Movielogr
Black Jack: The Visitor in the Eye (1977)
Directed by Nobuhiko Ōbayashi
Twitter Facebook Google+Overview
Komori Chiaki is a budding tennis student. However, one day while training, her coach hits a ball into her eye on accident. At the hospital, the news that she will never regain the sight in her eye leaves her heartbroken. As a last resort, she undergoes a costly surgery from the mysterious doctor known as Black Jack, where after a successful operation, a mysterious figure starts to emerge in her vision, and only she can see it.
Length 100 minutes
Actors
Nagisa Katahira | Jô Shishido | Etsuko Shihomi | Shingo Yamamoto | Kôji Wada | Tôru Minegishi | Isao Tamagawa | Rinichi Yamamoto | Hiroyuki Nagato | Honey Lane | Fumi Dan | Yumeji Tsukioka | Toshiya Fujita | Sonny Chiba | Nobuhiko Ōbayashi | Ai Matsubara | Masayo Miyako | Dai Nagasawa | Mitsutoshi Ishigami | Rushia Santô | Godiego
Viewing History (seen 2 times)
| Date Viewed | Device | Format | Source | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/24/2020 | TV | Broadcast | Other | 7 stars |
| 04/23/2020 | TV | Broadcast | Other | 5.5 stars |
| (Average) 6.25 stars |
Viewing Notes
Nobuhiko Obayashi tribute continues on DKUTV! Joe Shishido as Black Jack?!?! I could’t pass this one up. Also features Sister Streetfighter herself Etsuko Shihomi!
Something I’ve discovered in viewing all these Obayashi films this year: even a not-so-good Obayashi movie has qualities making it worth the watch. This movie is the perfect example of that.
Firstly Black Jack is barely in the movie. Sure, Jo Shishido has a few moments but even he seems a bit confounded by the role (admittedly it’s a better character on the page or in anime). But this isn’t really a Black Jack movie; it’s a crime mystery and a rather flat one at that.
Yet it has many of Ōbayashi’s signature touches including what must be a in-joke reference to HOUSE, released only a couple months prior to this film, when we hear the unmistakable piano notes from HOUSE then a cat drops onto a piano before scurrying off. It’s hilarious!
Then you have Estuko playing amateur detective chewing a lot of melodramatic scenes. She’s great. Also there are the oddball investigators with amusing character ticks. A very fascinating movie where it’s pieces are better than the result.
Another Ōbayashi flick I’d like to own and study.
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