An interesting story on an apparently limited budget. Though filmed in an exotic local, the film was riddled with bad cuts. For example, a character is bare headed during a struggle and then appears with a hat a split second later. However, as B-movies go it was better than most. Though it features a token, drop-dead gorgeous femme fatale (Sue Francis Pai), she had an intelligent role and was actually one of the better actors in the film. If you want an entertaining but not mentally taxing action-adventure flick, this is it.
10 Reviews
Spygames Indonesian style.
haildevilman13 November 2007
Great foundation. The execution? Toss-up.
The Nothster plays an ex CIA agent with a recurring romantic nightmare.
The agency wants him back, but he keeps running away so...they force him back to Jakarta.
Jakarta was mostly used for scenery and atmosphere here. Any city would have given a similar result with this plot.
Noth has a girl in his past that he thinks has been nixed. Has she? We head for 'nesia to see. Chase scenes commence. And of course he has an old buddy there. For words from said buddy? "Make it Johnny Walker Black...on me." Hey, he just happened to be in that bar.
The acting wasn't bad really. The cast did their best and created some pretty tense moments.
The chase into the XXX theater was funny. ("Look at the size of that...PIPE.") And the Indonesian puppet shows lent a bit of flair as well. Even if it had little to do with the story.
For fans of Asian based actioners only.
The Nothster plays an ex CIA agent with a recurring romantic nightmare.
The agency wants him back, but he keeps running away so...they force him back to Jakarta.
Jakarta was mostly used for scenery and atmosphere here. Any city would have given a similar result with this plot.
Noth has a girl in his past that he thinks has been nixed. Has she? We head for 'nesia to see. Chase scenes commence. And of course he has an old buddy there. For words from said buddy? "Make it Johnny Walker Black...on me." Hey, he just happened to be in that bar.
The acting wasn't bad really. The cast did their best and created some pretty tense moments.
The chase into the XXX theater was funny. ("Look at the size of that...PIPE.") And the Indonesian puppet shows lent a bit of flair as well. Even if it had little to do with the story.
For fans of Asian based actioners only.
action, thriller movie
s_s_jadye11 May 2006
Warning: Spoilers
noth shown as ex-CIA agent who run away from Jakarta as he investigate narcotics drug dealers in south east Asia. he live hidden life back in new york. he has always dreams of suzee who she get killed in car accident in Jakarta during drug mafia gun shootout, but he believes that she is not killed it is drama. one day again he thrown back in Jakarta forcefully by CIA again. with his old partners he again start his work to find her & he finds her at last. I had seen this movie on Laser Disc. the producers are Indian & Indian origins. shows real life séances, rainy season, clubs, small lanes, houses in Jakarta. colorful enjoyable movie. good car, human chasing, good action scenes, story plot is some how weak. but over all time pass movie
cheesy + a young chris noth = fun
cut jib katai25 June 2001
my, my, my - it doesn't get any cheesier than this. lame saxophone solos, typical detective narration, and stereotypes of an asian culture. whooo. it's my guess that chris noth shakes his head whenever reminded of this. but anyway, it was very entertaining. let's just be thankful we can watch chris noth doing bigger and better things these days. if you happen to find this on t.v. at 3 in the morning sometime, then watch it (by the by - a movie entitled "bikini ho-down" came on directly after i watched it); renting and/or buying it, however, is not advisable. have fun.
A truly terrible movie
infinite-121 March 2001
No plot to speak of, lots of fight and chase scenes, and a very young Chris Noth doing a silly sex scene or two. Stay home and watch Law & Order or Sex & The City reruns on TV instead of wasting your valuable entertainment time on Jakarta.
a truly dreadful film but Chris' ass looks great
binkygirl21 March 2003
I only watch this film to catch some great glimpses of Chris Noth (aka Mr Big) in an undressed and trim state. He was hot when he was younger, with a great chest and even better looking behind.
As for the film, it is poorly written and badly edited. In fact, I've seen student films with better editing. There is literally no character development and in the middle of the film there's an interminably stupid chase scene that caters to the dumbest of Asian stereotypes.
As for the film, it is poorly written and badly edited. In fact, I've seen student films with better editing. There is literally no character development and in the middle of the film there's an interminably stupid chase scene that caters to the dumbest of Asian stereotypes.
You take too many baths.
bombersflyup23 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Jakarta is so bad, it's bad.
Plot, acting, dialogue, visuals, all atrocious. Made me laugh quite a bit. Chase scenes where people appear one after the other at different points without any means of finding them or communication. Falco destroys the livelihood of hundreds and could have killed many, while he laughs and it's all good. Just go with it he says, afraid not.
Plot, acting, dialogue, visuals, all atrocious. Made me laugh quite a bit. Chase scenes where people appear one after the other at different points without any means of finding them or communication. Falco destroys the livelihood of hundreds and could have killed many, while he laughs and it's all good. Just go with it he says, afraid not.
Talk about dreaming...
Illusia11 October 2000
I was unable to sleep tonight, so I went to do some work on my computer. I turned on the tv and started searching for something to fill my ears while my mind worked. Apparently, I did both.
Chris sports a beard in parts of this one, which make him super sexy. There are also shots of him making love, and MAN! does he have an amazing body. =)
I first learned about Chris from Sex and the City, and loved him ever since. I wait for reruns of Law & Order, or S&tC.
There are some decent car chases in this one, but I'm buying it for him.
I love Mr. Big- Nicole
Chris sports a beard in parts of this one, which make him super sexy. There are also shots of him making love, and MAN! does he have an amazing body. =)
I first learned about Chris from Sex and the City, and loved him ever since. I wait for reruns of Law & Order, or S&tC.
There are some decent car chases in this one, but I'm buying it for him.
I love Mr. Big- Nicole
A must-see for Noth fans
Wendy-1814 December 1998
This is a hard movie to find, but if you are a Christopher Noth fan-atic and can rent or purchase it, go for it! It's a pretty straight-forward action flick with some fun touches such as the car chase through the market, and Chris looks gorgeous, of course. So does the scenery around Jakarta. Worth seeing.
Minor international film noir
lor_5 May 2023
My review was written in December 1989 after watching the movie on MCEG/Virgin video cassette.
"Jakarta" is a well-crafted film noir made in Indonesia and New York. The 1986 production is a belated direct-to-video release Stateside.
Christopher Noth is the down-on-his-luck hero who used to be a government agent. He's sent against his will back to Jakarta, where three years earlier he botched a bodyguard assignment to protect witnesses planning to testify against drug lords. He becomes reinvolved with femme fatale Sue Francis Pai en route to an ironic finish.
Helmer Charles Kaufman, best known for his 1980 horror film "Mother's Day", dots the action with excellent chase scenes. Of special interest is the pic's ample local color, including authentic Javanese puppet shadow plays.
Noth is okay as the brooding hero, but Pai steals the show as the extremely alluring beauty whose evil nature is a satisfying throwback to the dark '40s pictures "Jakarta" recalls.
Tech credits are fine.
"Jakarta" is a well-crafted film noir made in Indonesia and New York. The 1986 production is a belated direct-to-video release Stateside.
Christopher Noth is the down-on-his-luck hero who used to be a government agent. He's sent against his will back to Jakarta, where three years earlier he botched a bodyguard assignment to protect witnesses planning to testify against drug lords. He becomes reinvolved with femme fatale Sue Francis Pai en route to an ironic finish.
Helmer Charles Kaufman, best known for his 1980 horror film "Mother's Day", dots the action with excellent chase scenes. Of special interest is the pic's ample local color, including authentic Javanese puppet shadow plays.
Noth is okay as the brooding hero, but Pai steals the show as the extremely alluring beauty whose evil nature is a satisfying throwback to the dark '40s pictures "Jakarta" recalls.
Tech credits are fine.
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