Adapted from the bestselling novel by Kotaro Isaka “The Accuracy of Death”, “Sweet Rain” is proximately could become the Asian version to Brad Pitt’s “Meet Joe Black.” Why? Because both are equally playing in a narrative zone about a handsome Grim Reaper who meets a woman on earth and begins to understand human emotions and learns about life. In a substitute to Pitt, the pan-Asian heartthrob stars, Takeshi Kaneshiro playing as the God of Death in this film. This was his first Japanese role since 2002's “Returner,” the actor most recently could be seen in the Chinese historical epics “Red Cliff” and “The Warlords.” The Director is Masaya Kakei, whose unique style, mingling fantasy and humor, has made him one of the most-watched figures in Japanese film today. His picture “Bijokan” drew attention at the festivals to which it was invited in Japan and abroad. “Sweet Rain” is his first full-length feature which beautifully realized on screen with handsome photography and CG effects. In Japan itself, this is also the latest death god feature to appear, after the recently most popular “Death Note”. Though “Sweet Rain” is actually one of those three-story setups, but in three different time slots (past, present, future) – three unrelated stories, at least initially. But the hints of the links are all there and I don't think it is the director's intention to craft convoluted twists. The focus is on the mood, the characters and how they interact with the Grim Reaper. Co-starring in each stories are Konishi Manami (Angel's Egg), Mitsuishi Ken (Megane), and Fuji Sumiko (Hula Girls), and this sensitive and affecting drama explores the value of life and inevitability of death through these three seemingly separate lives, and the lonely death god who connects them together. Check it out completely in the DVD version of the film that already being releases in a friendly English sub Hong Kong version disc.
As the story developed into three periods, 1985, 2007 and 2028, the characters in each scene are linked unexpectedly. Grim Reaper Chiba (Takeshi Kaneshiro) loves "music" and believes that it is the best invention by humankind. He is not interested in neither human life nor death but simply manages his task as a Grim Reaper. His task is to assess a targeted human being and to make him die... To be more accurate, it is to observe a target for seven days and then choose either "execution = death" or hold = life" (in most cases "execution" is chosen.) This time his target is Kazue Fujiki (Manami Konishi). She is an unfortunate woman because anyone whom she loves dies one after anther. Chiba would choose "execution" as usual. However, her certain talent moves Chiba and causes him to change his opinion toward human being....
DVD Specifications:
Product Title: Sweet Rain (AKA: Accuracy of Death) (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version)
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: Traditional Chinese, English
Picture Format: NTSC, Widescreen Anamorphic 1.78 : 1
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Region Code: 3 - South East Asia (including Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan)
Duration: 114 (mins)
Publisher: Panorama (HK)
Release Date: 2008-11-24 (Save your copy)
Featured Reviews:
# Filmcritic.com, by Don Willmott
Accuracy of Death is delicate in stating its themes. It's beautifully shot, and it's charming throughout. Credit for much of the film's success goes to Kaneshiro, who is in every scene and never lets you forget why he is one of the world's most compelling big-screen stars. You simply can't take your eyes off him.
# movieXclusive.com, by John Li
Being a Japanese production, you can expect everything to be beautifully visualized on screen. The cinematography by Takahide Shibanushi showcases the melancholic showers, the gritty mafia showdowns and the withering sunflowers to great effect.
# Twitch, by Ard Vijn
"Accuracy of Death" is by no means a masterpiece and will not floor you with new stunning insights into human nature, yet it still manages to be quite a pleasant little movie. Takeshi Kaneshiro steals the show and is worth the price of admission all by himself.
# A Nutshell Review, by Stefan S
The first thing that comes screaming to your mind when you come to know of this movie, is MEET JOE BLACK, yes in caps, and a nagging feeling that it's a rip off / copycat coming some 10 years after that Hollywood movie. Although this is based on the Japanese novel by Kotaro Isaka, you can't help but to ponder upon the similarities between the two movies.
# The Brunei Times, by Pamela Samia, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Watching this film, don't expect to shed buckets of tears or even have eureka-moment about our life beyond, and yet this movie is guaranteed to warm your heart.
It triumphs because it tells about life and death as we know it, "nothing special but important".
As the story developed into three periods, 1985, 2007 and 2028, the characters in each scene are linked unexpectedly. Grim Reaper Chiba (Takeshi Kaneshiro) loves "music" and believes that it is the best invention by humankind. He is not interested in neither human life nor death but simply manages his task as a Grim Reaper. His task is to assess a targeted human being and to make him die... To be more accurate, it is to observe a target for seven days and then choose either "execution = death" or hold = life" (in most cases "execution" is chosen.) This time his target is Kazue Fujiki (Manami Konishi). She is an unfortunate woman because anyone whom she loves dies one after anther. Chiba would choose "execution" as usual. However, her certain talent moves Chiba and causes him to change his opinion toward human being.... DVD Specifications:
Product Title: Sweet Rain (AKA: Accuracy of Death) (DVD) (English Subtitled) (Hong Kong Version)
Language: Japanese
Subtitles: Traditional Chinese, English
Picture Format: NTSC, Widescreen Anamorphic 1.78 : 1
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1
Region Code: 3 - South East Asia (including Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan)
Duration: 114 (mins)
Publisher: Panorama (HK)
Release Date: 2008-11-24 (Save your copy)
Featured Reviews:# Filmcritic.com, by Don Willmott
Accuracy of Death is delicate in stating its themes. It's beautifully shot, and it's charming throughout. Credit for much of the film's success goes to Kaneshiro, who is in every scene and never lets you forget why he is one of the world's most compelling big-screen stars. You simply can't take your eyes off him.
# movieXclusive.com, by John Li
Being a Japanese production, you can expect everything to be beautifully visualized on screen. The cinematography by Takahide Shibanushi showcases the melancholic showers, the gritty mafia showdowns and the withering sunflowers to great effect.
# Twitch, by Ard Vijn
"Accuracy of Death" is by no means a masterpiece and will not floor you with new stunning insights into human nature, yet it still manages to be quite a pleasant little movie. Takeshi Kaneshiro steals the show and is worth the price of admission all by himself.
# A Nutshell Review, by Stefan S
The first thing that comes screaming to your mind when you come to know of this movie, is MEET JOE BLACK, yes in caps, and a nagging feeling that it's a rip off / copycat coming some 10 years after that Hollywood movie. Although this is based on the Japanese novel by Kotaro Isaka, you can't help but to ponder upon the similarities between the two movies.
# The Brunei Times, by Pamela Samia, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Watching this film, don't expect to shed buckets of tears or even have eureka-moment about our life beyond, and yet this movie is guaranteed to warm your heart.
It triumphs because it tells about life and death as we know it, "nothing special but important".
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