I have seen several movies made on the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the ensuing Battle of Midway between the U. S. Navy and the Japanese Navy. Most of these movies emphasized the U. S. perspective on the battles. Some, like the movie Pearl Harbor, depicted the Japanese as sinister monsters molesting the virgin daughter of Pearl Harbor on a peaceful Sunday morning. None of the movies, as far as I know, dealt with the political and strategic considerations that went into Japan's decision to attack the American Navy. None depicted the deep anxiety that was present on the minds of the Japanese Navy brass who knew that they could not win a protracted war with the U. S. and that the only chance Japan had was that the U. S. public opinion would turn against a war with Japan and bring the Americans to a negotiated peace with Japan. The human side of Yamamoto was well represented in this movie. He was a rational, reasonable naval officer who had good understanding of the world affairs and was also a good gambler who, if he had not become a military officer, could have made a fortune from poker. Also Yamamoto was a famous Samurai's son who held on to his sword even at the last moment of his life.
The social atmosphere of Japan surrounding Japan's entry into the Pacific War was also well described. Their continued successes with wars with Russia and China gave them the feeling of invincibility. Old businessmen hoped that a new war would bring the economy out of recession. Mothers feared that their sons would not return alive from the new war. Journalists went along with the bellicose policy-makers by boosting the national morale. Yamamoto is depicted as the only man who maintained the sense of proportion in the midst of it all.
The battle scenes were largely made of computer graphics, unlike Tora, Tora, Tora or Midway (there were no computer graphics when those movies were made). Unlike the newer version of Midway, the movie Yamamoto doesn't dwell much on battle scenes. Instead it focuses on the psychology of the navy generals and pilots. People who watch this movie will not be looking for spectacular battle scenes. After all, the Japanese lost the Pacific War. There is no reason for them to glorify the battles that they lost.
The most memorable scenes in the movie are when Yamamoto interrupts the heated discussions of his navy staff by mentioning the taste of fish and when he keeps on playing chess with his lieutenant while bad battle reports keep coming in. These scenes show how controlled and disciplined a man Yamamoto was even though he was in the center of one of the most crucial battles of WWII.
The social atmosphere of Japan surrounding Japan's entry into the Pacific War was also well described. Their continued successes with wars with Russia and China gave them the feeling of invincibility. Old businessmen hoped that a new war would bring the economy out of recession. Mothers feared that their sons would not return alive from the new war. Journalists went along with the bellicose policy-makers by boosting the national morale. Yamamoto is depicted as the only man who maintained the sense of proportion in the midst of it all.
The battle scenes were largely made of computer graphics, unlike Tora, Tora, Tora or Midway (there were no computer graphics when those movies were made). Unlike the newer version of Midway, the movie Yamamoto doesn't dwell much on battle scenes. Instead it focuses on the psychology of the navy generals and pilots. People who watch this movie will not be looking for spectacular battle scenes. After all, the Japanese lost the Pacific War. There is no reason for them to glorify the battles that they lost.
The most memorable scenes in the movie are when Yamamoto interrupts the heated discussions of his navy staff by mentioning the taste of fish and when he keeps on playing chess with his lieutenant while bad battle reports keep coming in. These scenes show how controlled and disciplined a man Yamamoto was even though he was in the center of one of the most crucial battles of WWII.