At The Movies

Tora! Tora! Tora! Runtime: 144 Age Rating: G Release Date: September 23, 1970 Studio: 20th Century Fox A meticulous historical drama depicting the events leading up to and including the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, told from both American and Japanese perspectives. Ratings: My Rating: 7.5/10 The Dove Foundation: N/A IMDb: 7.5/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 57% (Critics), 88% (Audience) Metacritic: 46/100 Plot Summary: Tora! Tora! Tora! chronicles the intelligence failures, diplomatic tensions, and military miscalculations that culminated in the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The film presents a balanced portrayal by interweaving American and Japanese viewpoints, highlighting the complexities and human elements behind the historical event. Critics Review: Roger Ebert criticized the film for its lack of engaging characters and slow pacing, describing it as "one of the deadest, dullest blockbusters ever made." However, the film has been praised for its historical ...

In Harm’s Way Runtime: 159 Age Rating: NR Release Date: April 6, 1965 Based on a Book: Harm’s Way by James Bassett Studio: Paramount Pictures A seasoned U.S. Navy officer is reassigned after a Pearl Harbor attack, seeking redemption and command in the Pacific theater. Ratings: My Rating: 7.0/10 The Dove Foundation: N/A IMDb: 7.2/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 37% (Critics), 67% (Audience) Metacritic: N/A Plot Summary: Captain Rockwell “Rock” Torrey (John Wayne) survives the Pearl Harbor attack but is demoted after his ship is sunk. Reassigned to a desk job, he navigates personal and professional challenges, including a strained relationship with his son and a romance with a Navy nurse. As the U.S. enters World War II, Torrey is given a second chance to lead a critical mission in the Pacific, aiming to prove his worth and restore his honor. Critics Review: The film received mixed reviews; some critics praised its epic scope and performances, while others found it lacking in depth. Bosley Crowther ...

Critical Review  The Final Countdown is one of my favorite movies because I was in the Navy when it was first released, and I actually served in a battle group on the USS Coral Sea (CV-43) along with the USS Nimitz (CVN-68). So this movie holds a great deal of personal interest to me. The film tells the story of the USS Nimitz, a modern nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that is mysteriously transported back in time to just before the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The crew faces a moral dilemma: whether to intervene in history and change the course of World War II or to let events unfold as they originally did. It’s a compelling mix of science fiction and naval drama. The technical details and naval operations seem realistic because they really are — a lot of the scenes showing shipboard action were actually filmed on board the USS Nimitz. So the viewer gets an authentic and immersive look at life aboard a Navy ship. The performances, especially by Kirk Douglas as the experienced a...