Reviews (2)

Gee,I smell MST3K!!!
Oh dear,I once watched this movie on "Earth Day" at my High School once.I wanted to storm out of the room.Yes,"Last Days of Planet Earth" is THAT bad.Suicide cults,metion of cannibalism(cut from some prints though),LSD fiends,Mutant plant and animals are just too goofy.This movie ranks up with "Manos:the Hands of Fate" on the top bad movies of all time.

Pretty silly and very mediocure
Man, quite alot happens in this movie. Motorcycle riders kill themselves; the air becomes so poluted that kids attend school in gas masks. Killer plants, blood sucking slugs, giant leaches (at least not as silly as the ones in Attack of the Giant Leaches), and radiation mutated humans kill people. And eventuly the sky turns into a giant mirror. Banned in Japan because of the radiation mutant sequice. ... Read more

Reviews (151)

A great factual account of Pearl Harbor... to a fault.
There's no denying the grand effort that went into making this historical presentation of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Taking accounts of both sides of the war equally, made respectively by both United States and Japanese production crews, Tora! Tora! Tora! is a great documentation of how the attack really occurred. Unlike the recent Pearl Harbor film, which tries to tell the historical story (with many flaws), a love story and a disaster story, Tora! Tora! Tora knows what is meant to be, and strictly follows the historical angle.

Unfortunately, this dedication to fact is the films major weakness. There are no real characterizations of any of the major roles, no central character the audience can connect with, either on the American or Japanese forces. This lack of a so called staring role (which both sides should have had) makes the film feel more like a documentary then a movie. What characters the film does center on are all flat and rather uninteresting. Not to mention poorly acted.

Despite this, the film provides a great understanding of how the attack really occurred, and gives a wonderful visual feast of the disaster. For 1970, when this film was released, the visual effects are outstanding. Definitely worth at least one viewing, more if you're a World War II buff.

The Definitive Pearl Harbor Film -- Not To Be Missed
A unique collaboration between American and Japanese filmmakers, "Tora, Tora, Tora" remains the definitive Hollywood portrayal of the tragic events of December 7, 1941. Perhaps the greatest compliment ever paid to this film was provided by none other than Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay, the "masterminds" behind the disastrous "Pearl Harbor", who stated that "Tora" played too much like a documentary. Well, how about that? No meandering love story, no Hallmark script, just cold, hard facts. "Tora" places us smack dab in the middle of a lethal chess game played by politicians in Washington and Tokyo throughout the Fall of '41. The political stalemates and blunders which inevitably lead to war are the meat and potatoes of "Tora". The climax is, of course, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which is masterfully and accurately re-created. Vintage airplanes and actual ships are seemlessly juxtaposed with miniature models. The results are a spectacular cinematic experience which still holds up by today's standards. (Digital effects didn't exist when "Tora" was released in 1970.) Several big names-- Joseph Cotten, Martin Balsam and E.G. Marshall -- assume starring roles, yet wisely let the story be the "star" of the film. Credit the filmmakers for steering the focus toward the "event" without getting sidetracked in typical Hollywood fashion. To objectively portray the events of Pearl Harbor through the eyes of both sides, while keeping finger-pointing to a minimum, was no small task. In turn, the ability of the viewer to experience the preparation and strategy of both sides makes "Tora" truly unique. This is an important film which treats a monumentally tragic event with the respect and accuracy it rightfully deserves. Essential cinema -- not to be missed.

Superb!
After seeing Das Boot for the first time recently, my interest was piqued for another WWII movie. I remember when Tora! was in the theater while I was in high school...and that I had no interest in seeing it at the time. This is a serious-minded, fact-based film of epic proportion. It has similarities to Das Boot in that part of the story is told from the US enemy's point of view. And, oddly enough, I found the structure of the film to be somewhat reminiscent of The Deer Hunter, or even King Solomon's Mines [1950], in that there is a long, detailed build-up of the story prior to any action sequences. And once the action arrived, I sat there thinking, "How did they do this?" Especially considering the fact that this was 1970. But the biggest reward for me is the story itself, and the non-Hollywood way in which it is told here. No one would get financial backing today for a film of this expense coupled with such a non-fiction approach.

The Best Movie Ever Made About Pearl Harbor
Tora! Tora! Tora! is the single best movie ever made about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It features excellent performances from such actors as James Whitmore, E.G. Marshall, Jason Robards and Martin Balsam. The special effects are far more convincing than what's in modern movies. It also has some of the best movie music of all time. Best of all, the movie shows the sheer complacency on the U.S. side that enabled the Japanese to successfully mount the surprise attack.

Tora! Tora! Tora! is far superior to any other movie ever made about Pearl Harbor. In fact, it is one of the absolute best movies ever made about World War II. It is a classic motion picture in its own right.

On a scale of 1 to 5, it really merits a 10.

Should have been 5 if...
...this movie, which got awesome air scenes and very well documented background info (politic, diplomatic, and military), had been a couple of minutes longer at the end of 1st part. And showed how Roosevelt, who was informed of the results of the (fantastic) Intelligence work -they even could pin the time of the attack- decided to keep it under wraps: so that, without any prior warning, the damage would be maximum, and the shock upon American people would be such as to suppress the reluctance they still got towards entering the war. One of the best examples of "The end justify the means". The Pearl Harbor story could as well have as title "They were expendable". ... Read more

Reviews (151)

A great factual account of Pearl Harbor... to a fault.
There's no denying the grand effort that went into making this historical presentation of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Taking accounts of both sides of the war equally, made respectively by both United States and Japanese production crews, Tora! Tora! Tora! is a great documentation of how the attack really occurred. Unlike the recent Pearl Harbor film, which tries to tell the historical story (with many flaws), a love story and a disaster story, Tora! Tora! Tora knows what is meant to be, and strictly follows the historical angle.

Unfortunately, this dedication to fact is the films major weakness. There are no real characterizations of any of the major roles, no central character the audience can connect with, either on the American or Japanese forces. This lack of a so called staring role (which both sides should have had) makes the film feel more like a documentary then a movie. What characters the film does center on are all flat and rather uninteresting. Not to mention poorly acted.

Despite this, the film provides a great understanding of how the attack really occurred, and gives a wonderful visual feast of the disaster. For 1970, when this film was released, the visual effects are outstanding. Definitely worth at least one viewing, more if you're a World War II buff.

The Definitive Pearl Harbor Film -- Not To Be Missed
A unique collaboration between American and Japanese filmmakers, "Tora, Tora, Tora" remains the definitive Hollywood portrayal of the tragic events of December 7, 1941. Perhaps the greatest compliment ever paid to this film was provided by none other than Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay, the "masterminds" behind the disastrous "Pearl Harbor", who stated that "Tora" played too much like a documentary. Well, how about that? No meandering love story, no Hallmark script, just cold, hard facts. "Tora" places us smack dab in the middle of a lethal chess game played by politicians in Washington and Tokyo throughout the Fall of '41. The political stalemates and blunders which inevitably lead to war are the meat and potatoes of "Tora". The climax is, of course, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which is masterfully and accurately re-created. Vintage airplanes and actual ships are seemlessly juxtaposed with miniature models. The results are a spectacular cinematic experience which still holds up by today's standards. (Digital effects didn't exist when "Tora" was released in 1970.) Several big names-- Joseph Cotten, Martin Balsam and E.G. Marshall -- assume starring roles, yet wisely let the story be the "star" of the film. Credit the filmmakers for steering the focus toward the "event" without getting sidetracked in typical Hollywood fashion. To objectively portray the events of Pearl Harbor through the eyes of both sides, while keeping finger-pointing to a minimum, was no small task. In turn, the ability of the viewer to experience the preparation and strategy of both sides makes "Tora" truly unique. This is an important film which treats a monumentally tragic event with the respect and accuracy it rightfully deserves. Essential cinema -- not to be missed.

Superb!
After seeing Das Boot for the first time recently, my interest was piqued for another WWII movie. I remember when Tora! was in the theater while I was in high school...and that I had no interest in seeing it at the time. This is a serious-minded, fact-based film of epic proportion. It has similarities to Das Boot in that part of the story is told from the US enemy's point of view. And, oddly enough, I found the structure of the film to be somewhat reminiscent of The Deer Hunter, or even King Solomon's Mines [1950], in that there is a long, detailed build-up of the story prior to any action sequences. And once the action arrived, I sat there thinking, "How did they do this?" Especially considering the fact that this was 1970. But the biggest reward for me is the story itself, and the non-Hollywood way in which it is told here. No one would get financial backing today for a film of this expense coupled with such a non-fiction approach.

The Best Movie Ever Made About Pearl Harbor
Tora! Tora! Tora! is the single best movie ever made about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It features excellent performances from such actors as James Whitmore, E.G. Marshall, Jason Robards and Martin Balsam. The special effects are far more convincing than what's in modern movies. It also has some of the best movie music of all time. Best of all, the movie shows the sheer complacency on the U.S. side that enabled the Japanese to successfully mount the surprise attack.

Tora! Tora! Tora! is far superior to any other movie ever made about Pearl Harbor. In fact, it is one of the absolute best movies ever made about World War II. It is a classic motion picture in its own right.

On a scale of 1 to 5, it really merits a 10.

Should have been 5 if...
...this movie, which got awesome air scenes and very well documented background info (politic, diplomatic, and military), had been a couple of minutes longer at the end of 1st part. And showed how Roosevelt, who was informed of the results of the (fantastic) Intelligence work -they even could pin the time of the attack- decided to keep it under wraps: so that, without any prior warning, the damage would be maximum, and the shock upon American people would be such as to suppress the reluctance they still got towards entering the war. One of the best examples of "The end justify the means". The Pearl Harbor story could as well have as title "They were expendable". ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Sir, there's a large formation of planes coming in from the north, 140 miles, 3 degrees east." "Yeah? Don't worry about it." This is just one of the many mishaps chronicled in Tora! Tora! Tora! The epic film shows the bombing of Pearl Harbor from both sides in the historic first American-Japanese coproduction: American director Richard Fleischer oversaw the complicated production (the Japanese sequences were directed by Toshio Masuda and Kinji Fukasaku, after Akira Kurosawa withdrew from the film), wrestling a sprawling story with dozens of characters into a manageable, fairly easy-to-follow film. The first half maps out the collapse of diplomacy between the nations and the military blunders that left naval and air forces sitting ducks for the impending attack, while the second half is an amazing re-creation of the devastating battle. While Tora! Tora! Tora! lacks the strong central characters that anchor the best war movies, the real star of the film is the climactic 30-minute battle, a massive feat of cinematic engineering that expertly conveys the surprise, the chaos, and the immense destruction of the only attack by a foreign power on American soil since the Revolutionary War. The special effects won a well-deserved Oscar, but the film was shut out of every other category by, ironically, the other epic war picture of the year, Patton. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (151)

A great factual account of Pearl Harbor... to a fault.
There's no denying the grand effort that went into making this historical presentation of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Taking accounts of both sides of the war equally, made respectively by both United States and Japanese production crews, Tora! Tora! Tora! is a great documentation of how the attack really occurred. Unlike the recent Pearl Harbor film, which tries to tell the historical story (with many flaws), a love story and a disaster story, Tora! Tora! Tora knows what is meant to be, and strictly follows the historical angle.

Unfortunately, this dedication to fact is the films major weakness. There are no real characterizations of any of the major roles, no central character the audience can connect with, either on the American or Japanese forces. This lack of a so called staring role (which both sides should have had) makes the film feel more like a documentary then a movie. What characters the film does center on are all flat and rather uninteresting. Not to mention poorly acted.

Despite this, the film provides a great understanding of how the attack really occurred, and gives a wonderful visual feast of the disaster. For 1970, when this film was released, the visual effects are outstanding. Definitely worth at least one viewing, more if you're a World War II buff.

The Definitive Pearl Harbor Film -- Not To Be Missed
A unique collaboration between American and Japanese filmmakers, "Tora, Tora, Tora" remains the definitive Hollywood portrayal of the tragic events of December 7, 1941. Perhaps the greatest compliment ever paid to this film was provided by none other than Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay, the "masterminds" behind the disastrous "Pearl Harbor", who stated that "Tora" played too much like a documentary. Well, how about that? No meandering love story, no Hallmark script, just cold, hard facts. "Tora" places us smack dab in the middle of a lethal chess game played by politicians in Washington and Tokyo throughout the Fall of '41. The political stalemates and blunders which inevitably lead to war are the meat and potatoes of "Tora". The climax is, of course, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which is masterfully and accurately re-created. Vintage airplanes and actual ships are seemlessly juxtaposed with miniature models. The results are a spectacular cinematic experience which still holds up by today's standards. (Digital effects didn't exist when "Tora" was released in 1970.) Several big names-- Joseph Cotten, Martin Balsam and E.G. Marshall -- assume starring roles, yet wisely let the story be the "star" of the film. Credit the filmmakers for steering the focus toward the "event" without getting sidetracked in typical Hollywood fashion. To objectively portray the events of Pearl Harbor through the eyes of both sides, while keeping finger-pointing to a minimum, was no small task. In turn, the ability of the viewer to experience the preparation and strategy of both sides makes "Tora" truly unique. This is an important film which treats a monumentally tragic event with the respect and accuracy it rightfully deserves. Essential cinema -- not to be missed.

Superb!
After seeing Das Boot for the first time recently, my interest was piqued for another WWII movie. I remember when Tora! was in the theater while I was in high school...and that I had no interest in seeing it at the time. This is a serious-minded, fact-based film of epic proportion. It has similarities to Das Boot in that part of the story is told from the US enemy's point of view. And, oddly enough, I found the structure of the film to be somewhat reminiscent of The Deer Hunter, or even King Solomon's Mines [1950], in that there is a long, detailed build-up of the story prior to any action sequences. And once the action arrived, I sat there thinking, "How did they do this?" Especially considering the fact that this was 1970. But the biggest reward for me is the story itself, and the non-Hollywood way in which it is told here. No one would get financial backing today for a film of this expense coupled with such a non-fiction approach.

The Best Movie Ever Made About Pearl Harbor
Tora! Tora! Tora! is the single best movie ever made about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It features excellent performances from such actors as James Whitmore, E.G. Marshall, Jason Robards and Martin Balsam. The special effects are far more convincing than what's in modern movies. It also has some of the best movie music of all time. Best of all, the movie shows the sheer complacency on the U.S. side that enabled the Japanese to successfully mount the surprise attack.

Tora! Tora! Tora! is far superior to any other movie ever made about Pearl Harbor. In fact, it is one of the absolute best movies ever made about World War II. It is a classic motion picture in its own right.

On a scale of 1 to 5, it really merits a 10.

Should have been 5 if...
...this movie, which got awesome air scenes and very well documented background info (politic, diplomatic, and military), had been a couple of minutes longer at the end of 1st part. And showed how Roosevelt, who was informed of the results of the (fantastic) Intelligence work -they even could pin the time of the attack- decided to keep it under wraps: so that, without any prior warning, the damage would be maximum, and the shock upon American people would be such as to suppress the reluctance they still got towards entering the war. One of the best examples of "The end justify the means". The Pearl Harbor story could as well have as title "They were expendable". ... Read more

Amazon.com

Recklessly cool killer Goro (Tetsuya Watari from Tokyo Drifter, a hotshot with a love of convertibles and pop music, murders a rival Tokyo mob boss he was only supposed to scare and is sent to Kobe to cool off. A year later he's made a cozy little home, looking out for a local madam and playing godfather to a gang of fawning disciples. He's still recklessly cool, whistling his own theme song while lounging under his Tyrolean hat like a Japanese Sinatra, picking fights in bars and frugging to groovy pop music. But suddenly he has a relentless cop and a ruthless assassin on his tail and a mystery woman in his life and the cool is overtaken by the reckless. There's a fun nostalgia to this offbeat gangster picture, which isfull of funky 1960s fashions and attitudes. Compared to Seijun Suzuki's deliriously energetic gangster classics (Youth of the Beast, Branded to Kill), thewandering pace punctuated by explosions of violence seems almost sedate, but by any other standards it's an enjoyable genre tale with a compelling performance by the confident Watari. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Agree with the previous reviewer, but...
Remasters of mono soundtracks into 5.1 sound can often cause serious problems. Sure, if you have the resources of Paramont at your disposal, you can come up with something like the Star Trek original series DVD's, but for a small outfit like Voyager a 5.1 remaster would wind up sounding horrible.

Secondly, the original theatrical ratio of the Yamato movies was in fact, 4:3 (aside from "Be Forever," which switches to a widescreen aspect ratio mid-feature, something which VEI preserved). Add to this fact that "New Voyage" was a TV special. I would much rather see the entire picture, as upposed to someone cropping it into false widscreen.

That said, this is a great movie marred by Voyager's lackluster presentation, and (non)preservation of their masters. Between the release of the VHS version and the DVD, the masters have actually disintegrated so that the main feature has TAPE FLAWS!! At one point it looks like you're watching a tape that's being eaten by your VCR.

If you have the VHS version and it's not disintegrating, don't bother with this disk because your tape is actually a better presentation. The extras do not make up for the damage to the main feature.

I would've given this dvd five stars but:
1.Voyager Entertainment did not digitally re-master this in 5.1 dolby digital sound.
2. There is no second dialogue track for English.
3. And worst of all, just like all the voyager releases of the yamato films it is not presented in it's original theatrical widescreen aspect ratio. With all that said, It's still one of the great modern space operas. If only Voyager Entertainment will sometime remaster these films in widescreen, and offer the series (starblazers) and these films in superior 5.1 sound and digital cleaned up versions. And maybe someday they will offer westerners the option to buy the original uncut japanese star blazers films, and t.v. shows. Not the kiddieized censored versions people get here in the u.s. .

A Lot of Action of the Gamilon Fleet
One thing I like in Yamato [Star Blazers] is its mechanic designs. In this feature film, there are a lot of scenes in which my favorite Gamilon fleet appears (so 5 stars). The Gamilons face a strong enemy and Yamato [the Argo] comes to their rescue.
"The New Voyage" and "Be Forever Yamato" (in this order) fit between the Series Two and the Series Three of Star Blazers. The development of the relationship between Desslar [Desslok] and Kodai [Wildstar] which turned from enmity to subtle sympathy in the Series Two is the underline of this story.

Space Battleship Yamato: New Voyage
This OAV continues the Yamato saga after the second series (Comet Empire saga). The animation is up to their usual standards, which is very good, and the script is, for the most part, well-written. We continue to see the character development of Kodai (Wildstar), Yuki (Nova) and Desslar (Desslok), as well as a little more of the Yamato universe. This video introduces 2 new characters, trainees Kitano, Tokugawa (Engineer Tokugawa's [Orion] son - in the Japanese version, the engineer was killed during the final Comet Empire conflict) and Sakamoto (who looks suspiciously like Sato [or Conroy] from the first 2 series). We also get to see Kodai Mamoru (Alex Wildstar) and good ol' Queen Staasha (Starsha) or Isacandar and....well, you'll just have to watch it, won't you...

All kidding aside, this is a good video and very enjoyable to watch, and the soundtrack (if you can find it) isn't bad, either. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Final Chapter in the Yamato Saga
For all fans of both Yamato and Starblazers, this is the grand daddy of them all. This is by far the greatest and saddest of the Yamato Saga chapters. No words can describe this fitting end to the greatest space saga ever told. A true treasure. Must be bought. A+++++

Utterly glorious-my favorite movie!
The Space Battleship Yamato series comes to a sad but very worthy end in this fifth installment in the series. The quality of the animation is incredible- I was very surprised when I found that this film was made in 1983; one would think it was made last year. Not only is the animation the best in the series, but the story is brilliant as well. Here it is in a nutshell: the planet Dinguil is flooded because Aquarius, a drifting planet of water, passes by. The planet's royal family and military forces escape in a gigantic ship known as the "Uruku."Emperor Lugarl decides to find a new planet, and chooses Earth for reasons we learn in the movie. He teleports Aquarius bit by bit towards Earth to flood out all life so the Dinguils can inhabit it after the waters recede. The Yamato naturally intercedes on behalf of the people of Earth. Though the mission to save Earth and defeat Dinguil is a success, the Yamato does not survive. I won't reveal any more than that-see this movie, but for goodness sakes, see the other four first! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

star blazers and yamato rants and raves
I wish that they (Voyager entertainment) had done new digitally cleaned up and restored masters in 5.1 sound. The japan release have at least the option of stereo, or dolby 3 channel surround.
Most of the japanese release though also have deleted scenes restored, and new ones added in the t.v. shows. But they are not in english and are region 2. Some of the japan ones of the yamato films are "letterboxed" but not all of them. I have the first one Space Battleship Yamato and it is a cross between Matted widescreen which is really fullscreen stretched to fit the theater screen and Real 35mm widescreen. Matsumoto and crew took animated material from the show and shot it with a widescreen camera, mostly the special effects and things. Final Yamato also was presented in a 75mm widescreen format when shown in theaters and voyager does not own it. They told me they needed the original soundtrack (the japanese dialogue and sound effects) to do a remaster and they don't own them. Too bad Nishizaki could'nt have used his influence to have a remaster done for todays standards of audio and video quality, It could have been just the shot in the arm the fans needed to interest them in his newly proposed t.v. show. But many fans are outraged that Matsumoto and Nishizaki did not reteam, and matsumoto bowed out. And he promised to do his own version of the new yamato "changed to great galaxy" to avoid copyright infringement.

Revised movie
This movie was aired in Japan and proved to be so popular that lines for the theater went around blocks. It was later decided to redo the movie as the Comet Empire saga. Which proved to be a great idea since most of the Star Force cast was killed in this movie including the Yamato getting destroyed. The Comet Empire Saga features footage from this movie and was edited for American viewers to imply certain characters had lived instead of being killed as stated in the movie. So you can buy this movie and The Comet Empire Saga and compare the two.

Action-packed and emotional
I fell in love with this movie the first time I saw it-it's incredible! It takes place in 2202 AD when Earth is invaded by the Dark Star Cluster Empire and plunged into a seemingly hopeless situation. Part of the Yamato crew manages to escape to the Yamato's hiding place in the Asteroid Belt where they join the rest of the crew and the new captain, Admiral Yamanami. The Yamato fights heavily with the evil Emperor Scaldart's fleet on its way to the main planet of the Dark Star Cluster Empire. After a long ordeal the Yamato crew manages to defeat the enemy fleets and destroy the gigantic metal planet that was the base of the enemy, saving Earth again. The battle scenes in this movie are brilliant, I would have to say the best in the series. "Be Forever Yamato" is also has many very emotional scenes interspersed through it, and they add a great deal to the film's powerful effect. "Be Forever Yamato" also contains three "music videos," all of which are beautifully done. The last music video, "Sono Hi Madé," played while the Yamato is heading back to Earth at the end, ranks as my favorite song of all time. Top-notch filmmaking throughout! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

great movie.........very sad ending
One great movie, but a very sad ending. This is the entire 2nd series. It starts off just like the series they get the distress call for help and then blast off to the stars.......for one final time. many diffrences in this movie, one is that captian giddion is not captian of the andromeda, they pick him up by planet 11 after his fleet was destroyed. the whole trip to telezart takes about 5-7 mins after they pick him up. on the way back they are attacked by desler...as they call him in this movie, he attacks them thinking he will destroy them this time...as usual u fails and dies after helping kodai (wildstar) by telling him the weak spot of the comet empire. after that the battle of saturn lasts about 5 mins. same as in the series, everything is destroyed except the yamato (argo). after that it all goes down hill for the star force.... many people die and make sacrifices in the name of love for mankind (none of whom i will disclos) but at the end, kodai sitting beside a dead yuki (nova), steers the legendary yamato into the depths of the cosmos to meet his destiney.....

*im a very unemotional person but this ending....i was moved by this, after watching the show on tapes that i have, and see it end like this, be sure to grab the subtiteld version, the dubbed is a half hour shorter.

Just What The Heck Is With That Kodai Boy, Anyway?
Okay, I'm coming from a different angle. Of course I loved this film, Yamato junkie that I am. The only thing is that Kodai's character nagged at me through the entire thing. If I were Yuki, I would have dumped his space ace butt a while before this film takes place. His mind doesn't seem to be in one place for any of it, which is good in a sense as it enables him to connect Teresa's message with the Comet Empire. He can command a cargo ship but forgets he's getting married in three days? He conveniently forgets that, uh, Yuki is a member of Yamato's crew as well? I won't spoil the ending, but I will say it's a little over the top as far as melodrama goes. Kodai aside, this film showcases how the characters have matured since the first film. Naturally, the animation is top notch, especially those launch sequences at which Matsumoto excelled. This is a must for Yamato fans, and highly recommended for anime lovers.

Classic anime that takes things nice 'n' slow
'Farewell to S.B. Yamato', the second 'Yamato' movie (and the introduction of the Comet Empire) was originally intended to be the conclusion of the saga, and featured the killing off of most of the beloved characters, as well as a few of the ones we love to hate (none of whom I'll disclose). Fortunately, the popularity of this film eventually led to its adaptation and expansion on the small screen as the second 'Yamato' series. In fact, there are a few moments from 'Farewell...' that were shown in the original Japanese 'Comet Empire' TV series, but were ultimately cut from the American 'Star Blazers' adaptation. This includes Saito (Sgt. Knox) shooting & killing a Comet Empire tank commander at point-blank range, the deaths (for the second time) of a few of our beloved stalwarts, and a few other things that were covered up stateside.

I've found the 'Yamato/Star Blazers' series & flicks remarkably slow-paced compared to latter-day anime fare, and 'Farewell...' is a good example of this. Much like the overly-long special-fx sequences in 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture', this particular entry has a few maddeningly-long visuals. The approaching comet at the movie's opening is a good example of my need to hit the fast-forward button. But aside from this little nit, I find it refreshing to watch an anime feature that doesn't have the action-laden moments just whiz by, or feature those dizzying blur-line backdrops. Mellow anime... who'da thunk it?

Fair warning: be sure to grab the subtitled rendition of this movie. The dubbed release is a half-hour shorter, and the dub's not all that great.

'Late

A cULT CLASSIC!
I have been a anime fan since I knew myself. I think I was lucky growing up in a house full of anime..I have seen MANY movies..Some are really unforgettable.A CLASSIC!..I loved the Yamato series since I first saw it on the TV..Like All of L.MAtsumoto and Masuda s work. Leiji has created the unforgettable heroes and villians including Captain Harlock ,Queen Emeraldas, Tetsuro and all of the Yamato crew.. S.B. Yamato In the name of love is perfect for any generation..It goes all the way without stopping to even breath..The story starts in2201..After the last battle, earth is recovering from the great damage caused by Gamilon..But the Yamato suddenly re appears for a new mission with a new crew...ANd in the end ...Ohhhh..I dont want to write abaout this....Hope people will be lucky enough to see the SILENT ending of the great YAMATO....A must see.... 10000000 out of 10! ....I am not generous in giving grades! ... Read more

Reviews (151)

A great factual account of Pearl Harbor... to a fault.
There's no denying the grand effort that went into making this historical presentation of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Taking accounts of both sides of the war equally, made respectively by both United States and Japanese production crews, Tora! Tora! Tora! is a great documentation of how the attack really occurred. Unlike the recent Pearl Harbor film, which tries to tell the historical story (with many flaws), a love story and a disaster story, Tora! Tora! Tora knows what is meant to be, and strictly follows the historical angle.

Unfortunately, this dedication to fact is the films major weakness. There are no real characterizations of any of the major roles, no central character the audience can connect with, either on the American or Japanese forces. This lack of a so called staring role (which both sides should have had) makes the film feel more like a documentary then a movie. What characters the film does center on are all flat and rather uninteresting. Not to mention poorly acted.

Despite this, the film provides a great understanding of how the attack really occurred, and gives a wonderful visual feast of the disaster. For 1970, when this film was released, the visual effects are outstanding. Definitely worth at least one viewing, more if you're a World War II buff.

The Definitive Pearl Harbor Film -- Not To Be Missed
A unique collaboration between American and Japanese filmmakers, "Tora, Tora, Tora" remains the definitive Hollywood portrayal of the tragic events of December 7, 1941. Perhaps the greatest compliment ever paid to this film was provided by none other than Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay, the "masterminds" behind the disastrous "Pearl Harbor", who stated that "Tora" played too much like a documentary. Well, how about that? No meandering love story, no Hallmark script, just cold, hard facts. "Tora" places us smack dab in the middle of a lethal chess game played by politicians in Washington and Tokyo throughout the Fall of '41. The political stalemates and blunders which inevitably lead to war are the meat and potatoes of "Tora". The climax is, of course, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which is masterfully and accurately re-created. Vintage airplanes and actual ships are seemlessly juxtaposed with miniature models. The results are a spectacular cinematic experience which still holds up by today's standards. (Digital effects didn't exist when "Tora" was released in 1970.) Several big names-- Joseph Cotten, Martin Balsam and E.G. Marshall -- assume starring roles, yet wisely let the story be the "star" of the film. Credit the filmmakers for steering the focus toward the "event" without getting sidetracked in typical Hollywood fashion. To objectively portray the events of Pearl Harbor through the eyes of both sides, while keeping finger-pointing to a minimum, was no small task. In turn, the ability of the viewer to experience the preparation and strategy of both sides makes "Tora" truly unique. This is an important film which treats a monumentally tragic event with the respect and accuracy it rightfully deserves. Essential cinema -- not to be missed.

Superb!
After seeing Das Boot for the first time recently, my interest was piqued for another WWII movie. I remember when Tora! was in the theater while I was in high school...and that I had no interest in seeing it at the time. This is a serious-minded, fact-based film of epic proportion. It has similarities to Das Boot in that part of the story is told from the US enemy's point of view. And, oddly enough, I found the structure of the film to be somewhat reminiscent of The Deer Hunter, or even King Solomon's Mines [1950], in that there is a long, detailed build-up of the story prior to any action sequences. And once the action arrived, I sat there thinking, "How did they do this?" Especially considering the fact that this was 1970. But the biggest reward for me is the story itself, and the non-Hollywood way in which it is told here. No one would get financial backing today for a film of this expense coupled with such a non-fiction approach.

The Best Movie Ever Made About Pearl Harbor
Tora! Tora! Tora! is the single best movie ever made about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It features excellent performances from such actors as James Whitmore, E.G. Marshall, Jason Robards and Martin Balsam. The special effects are far more convincing than what's in modern movies. It also has some of the best movie music of all time. Best of all, the movie shows the sheer complacency on the U.S. side that enabled the Japanese to successfully mount the surprise attack.

Tora! Tora! Tora! is far superior to any other movie ever made about Pearl Harbor. In fact, it is one of the absolute best movies ever made about World War II. It is a classic motion picture in its own right.

On a scale of 1 to 5, it really merits a 10.

Should have been 5 if...
...this movie, which got awesome air scenes and very well documented background info (politic, diplomatic, and military), had been a couple of minutes longer at the end of 1st part. And showed how Roosevelt, who was informed of the results of the (fantastic) Intelligence work -they even could pin the time of the attack- decided to keep it under wraps: so that, without any prior warning, the damage would be maximum, and the shock upon American people would be such as to suppress the reluctance they still got towards entering the war. One of the best examples of "The end justify the means". The Pearl Harbor story could as well have as title "They were expendable". ... Read more

Reviews (151)

A great factual account of Pearl Harbor... to a fault.
There's no denying the grand effort that went into making this historical presentation of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Taking accounts of both sides of the war equally, made respectively by both United States and Japanese production crews, Tora! Tora! Tora! is a great documentation of how the attack really occurred. Unlike the recent Pearl Harbor film, which tries to tell the historical story (with many flaws), a love story and a disaster story, Tora! Tora! Tora knows what is meant to be, and strictly follows the historical angle.

Unfortunately, this dedication to fact is the films major weakness. There are no real characterizations of any of the major roles, no central character the audience can connect with, either on the American or Japanese forces. This lack of a so called staring role (which both sides should have had) makes the film feel more like a documentary then a movie. What characters the film does center on are all flat and rather uninteresting. Not to mention poorly acted.

Despite this, the film provides a great understanding of how the attack really occurred, and gives a wonderful visual feast of the disaster. For 1970, when this film was released, the visual effects are outstanding. Definitely worth at least one viewing, more if you're a World War II buff.

The Definitive Pearl Harbor Film -- Not To Be Missed
A unique collaboration between American and Japanese filmmakers, "Tora, Tora, Tora" remains the definitive Hollywood portrayal of the tragic events of December 7, 1941. Perhaps the greatest compliment ever paid to this film was provided by none other than Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay, the "masterminds" behind the disastrous "Pearl Harbor", who stated that "Tora" played too much like a documentary. Well, how about that? No meandering love story, no Hallmark script, just cold, hard facts. "Tora" places us smack dab in the middle of a lethal chess game played by politicians in Washington and Tokyo throughout the Fall of '41. The political stalemates and blunders which inevitably lead to war are the meat and potatoes of "Tora". The climax is, of course, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which is masterfully and accurately re-created. Vintage airplanes and actual ships are seemlessly juxtaposed with miniature models. The results are a spectacular cinematic experience which still holds up by today's standards. (Digital effects didn't exist when "Tora" was released in 1970.) Several big names-- Joseph Cotten, Martin Balsam and E.G. Marshall -- assume starring roles, yet wisely let the story be the "star" of the film. Credit the filmmakers for steering the focus toward the "event" without getting sidetracked in typical Hollywood fashion. To objectively portray the events of Pearl Harbor through the eyes of both sides, while keeping finger-pointing to a minimum, was no small task. In turn, the ability of the viewer to experience the preparation and strategy of both sides makes "Tora" truly unique. This is an important film which treats a monumentally tragic event with the respect and accuracy it rightfully deserves. Essential cinema -- not to be missed.

Superb!
After seeing Das Boot for the first time recently, my interest was piqued for another WWII movie. I remember when Tora! was in the theater while I was in high school...and that I had no interest in seeing it at the time. This is a serious-minded, fact-based film of epic proportion. It has similarities to Das Boot in that part of the story is told from the US enemy's point of view. And, oddly enough, I found the structure of the film to be somewhat reminiscent of The Deer Hunter, or even King Solomon's Mines [1950], in that there is a long, detailed build-up of the story prior to any action sequences. And once the action arrived, I sat there thinking, "How did they do this?" Especially considering the fact that this was 1970. But the biggest reward for me is the story itself, and the non-Hollywood way in which it is told here. No one would get financial backing today for a film of this expense coupled with such a non-fiction approach.

The Best Movie Ever Made About Pearl Harbor
Tora! Tora! Tora! is the single best movie ever made about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It features excellent performances from such actors as James Whitmore, E.G. Marshall, Jason Robards and Martin Balsam. The special effects are far more convincing than what's in modern movies. It also has some of the best movie music of all time. Best of all, the movie shows the sheer complacency on the U.S. side that enabled the Japanese to successfully mount the surprise attack.

Tora! Tora! Tora! is far superior to any other movie ever made about Pearl Harbor. In fact, it is one of the absolute best movies ever made about World War II. It is a classic motion picture in its own right.

On a scale of 1 to 5, it really merits a 10.

Should have been 5 if...
...this movie, which got awesome air scenes and very well documented background info (politic, diplomatic, and military), had been a couple of minutes longer at the end of 1st part. And showed how Roosevelt, who was informed of the results of the (fantastic) Intelligence work -they even could pin the time of the attack- decided to keep it under wraps: so that, without any prior warning, the damage would be maximum, and the shock upon American people would be such as to suppress the reluctance they still got towards entering the war. One of the best examples of "The end justify the means". The Pearl Harbor story could as well have as title "They were expendable". ... Read more

Reviews (151)

A great factual account of Pearl Harbor... to a fault.
There's no denying the grand effort that went into making this historical presentation of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Taking accounts of both sides of the war equally, made respectively by both United States and Japanese production crews, Tora! Tora! Tora! is a great documentation of how the attack really occurred. Unlike the recent Pearl Harbor film, which tries to tell the historical story (with many flaws), a love story and a disaster story, Tora! Tora! Tora knows what is meant to be, and strictly follows the historical angle.

Unfortunately, this dedication to fact is the films major weakness. There are no real characterizations of any of the major roles, no central character the audience can connect with, either on the American or Japanese forces. This lack of a so called staring role (which both sides should have had) makes the film feel more like a documentary then a movie. What characters the film does center on are all flat and rather uninteresting. Not to mention poorly acted.

Despite this, the film provides a great understanding of how the attack really occurred, and gives a wonderful visual feast of the disaster. For 1970, when this film was released, the visual effects are outstanding. Definitely worth at least one viewing, more if you're a World War II buff.

The Definitive Pearl Harbor Film -- Not To Be Missed
A unique collaboration between American and Japanese filmmakers, "Tora, Tora, Tora" remains the definitive Hollywood portrayal of the tragic events of December 7, 1941. Perhaps the greatest compliment ever paid to this film was provided by none other than Jerry Bruckheimer and Michael Bay, the "masterminds" behind the disastrous "Pearl Harbor", who stated that "Tora" played too much like a documentary. Well, how about that? No meandering love story, no Hallmark script, just cold, hard facts. "Tora" places us smack dab in the middle of a lethal chess game played by politicians in Washington and Tokyo throughout the Fall of '41. The political stalemates and blunders which inevitably lead to war are the meat and potatoes of "Tora". The climax is, of course, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which is masterfully and accurately re-created. Vintage airplanes and actual ships are seemlessly juxtaposed with miniature models. The results are a spectacular cinematic experience which still holds up by today's standards. (Digital effects didn't exist when "Tora" was released in 1970.) Several big names-- Joseph Cotten, Martin Balsam and E.G. Marshall -- assume starring roles, yet wisely let the story be the "star" of the film. Credit the filmmakers for steering the focus toward the "event" without getting sidetracked in typical Hollywood fashion. To objectively portray the events of Pearl Harbor through the eyes of both sides, while keeping finger-pointing to a minimum, was no small task. In turn, the ability of the viewer to experience the preparation and strategy of both sides makes "Tora" truly unique. This is an important film which treats a monumentally tragic event with the respect and accuracy it rightfully deserves. Essential cinema -- not to be missed.

Superb!
After seeing Das Boot for the first time recently, my interest was piqued for another WWII movie. I remember when Tora! was in the theater while I was in high school...and that I had no interest in seeing it at the time. This is a serious-minded, fact-based film of epic proportion. It has similarities to Das Boot in that part of the story is told from the US enemy's point of view. And, oddly enough, I found the structure of the film to be somewhat reminiscent of The Deer Hunter, or even King Solomon's Mines [1950], in that there is a long, detailed build-up of the story prior to any action sequences. And once the action arrived, I sat there thinking, "How did they do this?" Especially considering the fact that this was 1970. But the biggest reward for me is the story itself, and the non-Hollywood way in which it is told here. No one would get financial backing today for a film of this expense coupled with such a non-fiction approach.

The Best Movie Ever Made About Pearl Harbor
Tora! Tora! Tora! is the single best movie ever made about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It features excellent performances from such actors as James Whitmore, E.G. Marshall, Jason Robards and Martin Balsam. The special effects are far more convincing than what's in modern movies. It also has some of the best movie music of all time. Best of all, the movie shows the sheer complacency on the U.S. side that enabled the Japanese to successfully mount the surprise attack.

Tora! Tora! Tora! is far superior to any other movie ever made about Pearl Harbor. In fact, it is one of the absolute best movies ever made about World War II. It is a classic motion picture in its own right.

On a scale of 1 to 5, it really merits a 10.

Should have been 5 if...
...this movie, which got awesome air scenes and very well documented background info (politic, diplomatic, and military), had been a couple of minutes longer at the end of 1st part. And showed how Roosevelt, who was informed of the results of the (fantastic) Intelligence work -they even could pin the time of the attack- decided to keep it under wraps: so that, without any prior warning, the damage would be maximum, and the shock upon American people would be such as to suppress the reluctance they still got towards entering the war. One of the best examples of "The end justify the means". The Pearl Harbor story could as well have as title "They were expendable". ... Read more