Tora, Tora, Tora it's not.

Rating: Null/10 (9 August 2002)

Now some reviewers loved this movie. Some hated it. I will go middle of the road and give it a 5 out of 10. As a Naval veteran I generally cringe when I see Hollywood actors trying to act like sailors or soldiers. This movie was no different. The sailors, as usually is the case, acted like actors acting like sailors. I found it uplifting to realize that if THIS script can be made into a movie I can write a movie script. Some things I would have changed: forget the opening scene when the two buddies are kids. Pointless. Develop a love interest between Danny and Evelyn, have him volunteer for the Battle of Britain and REALLY get killed, leaving Evelyn and Rufe behind and Rufe in a position to pick up the pieces with her. Then when Rufe flies the Doolittle mission he can be guided by Danny's ghost, ala "A Guy Named Joe." Not great literature but more believable than the product delivered by PH. The American admirals were too young. FDR looked like Jon Voight with a lot of latex glued to his face.