This film is about a battle between the American fleet and the Imperial Japanese Navy. The time setting is before and after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. On December 7, 1941, it was at 7:55 am Hawaii time that a Japanese dive bomber bearing the red symbol of the Rising Sun of Japan on it's wings appeared out of the clouds above the island of Oahu. A swarm of 360 Japanese warplanes followed and they descended on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in a ferocious assault. The bombings and the plane and ship battles marked a pivotal turning point in the Pacific during WWII. This is a heroic feat and it’s based on real life events. It is the story of the leaders and soldiers who used their instincts, training, fortitude and bravery to overcome the odds against them. In the final year of WWII, the Allies prepared for a very costly invasion of the Japanese mainland. Prior to an invasion, conventional and firebombing campaigns were used against Japan. This caused the devastation of 67 Japanese cities. The war in Europe ended when Germany signed its instrument of surrender on May 8, 1945.
After the surrender of Germany, the Allies turned their full attention to the Pacific theater. The Allies called for the unconditional surrender of the Imperial Japanese armed forces in the Potsdam Declaration on July 26, 1945. The alternative to a refusal of the Declaration would mean prompt and utter destruction of Japan. The ultimatum was refused and the war continued. By August 1945, the Allies had produced two types of atomic bombs. The order was given to use the bombs on four Japanese cities on July 25, 1945. On August 6, a uranium gun-type bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Three days later a plutonium implosion bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945 and the instrument of surrender was signed on September 2 in Tokyo Bay and this ended the war.
This is an action heavy drama about one of the biggest battles in WWII. The ships and planes are CGI. There is pervasive conflict and violence. Many scenes of explosions, bombs and sudden violent deaths. Characters also appear looking swollen, bruised and some have been held captive. Lots of military guns, ships and planes. Just a few kisses between married couples. Frequent swearing, Japanese people are called Japs in a sneering tone. There is pipe smoking, cigars and cigarettes. Characters get drunk and lurch around. A Japanese soldier decides to go down with his sinking ship. Courage and teamwork are evident in the way soldiers on both sides unite for common goals.
138 min, Action directed by Roland Emmerich and written by Wes Tooke with Ed Skrein, Patrick Wilson, Woody Harrelson, Luke Evans, Mandy Moore, Luke Kleintank, Dennis Quaid, Aaron Eckhart, Keean Johnson, Nick Jonas, Etsushi Toyokawa, Tadanobu Asano, Darren Criss Brandon Skelnar, Jake Manley.
Note: Imdb 6.7 out of 10 with 52,766 reviews, Roger Ebert 2* Odie Henderson, Rotten Tomatoes 42% with 160 critics 92% audience with 12,048 reviews, Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 10,131 reviews, Metacritic 47 out of 100 with 28 critic reviews (positive 6, mixed 20, negative 2), 6.1 out of 10 with 167 user scores (positive 91, mixed 39, negative 37), Common Sense Media Joyce Slaton, 13+ age, 3* positive messages, 3*, Letterboxd 2.8* out of 5* with 11 fans.
Special Note: The wreckage of the sunken Japanese Akagi and the Kaga were found one month before the premiere of this film. The last surviving member of the Doolittle Raiders was James Doolittle’s copilot Dick Cole. He passed away at the age of 103 in April 2019. It was seven months before the release of this film. Best’s lung problems were caused by an element of his rebreather overheating. He had tuberculosis as a boy and it had remained dormant. It was contained in nodules that were sealed over in response to the initial infection. The caustic side generated by the rebreather resulted in caustic fumes penetrating the nodules. This caused the tuberculosis to return. Best was treated for it and cured. His lungs did sustain some permanent damage.
Box Office: There are other versions of this film from 1942 and 1976. The 1976 version was number 10 in the list of most popular movies at the box office and earned over $43 million. This 2019 version earned 125.6 million with a budget of 100 million.
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