- Actors: Viggo Mortensen, Ryo Ishibashi, Michael Nouri, Franklyn Ajaye, Yuji Okumoto
- Directors: Frank A. Cappello
- Writers: John Allen Nelson, Max Strom, Takashige Ichise
- Producers: Aki Komine, Don Phillips, Joel Soisson, Michael Leahy
- Format: PAL
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Prism
- DVD Release Date: 2 Jun 2003
- Run Time: 96 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0000634DP
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 54,655 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a fantastic film. It is very violent and bloody but the story behind is riveting. Nick Davis (an alias for FBI agent David) infiltrates the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia. They induct him into their family trusting him fully. Nick's loyalty to the FBI and to his new friends is put to the test. The ending is fantastic and incredibly moving. A real must see, you really won't regret it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Mortensen makes this work, and plays a similar role in 'Eastern Promise' 2008. Doesnt deserve 1 star from the idiot who 'reviewed' this previously, so felt obliged to speak out. Speaking as someone who usually watches subbed Asian cinema (lots in fact) but couldnt be bothered to read subtitles one night, it was a pleasant surprise. Some nice camerawork, choreography & a few great performances far outweigh the many cultural errors & cliches within. Wouldnt want to own it, but watch it if you get the chance. 6.8 out of 10.
Format:DVD
I'll start by saying I enjoyed this film. I have long been a follower of the Japanese Yakuza films and if anyone wants to see it at it's best look for films by Ryuhei Kitamura or Miike Takashi. That said, I thought it would be interesting to see how Hollywood deals with these themes.
In the main the film was well acted, although I found Mortenson's performance a little wooden; almost like a cut-price Clint Eastwood from the late 1960's - he looks mean and says very little. Not that I have a problem with this but I expected more somehow and this didn't seem to fit with the tone of the piece. It took a while to get going and several minutes before it was clear who was who. Once you'd worked that out it was enjoyable to sit back and watch each characters motivations and back story unfold.
The film is violent but that is the culture the Yakuza have and I didn't feel it was gratuitous. It also went a long way to portray them as real people with their own code and system of honour. I felt the film was lacking with poor the charactarisation of the Mafia; they're real people too.
What impressed me was that, similar to the Japanese Yakuza movies, there was no right or wrong characters. Everybody (except the poorly represented Mafia) had their own set of morality and their own reasons for being the way they were. This made for a very effective and poignant finale and you are left wondering who were the good guys after all.
If the Mafia had been given proper backstories like most of the other characters and they had found a less wooden lead this would be a 5* film.
In the main the film was well acted, although I found Mortenson's performance a little wooden; almost like a cut-price Clint Eastwood from the late 1960's - he looks mean and says very little. Not that I have a problem with this but I expected more somehow and this didn't seem to fit with the tone of the piece. It took a while to get going and several minutes before it was clear who was who. Once you'd worked that out it was enjoyable to sit back and watch each characters motivations and back story unfold.
The film is violent but that is the culture the Yakuza have and I didn't feel it was gratuitous. It also went a long way to portray them as real people with their own code and system of honour. I felt the film was lacking with poor the charactarisation of the Mafia; they're real people too.
What impressed me was that, similar to the Japanese Yakuza movies, there was no right or wrong characters. Everybody (except the poorly represented Mafia) had their own set of morality and their own reasons for being the way they were. This made for a very effective and poignant finale and you are left wondering who were the good guys after all.
If the Mafia had been given proper backstories like most of the other characters and they had found a less wooden lead this would be a 5* film.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Lost in translation...
A surprisingly decent if dated film, from a Viggo Mortensen in his early non-fame days. The fight scenes seem to be a ripped-off john woo movies, and the way Mortensen comes to... Read more
Published on 19 July 2009 by R. Matfen
Rated R for... rEtArdEd
Rubbish, daft, incredibly mediocre... not even a B movie... below a B movie. A movie designed for people who don't wanna use their brain. Seriously, it's terrible...
Published on 11 Mar 2008 by Paul Smithson
Avoid
This film is an abomination and should have been smote from existence a long time ago.
Do not buy or rent this film.
Published on 12 Nov 2005 by Lee Smith
Disappointing despite Viggo.
Rented this on the strength of other reviews and was very disappointed. Mostly I was interested in Viggo, and although he was lovely to look at his performance wasn't great - not... Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2005 by Schnack
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