Tora stands for tiger. It was also the code word for the attack of the Japanese planes on Pearl Harbor.
The movie was shot as two separate productions – one in Japan, one in the USA. The Japanese production was headed by Kurosawa for 2 years when he was replaced (for good) with Kinji Fukasaku. The US production was directed by Richard Fleischer.
Tora! Tora! Tora! objectives were realism and sticking to the facts. That’s probably what doomed it at the box office in when it was released in 1970. That same year another war movie was released – Patton which grossed 70 million so it does help if the hero is an American.
The Japanese side definitely had the advantage, and I don’t mean just militarily. The Japanese side has a story to tell – an engaging one at that. Their victory depended on one factor – surprise – as they were outnumbered and outgunned. Kinji Fukasaku does an excellent job of directing the Japanese production. I wasn’t bored by the US scenes (mishaps in communication and what not) but they paled in comparison to their Japanese counterparts.
Japanese performances came out much stronger as well. I was especially thrilled to see Takahiro Tamura as Commander Mitsuo Fuchida. I didn’t recognize any of the Japanese actors but they seemed well cast.
I recently saw The Caine Mutiny again. This one isn’t that dated but definitely old war movies are an acquired taste. Movies with a single protagonist are easier to chew – I highly recommend Patton – George C. Scott is simply amazing.
48 GO GREEN
The Ultimate International Eco Film Fest
The Film competition To Save The Planet!
48 Go Green is a 48-hour short film festival with a difference. With the power to inspire and to change the world, 48 Go Green was born out of the creativity of the world’s filmmakers, the passion of its story-tellers and the immediate need to save our environment.
Anyone, anywhere on earth can enter and be a part of one of the biggest global film festivals of 2011. All you need is a camera, a can-do attitude and a spark of creativity and you could find yourself attending the prestigious screening of your VERY OWN film at Cannes Short Film Corner and the NAB Show in Las Vegas!
48 Go Green is brought to you by executive producer Francesco Vitali & producer Christos Siametis in association with the founders of the 48 Hour Film Project, Mark Ruppert and Liz Langston. The 48 Go Green has joined forces with the original 48 Hour Film Project to bring a unique and inspirational opportunity to ecologically-minded film enthusiasts around the globe. Inspired by our planet’s natural beauty and the creativity and passion of filmmakers around the world what better way to explore the environmental challenges we face than to channel that adrenaline, enthusiasm and intense creativity into powerful and thought-provoking short films?
48 GO GREEN OFFERS PARTICIPANTS THE ULTIMATE PRIZE OF ALL – PROJECTING YOUR MESSAGE TO HELP SAVE OUR ENVIRONMENT.
Also at stake is a total of $15,000 of prize money to the winning filmmakers who will have their films screened at Cannes International Film Festival in the prestigious Short Film Corner and at the Las Vegas NAB show from April 9th – 14th 2011.
First place offers a cash prize of $5,000 with $2,000 going to the runner up and $1,000 for third place filmmakers.
The top 16 films will be prestigiously screened at the Las Vegas NAB show.
This year there will be no committee of judges. Instead the public will vote on their favourite film in the competition.
Message from Executive Producer Francesco Vitali:
“We want your film to be loved by the people who love films, by people like you who know how to pick up a camera, by colleagues who themselves write scripts, or who themselves have collaborated in any way on the completion of a film, or at very least by people who are fans of films in general. The public has emotions and the instinct as it has the responsibility of its opinion.”
“So what are you waiting for? Assemble your team of creatives, your camera-equipped eco-warriors and prepare to make a stand against the destruction of our planet by creating the most powerful cinematic message, a 48 Go Green Short Film!
http://www.48gogreen.com