History Buffs: Tora! Tora! Tora!

Experience the pivotal moments of history come alive in the riveting war epic "Tora! Tora! Tora!" Relive the events leading up to the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor as the film meticulously recreates the tension, bravery, and strategic decisions on both sides.
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Tora! Tora! Tora! is a 1970 Japanese-American historical war film that dramatizes the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The film was directed by Richard Fleischer, Toshio Masuda and Kinji Fukasaku and stars an ensemble cast, including Martin Balsam, Joseph Cotten, Sō Yamamura, E. G. Marshall, James Whitmore and Jason Robards.
The title is the Japanese codeword used to indicate that complete surprise had been achieved. "Tora" means "tiger" in Japanese.

[@WarhorseStudios]

You don´t upload videos very often +History Buffs, but when you do, they are top-notch.

[@abyssalknight4081]

Didn't expect to see you here!

[@foo-foocuddlypoops5694]

Quality over quantity!

[@ricardocorchado4641]

Warhorse Studios I agree with you mate Nick Hodges you are really funny and the wait is worth it

[@SexDrugsNpostprod]

@Foo-Foo Cuddlypoops This. Make the algorithms focus on that !

[@abrahamgustavson281]

Quality over quantity.

[@Hawkwinter01]

It should be noted, that it was the critics that gave it 51%, the rest of us gave it 81%.

[@thewildcolonialboy8034]

Further proof that film critics are out of touch with moviegoers.

[@ikebowers]

nahhhhh this film panned in the US. Those reviews must come from years after the film came out and an American audience warmed up to it.

[@billgray2352]

a great movie

[@docquanta6869]

@@ikebowers While true, the negative reviews this movie gets on Rotten Tomatoes are contemporary with the positive audience opinion. So a fair number of critics still dislike the movie even now. That said, Pearl Harbors reviews on Rotten Tomatoes is a lot worse than Tora, Tora, Tora!

[@thotarojoestar3045]

Who even listens to critics even more?

[@Angelalynx999]

My father was climbing a mountain on Oahu during the filming of this movie. He was very confused when he saw all the Zeros in formation flying by.

[@Ariana321]

Did he by any chance ask the first person he saw what year it was? Because that's what I probably would have done.

[@Angelalynx999]

@@Ariana321 He asked people what was going on when he got down and was told a movie was being made. But yeah, if it had been me I would have the same worry a la Final Countdown.

[@aceofcheems7685]

I wouldve been Again!?...(In high pitch autistic kids voice) WHEN WILL THEY LEARN....WHEN WILL THEY LEARN...THAT THEIR ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!!!!!!

[@SMN-ct9gl]

@@aceofcheems7685 What the fricking frick!! Do NOT attack my boats!

[@ITILII]

Not as much as the American soldiers and sailors would have been by the real thing happening......

[@rivahcat8247]

I took my WWII/Pearl Harbor survivor dad to see "Pearl Harbor". Afterward, I asked him what he thought; his comment was that it had a nice love story, but for an authentic depiction of the attack we should see "Tora! Tora! Tora!"

[@marilyntaylor9577]

He has good taste!

[@theman2017inc]

NUFF SAID!!!

[@theman2017inc]

@@marilyntaylor9577and he was correct

[@globetrekker86]

As the late Roger Ebert said, “Pearl Harbor is about Japan’s surprise attack on an American love triangle.” I agree whole-heartedly with Nick’s reaction to Ebert’s review of Tora! Tora! Tora! : “What?!”

[@bartsullivan4866]

While I like Roger, I don't know what he was smoking when reviewing this film. Same with Home Alone like uhhhh what film did you watch buddy. Which is kind of funny because usually it was Siskel who liked all the artsy fartsy films. Maybe he was expecting an action movie and not a historically accurate take on what happened.

[@MrAkaacer]

Ebert is not consistent. He's human which means his mood would've affected his reviews. I didn't agree with all Ebert's reviews, but I never felt he reviews had an agenda.

[@notta2042]

Clearly paid off

[@notta2042]

@@MrAkaacer Bullshit it is, bought and paid for

[@username-yc3bd]

@@notta2042 sure buddy

[@bollweevilbilly8618]

WW2 Vet: “I almost died at Pearl Harbor.” Actor: “Yeah me too.” 10:15

[@thatanoynomousdude8082]

Lol

[@ChaseMcCain81]

Hahahh

[@ImInLoveWithBulla]

That scene made me change my underwear today. Bad movie to watch when you’re sick and drunk.

[@ImInLoveWithBulla]

The best part of this movie is the “ABSOLUTELY NO ADMITTANCE INTO THIS ROOM” door which literally everyone walks through without a second thought.

[@KoobLis100]

...

[@SexDrugsNpostprod]

The fact that there was a collaboration between US and Japan film crews is the best. Make movies kids, not war.

[@videogamebomer]

SexDrugsNpostprod But we need war to make movie about

[@andreascovano7742]

why not both?

[@petemahine]

yes, yes it was

[@KillerKane0]

But no mention was made of Kurosawa's involvement.

[@HalfLifeExpert1]

He was indeed involved, having been the original director of the Japanese Scenes, but he was replaced two weeks in because he was too much of a perfectionist, constantly re-shooting scenes and throwing out film. He just took too long to create simple scenes, as much of the Japanese side is generally dialogue in rooms, he ultimately provided only a tiny handful of useful footage.

[@thewanderer2997]

23:58 if anyone is curious about that scene where you see the F14’s fighting the Japanese Zero’s, it’s from a movie called the “The Final Countdown”, It’s a great movie with a great cast. It’s about an American Aircraft Carrier from the 1980’s, and while out at Sea the ship gets caught in some kind of weather phenomenon which actually sends them back in time to the day of the Pearl Harbor attack. The crew has to figure out what’s happened, then decide if they should intervene and destroy the Japanese fleet or not get involved, and so much more. It’s a great movie and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who hasn’t seen it.

[@jfarrar19]

Thank you. I can taste the Cheese already.

[@andreasottohansen7338]

I will just ignore the fact that the jets would be way too fast to stay behind any propeller plane for even a few seconds, unless kilometers away, because it is pretty cool.

[@Ajcav763]

@@andreasottohansen7338 Or the fact that rear aspect missiles, likely the ones they are using, would be of no use against a Zero with basically no engine heat compared to a jet

[@christianvalentin5344]

@@Ajcav763 By the 1980s the AIM-9 Sidewinder had been much improved compared to the Vietnam era. And the F-14 with the wings out can go quite slow, and those Zeroes would likely be at full throttle.

[@a1fromdisc938]

@@christianvalentin5344 most tomcats had phoenixes too which are all aspect radar missiles so they don't rely on engine heat at all

[@itinerantpatriot1196]

I was stationed at Hickam in the 1980s and the bullet holes from Dec 7th were still visible in many buildings. I spoke with two Pearl Harbor veterans who were acting as tour guides at the Arizona Memorial, one of them served on the Arizona and was on duty the morning of the attack. I asked them about this movie, specifically if it was an accurate depiction. They both agreed the movie was very accurate. It was an honor speaking with those gentlemen, both of whom I assume have long since joined their comrades in the place where soldiers, sailors, and airmen never age. I have always loved this film. I first saw it as a kid in the theater and was blown away. Unfortunately, I must admit I also wasted my money and saw Pearl Harbor at the theater. A buddy talked me into going to see it with him. We both came out shaking our heads, wondering how anyone could make a chick-flick based on the attack on Pearl Harbor. Between that and all the inaccuracies we both agreed the time would have been better spent shooting pool at the sports bar. Anyway, cool review. If anyone finds this comment, which I doubt will happen, I highly recommend a visit to the Arizona Memorial. There is no more solemn monument in the world. RIP guys, I'll be along directly and maybe we can share war stories, though I expect mine will shrink beyond sight compared to yours. Sleep well.

[@dentonstales2778]

Thank you for that, well said.

[@ericscott626]

My wife and I had the opportunity to visit Pearl Harbour last September. I grew up near Annapolis with several naval bases near by, so I'm a big naval history buff. For me it was an amazing experience and something I've looked forward to for years. My wife is very much a pacifist, so war stuff isn't her thing. But even she appreciated the solemness of the monument. She hadn't studied much about WWII history, so there was a lot she wasn't aware of, such as the fact that the Arizona memorial isn't just a memorial but the final resting place for the sailors on the ship. Our tour included visiting the Punchbowl where many of the people who died during Pearl Harbour are buried. Like you I would highly recommend the experience. As for the movies, I actually enjoyed both Tora, Tora, Tora and Pearl Harbour. Tora, Tora, Tora is clearly the more historically accurate and one of my favourites. But Pearl Harbour while lacking some of the accuracy and objectivity, and possessing some of the chick flick qualities, was still entertaining, at least to me. I didn't hate the movie, I just appreciate Tora, Tora, Tora more and it is the better of the two films.

[@mikegillettify]

My dad got stationed at HICKAM in 99 and I was there are a teenager, until 2001. It’s awesome that the hangars are still pock-marked with bullet holes.

[@damianmasq5134]

I visited the memorial way back when I was 18, the trip to Hawaii was wasted on my dumb ass but that was the one stop I gave attention and respect to. Truly… humbling and inspiring and heartbreaking.

[@_R-R]

I've also been to the Arizona Memorial. Solemn and quiet place indeed.

[@tonyduncan9852]

I remember watching "Tora, Tora, Tora" and being absolutely sickened by the reality of the violence. Then two decades later I watched "Pearl Harbor" and was absolutely sickened by Hollywood.

[@cococorino5767]

@@Gandolfini666 christ

[@lamarsidoner3250]

thats the planet we live on,,wars, wars, wars,,dont see peace anytime soon,,as in no wars , big or small,,

[@tonyduncan9852]

@@Gandolfini666 Thanks. You should study the meaning of the word *_'irony'._*

[@misterbuklau4053]

dave israel Shut up before he puts you un a sarcophagus

[@tonyduncan9852]

@Colin Cleveland +"what is the irony of an old fart calling out Hollywood?"_ - None, I imagine. However that wasn't the irony I wrote of. _"Do Your Presidents actions and words sicken you?"_ - When I have a president I'll let you know.

[@felixhall9432]

“I’ll get that guys number I’ll report him for safety violations,” Plane: Drops Bomb “That’s one massive safety violation,”

[@kostakole9876]

True.

[@sundhaug92]

Now that's gonna be a massive OSHA-fine

[@808INFantry11X]

Japan was really swinging for the fences that day....

[@notme8232]

Bad ending: The plane was the Enola Gay.

[@comcat1908]

Got'damn new recruits!

[@dustinkittel2830]

I loved your comments about the movie Pearl Harbor. My grandfather was a fighter pilot in WWII. When that movie came out, the whole family sat around and watched it with him. When it was over we asked, "Well, is that what the war was like?" His comment... "I don't remember that much kissing." 🙂

[@michaellynes3540]

"Tora! Tora! Tora!" is a masterpiece. They used actual planes. I don't think there would be another movie production that would use these special effects.

[@bjw4859]

Where did they get that many actual aircraft from ?, I thought there were only a handful of working Zero's left ?, & as for crashing that B-17, just wow !, those planes are rare as hens teeth & take years to restore, where did they find one to just write off ?. This was way before CGI & you can tell when models are used, & when that American fighter went out of control on take of slamming into a line of parked planes scattering extras everywhere, that was just a top shelf money shot, well done.

[@thenumbah1birdman]

@@bjw4859 the japanese planes are visually modified propeller trainer aircraft. Very, VERY good vismods.

[@georgettewolf6743]

@@bjw4859 Any P-40 you saw in that movie that didn’t fly was actually a skillful mockup. In one of the film’s few technical mistakes, they show a P-40’s “interior skeleton” as it burns. The visible skeleton leads back to the tail wheel and stops. In fact, the P-40’s aluminum skin - sometime reinforced - is the aircraft’s actual skeleton. Had there been an interior structure like the one shown, it would have failed catastrophically on takeoff, as it offered no support to the tail and rudder. All of the Japanese Naval aircraft in the picture were World War II North American T-6 Texans heavily modified for their parts in TORA TORA TORA. More than fifty years later, they’re still in demand, and played parts in the making of MIDWAY, THE FINAL COUNTDOWN and PEARL HARBOR.

[@jetblue319]

I read the Zeros were modified ww2 navy trainers SNJ's

[@Nebo8ful]

Dunkirk used real plane too

[@brotherpanda3626]

League of Nations: "Japan, we want you to withdraw!" Japan: "Okay." (withdraws from League of Nations) League of Nations: "Really should have worded that better."

[@itsblitz4437]

You crazy dummies.

[@awsometrooper0736]

Lol

[@bryanloflin153]

Great joke man

[@BadWebDiver]

Great summation of history! :D

[@lsd-rickb-1728]

I don't get it

[@smallworld-bigislandvideo8726]

Aloha, as a kid living on Oahu , we got to watch the filming of "Tora,Tora,Tora" ... Pearl Harbor was getting Attacked all day everyday for two months ... We'd lay on the grass in our front yard watching Zeros and P-40s dogfighting , B-17s flying around getting shot at by Zeros , Bettys and Kates dive bombing the Harbor ... They even blew up a 3/4 scale USS Arizona , that we watched from the Submarine base directly across from Ford Island and Battleship Row ... Quite a spectacular sight ... And a great movie ! Aloha

[@ahblyat4296]

You mean Val, not Betty, the Betty is a twin engine medium bomber

[@TheBassman28]

Hey! That's Cool.

[@evan8654]

@@ahblyat4296 you must be fun at parties

[@rovat6285]

E W It’s true tho, Betty’s are bomber’s not D-Bombers, it would be Val’s and Kate’s that do the dive-bombing.

[@evan8654]

@@rovat6285 I didn't say he's wrong...just a pedant.

[@cmanningdeal6228]

Toshiro Mifune was so dedicated to Yamomoto's character he had his left hand taped up to simulate Yamamoto's injuries at the Battle of Tushima, 1905.

[@lancemcclung3991]

If you are speaking of the 1968 Japanese film “Yamamoto Isotoku” you are spot on. Mifune gives a master class performance as the admiral (that you can get a glimpse of in 1976s “Midway”) Kôjo Yakusho in 2011s “CinC Combined Fleet” aka “Isoroku” (you should see both if you can) dedicates his performance as an homage to Mifune. Sô Yamamura is the actor that plays Yamamoto in “Tora! Tora! Tora!. He may be best known to Western audiences for the 1958 film “The Barbarian and the Geisha” opposite John Wayne.

[@stevensica89]

Here's something you you did not consider : this movie was released at the end of 1970. The ongoing US failure in Vietnam had soured a lot of public opinion about all things military, and this likely had an impact on the negative critical reception of this movie.

[@beejls]

I agree. I remember many were tired of anything that was jingoistic at that time. This isn't jingoistic, but if you didn't go to see the movie you didn't know that.

[@gerardmichaelburnsjr.]

ALSO...the powers in Washington were worried it might revive anti-Japanese sentiment. My uncles to the day they died wouldn't buy anything Japanese.

[@Spearca]

I'd think the context is a reason that the film was willing to depict American blunders as such.

[@gerardmichaelburnsjr.]

@@Spearca I remember seeing the film just that one time when it first came out, and the audience loved it. But I think it was honest about the errors because the movie was honest about everything. Somebody just did it right.

[@M1DL1F3GAM3R]

"You Want Your Confirmation, Captain? Take a look! There's your confirmation!" - EPIC!

[@jasonmartin4775]

@DR Evil That's literally how our nation was formed, buddy.

[@thalivenom4972]

depends on how drunk he was, and how bribed he was

[@MK-ok6yp]

@DR Evil are you defending a captian that could of put up a defense for pearl harbor?

[@MK-ok6yp]

@DR Evil then what was the point of your comment?

[@NM-nv4bt]

Thats literally how we won at midway and part of the reason you got your handed to you all the way to dunkirk.

[@chipgriffiths3655]

"There's your confirmation, sir!" One of my favorite lines of all time.

[@polarjet1833]

Honestly the accidents with the practical effects, especially that p-40 crashing into the other p-40’s, it just is perfect, like even though those guys really did almost actually die in a way it just made it so more authentic of a reaction from them

[@Nexus974]

I love this movie! I’ve seen it dozens of times. It’s accuracy is what makes it so great. I especially love the addition of George Welch and Ken Taylor, the 2 American pilots who managed to get in the air and shot down 6 planes between the two of them. Both men were in their early 20’s at the time. Unbelievable courage!

[@gerardmichaelburnsjr.]

in the theater, when one of those American pilots shot down a zero, the audience leaped to its feet cheering. I only saw that one other time at a theater, the first Rocky movie, when Rocky hit back.

[@asianskye503]

Another great historical accuracy that most people in the US miss. Look at Yamamoto's left hand in scenes where it can be obvious. The actor Sō Yamamura carefully keeps the index and middle finger tucked up into his palm. Yamamoto had served on the armored cruiser Nisshin during the Russo-Japanese War. He was wounded at the Battle of Tsushima, losing two fingers (the index and middle fingers) on his left hand. Supposedly had he lost another finger he would have been discharged by the IJN. That would have significantly changed history.

[@piotrd.4850]

Amazing comment and fact!

[@mirozen_]

Your observation and comment are pure gold! Thank you!

[@rokkfel4999]

Holly shit I didn’t know that

[@johnemerson1363]

Interesting coincidence: Yamamoto's counterpart, Admiral Nimitz lost two fingers in a submarine diesel accident. He was almost discharged as well.

[@dewolf123]

@@mirozen_ no it isn't

[@battleshipyamato647]

I love how Yamamoto is missing his fingers so accurate I only just noticed it when a friend pointed it out good on Tora tora tora for remembering that

[@MASTEROFEVIL]

The little details always have the biggest impact

[@therandomplushchannel4520]

Wait he was? I don’t see it

[@MedTech37572]

@@therandomplushchannel4520 21:51 you can see his left hand is missing two fingers.

[@therandomplushchannel4520]

@@MedTech37572 thanks! I never noticed that

[@jonathanparker8867]

I watched this movie every Memorial Day with my dad growing up. He always made a point about how even handed it was and how accurately it depicted America's mistakes. Patriotism is fine, but blind patriotism is just asking to repeat old mistakes.

[@theturtwig50]

Amen to that!

[@rogertulk8607]

I saw this film when it first appeared, and thought it was brilliant. I've watched it from time to time and never get tired of it. I was pleased a few years ago when the mini submarine sunk by the Ward was found, thereby confirming the kill. I love it when Neville Brand says, "You want confirmation, sir; there's your confirmation!"

[@christophermills9289]

I remember seeing this as a kid and not liking how it made the Japanese look 'cool' and us stupid. As an adult I appreciate the film as a work of art.

[@destituteanddecadent9106]

I know you were just a kid but also remember: heritage is important and all, but countries are countries and people are people. I feel it's critical to take a step back and distance ourselves from any "side" we may be attached to if we want to make the most of the experience of watching historically accurate movies or just studying history itself.

[@christophermills9289]

@@destituteanddecadent9106 Uh... yeah. My complete statement points to my differences of view between being a kid and a adult. Don't know why you feel the need to preach at me. I essentially said the same thing you said 1 month before you said it.

[@destituteanddecadent9106]

@@christophermills9289 you said you appreciate it as a work of art, which does not exactly equate to impartially assessing historical events. I apologize if I came off as preachy, but I just thought this needed to be clarified, if only for the sake of others who may read this thread. No hard feelings, I'm sorry I offended you.

[@candyman348]

@@christophermills9289 I don't think that response was very adult-like. No offense.

[@Tehn00bA]

@@candyman348 yeah but i have to agree it kinda had a condescending tone tbh, like "mansplaining", so i have to side a little more with Christopher.

[@Overlord24]

Great to know that America-Japan had the balls to make such a great real film.

[@garygemmell3488]

I saw "Tora, Tora, Tora!" when it first came out as a double feature with my family. I was 9 and had heard of Pearl Harbor but didn't really know what had happened. It wasn't until some years later when I began to do some research about WWII in general on my way to being a history buff about the war that I realized how historically accurate the movie really was. I still watch it to this day.

[@user-by5ni9gt6r]

I absolutely LOVE that these aren't just movie reviews, but that you go to the trouble to give a detailed explanation about the film's subject matter in order to give it context, and better illustrate how the movie either adheres to or departs from it.

[@diyimprover6887]

When I was 11 years old, my father took me to see this film. He had been stationed at Guadalcanal and the Philippines during WWII. I remember him pointing out to me the amazing innovation of having the Japanese side of the story be produced by a Japanese crew. This is because, in addition to having served in the Pacific during the war, he was an avid student of history and valued historical accuracy over revisionist propaganda. It was probably because of my witnessing his admiration for this film that I didn't realize until I viewed this analysis that it had not been a great success at the box office.

[@ScrewFlanders]

DIY Improver, your story and mine are practically identical. I was 11-12 years old when my dad took me to see Tora! Tora! Tora!. He too had served in the Pacific during WWII, his duty being in the US Army Air Force on Tinian aboard B-29's (482nd Bomb Squadron of the 505th Bomber Group, 313th Wing of the 20th Air Force). My dad almost _never_ spoke about his time in the War, and as kids my siblings and I learned not to ask him about it. I remember being a little surprised that he wanted to see a war movie. When we kids would watch "Combat" on TV, he would merely scoff and say things like, "it wasn't like that." He _hated_ "Hogan's Heroes." I remember being riveted by the action of Tora! Tora! Tora!. In addition, even though my young mind really couldn't process the political and strategic scenes in the movie, those scenes did communicate to me at least a sense of the enthusiasm, esprit de corps, and _naiveté_ of the Japanese forces, as well as the ineptitude and lax attitudes of the Americans that resulted in the tragedy of Pearl Harbor. My dad didn't have much to say about the movie afterwards, but he did ask me what I thought about it. I told him that I thought the movie was really good, giving all the reasons that an 11-12 year-old boy would give. I remember that my dad just nodded his head, and said something like, "yeah, I thought it was good too." My dad passed away in 1990 from cancer (he was 67), and there are so many conversations I wish I had had with him about his war experiences that we never had. As he got older, and the gulf of time between the Present and the ending of WWII widened, he started to relax a little about discussing his involvement in the War. Sadly, he was taken from us too soon for us to have very many such discussions.

[@road-eo6911]

As a Filipino, I would like to thank your father for his service! He must've been a great man.

[@mikebrase5161]

@@ScrewFlanders haha my Grandfather hated Hogan's Heroes as well he was 1st Infantry Division on D-Day Omaha Beach. He told he hated how a country the size of Texas that took over half the known world was portrayed as a bunch of clowns. He thought it demeaned not only his service but the Germans as well. One of the few things be told me was if they took a French village you could guarantee the Germans would always try to take it back. He had nothing but respect for how hard the Germans fought.

[@someguy7629]

Ha, then he's probably one of the very few Americans to know that neither the A-Bombs or land invasions where needed. That it was to test on real targets (There"s a reason they where 2 different bombs you know....) And that it was to scare off the Russian army's who began moving to the East after victory in Berlin.

[@threeinthegoo1878]

To be fair the Pearl Harbor movie was nearly as big a disaster as the attack itself

[@monsieurlaguillotine3481]

Savage af.

[@Ozraptor4]

Bore-a! Bore-a! Bore-a!

[@andysm1964]

certainly the acting was..

[@NamFlashb4cks]

Three in the goo Oof

[@ath3lwulf533]

If they took out the oil storage too it would have been game over for the pacific fleet.

[@cmd31220]

My grandfather and his father were stationed at Pearl Harbor when the attack happened. They both said that it was so accurate that they had ptsd-type flashbacks when they first saw it. We still have their army trunks with the bullet holes in them, too. Same with my great grandfather's sword from the war.

[@WalterDWormack214]

Totally awesome parody! Especially your using the Zero vs. F-14 Tomcat scene from "The Final Countdown" with the "Starship Troopers" music score! You Sir, are a comedic genius!

[@darkprincessmelly]

My father served on the Missouri while in the navy. I can remember him coming back from seeing this movie saying he had never seen a war movie as accurate as that one. I watch it every Dec. although I cry everytime

[@darkprincessmelly]

@array s I do not remember any romance in "Tora Tora Tora." There was in the horribly inaccurate movie "Pearl harbor."

[@Dover939]

@@darkprincessmelly That's what he said.

[@dafyddthomas7299]

@@darkprincessmelly agree and cannot watch Ben Affleck's Pearl Harbour without vomiting - it's so bad and is a disservice to the brave US service people who served at PH and throughout WW2.

[@kbanghart]

@Gripen Draken whoa chill

[@mops-vu2zl]

@array s Sorry bro, your thinking about the wrong movie

[@davids9520]

Showing my age. When I was school, this movie was thought of as so historically accurate, we got to go and see '"Tora! Tora! Tora!" on a school sponsored field trip! Going to the movies, seeing a war movie, plus getting out of school for most of a day. What more could you ask for!!!

[@ZnenTitan]

Buttered popcorn?

[@toastytoast9800]

@@ZnenTitan thats free?

[@riperclaw]

Make ships dont break them

[@davids9520]

@Warren552011 You had a very generous teacher. Or maybe a big Raquel Welch fan! (g)

[@stevek8829]

I never heard of kids being taken to a movie house by their school. What country is this?

[@blitz8425]

I find Yamamoto to be an exceedingly interesting historical person. Its worth pointing out that before any action was decided he applied a lot of pressure internally to find a way to stay at peace with the US, and like the movie shows, his life was in danger because of it. However once a decision was made, Yamamoto as a loyal officer did his best as a commander to, in his mind, defend his country. He just seemingly contrasted so heavily with his contemporaries, and while it was undeniably a tactical victory, and the right call at the time, its a shame that he was killed. His post war memoirs and insight would have been very interesting imo.

[@RipOffProductionsLLC]

Indeed, it would have been an interesting sight if he had lived to the war's end and been able to throw it all back in the faces of those who had called his a coward or whatever else for his objection to the idea of going to war with the USA(assuming they also survived) Probably would have been one of the greatest "I told you so"s in all of human history. Then again by the time he was killed, the war was going pretty poorly for Japan, so naybe he had had a chance to have a few of those conversations in private here or there...

[@Statalyzer]

Yes, I think the post-war world would have been a little better off had he survived.

[@steveokahn7249]

Thank You! I saw it in the theater as a kid with my Uncle (who was a Pacific theater naval officer during the war). I have watched it every December 7th since it came out on VHS. I have never understood why this movie was not more appreciated. OK, so it didn't wedge in a BS love story or take ridiculous liberties for drama sake. But you could "see" real history and be the more knowledgeable for it. And I personally liked how the Japanese view was at least addressed...pretty novel in those days.

[@samuelmanning2366]

Fun fact: some of the "Zeros" shown in the film are actually modified and repainted American T-6 trainer planes. However, at least one of these T-6 trainers is actually an SNJ (the US Navy's equivalent the the US Army's T-6). That SNJ belonged to my late uncle who owned and flew his plane in the movie (uncredited). He was an interesting guy who would often fly tourists in his SNJ around Pearl Harbor. Unfortunately, he suddenly died when the helicopter he was piloting went down during a search and rescue mission around the mountains of Hawaii. The true cause of this crash is still unknown. He also had a F4U Corsair in pieces that he had planned to put together. While that didn't happen in his lifetime, the folks at the Midway museum got it on loan from his widow and put it together. His F4U Corsair is currently on display on the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, CA.

[@samuelmanning2366]

Also, I'd love to see you analyze "A Bridge Too Far." It might be my favorite movie of all time.

[@bmitchely]

I had the opportunity to it in one of these planes as it was tied down at KFFC (Peachtree Falcon Field, south of Atlanta Ga. I had returned to finish some work and walked out to offer some to the campers pizza. Standing near the "Zero" I noticed a Pratt data plate and asked about it. Then I noticed that the plane was in fact a modified Texan and not a Zero at all! I was not able to score a flight in this iconic machine but was able to sit in the pilot's seat and make engine noises.

[@schmoemi3386]

Maybe not only some of the film Mitsubishi A6M (Zeros) but all of them... main problem: there aren't that much originals around, and none of them airworthy.

[@gheilers]

Actually, there are a few airworthy examples of original A6M Zeros. Most now have American-made engines, but the A6M5 Type 52 owned by Planes of Fame has an original Sakai engine. The other airworthy examples are all A6M3 Type 22 aircraft, I believe.

[@pogo1140]

Yep, I see the Planes of Fame A6M5 almost every year during their annual airshow and their Living History events.

[@PopeSixtusVI]

The negative reviews for Tora! Tora! Tora! *at that time* is because 2/3rds of the American population in 1970 was alive for World War 2 and the fact that the attack went off was seen as outrageous and for the Navy itself, scandalous. In other words, a movie illustrating the intelligence and strategic blunders than enabled the attack was "offensive" especially in the context of an unpopular war and other social unrest going on at that time. But there's something we can do about it! The film is undergoing a historical re-evaluation for at worst, being better than Pearl Harbor, and at best, being an unsung masterpiece. So spread the word.

[@John77Doe]

Peter Franks Good insight no one wants to look back at their stupidest moments in life.

[@pitioti]

Fun Fact, Tora ! Tora! Tora! Was one of the inspiration of George Lucas for his Star Wars Film... For the battle in space I means X3!

[@danzervos7606]

I think it had more to do with the anti-war sentiment at the time.

[@scottparrish7244]

@@John77Doe If I didn't look back on the stupidest moments of my life I'd hardly learn anything.

[@pontiuspilot5887]

I remember reading, during the visit by Hirohito to the U.S. in 1971, that American veterans were upset that the wartime emperor was being even allowed in their country with state honours. So yes anti-Japanese feeling was very strong at the time. The Film having such prominent participation by the Japanese would have riled up those who had personnel memories and loses. Peace

[@TheVelvetwarrior]

I remember when I was a teenager after watching Pearl Harbour... I found Tora Tora Tora so much more enlightening. And it is there on my Dad's shelf along with A Bridge Too Far and The Battle of Britain.

[@greendeane1]

I saw Tora Tora Tora on an Army base in Japan, 1972. The audience stood and yelled when the movie turned. I also had an uncle in the Navy during the attack. He survived it and the war.

[@rogerbaker9353]

I remember watching this in high school. The curriculum called for "Pearl Harbor", and the teacher acknowledged that point, but went ahead and put this on instead.

[@LeCharles07]

The world needs more teachers like that.

[@dasc0yne]

@@LeCharles07 I want to know who the numbskull was who called for "Pearl Harbor" in the first place. That person shouldn't be teaching children ... make him teach P.E.

[@mitchellneu]

Smart move.

[@trevorphilips4925]

my history teacher said the pearl harbor movie was crap and put tora tora instead

[@declanfiala6099]

Any good history teacher would.

[@Su5pec1]

Tora! Tora! Tora! the Explora!

[@MadIvano]

Blake Berry Explore this dick.

[@nickgray4553]

Hehe

[@rin_etoware_2989]

Tora!

[@rodolforuiz4888]

Blake Berry TORA!!

[@Bicholover5487]

Blake Berry TORA

[@JaredBetts]

I love this movie... My father was an extra in the movie... he is actually the body double for the admiral when he is getting off of the boat. Also, many of the scenes that were filmed for this movie found their way into other movies like MIDWAY!

[@Fadamor]

The screenplay for Tora! Tora! Tora! was partially based on the novel of the same name by Gordon W. Prange - published by Reader's Digest in November and December of 1963. I highly recommend the follow-on book of Prange's that was published a year after his death in 1981 titled, "At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor." It goes into much more detail about the attack and the events leading up to it. Prange was a History professor prior to the war and was commissioned as a naval officer in 1943. His background in History enabled him to be assigned as General MacArthur's Chief Historian - allowing him unprecedented access to Japanese records that hadn't been destroyed by the time of the surrender.

[@bartmiller6985]

My parents watched this every December 7 while I grew up in the 70's. It was usually shown on WGN. My mom always had to read the subtitles of the Japanese for my dad. Today is December 7, 2020. I may watch it tonight when I get home form work. An awesome, and very underrated, movie.

[@hugohuysmans9666]

So, you've been watching this video...at work, no? :-)

[@Onizukachan915]

I do the same on December 7th.

[@bartmiller6985]

@@PaulRudd1941 no, he was blind.

[@DomPatek]

7.5/10 on imdb, 55% on Rotten Tomatoes. What the fuck, man?! How the hell is that possible?

[@shawn576]

I would say welcome to current year but the film is 50 years old. A game called The Last of Us Part 2 won game of the year despite having a rating of 58% and generally being regarded as trash. Reviewers are just bought and paid shills.

[@Deevo037]

It means American observers don't like seeing stories where they are shown to be fallible.

[@1SaG]

While I love this film, it *is* a bit, shall we say, dry. Especially if you're not into military/WW2 history. No love story. No women in major speaking roles. No real single protagonist or antagonist and no classic narrative structure (no hero's journey). Plus lots and lots of lengthy dialogue-scenes and lots and lots of characters. It almost strikes me as a historic documentary with very good actors and (for the time) top notch special effects. Oh, and let's not forget that around half of it is presented from the Japanese POV - complete with Japanese actors who are speaking Japanese.

[@waterbottlewaterbottle1754]

@@1SaG Yeah, same as A bridge too far. Long dry movied which are amazing to those who are interested, but not to a mass audience

[@gilangw595]

@@Deevo037 no, because as a war historical movie it is fine, but as a entertaining movie itself.. not so much, lack of: depth, suspense, love story, and strong character , make it not really a full movie experience

[@MrHeavy466]

Just watched this and I was genuinely shocked by the battle scene. Those stunts and effects were amazing. The buildup to the battle is what makes the battle all the more startling.

[@villeandersson2632]

6:56. I also love the fact that Yamamoto's actor has two of his fingers bent in to simulate that he has lost two fingers, which is historically accurate. Yamamoto had lost two fingers during the Russo-Japanese war of 1905. It's such a small detail that could have easily been overlooked, but they did it anyway.

[@ximen459]

How on earth, could my history teacher show us PEARL HARBOR and not this???

[@mikhailiagacesa3406]

omg.... :-(

[@rekt_xington9027]

Ximen pearl harbor attack has modern ships on it LOL

[@OutOfNamesToChoose]

Ximen Oh the nostalgia...seeing as I'm 22 (and was wondering about teaching nowadays), did you get shown the beach landing in 'Saving Private Ryan'?

[@wisdomleader85]

History education is usually accompanied with patriotism, which this movie likely isn't known for.

[@JB-yb4wn]

Because your history teacher is a stupid dumbass. Tora Tora Tora was the first western movie that was allowed to play in the PRC because it showed the Japanese as imperialist war mongers.

[@retrogamerdad9621]

This movie is the gold standard for historical cinema and deserves to be widely recognized as such.

[@brucegibbins3792]

I recorded Tora Tora Tora and A Bridge Too Far on VHS from a Sunday afternoon TV broadcast. They both get an outing a few times each year. History and entertainment in one glorious packet. Your analysis adds icing to the cake.

[@ou812a4]

Excellent review! And I agree that Tora,Tora, Tora does not get the recognition it deserves. In fact, if it weren't for my freshman year history teacher, whom showed us the film in class , I'm not sure I ever would've seen it. I enjoyed Tora so much that I went and saw Pearl Harbor on opening day, thinking it would be a newer version of this classic...boy was I disappointed!

[@sheeplord4976]

I am a little annoyed that they destroyed so many pby catalina boat planes. Nicolas cage destroyed the last firefighting pby recently aswell. At this rate there will be none left

[@iateyursandwiches]

Dude your teacher was awesome. Al mine did was show us Poo Harbor-_- Even then I was pretty annoyed with the pointless love triangle they decided to put in there.

[@MidlifeCrisisJoe]

Yeah my dad made me watch it when I was a kid (he was a Navy brat and spent some time growing up in Hawaii so he always had a fascination with Pearl Harbor) and I'm always glad he did. It was pretty dry for a kid, but over the years I really came to appreciate the extreme effort they obviously put into the film at being accurate with the details. Shame you had to get excited for Pearl Harbor though. That had to hurt!

[@amyrat151]

+SonofaGlitch My dad didn't make me watch it but he watched it whenever it was on, so I've seen this movie a bunch of times. I'm honestly surprised more people haven't seen it.

[@2HRTS1LOVE]

I used to watch it every year with my dad and brother (I'm the annoying little sister). I'm a pretty girly girl, but they totally hooked me on WWII movies with Tora. Band of Brothers is now my new favorite, though not a movie, I swear that series made me feel like I knew those guys. I wish I had.

[@ImInLoveWithBulla]

The whole attack scene is just more incredible with every watching. CGI? Who needs that?

[@boagprod.1372]

WHAT THE HECK IS A CGI?

[@dfsengineer]

Awesome practical effects will always be awesome. 10 year old CGI will usually look terrible.

[@azulotl8063]

@@dfsengineer 10 year old CGI still holds up for the most part and as we go into the future it will only get better

[@GrosvnerMcaffrey]

You bet your sweet ass it is

[@jamesclepper6786]

It’s all about money now a days

[@gmansard641]

The historic consultant for this film was Gordon Prange. One of his students was my professor at college, we watched this film in his class. He said that Prange was so fanatical about factual accuracy that he published very little because he was constantly verifying and re-checking his facts. It was his students who completed "At Dawn We Slept" after his death.

[@kurtgreaser8439]

Donald Goldstein & Katherine Dillon collaborated on the book, was it one of them. I know Praage was ay University of Maryland for most of his professional career.

[@gmansard641]

@@kurtgreaser8439 My professor at Ohio University, Donald Richter, said he knew Prange at Maryland.

[@hellowhat890]

23:02 I also love the fact that the actor who plays Admiral Yamamoto is Mako. Most of us remember him as Uncle Iroh from Avatar: The Last Airbender. The inclusion of the foaming mouth guy clip is also the best thing ever to supplement this video. XD

[@SeekerLancer]

Critics like Roger Ebert completely miss the point of a film like this.

[@taproom113]

Agree ... Ebert was a pompous A$$. Siskel was much smarter and more insightful. ^v^

[@Sp0nge5]

Ebert didn't miss the point, this film has a bunch of storytelling problems. There's no lead character, no personal conflict, no romance, no attempt at dichotomies or some poetic filmmaking. It's a documentary dressed as a drama. I personally paused the movie 2 times and it didn't lose any momentum, because except the battle it had no momentum. Yes, the battle sequence is on-par or even better than Michael Bay's, AND it's more historically accurate. But Bay at least attempts at a drama. Both films fail as a whole, but at different things.

[@samtownend6744]

@@Sp0nge5 if you need hollywood tropes to enjoy a film I feel bad for you. How is a romance in any way relevant to the battle of pearl harbour?

[@koichidignitythief7429]

@@taproom113 Not really he was a dumbass too. For fuck's sake he thought the Terminator was an alien from another planet. Did he even see the movie?

[@Regdren]

@@koichidignitythief7429 The part that got me was that he wanted the movie to focus on the love story instead of the Terminator. I don't know what kind of person would give a thumbs down because of that.

[@tsukishiro70]

I love that clip from "The Final Countdown". And your reaction to it.

[@JoshuaC923]

That was epic haha

[@zeus28frenzy]

YES YES YES LESSSSSS GOOOOOO

[@razorfett147]

Some of the finest Tomcat film work ever shot.

[@malafunkshun8086]

Mhmm, I saw that movie also….very interesting alternate history 😂

[@whenthemusicsover6028]

I was wondering what that clip was from. :)

[@DeaneHD]

I have rewatched most of your episodes and can tell how passionate you are about most titles especially Waterloo. Above all, the enthusiasm you have when you announce TORA! TORA! TORA! is palpable.

[@davidblaising-wimmer9972]

Watched this review and this movie today……the 80th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. Fantastic movie and review……and may the fallen not be forgotten.

[@plshelpmeawkdough]

The one thing I’ve learned while going through my entire cinephile phase: never listen to critics *ESPECIALLY IF THEIR NAME IS ROGER EBERT*

[@hddun]

I might add that Ebert loved "Evita" he excitingly suggesting that Madonna would get the Oscar nod---Seriously? WTF was he thinking..

[@nonamegame9857]

Ebert loved to gaslight Jean siskel.

[@Tapajara]

Yes. I tended to take the side of Gene Siskel while he was alive. Ebert was a real dumb ass.

[@jamesalexander5623]

@@Tapajara He seemed to Love Children's Movies with Young Boys! ...... jus sayin'

[@dannysunay8099]

@@Tapajara no he was not. It is all subjective. 8 out of 10 times he was spot-on.

[@lowtierhuman69]

I couldn't agree with you more. I really appreciated how in depth and HONEST both sides were told. NO SUGAR COATING, NO BULLSHIT. It's as close to "this is how it was" as I think a non documentary film can do.

[@lavo-ld4wm]

Thank you for reviewing "Tora! Tora! Tora!" One of my favourite war films and the best WWII film ever! I remember seeing it with someone who worked as a crew member in Air France, and she told me how this film really nailed the flying scenes, as she felt them so realistic!

[@bassmanpedro1]

Have had a copy of this film for years and watched it several times. I don't find the build up boring at all; but then I am a bit of a nerd! Great film, definitely underrated.

[@mikolajgrotowski]

About B17 and order to fly away. This is standard procedure on any military airfield under attack. A plane is a much more easy target on the runway, and if is destroy, can damage runway and block it for operation. This order is accurate with military perspective and may be historically accurate (but most pilots be never even tried land in this condition)

[@David-mz5oq]

Mikolaj Grotowski most would not try to land. But if I recall my history the B17 where out a gas. As for them being order to take of I agree. They dont want to run way blocked with wreckage while there under attack

[@tomogburn2462]

Not to mention, in reality it would be very difficult for the Zeroes to shoot down a B-17. Its 7.7mm and 20mm guns really just didnt have the capability to take one down reliably in 1941.

[@Brainfryde]

The tower would call off the plane, because that is what years of training told them to do without question. A B-17 would have pulled off instantly, because they cannot see what is coming up on the tarmac or from other vectors, and their conditioning says that to hesitate is near instant death. This is reinforced by the lack of evasive instructions; if this was an attempt to save the aircraft just from the zero, you would not tell it to just abort, but rather give it an escape vector. If anything, telling the B-17 there is a zero is inaccurate, but certainly is understandable in the movie so the audience knows WHY they were waved off.

[@brandons9398]

Plus they were less than 100 of them in existence in the world at that time. A Zero that day could have easily shot them down, as their guns were not operational in the 17s. They were still covered in cosmoline and they had no ammo.

[@OrginalDravas]

The order was made to keep the runway clear. They needed the runway clear to launch what fighter response they could. A down B-17 takes up alot of runway.

[@glen1555]

Saw this in the cinema in 70mm on wide screen. Thought then and still do, that the Japanese sequence of the planes taking off the carriers as the sun rose was awesome

[@nigelwitgunn3406]

My father was a boy soldier who served throughout WWII. His favourite war movie was, "A Bridge Too Far" (because he was there), and said it was the most accurate. His second favourite was, "Tora, Tora, Tora", because of the combat scenes.

[@GregInHouston2]

I love "Tora! Tora! Tora!" My grandmother liked it too - and she lived through WWII. I am not a history buff but I do have a copy of this movie.

[@pezz_pezzer]

As an old person (51) I grew up on this movie being re-ran on TV in the 70s and 80s. Still one of my favorite war movies of all time... Great channel and awesome review. Glad I found you!

[@RW4X4X3006]

Exactly. A whole generation was brought up on this film. That's how a whole generation managed to shitcan the more recent one.

[@079melrose]

Mi iguvys

[@AndyK304]

Before cable, CBS seemed to run this once a year, as they did Planet of the Apes, usually on a Friday night. They also had some good comedies in their catalog that would run in the middle of the week, when school was out. Murder by Death, Sherlock Holmes’ Smarter Brother, High Anxiety...

[@RW4X4X3006]

@@AndyK304 I remember our local independent affiliate airing this film every December 7. Every year. You know, back in the day when the media seemed to give a fuck about a few important things.

[@txbuzzkill6276]

Hell, I saw this movie in the theaters when it came out! 51, pffft!

[@jackdanielsinthelionsden1887]

11:46 "you made a movie about the Titanic? Why? We already know it ends." "He doesn't get out much, does he?" "No."

[@unclepatrick2]

"And then the ship hit a iceberg and start to " "What are you doing? You giving away the surprise ending."

[@les4767]

@@UnclePengy Check out "1776" while you're at it. You wouldn't think a musical based on the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence would be suspenseful, but up to the last vote, you will swear the proposal for American Independence will fail. Brilliant film!

[@chiudfdnso]

In another video, I saw the German translation of Tora Tora Tora. I laughed out loud when I saw the comments on that video. ``The Nazis are attacking the U.S. Navy'', ``Japan attacked America instead of Germany'', ``There is no better movie for Germans than this''. As a Japanese person, I laughed and had mixed feelings.

[@topgundoc01]

Tora ! Tora ! Tora ! is one of my favorite war movies. War movies are not only about the fighting on the ground but also about the politics of war, the strategy and how war is conducted from the point of view of senior commanders, the choices they make, the responsibilities they carry, how they conceive and conduct operations. I would love war movies about Scipio Africanus, Raymond Spruance or David Elazar :-)

[@dxfan18]

"We have awoken a sleeping giant" returned in the new Midway movie too, when Yamamoto is listening to the radio he asks (who I think is) his wife to turn it off and says those exact words to her.

[@pompeygerry]

I remember reading that Yamamoto said it to Prince Konoe, But for the life of me i cannot remember where.

[@tylerhall4322]

I don’t like both of the midway movies because they didn’t show some of the planes that were there and they played a major role against the Japanese

[@hectorandres2921]

13:48 Japanese pilot: "Here's your "safety violation", American!!"

[@wyattlohman6880]

*NEEEROOOOOWWWWW* *BOOM*

[@dewolf123]

@@butterupgaming7759 shutup bot comments don't have rates

[@ATankEnjoyer]

@@dewolf123 Underrated as in the comment doesn’t have enough likes, but I guess you can’t be civil in the comments of a video that speaks of the movie in a civil manner.

[@dewolf123]

@@ATankEnjoyer Only civil when I am not seeing generic bot comments.

[@dewolf123]

@@ATankEnjoyer And if you expect civility on the Internet let alone the comments section then it's you're fault and problem and you probably just should not be here.

[@ladyphoenixgrey3923]

Watching this today on the 80th anniversary. Thank you for being so dedicated to historical accuracy and for sharing that passion with us all.

[@TheBloodyViki]

Just watched Tora! Tora! Tora! with my dad because i remembered History Buffs recommending it. Great movie, we both really liked it.

[@metwo1492]

Totally agree with your commentary. This is a seriously underrated film. I just noticed that at 21:51, the movie is so accurate that Admiral Yamamoto is missing two fingers from his left hand. He lost those in the Battle of Tsushima as a young sailor. Wow. Also, a number of the harbor panorama shots have modern installations in the background, but that is unavoidable without CGI.

[@EllenbergW]

And to think that, had he lost a third finger, he would have been invalidated out (learned that from Drachinifel's vid on the Battle of Tsushima) And yes, I know I'm 2 years late :)

[@CynicalHistorian]

Thanks for the mention! A whole lot of folks came over. And as always, great episode.

[@tomaszskowronski1406]

are you by any chance related to Cynical Brit? The twat in a top hat.

[@jeffwalters8552]

I just subbed also but hate "pearl harbor" so much, I refuse to watch your breakdown of it- no offense.

[@Aileil]

I volunteer with the local oral history project and a few of the tapes I've transcribed are interviews with people involved in Pearl Harbor (a naval signalman, an Army engineer, an Air Force ground crew member, and a native volunteer). The Army engineer was out on a hill during the attack and he listed this film as a great way to understand what the planes looked like, coming in so low between the hills.

[@gerardmichaelburnsjr.]

THANK YOU!!! I have been trying to wake people up to this movie since I first saw it in the theatre when it first came out. I never knew it had gotten bad reviews and I can only despise those who didn't get it. This movie is like being there.

[@ashipnerdoffical4260]

23:44 the movie is called 'The Final Countdown' in case anyone was wondering.

[@electricsinkdatsank6916]

@jmarks881 what

[@davehoffman4659]

Yeah, if I remember correctly, an aircraft carrier got lost in a storm and went back to the past to December 7, 1941.

[@FEBAGames]

de da der der der da der der der de da der der der da der der der Its the Final Countdown

[@rf-cattleprod6207]

I was just about to say it but you got it first.

[@MichalSoukup1995]

And music from the Starship troopers.

[@robbpowell194]

I had been a WW2 geek since I was 14. I saw this when I was 18. To me, it was the highpoint of movie making. I simply could not believe how real it was....

[@mamunestor]

This has always been my favorite WWII movie. I love that a Japanese crew wow the Japanese parts. That maybe a big reason why I liked it so much.

[@gunnyd8135]

LtCmdr Fuchida, who led the attack on Pearl Harbor, would later convert to Christianity after the war after a chance meeting with a surviving Doolittle Raider on the streets of Tokyo. He went to Bible college in the USA, and later established Christian churches throughout Japan.

[@HistoryBuffs]

Sorry for the reupload. There was an error in the video and I needed to fix it. Hope you guys enjoy the review :)

[@Vertimoo]

What error? I watched the other video and I didn't really notice anything. Great review as always :)

[@dervelthecelt]

History Buffs was it the November 7 mistake?

[@sowrabvattipalli5981]

great review, I think you could use the old opening credits for epic movies like gladiator and use the new one for movies like apollo 13

[@murciadoxial8056]

nick, could you please review the wind rises - directed by hayao miyazaki?

[@daRiddler32]

History Buffs do Valkyrie

[@billrich9722]

*suddenly F-14s* Wait, what? I feel like I was caught not paying attention.

[@Dios67]

The Final Countdown...?

[@flyboy152]

@@Dios67 Yes, those scenes are from The Final Countdown, where the USS Nimitz gets sent back to December 6, 1941, and has to decide whether to interfere and change the entire course of history. It's a decent flick, with some neat air-to-air action between the Zeros and the F-14s.

[@youngThrashbarg]

Plus music from Starship troopers.

[@zachburkey447]

F14s: "Omae Wa Mou Shindeiru" Zeroes: "NANI!?!?"

[@user-YuHaoHuang]

@@flyboy152 you might be interested in the manga/tv anime called zipang

[@ddierschow]

I first saw this film when it was new; wide screen, 70mm print. My Dad took me and my brothers to see it. He served in WWII, in the Pacific, from late 1942 until the end of the war. He was so strangely silent as we walked from the theater to the car. Somehow, my brothers and I knew to let him walk, and think.

[@jackmessick2869]

Ken Taylor (one of the few pilots that made it into the air to fight the IJN aircraft) went on after the War to found the Alaska Air National Guard. At an Air Force "dining-in" at Elmendorf AFB in 1990 I got to hear him speak, and he talked about that day.

[@michaelgomez9442]

I had a history teacher, really lovely elderly lady, who was present at Pearl Harbor AFB during the attack. She was later working on the adjacent Hickam AFB in 1969 when they filmed "life like" bombing scenes for Tora Tora Tora on base... and she said coming out of the office watching Japanese planes flying overhead in formation while bombs exploded... even knowing it was a movie.. gave everyone hair raising deja-vu. That must have been more surreal than I can imagine.

[@jackmessick2869]

Just a correction; it's Pearl Harbor Naval Base. Or perhaps you mean Wheeler Army Airfield, later Wheeler AFB.

[@ThomasTHEONEANDONLY]

The film actually won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects in 1971 for the previous year’s film season. That’s Impressive.

[@michaelstaeheli1598]

I went to this movie when it first came out. I left the theatre in shock and awe.

[@higgydufrane]

Thanks Nick, this was greatly appreciated. Great Job as Always....

[@jkorshak]

One thing I liked about TTT was how it portrayed Fuchida as a confident professional, almost arrogant in his ability, and loved by his men. The best scenes in the film I think are on the Akagi flight deck when they give orders to being starting engines, turn into the wind, and prep for launch. The whole sequence is simple but great film making. The order to launch and the first aircraft goes down the deck and Genda checks his watch - which he did at the time. During the flight in the sun comes up and the remark of it resembling the flag - that occurred. Later, part of it is the music, when they sight PH and Fuchida realizes they have achieved surprise - powerful scene. And one thing I really liked because it was rare at the time, the Japanese spoke Japanese with subtitles, instead of speaking English with faux "Japanese" accents. TTT is not a masterpiece and has its problems but as theatrical films about the attack go, it's best that's been done.

[@xRENEGADE156]

"In the first six to twelve months of a war with the United States and Great Britain I will run wild and win victory upon victory. But then, if the war continues after that, I have no expectation of success". - Isoroku Yamamoto, Commander in Chief, Japanese Navy

[@xRENEGADE156]

@Jefferson Tong probably not a direct quote but a paraphrasing of his general opinion on the subject

[@satriorama4118]

@Jefferson Tong while it's not historically correct, it's really happens. In the first 6 months of pacific war, Japan steamroll every SEA occupied countries, kicked UK, US, Netherland and aussie out of SEA.

[@nome8705]

Historically correct!

[@sheriff0017]

Why are we surrounded by American fighters all of a sudden? - Isoroku Yamamoto, Commander in Chief, Japanese Navy

[@patrickhorvath2684]

I thought it was ; " If need be, I can raise hell with the Americans for 6 months. After that, I guarantee nothing."

[@rinofyore6887]

My Dad used to watch history movies with me when I was growing up and this was easily one of my favorites. I still talk about it to people.

[@takayasu2009]

The Japanese actors in this film were already big-time guys then.

[@shinjaokinawa5122]

Sooooo des Ney Toshiro Mifune!

[@07foxmulder]

10:08 When I first saw this movie I thought I was watching actual footage of the attack. Those stunts are absolutely insane. Thankfully no one was hurt.

[@factbeaglesarebest]

Actual footage in that much detail?

[@07foxmulder]

Fact: Beagles Are Best Lol in my defence it was a long time ago (2000). So I was a lot younger and was watching it on VHS on a tube tv so the picture quality wasn’t that great.

[@yanislahtal6253]

Me too, I guess that I thought they wouldn't do something so dangerous. Plus I'm pretty sure the first time I saw that stunt, it was in a low-budget documentary about Pearl Harbor.

[@josephstalin3541]

Thomas the tank engine brakes

[@raymondswenson1268]

I was visiting the Arizona memorial during filming of Tora Tora Tora, a Zero was chasing a B-17, representing the flight of unarmed planes that arrived in the middle of the attack. There is a famous picture of one of the B-17s which managed to land at Hickman, but the entire tail section fell off due to bullets cutting the fuselage. I later learned the pilot was Captain Raymond T. Swenson , my name. When I was an Air Force LT. Colonel, I was contacted by people wanting to talk to the Pearl Harbor pilot, who was promoted to O5 before he left the Air Force.

[@jakehill8186]

Excellent narratives; excellent clips. Way to go, brotha!

[@christopherdavis9323]

Coming out in 1970, this movie arrived in the heart of the Vietnam War, a time when the American People were most definitely NOT interested in war pictures that were not antiwar. In terms of contemporary US box office, it bombed. In JAPAN, OTOH, the crowds were around the block for many weeks. The $$$ made in Japan helped to recoup the costs of making the movie.

[@clearcoat2000]

Interesting comment that I agree with. However the movie Patton came out that same year and from what I understand was very successful with George C. Scott winning an oscar.

[@christopherdavis9323]

Tora! Tora! Tora! had a cast of complete amateurs on the Japanese side (for which the Japanese directors & producer drew a lot of flak). The American cast were veteran professionals, but not any names that would jump out at you. George C. Scott, OTOH, hit the screens like a thunderstrike. AFAIK, he wasn't a Big Name before Patton, so it made the surprise of his performance all the more remarkable to audiences. Plus, Patton's story covers almost the whole of America's involvement in the war in Europe. Tora! Tora! Tora! OTOH covered only a few months before America's entry. And it ends with the US suffering an enormous defeat. The Japanese film Yamamoto does this better. It starts with Yamamoto's planning for Pearl Harbor, then going up to his death in 1943. But rather than ending the film there, it jumps to the Emperor's surrender speech in 1945. The idea being that one of the soldiers (stars) who survived the war is shown staring from the roof of one of the few buildings still standing in Tokyo. From horizon to horizon, not a single building is still standing. I wonder if Tora! Tora! Tora! would have done better in terms of box office receipts if that type of scene had been inserted at the end of Tora! Tora! Tora! (?)

[@captainamericaxxx3874]

+Robert Giles I think the Japanese actors did a great job. I think they were what we would call veteran supporting cast actors. Like our actors James Whitmore and Martin Balsam. A year ago I woke up one Saturday morning and turned on the TV and a Godzilla movie was on. There they were, Admirals Yamamoto and Nagumo playing cops.

[@peterson7082]

@@christopherdavis9323 George C. Scott was well received in _Dr. Strangelove._