Black Rain Blu-ray Review

The newly remastered 1080p/MPEG-2 transfer of "Black Rain" offers a visually compelling experience, faithfully showcasing the flashing lights of Osaka's nightlife and the gritty realism of New York's former meatpacking district. Despite its age, the film's transfer maintains a near-immaculate presentation, highlighted by bold blues, yellows, and oranges during the nightclub and smelting factory scenes. The contrast and clarity are commendable, particularly in the on-location shots that capture the unique clutter of settings like the Osaka police station with impressive authenticity. While there are some minor drawbacks such as overly dim scenes and mild contrast wavering, these do little to detract from the overall visual pleasure.

Paramount's remastering effort is clearly exhibited in this BD-50 dual-layer release, presented in 2.40:1 widescreen. The transfer stands superior to previous standard-definition editions and aligns well with the HD DVD version; the image quality is clean, smooth, and remarkably free of grain and dirt. The color palette, though not as exaggerated as modern films, is well-rendered with stable, vibrant hues especially notable in reds and blues. Flesh tones are true-to-life, despite heavy filtering by Jan De Bont, enhancing the film's dimensionality and detail to a level that surpasses most remasters of its vintage.

Minor imperfections such as occasional print dropouts and sporadically dark scenes do exist, but they are infrequent and negligible. Overall, "Black Rain" showcases an exceptional video transfer, affirming Paramount's capability to deliver stunning remasters of classic titles.

The Blu-ray audio presentation of "Black Rain" features two soundtrack options: DTS-ES 6.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 EX, with the former being the preferred choice due to its 1.5mbps bitrate, providing a fuller, more robust sound compared to the 640kbps of the Dolby Digital mix. Despite these options, the dated source material struggles to match the complexity and dynamism of modern audio mixes. Dialogue is consistently clear and well-balanced, resting comfortably in the center channel, but the track's dynamic range leaves much to be desired, especially with a noticeable lack of low-end density. Hans Zimmer's eastern-infused score and electronic drum hits, which one would expect to have a significant punch, unfortunately do not translate into the powerful auditory experience that Zimmer envisioned.

The surround sound channels are rather passive, primarily supporting ambient sound and location-establishing cues without a considerable number of discrete effects. When present, effects such as the noise of motorcycles zipping by and sirens blaring are crisp yet sparingly used. Moments that could benefit from robust LFE integration, like Zimmer's score or specific action sequences, fall flat, lacking the expected bass impact. Additionally, some Foley work, especially in fight scenes, comes off as noticeably canned and unconvincing. While "Black Rain" excels at maintaining clear dialogue and a generally clean and bright fidelity, it fails to deliver an immersive surround sound experience, indicating its age and limitations compared to contemporary offerings.

The Blu-ray extras for "Black Rain" offer a deep dive into the film's production, led by an engaging four-part documentary. Director Ridley Scott, key actors such as Michael Douglas and Andy Garcia, and several behind-the-scenes contributors provide thorough insights. Highlights include the cultural and logistical challenges of filming in Japan, editing decisions that drastically reduced the film's initial runtime, and Hans Zimmer's crucial score. The commentary track by Scott enriches the viewing experience with detailed explanations of the film's xenophobic themes and production nuances. Although some content overlaps with the documentary, Scott's personal insights make it worthwhile for enthusiasts.

Extras included in this disc:

• Black Rain: The Script, The Cast: Covers script origins and principal actors' discussions.
• Black Rain: Making the Film: Two-part documentary focusing on pre-production and filming in Japan.
• Black Rain: Post Production: Examines editing, score, and critical reactions.
• Commentary by Director Ridley Scott: Scott revisits the film with detailed production insights.
• Theatrical Trailer: Presented in full 1080p video.

Ridley Scott's 1989 film "Black Rain" thrusts viewers into a whirlwind of cultural clashes and cop drama, set against the uniquely atmospheric backdrop of Japan. Michael Douglas stars as Nick Conklin, an archetypal American detective exhibiting almost every cop movie cliché imaginable. Alongside him is Andy Garcia as Charlie Vincent, providing the yin to Nick’s abrasive yang. Tasked with extraditing yakuza gangster Sato back to Japan, Conklin's and Vincent's journey quickly spirals into a pursuit fraught with cultural tensions and action-thriller tropes.

The plot hinges on a yakuza execution witnessed by the two detectives and Sato's subsequent escape upon arrival in Osaka. From there, the film explores the deep-seated xenophobia between Japanese and American characters. Conklin's brash approach starkly contrasts with the traditional, methodical ways of Osaka detective Masahiro Matsumoto, played by Ken Takakura. This dichotomy, though occasionally heavy-handed, provides a layered examination of East meets West. Despite its predictable structure and reliance on dramatic stereotypes, "Black Rain" manages to evoke genuine emotional moments, especially through the evolving relationship between Conklin and Matsumoto.

Visually, Scott's direction does not disappoint. His signature architectural style and deliberate pacing infuse the film with a compelling, noir-ish undertone. Yet, these stylistic choices often overshadow the narrative's substance, causing it to veer into territory more concerned with visual spectacle than deep storytelling. Performances are notably strong, with Douglas portraying a gaijin stereotype with unapologetic intensity while Garcia balances this with a more adaptable, peacekeeping presence. Ultimately, "Black Rain" is both a captivating watch and a flawed venture—delivering style in abundance but falling short in its exploration of cultural dichotomies and gripping cop drama conventions.

The Blu-ray release of "Black Rain" delivers a visually impressive experience that underscores the film's atmospheric settings and distinct cinematography. With a strikingly clean transfer that brings out the rich, gritty textures of 1980s Osaka, the video quality is a standout feature. The color palette remains vivid, and the contrast levels are well-balanced, preserving the movie’s stylistic nuances. The audio setup, while not groundbreaking, provides a solid auditory experience that complements the film’s intense action sequences and atmospheric scores, ensuring viewers are deeply immersed in the narrative.

This release includes a robust selection of extras, which offers a good mix of behind-the-scenes insights and retrospective content, providing both fans and newcomers with added context and appreciation for the film. The interviews and making-of features dive into the production challenges and creative decisions, highlighting director Ridley Scott's unique vision. The bonus materials also give viewers a deeper look into Michael Douglas' portrayal of the morally complex protagonist, which remains a focal point of the movie's appeal.

Though its Osaka setting is vibrant and alive, "Black Rain" tries to explore Japanese-U.S relations at a time when they were somewhat strained. However, in many respects, it is nearly indistinguishable from other 1980s cop dramas. Fans of the genre will find a lot to love, and this Blu-ray release is well-equipped with excellent video quality for a catalog release, a fairly good sound setup, and plenty of extras. While it may not warrant a purchase for anyone besides Japanophiles, cop-o-holics, or Michael Douglas fans, "Black Rain" is certainly worth a rental.