- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,312
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Something has always bothered me about Tora Tora Tora, an otherwise decent account of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
What troubles me is the stupid Americans.
Really, idiotically portrayed, stupid Americans.
As the Japanese fliers head over the Hawaiian Islands, there this cute little scene with a woman teaching a young man to fly. It's cute because while we see dozens of not-yet enemy planes forming behind her, she does't have a clue, and finally takes over the controls, and gets out of the traffic.
As the planes fly low over military buildings, battleships, aircraft carriers, etc. our presumed idiot military appears to be watching an air show. These are Japanese planes! Two officers suggest that for flying low they should be reported. "Get that fellas number!" The leader of a military band just continues on, finally realizing that something might be up, and has the band play faster, just before bullets and bombs fly.
Now I know that our military wasn't stupid in Pearl Harbor. They've never been stupid. I have huge respect for our military, which is probably why this bothers me. There were communication breakdowns, and well, let's be honest. The Japanese didn't precisely play by the rules. A great may lives were lost at Pearl Harbor, and what troubles me is that I don't find it in any way, well...
funny.
But that's the way that it's played. There's some abominably bad acting here, which reminds me of the way that Otto Preminger had Peter Lawford, as a British officer, making comments about the Jews in Exodus. I don't have a problem that he makes the comments. That's his character. It's Preminger's direction that makes him look, well... stupid.
I don't mean that Tora Tora Tora is a bad film. It isn't. But it really isn't a very good film, especially for something of epic proportions.
As is the norm, Fox presents the film as a beautifully produced Blu-ray, and for this new release makes available the Japanese version, that runs 154 minutes, in addition to the domestic.
I truly wished that I liked this film more, but I don't. I find the performances wooden, and well... enough said.
Tora Tora Tora, in two versions from Fox is a beautifully produced Blu-ray of a very large, okay production. For those who are fans of the film, and there are many, you'll be thrilled by this Blu-ray presentation
RAH
What troubles me is the stupid Americans.
Really, idiotically portrayed, stupid Americans.
As the Japanese fliers head over the Hawaiian Islands, there this cute little scene with a woman teaching a young man to fly. It's cute because while we see dozens of not-yet enemy planes forming behind her, she does't have a clue, and finally takes over the controls, and gets out of the traffic.
As the planes fly low over military buildings, battleships, aircraft carriers, etc. our presumed idiot military appears to be watching an air show. These are Japanese planes! Two officers suggest that for flying low they should be reported. "Get that fellas number!" The leader of a military band just continues on, finally realizing that something might be up, and has the band play faster, just before bullets and bombs fly.
Now I know that our military wasn't stupid in Pearl Harbor. They've never been stupid. I have huge respect for our military, which is probably why this bothers me. There were communication breakdowns, and well, let's be honest. The Japanese didn't precisely play by the rules. A great may lives were lost at Pearl Harbor, and what troubles me is that I don't find it in any way, well...
funny.
But that's the way that it's played. There's some abominably bad acting here, which reminds me of the way that Otto Preminger had Peter Lawford, as a British officer, making comments about the Jews in Exodus. I don't have a problem that he makes the comments. That's his character. It's Preminger's direction that makes him look, well... stupid.
I don't mean that Tora Tora Tora is a bad film. It isn't. But it really isn't a very good film, especially for something of epic proportions.
As is the norm, Fox presents the film as a beautifully produced Blu-ray, and for this new release makes available the Japanese version, that runs 154 minutes, in addition to the domestic.
I truly wished that I liked this film more, but I don't. I find the performances wooden, and well... enough said.
Tora Tora Tora, in two versions from Fox is a beautifully produced Blu-ray of a very large, okay production. For those who are fans of the film, and there are many, you'll be thrilled by this Blu-ray presentation
RAH