor (Sean Connery) who have more expertise in communicating with Japanese businessmen, are brought in to assist.

Smith is a streetwise detective who resents having to team up with his semi-retired partner and Connor is an expert on all things Japanese who soon recognises that the circumstances surrounding the death of Cheryl Austin are not as simple as Lieutenant Graham had originally assumed. Through his experience of living in "the land of the rising sun", Connor had learned a great deal about Japanese culture and customs and uses this knowledge to good effect to interact smoothly with the people from the Nakamoto Corporation and to advance the police investigation far quicker than would otherwise have been possible.

It soon emerges that the laser disk recording of the murder had been doctored and so further work then becomes necessary to access the original recording and to investigate whether there was any special significance to evidence of Austin's involvement with Senator John Morton (Ray Wise) who, for reasons of national security, had strongly opposed the negotiations that Nakamoto were conducting with MicroCon.

A complicated plot, the complexities of its characters and the difficulties created by cultural differences, all add interest to what otherwise would have been a simple whodunit. "Rising Sun" is well-paced, visually strong and features some good performances, most notably from Snipes and Connery who work brilliantly together to make their difficult relationship a pleasure to watch.

Good movie except for this one scene

[view_and_review · 7/10 · 31 August 2018]

Rising Sun was a decent enough movie. It was intelligent, it had big names, it didn't disappoint.

Have you ever watched a movie that was good but were so bothered by one part you couldn't shake it? Rising Sun had a scene that so annoyed me it overshadowed everything before it and after it.

John Connor (Sean Connery)--not to be confused with John Connor from Terminator--and Web Smith (Wesley Snipes) were pursuing a suspect in their murder case. They and about a dozen other tactically dressed officers busted into the home of their primary suspect. While chasing the suspect a nude escort/prostitute/side chick jumped on Web Smith's back and began assaulting and verbally abusing him.

Wait. What!?

Yeah, that's what my response to that was.

During the middle of a pursuit, guns are drawn, glass is being broken, foot soldiers are storming through and this daft woman decides now is a good time to what, defend her john? I can't think of a single instance where a hired woman would be willing to jump on the back of an armed police officer to prevent him from apprehending her john/employer/beau. I'm sure he pays her well but does he pay that well? Especially considering that nude woman number two was cowering and screaming.

It's not fair to boil Rising Sun down to that one scene because it was much more than that. It was actually a good movie. The crime had many layers and took time and ingenuity to unfold. Be that as it may, they cannot be forgiven for that atrocious scene.

Connery rises well above the material

[ArtVandelayImporterExporter · 6/10 · 28 November 2020]

Having just left us, Sean Connery's movies are all over cable TV right now. From the over-rated and mostly execrable Bond series, through the unloved but brilliant The Hill, and on through his later-career home runs such as Red October and The Untouchables.

Rising Sun is one of these latter-day Sean Connery movies. Here he's trying to bridge the cultural gap between the Japanese and Americans in a murder mystery. And as usual, he's way better than the movie itself. Connery is smooth and natural and completely believable as a guy who understands the Japanese language and culture. Also in the plus column belong Harvey Keitel and Wesley Snipes.

But goodness the drop-off from there is enormous. The supporting cast would be hard-pressed to hold up their end of an L.A. Law episode. Ray Wise is esp terrible. As for the Asian actors, well, at least they were able to pick up a nice Hollywood paycheque. Kurosawa this isn't. More like an extra-long episode of Magnum, P.I.

The plot is a mess. It might have seemed interesting to hang a plot on a Japanese corporation's takeover of an American tech firm, but that seems laughably old-fashioned these days.

Connery and Snipes, as far as I can tell, put in about 3 weeks of detective work in one 24-hour stretch. As for the ultimate perp, phhhht, you'd have to be pretty dense not to see that coming.

The fight scene near the end was a nice touch. Pointless, but fun.

And then it keeps going. Like Kaufmann shot a million feet of film and couldn't bring himself to cut any of it.

Dim, dumb, this Sun is no fun

[jeddjong · 2/10 · 20 February 2011]

This is, I'm sad to say, an awful, misguided mess of a movie. Every actor seems out of place, every line of dialogue contrived, every shlock moment of gratuitous sex or violence obviously engineered to evoke a reaction, which it does not.

It has been said that this adaptation removes the anti-Japanese bias of the book, but in trying to soften the blow the filmmakers have tripped themselves up and are left with something that is still wholly offensive and startlingly obtuse in its ignorance. A Scotsman throwing a game of golf, to humour the Japanese businessmen who had joined him and to "save their faces"? This is for Japanese businesses what "Bulletproof Monk" did for Buddhism.

It seems that director Philip Kaufman had a film camera in one hand and a checklist of stereotypes in the other. There are no genuine moments of action or thrills in this plodding, so-called "action-thriller", and the high-tech element of digital video forensics now seems awfully dated. The entire aesthetic and feel is very reminiscent of your below-average direct-to-TV so-called action film vehicle for a past-his-prime movie star - this is a pity because at that point of time, Connery and Snipes were anything but past their prime.

This was a time when Wesley Snipes was a viable action star, and yet he appears spends the whole movie in dazed disbelief. When even Sean Connery visibly gives up on the project and knows he can't save it no matter how much he tries, one knows he is in deep trouble.

High-Tech Whodunnit

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 27 May 2006]

This movie is not always easy to understand but if you give it a couple of looks, which it is worthy of doing, all the pieces finally fit and it's a good two hours of entertainment.

This modern-day crime movie may have a lack of action compared to others of its genre but it never loses your attention. Sean Connery, Wesley Snipes and Harvey Keitel star, along with Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Kevin Anderson, Mako and Tia Carrere. This is a high-tech story (at least for 1993) as two cops try to figure out who murdered a woman. It's Japanese-big business-politics intrigue with surveillance cameras being the key to figuring out a murder.

Connery and Snipes complement each other as a "buddy" cop duo with Connery being mostly responsible for making this story interesting. The still-suave ex-James Bond plays the cool veteran and it's fun to watch him operate.

The only complaint I might have is the ending, a stupid romance-type story with Snipes and Carrere that was very post-climactic and not needed.

Murder and merger

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 29 October 2013]

Michael Crichton's novel about murder and merger serves as the basis for a fine thriller of a film. For Sean Connery fans they will be pleased with what Connery does in this film.

Wesley Snipes plays a Los Angeles homicide detective who has it insisted to him that he bring retired police captain Connery along with him to solve a murder committed in one of those glass tower buildings owned by a Japanese firm. The book and the film were made at a time it seemed that the Japanese were acquiring a lot of things American and were beating us at our capitalist game.

Connery is quite a lover of Japanese culture and tradition in addition to possessing a keen eye for subtle nuances. His presence proves to be invaluable.

The murder is that of a high priced mistress and it looks like she was strangled during some rough sex. In fact the Japanese who have a very different attitude toward privacy and tape everything and everyone have the room under video surveillance. The tape they supply shows a US Senator Ray Wise doing the deed. A lovely piece of blackmail since his vote in the Senate is a key one to get.

But Connery doesn't buy it and eventually the truth is learned.

Both Connery and Snipes are manipulated to a first solution and then to a correct one. The subtleties of the Oriental mind.

Rising Sun is an OK thriller. It certainly gets a bit paranoiac about the Japanese taking over the country. Fears about that certainly proved to be premature.

Cary-Hiroyki Tagawa as an up and coming Japanese yuppie businessman who has the solution and is part of it should be singled out for praise. As well as Harvey Keitel playing a Philistine American cop who symbolizes the ugly American in his own country. Good thing he had Snipes and Connery along. I'm agreeing with a lot of other reviewers who think Steve Buscemi was totally wasted in a role that proved superfluous to the film and went nowhere. I'm betting in the book he had a more central purpose to the plot.

Sean Connery's world wide legion of fans should enjoy this.

One of the weakest action thrillers I've seen in years.

[Anonymous_Maxine · 3/10 · 23 January 2003]

Rising Sun is an exercise in bad screenwriting. It presents a story about big bad Japanese businessmen/gangsters and the crooked sale of a massive corporation called Microcon. The movie starts off with a goofball karaoke scene where Eddie Sakamura, the lead bad guy in another absolutely awful performance by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, singing a country song called Don't Fence Me In, in a scene that's probably one of the most pathetic attempts to develop a three dimensional character in cinematic history. Ted Danson' Peter Lowenstein in Body Heat (1981) was three dimensional because he had an interest in dancing that went beyond his character's obligatory role in the film. Here, this scene is thrown in at random just so we can try to pretend that this is a real person and not the facelss, stereotypical bad guy that we see for the rest of the film.

Just after this terrible scene ends, we are taken to the meeting about the sale of Microcon, and the movie again trips over itself by trying in pathetic vain to create suspense during nearly silent deliberations over this sale in a conference room, and if you manage to stay awake long enough, a seedy murder soon follows, the solution of which the rest of the movies tries to present. The worst of the screenplay writing comes in about when Sean Connery's John Connor (real creative name, guys) is introduced, and continues pretty much until the end of the film.

Welsey Snipes embarrasses himself by taking on a role in which he serves no other purpose than to be Wesley Snipes so that his name can go on the cover of the movie and trick action fans into thinking this might be another fast paced Snipes film (he's not the best action hero in the world, but he has certainly come out with better stuff than THIS), and to stand around and ask questions like a confused child. From the moment that Connor comes into the story, just about every time any character says anything, it is immediately followed by another character explaining what the hell is going on. There are two lengthy scenes that come almost one right after another where Web Smith (Snipes) and Connor are driving in the car, and Connor is explaining what is going on to the baffled Smith. LAPD nothing, this guy is more clueless than a dropout from Right Hand Roger's 24 Hour Junior Police Academy.

The plot continues to jump through clichéd thriller hoops, with Connor all the while wowing Smith with his tactics and vainly trying to wow the audience as well, but it is somehow very difficult to be entertained by a movie that spends the majority of its running time explaining itself, and sometimes even badly. There is a scene early in the film at the murder investigation where Connor steps into the conversation (because Smith, as he predicted, got himself into trouble) and makes an unpredictable move, and then later when he's explaining to Smith what just happened, he ends by saying, `Now Mr. Yoshida owes me a favor…Deep, isn't it!'

Well, since you asked, no, it's not deep. Not even a little bit. And neither is the rest of the movie.

A solid, enjoyable film whose pace covers it despite plot holes – the heavy cast also make it worth seeing

[bob the moo · 10 July 2004]

During a high level executive meeting between a Japanese corporation and an US weapons contractor a young woman is found murdered. Due to his connections Captain John Connor is sent to lead the investigation with Lt Web Smith. The investigation is immediately hindered by the Japanese culture, the shadowy business figures and political pressures, however before long Connor and Smith are presented with a cctv disk that shows the murder being carried out by a known suspect. When the suspect dies in a chase the investigation seems over but a closer investigation of the evidence shows that the case is far from closed.

Not being a real big fan of Michael Crichton, I wasn't sure how I'd like this film – I'm not a big traveler and don't buy my books in the airport when I do travel! It was apt then, that I wasn't overly taken by the plot here and felt that its pace was more responsible for it being an enjoyable thriller than any great skill in the writing. In its essence the glossy story takes in technology, big business, Japanese cool and political goings-on – all these and other things combining to mean that it moves well and is consistently busy. This is not to suggest that it all fits together because it doesn't; the plot has holes and lose strands within it that distract if you think too much about it – happily its pace and revelations did not give me too long to linger over these and I managed to enjoy it, the problems being forgotten in all the gloss.

On top of this gloss is piled a cast that is worth seeing no matter what they are doing together, and their presence and ability further cover for a plot that doesn't always serve its many characters as well as they deserve. Connery has fun in the sort of role he seems to greatly favour now – distinguished, wise men of age who can still dish it out if need be. He is easy to watch and only at times does he feel like he's forcing it (like when he suddenly shouts). Snipes does not look as confident but that may be because his 'look' has dated here and changed since 1993. However he is still good and has his moments despite being given a rather secondary role to Connery's. It the support cast that surprised me though – so many well known faces in supporting or minor roles. Keitel is very good, playing an interesting character that goes nowhere but is still interesting and well delivered; Tagawa is gifted a fuller role than he often gets and does well with it. Wise is OK but he forces it and didn't convince me as much as I would have liked – still did the job asked of him though. People like Mako, Carrere, von Bargen and Buscemi all add depth and make the film feel fuller than it is even with some small (and perhaps unnecessary?) characters.

Overall this is a slick and enjoyable film even if it is as much style and pace as it is substance. The plot doesn't totally fit together but its mix of techno-conspiracy, political plotting, sex and intrigue all keep it moving along enjoyably enough and the impressive and rather charismatic cast only help to make it feel all the slicker. Worth a watch even if some may find it a little inconsequential in regards some bits of plotting.

Time-Pass!

[namashi_1 · 7/10 · 27 January 2012]

Based on Crichton's novel of the same name, 'Rising Sun' is a Time-Pass fare, the doesn't falter as far as quick entertainment is concerned. The Fast-Pacing is spot-on & The Performances work!

'Rising Sun' Synopsis: When a professional escort is found dead, apparently after a violent sexual encounter, Police Detective Web Smith & John Connor, a former police Captain and expert on Japanese affairs, are sent to investigate.

'Rising Sun' is good stuff. It's Entertaining, Progressive & Fast-Paced. The Screenplay by Crichton & Michael Backes, is truly engaging & well-written. Philip Kaufman has Directed the film well. Cinematography is eye-filling. Editing is crisp. Art Design is fair.

Performance-Wise: Sir Sean Connery & Wesley Snipes make superb screen-heroes & share an infectious chemistry throughout. Harvey Keitel is in excellent form. Tia Carrere does her bit well. Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa is effective. Ray Wise is decent. Steve Buscemi is as usual.

On the whole, 'Rising Sun' is Entertaining.

fun with Connery and Snipes

[christopher-underwood · 7/10 · 20 December 2021]

Philip Kaufman is a director, I like, and at least five of those, Invasion of the Snatchers (1978) good remake, The Wanderers (1979) cult with wonderful score, The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988) fantastic but rather long, Henry & June (1990) fine book by Anais Nin and Henry Miller, and Quills (2000) the irrepressible Marquis De Sade and watching now the not quite as good, Rising Sun (1993). Rather a complicated story with a Japanese company in Los Angles when an escort dies after rough sex and more complications. The film is fun with Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes on top form although the length might have been cut by twenty minutes or so. Its still good essentially with the rather interesting American/Japanese even more complications.

In the Year of Jurassic Park...

[gavin6942 · 7/10 · 10 June 2016]

At the offices of a Japanese corporation, during a party, a woman, who is evidently a professional mistress, is found dead, apparently after some rough hanky panky.

1993 was apparently a good year for Michael Crichton. He had "Jurassic Park", one of the biggest hits of all time. And then he had this, which I think has been more or less forgotten. Which is a bit of a shame, because the Connery / Snipes pairing is interesting, as is the slight dip into the Yakuza.

My concern with the film is its emphasis on digital technology. I was around in 1993 and computer literate. Surely editing a video was possible, but to the extent it is shown here? It would be darn near impossible... the frame-by-frame editing would take much too long. But if I ignore that, it makes for a great thriller.

Highly Enjoyable Murder Mystery

[moviesleuth2 · 7/10 · 7 February 2010]

Sex. Murder. Cover-ups. Three staples of a great murder mystery, and that's what "Rising Sun" offers. Of course, it spins them together in a story that's different than every other story of this ilk, and that's what makes this one so much fun to watch. It's not perfect, but it's a solid entry.

A young woman has been murdered at the opening gala of a Japanese corporation's new building. Homicide detective Webb Smith (Wesley Snipes) is called in to investigate. Also on hand as his partner is retired captain John Connor (Sean Connery), a man who is known for his intimate knowledge of Japanese culture. As they work to solve the case, they realize that not everything is what it seems.

I love a good mystery just as much as the next guy. Seeing the pieces fall into place, watching the heroes get closer to the killer, it's all great. For the most part, "Rising Sun" is ably told, although some of the minute details (that aren't so minute) are slightly confusing.

Apparently, Michael Crichton imagined Connery playing John Conner as he was writing the book, and that's readily apparent. Connery, an actor of great screen presence, dominates the role (and the film). Wesley Snipes is not as good, but not bad. Caro Hiroyuki-Tagawa is adequate as the main suspect who knows more than what he's saying. Tia Careere is great in a small but important role as the tech support girl, Jingo Asakuma.

The film's look is great, and it's competently directed. However, the pseudo-flashback approach doesn't really work, and the depictions of Japanese culture are heavy-handed, to the point where it almost becomes insulting.

Still, this is a good and engaging mystery.

Good movie about the book The Rising Sun

[guru2007 · 7/10 · 31 December 2009]

The movie is adapted from the book Rising Sun (1992) written by Michael Crichton. The movie follows the book in the most parts but misses to explain the book thoroughly. People who watch the movie without reading the book might be confused but director Kaufman has done a good job. The only bad thing about the movie is the development of characters. But if you read the book it will be much clear. The movie is basically about solving a murder case that was motivated by political and business war between Japan and United States. The mystery is good but the action in the movie was sort of unnecessary. The understanding of Japanese culture is equally important. Good movie not great...I give 6.5/10.

California Sushi

[refinedsugar · 6/10 · 19 November 2023]

You get the interesting team of Connery & Snipes in this Japanese infused tale that was one movie in a wave of similar entries in the 90's. However you can be forgiven if you find the story meandering on route to a simplistic ending or just too long in the tooth. At over two hours in length, there's only so much the cast of faces can do.

On the eve of a controversial merger between Japanese company Nakamoto and an American firm, a woman Cheryl (Tatjana Patitz) is murdered in an LA boardroom during a party. Lt. Web Smith (Wesley Snipes) is put on the case and he's told to get Cpt. John Conner (Sean Connery) a specialist in Japanese affairs to assist. At first, it's seems very simple. A sexual tryst gone wrong and the lady's boyfriend Eddie Sakamura (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa) is guilty, but everything is not what it seems in this clash of cultures.

You get prominent appearances by Mako, Harvey Keitel, Ray Wise, Tia Carrere. Unfortunately none of them stand out as they're one note functionary roles. Connery turns in a decent trip, but it's a character very much suited to him. That leaves Snipes to be the slightly out of his depth, ignorant American pawn. Tagawa gets the best role and has some fun with it.

The conspiracy, the lies. Watching the duo chase down leads, talk to people is somewhat mundane. You get some fun moments like Snipes having to fight off a naked woman on his back and Connery quickly disarming a bodyguard though. Balance that with cliches like Web in the ghetto to get help or Connery knowing all the right people.

'Rising Sun' wants you to believe there's more going on here than there really is because they dress it up in some exotic sense of mystique. That's all surface level. Fans of Connery & Snipes will be the biggest audience giving this a go, but will agree it's neither man's best work.

Typically overdirected Philip Kaufman movie

[Maciste_Brother · 3/10 · 19 November 2003]

Philip Kaufman has a knack of making huge productions out of the simplest stories or projects. And RISING SUN is not exception. There's nothing memorable about this, except for the shot of a beautiful woman sprawled on a conference table. Kaufman seems to confuse over-direction with greatness. This story is just a pulpy-kind of story and yet Kaufman directs it as if it was Shakespeare. Wesley Snipes is good even if his role is thankless. And Sean Connery plays, well, Sean Connery. Or James Bond as played by Sean Connery. I don't get his appeal one bit. Anyway, RISING SUN is VERY dated these days and what flashy quality it used to have in 1993 is almost all gone today, which makes the movie look even more shallow and pointless.

Business is war

[lastliberal · 8/10 · 21 April 2007]

It is hard to pass up a Sean Connery movie, especially one with Wesley Snipes. You can just see Lt. Smith (Snipes) learning from Captain Conner (Connery) and taking those lessons to Washington in Murder at 1600.

Connery was exceptional in this thriller with multiple twists and turns, and Snipes did a great job as his student. Harvey Keitel added a great dimension as a racist dirty cop.

I was also glad to see Steve Buscemi in his usual slimy role. I hadn't seen Tia Carrere since True Lies and she play a super role her as a tech wiz. And, I always like seeing Mako.

Great thriller with great characters. Put this on your list to see.

Worth a watch for the suspense and the superb performance by Sir Sean Connery

[imseeg · 7/10 · 14 April 2018]

It has got suspense, some really good mysterious suspense actually. This story enticed me till the very end. Plot twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat.

What's the story about? A gorgeous model gets raped and killed at a big Japanese company. Wesley Snipes and Sean Connery play 2 detectives who are called to the scene of the crime. The rest of the movie is a cat and mouse game to find out who raped and killed the model and who is trying to cover up the murder in ingenious ways.

Sean Connery is at his peak, playing the older and wiser detective who keeps paraphrasing Japanese philosophers quotes, that are simultaneously deep and funny. Wesley Snipes plays the gung ho macho cop. Then there is the ever great Harvey Keitel. These 3 act all at the top of their talents and they are to die for.

It really is a macho kind of movie but with enough funny oneliners that one doesnt have to take it too seriously.

Any bad? The only thing that makes it a little dated looking is because of the use of old surveillance technology. Back then it was never seen before that you could alter video images.

It isnt a comedy, but it sure as hell has got a lot of great tongue in cheek jokes. Seen it many times now and it stays enjoyable because of the excellent and witty dialogues and the ever charming Sir Sean Connery!

Deeply Flawed, Despite Its Good Cast

[jcanettis · 3/10 · 12 July 2005]

By judging from its cast, "Rising Sun" sounded promising enough to persuade me to give it a watch. Unfortunately, I was deeply disappointed by nearly all counts. Here is why: "Rising Sun" is about the story of two police detectives, Web Smith (Snipes), and John Connor (Connery), who are brought in hastily to investigate the murder of a prostitute inside the luxurious offices of a Japanese multinational. During their investigation, they are getting entangled in the underworld of Japanese businessmen-cum-gangsters, and they become more and more entrapped inside a web of deceit, sex, politics and cruelty. They also realize that they are practically working on this case all alone, as their "own" men, such as Lt. Tom Graham (Keitel), are acting erratically, to say the least.

Although the plot summary sounds like it has the ingredients of a great thriller, the reality is otherwise: The story is inconsistent and full of logical gaps, which only become graver in the progression of time. Moreover, the whole idea of the film is based on a completely flawed and even subtly racist assumption: The Japanese are representing a pure and highly superior society, whose powerful corporations are ready to devour the decadent and incompetent America; in the process, they are ready to employ all means ruthlessly. The film even suggests that the Japanese are running their own omnipotent criminal network inside US soil, which has subjugated the American society and infrastructure under its control!

Written in the early '90s, during a period when Japan was on the ascendancy worldwide, the novel by Crichton still goes way too far in its suggestions even by the Japano-phobic standards of the time. Of course, if it is judged against today's standards, a period when Japan is suffering from a decade of economic stagnation, the message of the movie is utterly laughable and displaced from reality.

The problems for "Rising Sun" do not end here. Despite the presence of two great actors (Connery & Keitel), the acting was quite unsatisfactory. It seems as if even the actors do not really believe in the ludicrous roles they have been assigned to perform. The same can be said with Kaufman's direction which is as poor as the film overall.

I was really disappointed with "Rising Sun", because it failed me completely. The only reason I gave it a 3/10 and not less, is out of respect for Sean Connery and Harvey Keitel.