Rating: 
Summary: Why would you want to watch any other Perl Harbour film
Review: this is THE definative story of the events
Rating: 
Summary: For those who prefer history to Hollywood.
Review: The 2001 blockbuster "Pearl Harbor" was more about Hollywood than history, a passionate love-triangle forming an important part of the story-line. The 1970 flick "Tora! Tora! Tora!" offers a rather different story of the same event, one devoid of soap opera, romance, blood and gore, but one that is far more true to history. The account of traditional historians is followed, rather than that of revisionists who claim that President Roosevelt had prior knowledge of the attack but knowingly sacrificed his Pacific fleet as an excuse to enter the war. All the incidents and details are apparently historically documented from ship logs and other records, and the focus on a historically accurate movie is evident from the opening statement which affirms that all events and characters are true to historical fact. Certainly the movie breathes authenticity in every respect. Remarkably, it presents both sides of the Pearl Harbor tragedy of December 7, 1941: American and Japanese. To accomplish this, there was a collaboration of two production teams involving American and Japanese film-makers. And the results are convincing: unlike Hollywood's 2001 "Pearl Harbor", the Japanese side is presented accurately and fairly, with even the dialogue in Japanese (with English sub-titles) - the title itself referring to a Japanese word for "attack!" If there is any bias, it is present in minimizing Japanese aggression, but most would agree that it the movie gives a fairly accurate picture. The end result is a documentary-like movie, with the convincing aura of historical fact. The story of course revolves around the events of the Japanese attack on the US naval fleet in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which led to the United States declaring war on Japan in the Second World War. The attack featured tactical brilliance and surprise, and was a great success. In less than two hours, Japanese planes armed with torpedoes sunk or seriously damaged 18 warships, destroyed 188 aircraft and damaged another 159, killed 2,403 and wounded 1,178 American military personnel. Fortunately for the Americans, their aircraft carriers escaped damage only because they were not in Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. Japanese losses comprised only 29 planes and pilots, five midget submarines and one large sub with their crews. The largest part of the movie focuses around the politics and preparation for the attack, and consists mainly of dialogue. Numerous historical personages play a role, and viewers are given some insight into Japanese-American relations before the attack. Of particular interest are several scenes featuring Japanese ambassadors and politicians, showing that even amongst the Japanese there were different attitudes towards US-relations. Alongside hard-liners who advocated aggression, there were also pacifists who truly wanted to strive for a peaceful resolution. The suspense gradually builds as the foundations are laid for a surprise attack, and as the US ignores the warning signs of impending danger. The final part of the movie features an extensive and convincing reenactment of the attack itself. The movie's G rating is somewhat deceiving - while there is no real blood and gore as such (although there are a few rare instances of blasphemy/profanity), viewers are treated to multitudes of spectacular explosions. There are also some delightful scenes of a dramatic aerial dog fight. All in all it's a breath-taking and fitting climax, and even by today's standards features pretty impressive cinematography and action. The exaggerated emotion of Hollywood is absent, but in many ways this enhances the historical record rather than blurs it with sensationalism. The fact that events are presented more clinically and coldly means of course that Tora! Tora! Tora! lacks the human element that is present in films like 2001's Pearl Harbor, and there is no real sense of what it was like from the perspective of the soldiers. But by sparing viewers of sensationalized stories of individuals, we get a more overall picture with a real sense of what it was like from the perspective of the military leaders. It is not so much the story of personal successes and failures, but the failure of the United States military as a whole. In the process, numerous surprising facts are revealed for those not very familiar with the historical events of the Pearl Harbor tragedy. Three such facts struck me: Firstly, the fact that the success of the Japanese was due in part to a comedy of errors by US intelligence in failing to properly anticipate the oncoming attack, and that the US navy was unprepared and defenseless largely through its own fault. Secondly, the fact that the Japanese showed restraint by deciding not to launch as many waves of attack as initially planned. Thirdly, the fact that rather than revel in victory, the Japanese commander-in-chief was most displeased that the carefully planned timing went wrong (Washington received the planned ultimatum an hour after the attack rather than half an hour beforehand), because he realized that it would just infuriate the United States all the more: "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." If you want be wowed by Hollywood's fancy special effects, horrified by Hollywood's blood and gore, and cry over Hollywood's romantic soap opera, go watch 2001's "Pearl Harbor". But for those who want a tribute to history's real story, you need look no further than 1970's "Tora! Tora! Tora!" If there are weaknesses, it might be that the acting is not always convincing, and that this is a story that is so objective and filtered of bias that it lacks the human element. But soap opera doesn't have to be present to make an movie enthralling - the suspense and the chronicle of real events is enthralling in itself, and the final action scenes of the air attack are remarkably real and heart-stopping. And all the more powerful because they reflect history. For most of us, history is to be preferred over Hollywood any day.
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Summary: Excellent Sory of The Day of Infamy
Review: This movie does an excellent job of telling the story of the Pearl Harbor attack itself, but what I enjoyed the most about it was how the events leading up to the attack itself were given equal coverage as well. I enjoyed watching the scenes of Colonel Bratton (E.G. Marshall) and Commander Kramer reading the "Magic" intercepts, as well as the leaders in Washington dealing with Kurusu and Nomura. Martin Balsam and Jason Robards give excellent performances as Admiral Kimmel and General Short. The attack footage itself is well-done also. I've owned this video for several years, and I watch it about every six weeks. I prefer this movie to "Pearl Harbor". While the special effects of "Pearl Harbor" are superior, Tora! Tora! Tora! does a much better job of incorporating the diplomatic aspect of the attack as well as the attack itself. I would rate this film as one of the best war movies ever made.
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Summary: Historical inevitability.
Review: Conscientiously accurate account of what happened on 12/7/41, and why it happened. The overriding focus of the film, at least before the actual attack, is the military planning on the Japanese side . . . and the lack of proper military planning on the USA side. The thorny diplomacy between the 2 countries at the time is also examined in some detail. The movie's at its best when on this side of the Pacific: the wrongheadedness of the military leaders and the perplexing diffidence of the political leaders help to create a sense of appalling inevitability about the whole thing. The same can be said in that regard for the Japanese, too: Yamamoto, we learn, was forced to launch the attack mainly because of his superiors' idiotic attachment to Germany. Thus forced, he figured he might as well strike as hard as he could and wipe out our entire Pacific Fleet in the process. (He damn near succeeded.) On the aesthetic front: contra Mr. Litton (Spotlight Review of the Day), the F/X are hardly "cheesy". If anything is cheesy, it would be the effects from last year's re-telling of the story, which made the Day of Infamy look like just another PlayStation 2 video game. Here, the attack sequences utilizes models at times, but the moviemakers also blew up real planes and all sorts of real stuff -- meaning, the attack looks REAL, more often than not. However, I concede the indoor sets do indeed look pretty cheesy, as does the photography in some sequences -- the result, doubtless, of the consortium of American and Japanese directors and 2nd-unit directors and DP's. Also, the performances can legitimately described as wooden -- the burden of responsibility weighs over the movie like a pall. But those are minor considerations, after all is said and done. A big, big plus is that all this is done without any Age-of-Aquarius, tongue-in-cheek commentary about "The Establishment" -- which probably explains why the movie didn't fare all that well at the box when it was released in 1970. Perhaps audiences suspected the film was a propagandist yay-America piece that would attempt to pump up support for the then-current Vietnamese adventure. But politics, always merely fashionable, fades -- quality remains. *Tora! Tora! Tora!* is as good a movie as we're likely to get on the subject of Pearl Harbor. Indeed, it's the DEFINITIVE movie on the subject -- making Michael Bay's deluxe extravaganza last year seem all the more money-grubbing . . . and all the more disrespectful. [The DVD is quite good. Picture and sound are high quality. There's also a straight-to-the-point 20 min. documentary and some interesting commentary from director (if he can be called that, in regards to this movie) Richard Fleischer and a Japanese film historian.]
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Summary: The Real Story about Pearl Harbor
Review: Unfortunately, many people look to the 2001 release of "Pearl Harbor" to see what happened at Pearl. With "Pearl Harbor" you're getting an over-stuffed and over-rated film about a love story - and - oh, yeah - some Pacific Fleet getting blown up by the Japanese. It is a disgrace to even be in comparison with Mausda and Fleischer's "Tora! Tora! Tora!". Everything but the special effects are better in this 1970 film than the other one release thirty years later. "Tora!" documents and commemorates the coming time before the attack, giving you very respected points of view from both the Japanese and American views. It's here that you can see just how smart the Japanese were in a painstaking attack of Pearl. You can also see the subtle buildup and how really unprepared we were for such an attack. Such things as why the fighters were lined up and the radar crew were put down by HQ are told in the film, as well as an extrodinary battle scene suprising for the time and technology they had in 1970. "Tora!" lacks a central character. If the film had one, perhaps it would recieve more Academy Awards. (Remember, "Patton" was also released the same year and shut out "Tora!"). Still, a strong performance by So Yamamura as Admiral Yamamoto strengthens the film, and easy and historic sequence makes the film flow and become one of the best war films ever made.
Rating:
Summary: A solid war movie
Review: Unlike recent re-tellings of the events of Pearl Harbor, this one hits the spot for me. It doesn't waste time on sub-plots, or on cheesy love stories - rather it properly gets to the events of that fateful event in history, and retells them in the proper way, with respect for both sides and for the soldiers involved. Granted the battle itself was not as nearly impressive as the 40+ min show of FX in "Pearl Harbor", but for the time period that this film was made in, it was impressive indeed. This movie, unlike "Pearl Harbor", had a coherent idea of what it was gonna be - a war movie - not an overpriced, over Fx'd, muddled story with the events of 12/7/1941 as a backdrop. This movie respects the history of the events of that fateful day. It's a war movie, plain and simple, without the Hollywood fluff....
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Summary: Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!
Review: .....That was the signal to attack on Dec, 07. ..This is probably the BEST movie concerning this subject. Gripping & exciting all the way through. I much prefer finding out what the Japaneese are thinking and doing, in the days & weeks before this brillant sneak attack,.... than have a verry slow and corny love triangle provide the prologue for an exciting snapshot in history. If you haven't seen it by now, order now!! You won't be dissappointed!
Rating: 
Summary: So, What's wrong with "Just the Facts" Movies?
Review: Nothing. Why? Oh, why does Hollywood think they have to put a contrived, thinly written, melodrama in front a well-mounted documentary recontruction? The producers of "Tora! Tora! Tora!" avoided the traps which captured the people in charge of "Midway" and "Pearl Harbor." I unvariably sit in darkened movie theaters or in front of my video monitor thinking. "Will you please get the star-crossed lovers out of sight. And show me how the battle played out? How the generals thought it out? How the soldiers felt?" This movie came out when I was a kid. And I loved it! I soaked the history up like a sponge. I still like it today. Give me detail, detail, detail. Clearly give me an exposition and illustration of the facts. However, to be maddeningly inconsistent, I also like movies like "Gettysburg" and "Titanic." I liked "Gettysburg" because the dramatic scenes comment and develop the battle scenes. Based on the "Killer Angels," this movie takes the time to tell us about the mindset of the people involved. I liked the "lull in the battle" conversation back at camp. It sounded authentic not contrived like "Midway." It also doesn't lose the thread of narration of the battle. I liked "Titanic" for different reasons. It is the great "story" of 20th century civilization. It is has been told so many times, we are all familar with most of the incidents involved. The genius of "Titanic"'s screenplay is to acknowledge that fact. Cameron moves his fictional characters and story around and through the "real" story and characters without disarranging them. All the real incidents are alluded to and shown, but they don't interupt his fictional narrative. Watch carefully all the great stories and characters are there, but not told. As we follow Jack and Rose around the ship, you'll see Astor and his valet, the Straus's, the priest praying with his flock. . . And who is that beside them on the stern of the ship? The baker who survived the sinking pretty much as Jack and Rose did. You might say Jack and Rose are Rosencratz and Guildenstern and "Titanic" is "Elsinore" in "Hamlet." Cameron only tells his fictional story. He doesn't try to tell both. You can only tell one story at a time. Tora, Tora, Tora chooses to tell about the battle, and does it well. "From Here to Eternity" chooses to tell its story and does it well. I don't know what "Midway" and "Pearl Harbor" are trying to do but I don't like it much.
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Summary: The true story of the attack on Pearl Harbor
Review: What makes this movie so good is the cooperation between both sides. The movie was done by two separater groups, with directors, camera crews, and actors in both America and Japan. It was created as a joint effort from both countries. They did a great job putting it together. As the scenes change, you go from the commanders on the Japanese ships preparing for the attack, to the unprepared, Americans. My favorite line in the movie, basically sums up the U.S.'s readiness of the event. The men watching the radar ask how they should report anything odd that turns up on the radar, and the commander responds that there is a gas station about a mile down the road. "They must have a phone." The best part of the movie is the battle. It lasts a good half hour, with special effects that rival "Pearl Harbor," although the budget for "Tora! Tora! Tora! was much smaller, and it's older. The special effects are amazing, and it almost feels like you are at the battle. This movie goes into detail, beyond what they taught you in school, to give you the full story of the attack on Pearl Harbor, from both sides. It's great for anyone, as the Japanese enjoy it as much as I do. I recommend this movie without reservation to everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Must See
Review: I have recently purchased a DVD player and although I have had the VHS version of "Tora Tora Tora" since it was released I now own the DVD. I also own the DVD of "Pearl Harbor" I feel that the computer graphics used to generate the attack scenes in "Pearl" are something that can't be equaled and must be seen to be believed, "Tora" give a much more detailed and accurate account of the events surrounding December 7, 1941. Since the first time that I saw Tora Tora Tora, I have always been fascinated by the degree of knowledge that the members of the military community in Washington D.C. had of the "Surprise" attack by The Japanese Empire. In conclusion, I highly recommend this movie to anyone who has an interest in the events of World War II.
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