Tora! Tora! Tora! [Special Edition] [2 Discs] [DVD] [1970]

If you haven't seen "Tora, Tora, Tora !!!" then you must first know that this is a nearly literal treatment of what historically took place. The research was immense; but do not look for a razzle-dazzle action film. Yes, there's plenty of action, here; after all, it was Pearl Harbor. But its all treatment in the context of what took place. With that in mind, I was more than pleasantly surprised about what I purchased. I had seen early incarnations of this film on VHS and was bored. It looked terrible. But in wanting to review this film for its content, so many years later. I was watching something altogether different. The BD picture quality is as perfect as one can get; for a film that's 48 years old. The compositions of the photography opened this film all the way up; as opposed to the cropped square I saw in the VHS format. And the sound was just as impressive. This BD made "Tora, Tora, Tora !!!" ,as I once knew it, created an entirely different ballgame in all its scope.

Tora! Tora! Tora! provides primarily the Japanese prospective of the attack on Pearl Harbor which includes their planning, intra-service considerations of the attack, realistic training work-up and graphic detail for their 350 plane pre-dawn carrier launch of attach aircraft on the morning of December 7, 1941, and vividly depicts the complete state of the surprise that the Japanese Naval Air Forces achieved during their attack on the American Forces stationed at Pearl Harbor and their ensuing confusion. The film is filled with many dramatic aerial sequences which were realistically portrayed. The scheduled follow-up 2nd attack was canceled due to the apparent overall success of the first attack and the fleet turned Northwest in retirement to Japanese waters.

"Tora! Tora! Tora!" is not exactly a great film, with mediocre acting and script. However, it contains one of the greatest battle scenes ever shot on film, if not the greatest. It's a treat for war film lovers to watch. I still find the simulation of the Pearl Harbor attack to be a totally mesmerizing spectacle. This film, being done before CGI, does a great job utilizing methods available at the time.(1970). This fact makes this film much more amazing. (This film must cost 300 million to make nowadays!) After watching I think you'll be hard-pressed not to say, "Wow!"

This is what the 2001 film "Pearl Harbor" should have been. No silly love triangle story with the attack simply as a back drop. This is a film on the events leading up to the attack as seen by both the U.S. and Japan. The disc contains the U.S. version of the film as well as the extended Japan version. PQ and Audio is great for a 40 year old film. Audio is available in 5.1 as well as 4.0. Plenty of extra content round out the 50GB Disc. All packaged in a nice digibook with 22 pages of photos and bio's on the actors. This is a most have for anyone interested in WW2 and the events that lead the U.S. into war.

OK, this is a classic. A movie made by people that are masters at making movies. And no CG effects to spoil any of it. I'm very glad I purchased his movie, because I haven't seen since I was a kid. And a here to tell you, I've never seen it look so good. If you're into war movies, and I'm not a fanatic about them, I really think you need to look into getting this one. I don't think you'll be disappointed by how it looks, because it looks wonderful.

There are a plethora of films about the attack on Pearl Harbor, but this remains as the one that the others that followed can look back on as a classic. I enjoyed the perspectives from both the Americans and the Japanese.The detail and story line remain at the forefront of the film, and it doesn't appear to have lost its value as a war movie to be seen about the day that will ,live in infamy.

Unlike the movie starring Ben Affleck, this depiction of the attack in Pearl Harbor is more documentary in nature. You get to see both sides of the attack including how many times things could have been turned into more diplomacy instead of war. If you don't know this film you should definitely add it to your collection. The Blu-Ray is stellar.

Ever since my parents took me to see this film in 1970 (I was 8 years old then), I have loved it. That this Blu Ray includes the Japanese release of the movie (with additional material) makes it even better! Without question, "Tora, Tora, Tora" is so much better than the 2001 "Pearl Harbor" with Ben Affleck and Kate Beckinsdale.