This film, made in the era of "Japan, Inc" has not aged well (neither has the idea that the Japanese "model" is the superior way of organizing an economy or society). I do not know any NYC Cops but I simply cannot believe that the scriptwriter could have intended for Michael Douglas' character to be so insultingly brash. He's not a complex character at all but a spiteful cynic tough guy who fires off insults right and left to anyone near enough to hear them. No cultural ambassadorship for Douglas' "Nick" by any stretch of the imagination. But this characteristic could have been displayed with a great deal more subtlety.
The ending is typical hollywood rubbish, which allows Douglas to "get the bad guy", show that he's been somehow "cleansed" by the experiences in the film and wind up with the girl in the end. Just far too unbelievable.
The cinematography is quite spectacular though (if a little bit reminiscent of Blade Runner in its styling, unsurprisingly), and the industrial city of Osaka (not Tokyo as another reviewer suggested) plays its grim role well.
The ending is typical hollywood rubbish, which allows Douglas to "get the bad guy", show that he's been somehow "cleansed" by the experiences in the film and wind up with the girl in the end. Just far too unbelievable.
The cinematography is quite spectacular though (if a little bit reminiscent of Blade Runner in its styling, unsurprisingly), and the industrial city of Osaka (not Tokyo as another reviewer suggested) plays its grim role well.