MovieChat Forums > Otoko-tachi no Yamato (2005) Discussion > From A Historical Perspective...

From A Historical Perspective...

posted 18 years ago by ijnfleetadmiral2003
15 replies | jump to latest

I saw the trailers for this film on the website. As an enthusiast of the Imperial Japanese Navy, I've been waiting for a new movie on the IJN to come out for some time. (Remake of 1976's Midway, anyone? And here's a thought: NO LOVE STORY BS THIS TIME!!!) I saw pictures of the 1/1-scale set for the film, and the pictures made me drool! Too bad they don't rebuild a ship like this for a museum! Let's hope they release this in the U.S. soon, and let's hope the battle scenes aren't too computer-generated. However, since it's a Japanese-made film, it should be done pretty well.

[–] bradstory 18 years ago

"since it's a Japanese-made film, it should be done pretty well"

Nice Japan-is-the-best-at-everything hubris. So Godzilla films where he's kicking around toy cars and papier mache buildings is "done pretty well"?

Japanese cinema has some great classics, there is no doubt about it. But like every nation, there are some real dogs in the collection too.

Quit kidding yourself and come down to earth with the rest of us. Glad to hear Otoko-tachi no Yamato turned out well.

[–] cla68 18 years ago

What's with the pejorative reply "bradstory?" Have you lived in Japan within the last 10 years and watched a lot of Japanese productions, including TV dramas, made-for-tv movies, and cinema films, including ones that probably won't ever be released in the west? If you haven't, I have, and I can tell you that one thing that Japanese productions usually have, is superlative production quality. No matter how stupid or ridiculously melodramatic the storyline might be, you can almost always count on the cinematography being top notch, which usually makes the film enjoyable just for that reason if no other.

[–] gohmifune 18 years ago

Don't jump on bradstory, he's got a point, the topic starter's post seems to have a hint of an unreasobable bias, and I have seen my fair share of Japanese Productions, and they aren't always that great. Sometimes you'll get some great movies, and sometimes, maybe more often than not, you'll get some real subpar ones. When Japan tries to do large scale Hollywoodish movies, all it does is reveal a stagnating film industry.

He had a opinion, right or wrong, we shouldn't jump down his throat.

[–] za_kannushi 18 years ago

I just saw the movie in Ikebukuro. The CG effects in the movie are pretty horrible, but it could have been a lot worse. All in all, it's just pretty boring, unless you are into "nakeru"-flicks like "Sekachu" and all that jazz. I didn't like the opening sequences and the explanation of the beginning of the pacific war. It reminded me a bit of the propaganda movies they show at the Yasukuni Shrine. But it is at heart an antiwar movie. A very melodramatic one at that, but then again, so is Kinoshita Keisukes "24 no Hitomi".

[–] Dog101 18 years ago

I'm living in japan at the moment - and have been back and forth for the last 16 years. I always find the production quality of Japanese TV lamentably poor, especially when compared to how lush the filming is for the commercials. However, from cl68's comment I guess it's all relative...

[–] FairlyAnonymous 11 years ago

There is a difference between enjoyable and good. I have watched my fare-share of Japanese TV dramas and I can say that... they are pretty cheesy and kind of lame. Some of them are enjoyable but it surprises me how more advanced Japan's anime is from its dramas.

[–] rsaintj 18 years ago

For those who drag out the old and tired "Godzilla and papier mache buildings" and insist that the Japanese film industry is stagnating, I'm guessing you haven't seen some more recent films such as ALWAYS - SANCHOME NO YUHI or LORELEI? GREAT YOKAI WAR? Previews for this summer's NIHON CHINBOTSU? Take a look at http://www.nc06.jp/ and tell me that the Japanese can't do a Hollywood scale movie, for whatever that's worth.

Sadly, I suspect that there's little chance that films like YAMATO, LORELEI or AEGIS could ever get a theatrical release here in the states. These films are a little too right wing (in the Japanese sense) for the sensitivities of this country's audiences.

[–] anton-109 18 years ago

Nice to see people not instantly shouting this movie down just because it shows an alternative and, from a British historian's point of view, more correct beginning to the Pacific War. However, like *all* war movies it does sacrifice a little accuracy to increase its entertainment value - after all, this is entertainment not documentary. I can't agree with the one reviewer who said the effects were poor, they certainly were not (more models were used than CGI - some of which were on display in Tokyo last year); but even if they had been then it would not have detracted from my enjoyment of the movie.

This film was actually aimed at teenagers and younger adults who may not even be aware of who won the Pacific War - Largly, the intended audience have indeed been its largest audience. Regretably, the baby-boomer generation in Japan have avoided seeing the movie. Movies in Japan tend not to divided into 'girls' and 'boys' genres as much as in Western countries, so whereas this movie is considered equally of interest to men and women in Japan, it will most likely not be considered good entertainment by many women in the U.S.

There is little chance of a cinematic general release in the U.S. (Remember BRII), but look for it appearing in smaller niche cinemas in larger more cosmopolitan cities (New York - L.A.) but don't hold your breath waiting for it to arrive in the South Western states of the U.S. I understand there are plans to show it at either Broadway or Off-Broadway cinema in Nottingham, UK. I can't find anything in London at the moment. (no, Spaceship Yamato does not count - but is fun for those of us who grew up watching it)

The DVD is available from amazon.co.jp for about $90, but it *does not* contain English subtitles.

A.S.C. - Currently living in Austin TX, London UK, Northern Italy, and Kumamoto Japan as the mood takes me.

[–] amika2000 18 years ago

just watched this movie on DVD.. what can i say.. the story wasn't bad, special effect was ok.. but i doubt they bring justice to those "boys" that died that day.. from the title of their japanese title, it suppose to be dedicated to those that died on that day.. but on historical point of view they have left out the fact that they intentionally flooded their bow just to fix yamato's listing which kills thousand of sailors below in order to save the ship from sinking for a couples of hours.. guess that won't be nice to let their younger generation to watch them kill their own people on screen..

[–] rdunbar1-1 18 years ago

umm they did! thats what the flooding of 2 compartments was about, then you see everybody trying to go upstairs but water is flooding down.

[–] burnumall 17 years ago

I always got the feeling that Japanese media is very tightly controlled, rigid, very formal and incredibly boring, there a few really *beep* good films (seven samurai anyone?) but one whole hell of a lot of bad ones.

[–] pmiano100 16 years ago

You can look at it two ways. From a Japanese perspective, it is a sad story with a tragic ending. From the viewpoint of my late father, who was fighting against kamikaze planes and subs at the time, going on his fourth year of combat, it has a happy ending. He never hated the Japanese, except for their leaders, and he felt sorry for the Japanese sailors. He knew they were not the ones at fault any more than he was. However, being an American sailor and a human being, he could not be faulted for being glad the Yamoto was sunk. He and his buddies wanted to live as much as those poor Japanese sailors did. In war, it is rarely a case of good people killing bad people. It is usually good people killing other good people. That is perhaps it's greatest tragedy.

My father later befriended a Japanese Navy WWII veteran who had moved to the US and opened a Japanese restaurant. We ate there often and he always came to greet us and talk to my father. They have both passed away, but the memory of their friendship kept me from falling into bitterness and hate after my service in Vietnam.

[–] UberNoodle 17 years ago

I can't believe the lack of relativity being shown by Western centric poeple on this board. ever wonder what Germans (for example) say about Hollywood war films? I am CERTAIN that it isn't "Wow what an accurate film!".

Before you point fingers and start bandying around words like "right wing" and "nationalism", take a look at the revisionism seen in Western war films. In some films, the USA have just plain stolen other Nations' victories and achievments - all for entertainment's sake. The Yamato film from the get-go has been called an anti-war film, and the film makers have tried very hard to distance themselves from the right-wing and nationalist groups.

And on related note, when does patriotism become nationalism? When outside observers deem it be so?

Seperate what a few extremists say in the media, and what this film is doing, and what the average Japanese person thinks. The way some of you carry on, I wonder if you ever think what groups and individuals like the KKK (for example) do for your Western culture.

In Japan, a nation that also values free speech, anyone can step up on the soapbox, the major difference being that the Japanese are less likely to throw fruit and protest if they don't agree. Try to respect that cultural ideal, instead of interpreting it as agreeance.

One of the major TV stations showed a very damning doccumentary about the Rape of Nanking that rated quite well, and recently atleast one Japanese service man publically apologised for the treatment of women by the Japanese army. WW2 is still a topic that gives rise to strong and confusing feelings of pain and also shame, and it the people affected by the war directly are still alive today. The resolution of these matters, and the dealing with the pain the Japan caused, and also suffered will take time, perhaps longer that it has in the West.

All I am asking for is a bit of understanding of cultural relativity.

PS - this is an interesting read, that just illustrates that even during a total war effort, as Japan was waging, some really beautiful things can happen.

http://www-cs-students.stanford.edu/~tamar/Kobe/Kobe.html

[–] flexocheng 16 years ago

>> All I am asking for is a bit of understanding of cultural relativity.

I would agree it is a stretch to label this film as "right wing". However, if the Japanese Imperial Navy flag symbolizes patriotism from a Japanese point of view, what does it mean for its countless victims?

For many people in Asia, the mere sight of a Japanese soldier represents something a lot worse than KKK.

Did you consider this side of the cultural relativity?

P.S.: This film is not as bad as I thought. It just does not delivery its anti-war message very well.

[–] kobuster 16 years ago

When watching this movie I was primarily trying to gauge what it was trying to say about the meaning behind the Yamato's kamikaze attack and the war in general. I'm convinced it is a very anti-war movie. It shows almost nothing good coming from war--everyone dies, their girlfriends die, their brothers die, they starve...it's just awful. There are a number of scenes where people are shown questioning the logic (or lack thereof) of their leaders. I don't think there is a single "Japan is awesome" sentiment in the whole movie, especially not with regards to Imperial Japan.

The only thing it portrays in a positive light is the selflessness displayed by the sailors who knowingly gave their lives, to defend their loved ones at home, and to fight at the side of their loved ones at sea. And what's wrong with that? It also (rather revisionistically) tries to bring meaning to their deaths: "Defeat brings understanding. That's the only way Japan can be helped. ... We are pioneers in the rebirth of our nation."