Tora! Tora! Tora!

             The film truly defines the term "co-production" as it tells the story of the events that lead to the bombing of Pearl Harbor from both sides. This is essentially two films that slowly intertwine to tell one story. We see the Japanese preparing for the attack, first discussing their reasons for the attack, then testing their bombers, and finally making their final plans. We also witness the activities of the American forces leading up to the bombing. Despite the fact that there have been warnings and tell-tale signs, the American's refuse to believe that the Japanese would pull such a stunt or that Pearl Harbor itself is vulnerable. To this end, we see that Pearl Harbor is indeed vulnerable, and that a great deal of hardware (boats, planes, etc.) and manpower are all placed in a small area, that if destroyed, could deal quite a blow to the U.S. fleet in the Pacific.
             What makes this film work is that the audience knows that Pearl Harbor is going to be bombed successfully by the Japanese forces. This creates a great deal of tension in the film. The build-up is slow and meticulous, spending a great deal of time showing the Japanese preparing for the attack. .
             Having a conclusion that is already known and a story that is documented in the history books creates a challenge for the filmmakers. Much of the film is centered on the build up before the attack. With a long build up, the directors had to focus on the detailed account of the events leading up to the attack. From the planning stages to the actual execution of the attack, the Japanese side of the story is told in tremendous detail. The work of American forces in the Pacific is also expanded upon in great detail.
             One of the major players on the Japanese side is General Yamamoto, portrayed by Soh Yamamura. General Yamamoto is a brilliant strategist who had been working on the attack on Pearl Harbor for over nine months (Wohlstetter).