Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Red Sun Rising Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 20, 2022

1994’s “Red Sun Rising” is an attempt to give star Don “The Dragon” Wilson something just a little different to play. The respected martial artist and B-movie hero is tasked with a slightly heavier load of drama to carry in the feature, portraying a Japanese policeman dealing with guilt and rage while trying to seek revenge for the loss of his partner. The action is mostly found in Los Angeles, and Wilson does his thing very well, smashing opponents and dealing with fight choreography while director Francis Megahy tries to build a picture around him. Unfortunately, “Red Sun Rising” isn’t all that compelling a police story, struggling to merge supernatural elements with street violence, while the overall effort to turn Wilson into a leading man doesn’t take, with such a calculated career move blocking the view of a passable actioner.

Thomas (Don “The Dragon” Wilson) is a Japanese cop trying to take down gangster Yamata (Soon-Tek Oh) in Kyoto, only to watch as superhuman enforcer Jaho (James Lew) murders his partner in the process. Swearing revenge, Thomas travels to Los Angeles to take down Yamata and Jaho, soon partnered with Karen (Terry Farrell), a L.A.P.D. detective trying to manage growing gang hostilities in the city while Yamata attempts to create street chaos to cover nefarious business plans.

Wilson isn’t a trained actor, but “Red Sun Rising” hopes to bring something a little different out of him, portraying a frustrated cop working to clear his conscience and bring bad guys to justice. Thomas is also dealing with a partner in Nancy, an openly racist and hostile woman the screenplay clumsily tries to turn into a romantic partner for the Japanese visitor as their shared interest in justice brings them closer. The subplot is ridiculous, which isn’t an uncommon development in this subgenre, but this relationship is unnecessary, finding the production more attentive to selling Wilson than developing tension in the story, which needs some serious amplification.

Revenge movie moves are few and far between in “Red Sun Rising,” but the production eventually gets around to fight sequences, which bring necessary life to the picture. Wilson is in his element kicking and punching goons, and the feature is best when focusing on Thomas and his concentration on vengeance, going after his enemies around Los Angeles. Complications arrive with dark magic, as the writing highlights the “death touch” Jaho uses to destroy his targets, turning “Red Sun Rising” into a comic book-like viewing experience, going into goofy fantasy directions instead of delivering a more furious action event.

Red Sun Rising Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a 4K scan of the original camera negative. "Red Sun Rising" does offer lively colors during the run time, delivering bright primaries on cars and period costuming, and strange hues on orange power juice and deep blue tea are preserved. Greenery is exact, and a warmer sense of urban Los Angeles is secured. Skin tones are natural. Detail showcases clear body particulars and fibrous outfits. L.A. exteriors retain depth. Decorative elements are also open for inspection. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition, with a few mild scratches and brief wear.

Red Sun Rising Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers a forceful listening experience. Dialogue exchanges emerge with clarity, handling accents and different ideas on thespian emphasis well. Scoring is aggressive, supporting dramatic moods and action beats with a more defined presence. Instrumentation is sharp. Sound effects are crisp, detailing body blows and explosions.

Red Sun Rising Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "The Dragon Rises" (29:48, HD) is an interview with Don "The Dragon" Wilson, who reveals how "Red Sun Rising" was originally conceived as a buddy action movie with Chris Penn, who dropped out of the production when big studio work arrived. A rewrite turned the endeavor into a semi-romantic feature with Terry Farrell, who kept most of Penn's original dialogue. Director Francis Megahy is assessed, refusing to entertain major performance changes on-set, and the supernatural elements of the effort are highlighted, with Wilson wary of believing the "death touch" myth. Fight choreography is detailed, working with Art Camacho but receiving a special credit of his own. Co-stars are fondly recalled, with much respect paid to Mako, while Michael Ironside joined the film as a favor. The interviewee also discusses his fight with illness during the shoot, and the cult longevity of "Red Sun Rising," feeling the picture helped to legitimized martial arts movies in the 1990s.

• "Producer Fu" (29:49, HD) is an interview with producer Paul Maslak, who details his lifelong interest in the martial arts world, eventually contributing to the magazine Inside Kung Fu. Entering film production, the interviewee helped to develop "No Retreat, No Surrender," and eventually managed Don "The Dragon" Wilson for four years, with their partnership coming to a close on "Red Sun Rising." The quest to find a director is explored, and Maslak goes deep into casting, sharing hiring stories. Technical achievements are highlighted, along with producing duties for the low-budget feature. Instead of a theatrical release, "Red Sun Rising" was sold to HBO for a successful premiere on pay cable before building a fanbase on home video.

• "Newby's Way" (32:40, HD) is a video conference interview with cinematographer John Newby, who tracks his interest in the art of filmmaking, beginning with his time in the exhibition business. Career origins are explored, working his way up the ladder, eventually landing a gig with "Red Sun Rising." Impressions of director Francis Megahy are shared, and Newby takes his time identifying the collaborative nature of moviemaking. The "Red Sun Rising" shoot in Los Angeles is recalled, along with the challenges of working with a specific budget and short amount of time, requiring a special approach, especially for a martial arts feature.

• "Red Sun Reflections" (18:16, HD) is a video conference interview with first assistant director Erica Fox, who recounts her early years in the business, working her way up to the director's chair for 1990's "Dead Women in Lingerie." For "Red Sun Rising," was brought in to help the low-budget production, ending up employed with her husband, cinematographer John Newby. The quest to juggle action and drama is detailed, and the interviewee reveals her influence on James Lew's performance. L.A. shooting locations are recalled, and casting is celebrated. Most interestingly, Fox is disturbed by some of the content in "Red Sun Rising," alarmed to find the effort so consumed with racism and mockery after a rewatch.

• "Master of the Flying Edit" (17:41, HD) is an interview with editor John Weidner, who got his start with PM Entertainment, working on various projects to build up his resume. During the early 1990s, Weidner was introduced to the ways of Hong Kong action films, learning their rhythms and force, eventually recruited to cut "Red Sun Rising" after proving his capability to Don "The Dragon" Wilson and producer Paul Maslak.

• Interview (6:10, HD) is a 2017 chat with fight coordinator Art Camacho.

• Interview (4:29, HD) is a 2017 chat with story co-creator Neva Friedenn.

• Interview (8:24, HD) is a 2017 chat with actor James Lew.

• Interview (11:45, HD) is a 2017 chat with producer Paul Maslak.

• Interview (17:19, HD) is a 2017 chat with director Francis Meghay.

• Interview (14:02, HD) is a 2017 chat with actor Don "The Dragon" Wilson.

• And a Video trailer (1:29, HD) is included.

Red Sun Rising Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Thomas is a man of honor, anger, and love, and Wilson doesn't get very far in the part, keeping "Red Sun Rising" underwhelming between scenes of pure physicality. The production hopes to generate a sprawling crime story involving gangs and gangsters, and there's plenty of police hostility as well, which contributes more strange, hate-charged behavior from supporting characters (the screenplay really enjoys using harassment to inspire cheap tension). There's ambition to do something big with a collection of motivations and magic, but "Red Sun Rising" doesn't get off the ground, repeatedly throttling the most appealing parts of the endeavor to transform Wilson into a leading man.