Eternal Zero Movie Isnt That

However, what makes this film most interesting is its impassioned message against kamikaze, and although its not strictly an anti-war film, it provides some really strong drama with its criticism of the infamous system.

Eternal Zero Movie Isnt That

On the whole, that side of the movie isnt that engrossing, and when the film tries to invoke some emotion and drama in the modern-day characters, it doesnt always work so well, adding what feels like unnecessary time onto an already very long film.

Whilst its doesnt paint the most glorious picture of war, with various powerful and heartbreaking moments where innocent mens lives are needlessly taken away, it still has a strongly patriotic and jingoistic vibe that makes it somewhat of an uneasy watch at times.

Whether it be the faceless portrayal of the American enemy, or the fact that the films patriotic ending plays out to the speech given by Emperor Hirohito at the end of the war, there are elements of this movie that feel exactly the opposite of an anti-war film, but its a dynamic that you rarely see in modern cinema, and as such makes for an intriguing watch.

The action, for one, is excellent throughout, and with strong CGI and special effects throughout, the film does a great job at providing both entertaining and exciting military battles, all the while doing its job as a glorification of the feat of aerial engineering that is the Mitsubishi Zero.

Again, those given by the two younger characters in modern day arent enough for you to really connect with them, but the performance by Junichi Okada, who plays the wartime soldier who stands strong against kamikaze, is absolutely fantastic, bringing a strong emotional core to the story that feels far more genuine and passionate that a typically cheesy and jingoistic war film.

Its by no means a perfect film, and undoubtedly overlong, but with an intriguing emotional core that stands strong against the kamikaze program, yet doesnt seem to do the same against the war in general, theres a lot to unpick and delve into throughout, which is why Im giving it a 7.4.

Since January 1st, 2013, he has watched and reviewed a movie every day.

They start contacting the men who flew with him, asking them about who he was.

When they discover their grandfather was universally regarded as a coward, their enthusiasm begins to wane.

But the brother persists, discovering there is more to the story.

This is a subtle film, foregrounding the personal consequences of war for rounded, authentic characters.

In the process, the film astutely stays away from either justifying or apologising for Japans war actions.

Junichi Okada is a revelation as the pilot instructor who attempts to save his young charges from the excesses of his superiors, often at great personal sacrifice.

He makes a promise to his wife, but then seems to compromise it in order to be loyal to his men.

The resolution of this conflict makes for a powerful and well-plotted storyline.

The flashbacks to the war are engaging and dramatic, but the films weak point is the bland Haruma Miura guiding us through the story.

In a scene conspicuous for its shallow clunkiness, he berates his friends for equating tokkutai with modern-day suicide bombers.

No real camaraderie seems to exist between the friends, and the whole scene seems designed merely to relay the point that modern-day fanaticism and historical Japanese heroism cannot be equated.

It is a fop to present-day rightist revisionism that is unworthy of the rest of the film.

Eien no Zero shows ordinary people living extraordinary lives in extraordinary circumstances.

A thoughtful, emotional film that, casting flaws aside, proves cathartic and thought-provoking in equal measure.

Hayao Miyazaki, who criticized the film for trying to make a Zero fighter story based on a fictional war account that is a pack of lies had months before released The Wind Rises (2013), a film about the designer of the same aircraft depicted in this film.

The correct title is The Eternal Zero not The Fighter Pilot.

Hotaru Written by Keisuke Kuwata Performed by Sazan ru Sutzu Courtesy of Taishita Label MusicVictor Entertainment.