Pacific Battleship Yamato [DVD]

This is a strange movie. Saying that it is “revisionist propaganda” from a resurgent Japanese right wing is certainly inaccurate. For instance, nowhere does it try to disguise the fact that, following early military successes, Japan experienced a virtually uninterrupted sequence of humiliating defeats until the end of the war. This being said, there were a few times when I thought that the tone became unpleasantly “patriotic”. This was particularly disturbing during some modern day scenes toward the end. Paradoxically, in my eyes at least, the indoctrinated sailors from the Yamato appeared almost more human and less motivated by nationalistic pride than their contemporary countrymen. Most of them seem to accept their fate primarily in the hope that it will save their loved ones back home or simply to stay with their comrades, not because of some fantasy of imperial glory.One has to ask the question: have we not seen so many biased movies about the Pacific War that the mere suggestion that not all actions by the Japanese were ruthless or reprehensible is somehow difficult to accept? This after all was a war between flawed human beings, not between the honest, civilised allies and the aggressive, barbaric Japanese. The latter have certainly committed countless crimes and atrocities (particularly against their fellow Asians), but the former have deliberately targeted civilians in a systematic bombing campaign that culminated with Hiroshima and Nagasaki (something we are reminded in the film).As for the modern day “steely-eyed” patriotic attitude, as annoying as it is, I suspect it is only shocking because it is exhibited by citizens of Japan, i.e. the defeated and much maligned power. How many times did I have to endure the cringe-inducing, totally unapologetic and often much less nuanced American equivalent in Hollywood movies? I’ve lost count…Overall, “Pacific Battleship Yamato” is worth watching despite all of its flaws. It feels “cheap” at times, the acting is difficult to judge but certainly appears melodramatic and without much subtlety to Western eyes, and there are some unpalatable moments of nationalistic self-indulgence. Nevertheless, it has the considerable merit of showing the war from the Japanese point of view, particularly on the home front, which is rare enough to be mentioned (Zero fighter planes and Admiral Yamamoto’s men are familiar enough “baddies”!). It also asks an interesting question: what should be our attitude toward the death and suffering of those fighting on the losing side? It seems utterly unfair to dismiss them as agents of evil who got only what they deserved, and this is one of the few movies trying to make that point.Finally, if there is a useful lesson to be learned from the fact that this movie was made in the way it was, it is this one: having slowly recovered from near annihilation and a rampant inferiority complex, it is very easy for a nation to “overshoot” the mark and lose what it had gained in defeat: a more peaceful, less arrogant sense of identity. As a friend and admirer of Japan, I hope its people collectively manage to avoid this trap.One small technical comment: the picture quality of this DVD is quite poor. In particular, panning is very jerky: it almost feels like the transfer/compression was handled by amateurs! Fortunately (in a weird and twisted way), beautiful photography or artistry is definitely NOT this movie's forte, so technical mediocrity doesn't really compromise its appeal.

A very good Japanese dvd for lovers of decent war films based on fact. This one is also based on an excellent book, "Requiem for Battleship Yamato".The action scenes are well done, and the computer graphics are handled well, as is the reconstruction of the 'Yamato' itself. It also includes some footage of the actual wreck of the real ship, and there is a linking story that is used to take the viewer back 60 years to 1945 by means of flashback. As someone who is extremely interested in the history of 20th century capital ships, I found this to be well worth the money.

Its long over due that a movie was made about the Yamato, but in my humble opinion it falls just short. Far too much sentiment for my taste, and not enough action? The balance was not quite on the money. The representation of the ship in certain scenes ranges from poor to "oh yes, thats more like it", but as for the film overall, it has its good points and bad points. As for the cover of the DVD.................who's the clown who put a picture of the USS Missori on it !!!!!!!With great steps being taken with CGI, I hope and pray someone can make a film worthy of these majestic ships. The Battle of Leyte, the Battle of the Philipines Sea, or even a remake of Sink the Bismark spring to mind!

History buffs may quibble with some (perhaps important) details about this movie, but it does offer a good perspective on the tragedy of the crew, their families in Japan. I don't think this movie is in any way apologetic of Japan's war effort or military establishment. The final days of the Yamato are set in the historical context of the time and the narration lets the viewer into the desperate frame of mind that moved the Japanese as the Americans set to land in Okinawa. An interesting piece of the Pacific War puzzle.

When I started to watch "Pacific Battleship Yamato" I was disappointed to find it was in Japanese with English subtitles, I have found that most Foreign films rather boring and difficult to under stand being made for that countries market. This is different an intresting story well directed with good actors. After a few minutes I was well into it. Although the CGI's are obvious they did not detract from the story being told. I recommend it to anyone who's intrested in Naval and Social History or just who likes a good quality war film.

Great little film about the crew of the doomed Yamato, a ship sacrificed largely to appease the air force, whose planes had launched a 700 kamikaze raid on US shipping on 6 April 1945, in the region of Okinawa. Yamato, the worlds largest ever battleship was sent on a symbolic surface kamikaze mission, on 7 April, with the aim of destroying American shipping. Of course, given Allied air superiority, this was never going to happen and the ship was destroyed by air power. The film concentrates on the experiences of a group of young Japanese cadet recruits and is quite moving in the way it shows them bond, live and die together. I personally found the home front scenes equally interesting, as they are rarely shown in the west. As a companion piece I recommend the book  Requiem for Battleship "Yamato" (History and Politics)

Having read other reviews of this film I was prepared for a disappointment. In truth I think this Japanese production is one of the best war pictures I have seen, certainly in the last ten years. The film is in Japanese with English subtitles but suffers nothing for that. Some of the computer generated battle scenes are a little shaky but reasoably convincing nontheless. The mix of home-front and battle-front works well as does the musical score. Not a Hollywood style movie where the yanks were always the good guys and all the better for it, Hollywood couldn't have made this movie as it is a film looking at a true event from the eyes of young Japanese navy cadets. Well worth viewing even in its subtitled form.