Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-25 06:43:21

Captures Japanese life and Baseball incredibly accurately!

For one thing, this movie pivoted on the theme of baseball is a world better than the Madonna/Davis starring "A league of their own" or the more recent travesties like "A field of dreams". For another, the schism between American and Japanese ideologies/way of life is just so truly captured that it is difficult to believe this movie is not the de-facto recommendation for people interested in Japan. Guess it missed out on the major league scene because, well, quite literally it is not about US major leagues? A US baseball star (Selleck) is traded to a Japanese baseball team and finds himself at intellectual loggerheads with the extant coach of the team. This, plus a slight romantic sub-plot as he falls in love with the coach's daughter. Barring some minor cheesy moments -- e.g., when the coach takes Selleck to a golf driving range and makes him hit the balls with a baseball bat, only to hear "I want to hit balls" instead of "I want to hit baseballs"...hmm -- the accuracy of Japanese life is truly stunning. Including, eating ramen with vociferous slurps, digging chopsticks vertically in rice bowls being a no-no, the language used to communicate between the American/Japanese, even a scene with a real on-sen. A refreshing break after stereotype galore seen in movies of that time, including the entertaining "Black Rain" or the absolutely goofball "Rising Sun". To cut to the chase, this is an under-rated gem of a movie, very well shot, some messages about life and profession as seen from two very different perspectives that are likely to resonate with either side. Selleck takes the cake with his acting, baring his tush (literally, I may add) to portray a grouchy American, snubbing people relentlessly and throwing tantrums in public, then letting us inside this character to understand his views. Takakura Ken, needless to say, is fascinating as usual. A must watch if you are interested in Japan, or baseball, or a good light-hearted cross cultural take on life and sport.

2012-05-24 15:24:18

A Favourite

Tom Selleck plays a spoiled, womanizing, washed-up Major League ball player who gets traded to a team in Japan. After a few temper tantrums and childish pranks he realizes that he needs to do more than coast along if his career in baseball is going to survive.With the help of the coach (Ken Takakura), the coach's lovely daughter and his assigned interpreter he learns to respect the traditions of Japan and its people. He also learns that what you put in is what you get back. In learning he is able to teach the coach and his fellow players to enjoy the "game" of baseball. This is ONE of my favourite baseball movies. It's witty and light entertainment that offers a glimpse into Japanese culture and the business of baseball. Selleck is believable as a baseball giant. Reviewed by M. E. Wood.

2012-05-20 17:46:42

Classic baseball film with a unique twist

I love this movie. It is one of my all-time favorite sports movies. It is funny without being vulgar. It also has a great message and a unique story. A must-see for any baseball movie fan.

2012-05-20 06:39:44

funny look at life for an american in Japan

Mr. BaseballEngaging film that tells it like it is about life in Japan for a visiting geijin (foreigner). Whether its navigating a bathroom for the first time to enjoying the wonders of Kobe beef or looking at the abject horror in the faces of your girlfriends parents the first time you meet them. Mr. Baseball hits a homerun. Its also an entertaining movie, arrogant (yet ever ingratiating) Selleck plays an over the hill baseball player shipped off to Japan by his agent. With the help of his new manager and the new girlfriend he meets, he learns how to grow up and fit in, but it isn't an easy learning experience.While not academy material, this movie holds its own and your attention through out and is full of laughs as well as insight, certainly more then I expected when I picked this one up.No extras on the DVD other then subtitles.Enjoy, have a laugh and if you ever lived in Japan, enjoy the memories of that unique experience as they come flooding back.

2012-05-13 21:24:36

Great movie - still not available in Japan

Accurate cultural references. Nicely crafted humor. Selleck is perfectly cast. It reminds me what I first found fascinating about Japan 17 years ago and why I've been here ever since. Sadly, this movie isn't and never has been available to buy on DVD in Japan. I can only think there's some copyright dispute that prevents its release. Whatever the reason - surely a little gem like this should be available to buy/rent in the country where it was made? Hai? As in Yes?

heckles 2012-05-13 05:54:17

Better than "A League of Their Own"

This film got less attention than "League of Their Own," possiblybecause it has only one "name" star. But whereas women's professionalbaseball had only an eight year, Midwestern town existence, Japanesebaseball is a vastly bigger entity, both in financial underwriting andpopular support. That alone would make it the better movie."Mr. Baseball" shows the facts of life of Japan-ball: the regimentedcheering, the deference to umpires, the pressure of corporate owners onmanagers, the extreme conservatism of play - and no hot dog playerswelcome.It also touches upon the isolation that any gai-jin - but especially anAmerican jock, not the people most versed in foreign cultures - feelsliving in Dai Nippon. And the Japanese, for their part, are notcomfortable around foreigners and let it show in various ways ("thegai-jin strike zone," one American player complains, "bigger than aBuick.")The script may not have won any awards, playing once again on the"redemption by improved play" theme, but I found it considerably moreenjoyable to watch than the pokey "League." Definitely recommended forthose who want to see another angle on this great sport.

2012-05-12 14:11:33

TOM SELLECK'S NICE AND HAIRY

Tom Selleck would seem to a good choice to play the big, strapping major-league star who's sent to play baseball in Japan, land of short people. But while Selleck's physique works, his personality does not. The story is supposed to be about an arrogant "jock" who gradually learns the values of teamwork and humility while stuggling in a foreign environment, but Selleck comes across as such a nice guy, (even in the early scenes where he's meant to growl and snarl), that there's no real sense of transformation.However, the movie doesn't take itself too seriously amd Tom has several chances to take off his shirt and thus display that hairy chest of his. (If there were a Mount Rushmore for hairy chests, Tom's would be right up there along with Sam Elliott's, Clint Walker's, and Burt Reynolds'.)

Clifford Forziat 2012-05-11 21:21:33

"Baseball is a game, and it's supposed to be fun" ... this film is a hit.

An egotistic major league baseball player is forced to continue his careerin Japan, he contends with a culture that is alien to him, an apparentlyhumorless manager, an attractive Japanese woman and his own professionalandsocial insecurities. There is a certain subtle charm that flows throughTomSelleck's performances. There is humor, sometimes softly understated, as inthis film, sometimes slapstick as in "Folks!", but always there seems to besome higher purpose involved. Throw in an individual full of self doubtswhostruggles to solve his personal difficulties while holding fast to "doingthe right thing," and you end up with a film both funny as well asthought-provoking. The cast fits together like a championship team, andevenif neither cast nor film win awards for their efforts, they will leave theviewers feeling good (and maybe that's the best results after all). You'llwant to watch this film more than once, and each time, Mr. Baseball hits ahome run.

2012-05-11 06:12:50

Fun

This is a fun, off-beat movie about a gaijin (foreign) baseball 'has-been' hired to play for the Chunichi Dragons when no one wants to sign him in the US. The hot-dogging American begrudgingly flies to Japan and is almost instantly overwhelmed by a completely different culture which does not value hot dogs (at least not the human kind). Cultures clash as he slowly realizes that baseball is a team sport! This is a thoroughly enjoyable movie, not only from the perspective of baseball, but from the culture-shock element. Of course the Japanese are somewhat stereotypical, as is Selleck's American superstar, but that's why this is a movie and not a documentary.Interestingly, Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation has quite a few similar elements in it, including the insomnia and late-night television watching, as well as the bewildering experience of trying to understand Japanese ads! Selleck, like Murray, is made to perform in an ad, although Murray's "rat pack" imitation is far more suave than Selleck dressed as a sumo wrestler.A fun watch!

bkoganbing 2012-05-10 19:14:31

Who's On First, Tom Selleck for the Chunici Dragons

Mr. Baseball casts Tom Selleck as an aging first baseman for the NewYork Yankees who is cast adrift by his team when they sell his contractto a Japanese team. Not that it ever has been done in real life, but Ican't see why it couldn't happen unless a ballplayer has a smart agentand inserts a clause preventing same.As early as the Sixties aging ballplayers from the states have gone toJapan when no one wanted them any more in organized baseball here inthe USA. Better the Major Leagues in that country than the MinorLeagues here. I recall Larry Doby and Don Newcombe as two players whowent to Japan in their declining years when I was a lad. Baseball hasbeen popular there since Babe Ruth led an all star contingent of ourbest players in 1934 to Japan. It was on that trip that Moe Berg wasgathering intelligence. Not even World War II killed the sport, in factit was a point of contact during the US occupation.Selleck in Japan has a lot of trouble adapting to the Japanese stylewhere it is considered bad form to argue too much with an umpire or tryand take out a second baseman or shortstop to break up a double play.Guys like Earl Weaver or Dallas Green or Billy Martin would have gonenuts there. He's also having trouble adapting to Japanese culture ingeneral. Helping him along is Aya Takanashi who is a public relationsperson for the club and daughter of the manager Ken Takakura who is areal hard nosed character. Of course when Selleck and Takanashi get tokanoodling he doesn't know she's Takakura's daughter.Takakura learns something from Selleck, that organized baseball is abunch of men being well paid to play a game that they are skilled atand an element of fun must be involved. I remember a lad when StanMusial retired after the 1963 season he said that he knew that he wouldretire when he no longer got any enjoyment out of putting on theuniform of the St. Louis Cardinals and playing the game. When it wasjust work and the body aches out lasted the enjoyment it was time toquit. Selleck has that same philosophy.So many of Japan's baseball stars now play in the states that theirleagues almost serve as a super minor league for our's. And this reviewis dedicated to one of the best of them, Ichiro Suzuki. Japanintegrating the American baseball scene truly arrived when Ichiro brokethe long standing record of George Sisler for most base hits in asingle season. As Babe Ruth and his all stars showed the Japanese about baseball,Ichiro shows us now how well they learned the game. And if it wasn'tfor that trip, Mr. Baseball would never have been made.

Flwreden 2012-05-09 12:11:41

Fun Baseball Movie

I really enjoyed this movie...In My DVD collection of baseball movies...Reminded me how great the sport truly is...Whether it's here in America or Japan.

2012-05-08 23:02:48

You gotta have Wa

The biggest surprise of "Mr. Baseball" is not that it's actually a pretty good movie, which it is, but that it's one of the few entries in the "Wacky Japan" genre that delivers an honest portrayal of Japan and the Japanese people, as well as as the awkwardness of being a foreigner in Japan, instead of stereotype-ridden nonsense like "Gung Ho!" and "Lost in Translation."The plot is pretty basic. An aging baseball player gets traded to a Japanese team. Proceed fish out of water story, complete with convenient love story and eventual cultural reconciliation, which shows that both countries have something to give. Its a common enough theme, but still worthwhile if pulled off well. The story has a foundation of truth, being based in part on American ball player Randy Bass and his attempt to break Japanese legend Sadaharu Oh's home run record while playing for the Osaka-based Hanshin Tigers.Much of the film is carried by Tom Selleck, who has shown in films like "Quigley Down Under" and "In & Out" that he can handle the big screen. He has an easy charm about him, which helps him establish a likable character even when he is being a big loudmouth American jerk. His foil is Coach Uchiyama, played by Ken Takakura who is arguably the greatest Japanese actor of his generation. It was a shock to hear Takakura speak English. I didn't know he could! The two represent the obstinate styles of their representative countries, neither willing to give in or admit the strengths of the other. In-between these two are the American baseball player Max "Hammer" Dubois, who has been in Japan for awhile and has assimilated more or less, and the beautiful Hiroko, who is finally strong enough to break through Selleck's pigheadedness.So no surprises with the story, but anyone looking for a real window in what it is to come to Japan as a foreigner could do worse that checking out "Mr. Baseball." Its one of the few movies I wish I had actually seen before I came to Japan, although seeing it afterwards I was able to reminisce fondly over the same mistakes I made, and the same stupid assumptions I brought over.

gavin6942 2012-05-01 18:21:28

A Predicable, Disposable yet Fun Film

If you want a movie that makes you think differently or leaves alasting impression on you, you're not looking for Mr. Baseball. Ifyou're looking for a light and fun romp through the land of Japanesebaseball hosted by Magnum, P.I. himself... this is the film you've beensearching for.That's it. Tom Selleck, playing baseball... in Japan. Nothing shockinghere. I mean, I could try to say it was like the humorous, lessdramatic version of "Lost in Translation"... but that would be givingit too much credit.If you see this film on the USA Network, it might be worth the troubleto stay on the couch a while. It pokes fun at how different Japan isfrom America (see, now I'm segueing into that "Lost in Translation"bit...) with little men living in little showers eating little meals.And, um, if you don't catch on to the "twist" before it happens, you'reincredibly dense or haven't seen one of the ten thousand other filmsthat use the same gimmick.

2012-05-01 10:51:40

Mr. Baseball: An insight into Japanese baseball

Mr. Baseball stands out as an original baseball film; as it has an international flavor, which provides a Japanese perspective on the game.The film has a humorous tone to it, and also provides an enjoyable story of a player who makes some personal development; whilst experiencing a foreign culture.Nicholas R.W. Henning - Australian Baseball Author

2012-04-26 22:04:06

Lost Baseball player finds way

Tom Selleck is a baseball player that appears to be at the end of his career when he is traded to a Japanese Team and faced with many challenges to over come is stalling career, womenizing ways, and his basic arrogance. He faces all of his issues and problems and becomes the hero at the end. Couple of surprises here and there, overall a good movie to see, may not be a good one for the library though.

bob dicks 2012-04-26 11:50:50

big hit, happy body!

it's a silly movie. ridiculous jokes abound. but for some reason, ican'thelp but like jack elliot, nor can i help but enjoying his misadventuresinjapanese baseball. yes, it's a cheesy love story, and a cheesyinspirational sports story, but it's more than that: it's a story full ofridiculous and funny jokes. from tall men walking through too-small doorsto inaccurate translators, this movie has it all for the average comedyfan.don't bother bringing your brain (to be cliche), but be prepared to betaken to the pit of ultimate darkness. i've seen this movie over 50times.

2012-04-25 08:15:42

sooo funny

this show is an all time classic. you can watch over and over again. love it!

Sam 2012-04-24 20:30:23

It's pretty good!

I thought that this movie was pretty good. I know in the area of visual from today's standard that it won't match up. But that does not really matter becasue it was a 1992 movie and they were really focus on story back then. I mean they did not really have much to work with. They did not really have that high tech computers animated stuff yet, so they did the best they could. Back with story, this movie has a orginal story. It's talks about Jack the star of the moive trying to deal with playing baseball in Japan, until he can come back to play in the states. While this is going on he must deal with a anger chief and with a his new Japanese love. Overall, this is movie really funny and the stroy great.

metalrox_2000 2012-04-23 04:24:57

stranded at third

I kind of had somewhat high expectations for this movie. I've alwaysthought that Tom Selleck's lesser known movies (ie Runaway and Coma),where well above the ones he had more press for. Maybe the producersshould have had a little more knowledge about former major leaguebaseball players who became stars overseas. The majority were playerstoo good for triple a baseball, but not exactly major league matériel.I admire the idea of putting Selle's's character in Japn, versus thecliché of having play in the minors. Sad to say, this movie, much likethe title of the post, is stranded at third by a movie that seems to berunning on autopilot. I wouldn't mind seeing a sequel, and hopefully,the producers would learn from the mistakes. The premise is just waytoo unique to be left alone with this uneven flick

davidauth 2012-04-22 22:51:48

An aging power hitter with the New York Yankees is traded, getting a final chance to play in Japan.

By the time you get to my review, you already know almost all you needto know about this movie. I have been a baseball fan for most of mylife, growing up in the Chicago area, and going to many Cubs and WhiteSox games. And I have seen most of the baseball movies. This one isdifferent and above average, with its strong international culturalcomponent, comparing humanity's only civilized sport in an unknownvenue, Japan, with my fading "National Pastime" in the United States.Watching how the Japanese have transformed our sport is unnerving atfirst, but I eventually relaxed and went with the flow. At least onfilm, the "Dragons" play on an incredibly ugly dirty field, with peoplejammed in around wall-to-wall like sardines. In fact, Japanese culturaldifferences are mostly caused by extreme overpopulation, where everytime they turn around, they hit someone. Concealing emotion behindcourtesy keeps their world from tipping into total chaos. Luckily, thebaseball action looks official, because a lot of the players areretired professionals. Sellick also had some training as a ball playerin his past. The movie is about Tom Sellick's behavioral transformation from "TheUgly American Strikes Out Again" to "The Guy Who Fits In EverywhereWithout Needing a Baseball Bat"; with his new fellow jocks, the Type Amanager, his love interest, and even the owner/investors. Tom overplayshis initial jerk phase, making his realizations about how to succeed ina foreign culture seem less plausible, but emphasizes his culturalevolution. Sellick, an actor with extreme staying power and a newseries in 2010, has a universally excellent supporting cast. Although I have never visited Japan, seeing this movie makes thateventuality less likely. I don't like naked reinforced concrete wallsand raw steel, displayed here in abundance. Thanks to our WWII carpetbombing, at least the Japanese don't make their buildings out of woodand paper anymore!