Kamikaze film

[Tulio]

Just found this, and I hope it has not been discussed here before:

http://www.landings.com/evird.acgi$pass ... -film.html


japanese-film

Filming was underway last month at Big Sky Ranch in Simi Valley, Calif. for a Japanese production called "The Winds of God" about WW II kamikaze pilots.

Since there apparently aren't any Zeros in Japan, aerial coordinator Mike Patlin collared planes from the Commemorative Air Force at Camarillo (Zero and F6F) and The Planes of Fame air museum with pilots Steve Barber, Mark Matye and Steve Hinton for the aerial scenes.

The story is about two failing modern-day comedians of Asian ancestry called the Samurai Brothers who awake to find themselves as Japanese aviators in a Kamikaze squadron after a collision between their Harley and a truck. After they realize where they are, and when, they try to convince their fellow pilots and officers that the suicides are unnecessary and useless but are unsuccessful.

Moreover, their attempts are considered traitorous but since they appear in the bodies of two highly-respected squadron pilots, they are given some slack with their comments attributed to war fatigue. Only one of the pilots believes their outlandish story of being from the future, especially after the bombs are dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as they predicted, but he is soon sent off on a suicide flight.

One by one, their fellow pilots go off to be annihilated until their turn comes and one of them awakes in a New York hospital with his unconscious friend in an adjoining bed. His friend never awakes but the character, now known as Mike Kissinger, survives.

There's a twist at the end but since this movie is being made for Japanese audiences it's unlikely to be shown in the U.S. or in English.

The story is from an original script by Masayuki Imai.

Editor's Note: I spent two years in Japan, from the end of 1960 through 1962 and, oddly enough, the most popular movies were American war films about our battles with the Japanese empire. A Japanese friend told me that her people judged them to be "morality plays."

Even more curious, as I traveled around the far reaches of Japan, I actually met people who didn't realize they had lost the war. They thought I was a prisoner who had been released.

[tom d. friedman]

tulio, not by your doing...... but pretty lame, another example of how the internet is becoming a vast waste land, even worse than tv!!! we all need a big strainer to sift through all the crapola!!! regards, tom

[HarvardIV]

Even more curious, as I traveled around the far reaches of Japan, I actually met people who didn't realize they had lost the war. They thought I was a prisoner who had been released.

Really?! The Japanese are a different breed. All that I've met have been pretty nice.

[DazDaMan]

There was Kamikaze-style movie done a few years ago - Voices from the Sea, I seem to recall?

Planes of Fame's Zero and Hellcat (I think) and one of the CAF's Zero replicas were involved, the two Zeros being fitted with dummy cannon and bombs for their flying scenes.

Anyone else know this?

[Tulio]

"but pretty lame, another example of how the internet is becoming a vast waste land, even worse than tv!!! we all need a big strainer to sift through all the crapola!!"


I don't think this has anything to do with the Internet.

There is indeed, a film being shot, so that would make it in my opinion, other than the Internet.

I picked the bit up at Landings, and what grabbed my attention was the names of the US pilots involved in the shooting of this film, and the airplanes being used.

So . . . what's the crapola part? Reporting this at the WIX? The shooting of the movie with such plot? : )


Saludos,


Tulio

[Chris Brame]

Here's an article about the award-winning play on which this movie is based:

http://starbulletin.com/2000/09/07/features/story1.html

[tom d. friedman]

tulio, no disrepect intended or implied, perhaps my reply was a little abrupt... sorry. all that i was trying to relate was that after 60 + years since the war certain factions, groups, special interest societies etc are trying to alter history to what suits their interest or passion. bottom line everybody wants to look good. historical revisionism is what they are calling it, & lately it applies to history going back to the stone age to now. people see what they want to see, & i'm as guilty as the next person. best, tom

[Tulio]

tom,

I am not reading you wrong; I have not perceived your posting as being disrespectful at all. BUT, I am confused.

You see, I understand that the movie is a work of fiction, nothing to do with reality, what with the guys crashing a Harley and ending up as Kamikaze.

What I don't get, is: where is the revisionism?

Kamikaze existed; the comedy / parody has existed almost forever, and a mix of the two is just an excuse to make a movie.

Same thing I would say about the movie Pearl Harbor; nothing more than Hollywood's mis-handling of history, making it look interesting, but only to make money.

Saludos


Tulio

[tom d. friedman]

hi tulio, i think were on the same page overall, never mind the historical revisionism, it's probably nothing more than your interputing a hollywood historical farce that some eccentric cooked up to make a buck, & i didn't see or misunderstood what the hollywood movie mogul's goals & theme was. all the best, tom

[p51]

Two guys riding a bike, fall down, and turn up in WW2?
Sorry, that sounds like a bad "after school special" plot to me.
I just don't get it...