Emperor Movie Reviews
User reviews on Emperor
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I thought this film was not bad but not good either, it was mediocre. I guess it was not too bad for a historical drama, but I wish it was less melodramatic and I wish it had more history instead of love story. I did like the cast and Tommy Lee Jones yet again saved a mediocre film from sucking completely.The film is definitely flawed but in the same time it was fascinating in its own way. I think the film suffered from poor execution and it is a shame because it could have been so much better than it was. Overall, I think this film will be better off watched at the comfort of your home. -
I had very high expectations for this film, unfortunately the film was not good and I left the theater disappointed. The idea of the film was good but the execution was muddy and the film was ridden with cliches. I thought that the love story in the film was completely unnecessary and it overshadowed the history. I did like the performances in the film and I thought the cast was pretty great, however it was not enough to save this film from being mediocre. Tommy Lee Jones was of course my favorite and he is always interesting to watch and he definitely made this film a bit better. I thought that the film was way too melodramatic and that was its biggest flaw. Overall, I do not think the film needs to be seen on the big screen, you might be better off renting it and watching it at home. -
Many films have been made on the Iraq War and the war crimes that went unpunished by the Bush Administration. But few movies have explored the fascinating turn of power that happened at the end of World War II when the Japanese Emperor Hirohito surrendered to U.S. forces and was faced with the possibility of being held accountable for crimes against humanity. This was no small feat for the prevailing side in WWII, given that Hirohito was not only an emperor, but a literal god to the Japanese people.
Tommy Lee Jones plays General Douglas MacArthur, an all-business military man who finds himself the de facto emperor of Japan after Hirohito has surrendered. He has no interest in presiding over the nation – he wants only to serve as a place holder until Japan decides what is bets for itself and Hirohito has been brought to justice.
Enter General Bonner Fellers (Matthew Fox) who is an expert in all things Japanese. MacArthur implores him to conduct an undercover investigation to see if the people of Japan want to see Hirohito on trial, or if they are simply glad to be rid of him. Or, perhaps, they wish to see him restored to power.
What ensues is a story that is part history lesson and part love story, especially when Fellers reveals that the reason he has come to Japan in the first place is to find the school teacher he loves with white hot passion. The story meanders a bit when the romance comes into play, but it is still fascinating as a history lesson, much as Lincoln was and which also featured a winning turn by Tommy Lee Jones.
