Rising Sun (1993) Reviews

• High-Tech Whodunnit

  ccthemovieman-12006-05-27

  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.

• Great Cultural Thriller

  RNMorton2015-01-25

  I actually read the book before seeing the movie, I recall at the time (many years ago) that I didn't think Snipes fit the kohai role very well. Since then I can't recall the book much and I have acclimated more to Wesley. But the focus here is on Connery, in one of his truly superb roles as Captain John Connor on special assignment to the LA PD. Connery has spent years with and among the Japanese, and when a prostitute is murdered inside Japanese corporate offices in Los Angeles, Detective Snipes and Connery are on the job. The plot as it is isn't really very exceptional, what is extraordinary is Connery's interactions with Snipes, the Japanese and everyone else, along with the (for then) astounding technology, always a Crichton staple. I can just sit back and watch Connery in this role for forever. Highly recommended just on the strength of Connery alone.

• Great Book Turned Into Average Thriller on Film...

  MovieAddict20162003-03-17

  "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

• Good! But not Great!

  amwcsu2005-07-17

  I like this movie for its simple, yet intricate plot and interesting peek into the Japanese culture, customs, and traditions. Rising Sun has its strengths in the technological sector using mini-CD's in their security cameras, something that rare...even in 2005; unheard of in 1993. Very interesting. This Michael Chricton venture has the right mix of corporate warfare and abrasive politics in each of the characters from the racist pig and "Ugly American" extrordinaire Tom Graham to the mysterious techno-whiz played by Tia Carrare. But what I don't understand is how Sean Connery's character becomes such an aficionado of the Japanese culture? The explanation is very weak especially when it concerns his relationship with Eddie Sakomura. Snipes adds some bite and boldness to the mix but he plays into that "not so bright sidekick" stereotype that many African-Americans fall into. It would've been more interesting if the roles were reversed. The ending is one of the most compelling scenes of the entire film...yes this would be considered a FILM not a MOVIE. It shows the bond of the conspirators falling apart piece by piece. First, the senator's sexual escapade is revealed to his co-workers and his wife via fax machine. Then he interrupts an important meeting at Nakamoto headquarters by calling his co-patriot, thus revealing that Ishihara had something to do with this murder. Lastly, the killer is unmasked and flees capture only to be cornered by Eddie's allies and thrown into a vat of wet concrete to his doom. I'll admit it its a frightening way to die but the killer/ sleaze ball lawyer deserves it. But must they change this ending at the last minute to replace Ishihara with Richmond(the killer)? I thought movies were supposed to be art wrought with controversy.

• The Cool Connery and the Sharp Snipes!

  manjodude2012-01-26

  Very nice murder thriller, and arguably one of Wesley Snipes' best roles in his career. And of course, he didn't want to miss being paired with the man himself, Sean Connery! Tight direction, entertaining dialogues(especially Connery's yap on Japanese traditions are hilarious), the suspense and also intense performances from Connery & Snipes make this movie a winner. I wouldn't really regard Rising Sun as an action thriller because the action factor is low. But the movie amply compensates with tense moments. The only places where I feel our attention span drops are those kinda tediously long camera footages shown of the murder and all that explanation by the hot Tia Carrere on how the video was edited blah, blah! Verdict: Still, a highly engaging thriller. Racy & entertaining!