Tora! Tora! Tora!

[toprob]

This movie was released in 1970, so I might have been around 15 when I saw it first. I remember being very impressed at the time, so this was one of the movies which I've put off rewatching so I wouldn't be disappointed by seeing it in the cold hard light of adulthood:)
But I finally gave in, and watched it last night on DVD. For those who have never heard of it, this is a dramatisation of the events which led up to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and includes a very realistic portrayal of the actual attack.
It certainly was worth it, I think I enjoyed it just as much as the first time, although with the 'wow' factor (hey, I was new to movies at that age and easily impressed) replaced by more of an understanding of the politics of the era. As a US/Japanese co-production, it didn't have the anti-Japanese bias which was common at the time, and it certainly gives the US government a bit of a hiding for their handling of the situation.
If you watched the movie Pearl Harbor and were unimpressed (as so many were) then you should give this a go -- it is a lot better. The DVD I watched was very well produced -- you wouldn't think it was almost 40 years old.

[ardypilot]

I've got a free rental voucher for Video Ezy on the back of a receipt today- might go get that if its at my local store and see if beats Pearl Harbor.

[Njbb1995]

I have seen that great movie. Wow nearly 40 years old thats amazing!!!

[Bandit]

Been a while since I last saw it. But I remember it being a great movie though pretty long.

It used to be the standard mid day movie on TV for New Years day for many years. I'm pretty sure there was a documentary about the making of it around as well.

[FlyingKiwi]

It's a very cool movie - infinitely better than Pearl Harbor!

An interesting little fact is that the gear up landing of the B-17 was actually real - the aircraft they were using had a gear failure, and they filmed the landing and decided it would look good in the film! Also the scene where a (mock up) P-40 crashes into a line of other P-40s, that wasn't supposed to happen either; the people running for cover aren't acting!

[victor_alpha_charlie]

I justr watched the movie 'aeroplane' tonight too, another good old aviation film (although maybe not quite as serious)

[chickenman]

QUOTE (victor_alpha_charlie @ May 15 2008, 10:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I justr watched the movie 'aeroplane' tonight too, another good old aviation film (although maybe not quite as serious)

Surely you can't be serious....

[kiwibarguy]

Yes, it just goes to show that with all your computer graphics that nothing beats the real thing. I absolutely love Tora Tota Tora! Funny that a co-production way back then should make way for Michael Bay's american patriotic rubbish. I wonder if he will ever make a movie about America's decision to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki when it was obivously over for Japan. Think not. Good on Clint Eastwood for making 'Flag of our fathers' and 'letters to iwa-jima' that is real war,the true and ugly face of it.

Anyway, the 60's and 70's films aout aviation or war are still the best! A bridge too far, Tora tora Tora etc....

[ardypilot]

Finally got around to renting and watching Tora Tora Tora from fatso.
Amazing movie- especially on the surround sound system, the amount of organising that must have been put in to the aerial choreography is staggering!

[Ian Warren]

Andrew , I finally brought a copy for myself another i have ordered, You had better source is 'The Battle of Britain' from the same era

[spongebob206]

I purchased this a while ago, awesome movie. yeah Ian, Battle of Britain next for me also.
Just purchased 633 and Mosquito squadron. Definately worth the watch. 633 squadron is one of my all time favorites.

[FlyingKiwi]

Battle of Britain is indeed also a great movie.

[shotgun]

Wow i just watched Tora Tora Tora! yesterday. Talk about Daja Vo

[jastheace]

yup great movie same with BOB, another one i like is black hawk down, give the americans a real pasting for the way they worked in somalia, goes to show what can happen to the most modern force when they don't take the enemy seriously. also watched enola gay the otehr day, surprised me how good it was for the day, still had my heart racing towards the end, the film work wasn't as flash but it showed what happeded to those guys up there, did gloryfy the americans slightly but nothing like these days.

there has been some really cr@p movies out there, pearl harbour comes to mind, it seems that modern producers are too worried about marvalous CG images and special effects and offending someone as apposed to telling the story the way events actually happened.

[Syncop8r]

I watched my BOB Special Edition recently, great movie. Yet to see whats on the other disc.
Tora Tora Tora is also on my list - I also remember seeing it as a young'un. I also have 12 o'clock High lying around somewhere...
I saw Fly Boys a while back, wasn't as bad as I thought it would be - good aerial scenes. And Stewie Neilson from Shortland Street

[captainherc]

All great epic films of the second world war that came out in the 60's and 70's. For my money anothergreat is The Longest Day (D Day movie). Excellent cast and having visited the area on a WWII tour very telling of what these brave young men went through.
cheers.
Adrain.

[Ian Warren]

Adrian 'The Longest Day' , John Wayne ... but to have Robert Mitchem running around with a chewed up cigar ... yelling 'any you boys no how to use a bangalore ' and Sean Connery doing the comedy side , star cast without a d'out .. Kids this is a Black and White only