- Title: JAPAN: JAPANESE FILM PREMIERE OF AMERICAN WAR MOVIE "PEARL HARBOR"
- Date: 20th June 2001
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (JUNE 21, 2001) (REUTERS) WIDE OF EXTERIOR OF TOKYO DOME AFTER THE PREMIER VARIOUS, PEOPLE COMING OUT OF TOKYO DOME (2 SHOTS) SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) AKIHIRO TACHIBANA, 25, DESIGNER SAYING: "As a matter of fact, it was rather hard for me to look at this film especially the battle scene. I tried to watch it with fair point of view but it was tough" SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) DAISUKE TACHIBANA, 25, COMPANY EMPLOYEE SAYING: "The film was not tilted to the Japanese side nor American side. I think it was fair and neutral" SLV PEOPLE COMING OUT OF TOKYO DOME SMV (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TOSHIE OSHIO, 28, HOUSEWIFE, SAYING: "I would want young people who have never experienced war to see this film. I think with this film, people will start to think about war and history and what Japan did in the past" SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) TETSUO TABUCHI, 73, SAYING: "I think it's a good time to look at the history again. Not just the things we have been told, but the correct history based on those objective truth which could urge people to reflect on themselves" TOKYO, JAPAN (JUNE 20, 2001) (REUTERS) VARIOUS, ACTOR BEN AFFLECK (R), DIRECTOR MICHAEL BAY (M) AND PRODUCER JERRY BRUCKHEIMER (L) ON STAGE POSING (2 SHOTS) WIDE OF CAMERAMEN AND MEDIA SMV PRODUCER JERRY BRUCKHEIMER (LEFT), DIRECTOR MICHAEL BAY, AND ACTOR BEN AFFLECK POSING AND JOKING WITH PHOTOGRAPHERS SCU SIGN OF "PEARL HARBOR" IN JAPANESE CHARACTERS WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE AND MEDIA SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) MICHAEL BAY, DIRECTOR OF "PEARL HARBOR", SAYING: Remember, we tried to give an essence of what Pearl Harbor was like, what it was about and what it felt like that morning. It wasn't supposed to be a history lesson. We gave the reason why the Japanese wanted to attack us, because we cut off their oil supply. But what I did want to convey in the movie was how courageous Japanese soldiers were, how dignified they were, they were doing something for their country, and so we kept pretty close to that" WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) JERRY BRUCKHEIMER, PRODUCER, SAYING "It's just kind of a normal course for most movies, we do change things. December 7th was December 8th in Japan, so that is one of the changes that we made. Also it is entertainment and we don't want to have cultural things that are inaccurate or things that we would say that would offend people, because we want to entertain you, so we made some minor dialogue trims. But I think if I showed you the pictures side by side, you would have a hard time telling the difference between the two"
- Embargoed: 5th July 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City:
- Country: Japan
- Topics:
- Reuters ID: LVA48JGRYP03EO87CDQJWLEX3LXO
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: More than 30,000 Japanese film fans and celebrities attend the Tokyo premiere of the Hollywood blockbuster "Pearl Harbor".
When the movie "Pearl Harbor" opens in Japan on July 14, Walt Disney is hoping that the Japanese will remember a heart-warming love story and not all that nasty stuff about how their country drew the United States into war.
Judging from the tens of thousands who turned up for the premiere at a baseball stadium, Disney may very well succeed.
"Japanese audiences are known throughout the world to be some of the most avid and enthusiastic and knowledgeable moviegoers, which is why it's extraordinary honour to be here to see all of you come out to see our movie. I only hope that you enjoy and that we feel that we have done at your presence here justice. Thank you very much," said Ben Affleck who starred in the film at the start of the premiere.
The movie directed by Michael and starring Ben Affleck and Kate Beckinsale, is being marketed to Japan in the same way blockbusters like "Titanic" and "Armageddon" were sold. The spotlight is on love and human drama while pricey special effects only added strength to the pull on the heartstrings.
The Japanese Imperial Army's attack on the U.S. Naval base in Hawaii which killed 2,400 people and propelled the United States into World War Two, is just the backdrop for the love triangle between two U.S. pilots and a Navy nurse.
After seeing the epic on the 165-feet- (50-metre) wide screen, some people said they found it hard to watch 40 minutes of Japanese planes attacking the harbour.
"As a matter of fact, it was rather hard for me to look at this film especially the battle scene. I tried to watch it with fair point of view but it was tough," said Akihiro Tachibana, 25-year-old designer.
But many more found the historical aspect negligible.
"The film was not tilted to the Japanese side nor American side. I think it was fair and neutral," said Daisuke Tachibana, 25.
For most young Japanese, Hawaii is the No. 1 overseas tourist destination and Pearl Harbor is a popular stop.
But in polls taken on the 50th anniversary of the attack, about two-thirds of those between 18 and 24 said the Japanese raid should be relegated to the past.
"I would want young people who have never experienced war to see this film. I think with this film, people will start to think about war and history and what Japan did in the past,"
said Toshie Oshio, 28-year-old housewife.
"I think it's a good time to look at the history again.
Not just the things we have been told, but the correct history based on those objective truth which could urge people to reflect on themselves," said Tetsuo Tabuchi, 73.
Buena Vista International is banking on a hit and the $135 million film and its marketing campaign have been carefully tailored to avoid offending sensibilities of the world's second-largest movie market where the historical interpretation of the events of December 7, 1941 are still a controversial subject.
"We weren't trying to tell the whole story of Japan in this this movie, remember, we tried to give an essence of what Pearl Harbor was like, what it was about and what it felt like that morning. It wasn't supposed to be a history lesson. We gave the reason why the Japanese wanted to attack us, because we cut off their oil supply. But what I did want to convey in the movie was how courageous Japanese soldiers were, how dignified they were, they were doing something for their country, and so we kept pretty close to that," said Michael Bay, director of the film.
Consideration of the huge Japanese market came into play while the movie was being made, and, additionally, the version sent to Japan has some minor changes.
One of the them is a dogfight scene in which a character played by one of the stars calls the Japanese pilots "Japs,"
instead of "Jap suckers" as in the U.S. version. The Japanese dialogue spoken by the admiral who planned the attack has been redubbed so that Japanese audiences can hear him better.
"It's just kind of a normal course for most movies, we do change things. December 7th was December 8th in Japan, so that is one of the changes that we made. Also it is entertainment and we don't want to have cultural things that are inaccurate or things that we would say that would offend people, because we want to entertain you, so we made some minor dialogue trims. But I think if I showed you the pictures side by side, you would have a hard time telling the difference between the two," movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer told reporters in Tokyo.
Critics have said that in its eagerness not to offend, Japan Disney almost completely ignored Japan's aggression in Asia and took the line espoused by many Japanese that they were compelled to attack Pearl Harbor because of a U.S. oil embargo.
"When you see the movie, please keep in mind as I did, when I first saw it the movie and reflect how really incredible it is that two nations that once fought each other, now have such wonderful friendship and alliance, which we in the United States cannot imagine that our nations fate will ever, or could ever be separated from our friends and our brothers here in Japan. It is truly a magnificent thing that we have such a long way. I think that ultimately is the message of this movie," said Ben Affleck who starred in the movie.
ENDS - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None