The Eternal Zero (2013)

This movie was incredible. I came to find it through a post online, that stated it was the top earning Japanese film this year (2014). I am from the United States and this is the first time I have seen a film from the Japanese side of World War II produced from Japan. (It isn't like "Letters to Iwo Jima" it was actually made by and directed by Japanese citizens.)
This movie goes in and out of the past and present. I loved this aspect of the story because in this film we get to see the perspective of how the current Japanese generations perceive Kamikaze fighters today. Before I watched this movie I, like many foreigners could not understand the way Japanese pilots during that time could do that- purposely fly into a carrier. Although this movie is mostly fictional, I come away from it feeling like I learned so much. I can't explain what I learned, but when you watch this movie you will understand.
I liked this film because the acting was superb. I read that casting was done on who would play characters best and not on popularity. The characters made me cry more than once, and I cry rarely during films.
Music was lacking but was suitable for the parts I even noticed it.
I would like to rewatch this movie with my family. My younger brother loves war movies & I feel this film will really alter his opinions on Japanese soldiers during the War.
YOU REALLY SHOULD WATCH IT! BEST MOVIE ABOUT WORLD WAR 2 I HAVE EVER SEEN.
*oh and if you are someone who doesn't like gory scenes, this isn't too terribly graphic. Lots of explosions though.

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I know this movie is more fiction than nonfiction but wow, I would say it's one of the best war movies I have ever seen.

Story | In modern day Japan, Kentaro finds out that his grandfather is not his biological grandfather. So his grandchildren set out to find out more about their grandfathers life during World War Two as a Kamikaze Pilot. They hear story after story to help reveal the true story of what really happened 60 years ago (assuming the present time takes place in 2004/2005)

Cast | For the most part amazing. Okada portrayed Miyabe's character so well. I don't know how to really explain it. He had such a calming feel yet but was able to show his desire to live at the same time. I actually have an issue with Miura Haruma in this movie. I personally love him as an actor and for the most part, him as Kentaro was fine, he showed character development and whatnot but my only problem was that his facial expressions and some actions were a bit of an overreaction. And it's a shame because he's suppose to be a character that us, as a younger generation, should relate to (if we are basing this off the younger generation's ignorance of war). That was the only unfortunate part. Moving on, the pilots and the older actors of those pilots were terrific. It was amazing how even though the story wasn't about them, their (younger pilots) character developments throughout the movie were fluid, believable and are a big reason why this movie turned out as great as it did.

Music | I was actually going to score music low because there wasn't much, but the ending theme song deserved a higher rating. Hotaru is such a heart wrenching song after watching that entire movie. I'm going to assume it was written for the movie and the lyrics are simple yet explain the theme of the movie perfectly.

Rewatch | Definitely. It's a movie I'll recommend to friends and if I can watch it with them, I will get the popcorn and tissues ready.

Overall | I can't say "great" enough times. Me, personally, I love movies about WWII. I have family connections to both the Japan and the U.S side during WWII so any chance I get to see a movie, I'll watch. And this definitely didn't disappoint. Though it is fiction, it was a nice little insider to what it might have been like for the Kamikaze pilots. Something most people know very little about. The struggles of knowing you are suppose to die honorably for your country but still wanting to live..that's something we as a younger generations will never fully understand and I'm glad this was a main theme for the movie.

I also believe another reason why this movie turned out so well was the connections that had to be made to tell the whole story. Everything started off in a rough patch and then the haze started to become clear and then everything just made sense. Everything making sense makes me extremely happy because honestly in the beginning I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out. I also loved it because it's not just about war and finding one's self, it's so much more than that. This movie provides life lessons about living one's life and knowing that life is a precious thing even though at the that time/era it was seen as an act of cowardliness.

I hope people can give this movie a chance. Stories about WWII are slowly being forgotten or untold and this movie is a good reminded that people in that era has their own story; everyone just kind of hid it in their heart and carried on as if nothing happened. Even if war movies are not your genre, it's a movie that should be watched.

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