This is one of those commentaries that sounds like it'll be good but somehow manages to fall flat. Stewart Galbraith talks exclusively about the problems surrounding the Japanese end of the production -- Akira Kurosawa bowed out so director Kinji Fukasaku had to step in at the last minute. Richard Fleischer seems to have almost forgotten he had anything to do with the production. Anytime he mentions the on-screen action he almost invariably states that he doesn't recall filming it so it must have been second unit work. Sheesh. Here we have one of the most monumental events in American history and the commentary rarely touches on anything of note.

I really enjoyed the first half of the commentary since I'm a huge fan of Akira Kurosawa and I was aching to find out the reasons why he and Fox had such drastic artistic disagreements and why he left the production. I simply couldn't believe that Richard Fleischer said "no" when the historian asked him if any stock footage was used in the film. Everyone knows that the shot of the crash landing B-17 near the end of the film was stock footage. Fleischer either was lying or simply did not remember which is very likely since it had been over 30 years since he shot the film.

The first half was rather dry, as I'm not an afficionado on Kurosawa or Japanese filmmaking from the '60s and '70s. Definitely picks up closer to the Grand Attack sequence, when the Director's comments become more scene-specific. The moderator/historian is extremely knowledgeable, but I preferred the director's anecdotes in the last hour of "Tora!" times 3.

I quite enjoyed it. It benefits greatly from one commentator leading the discussion and interviewing the main subject. Galbraith is a knowledgable source and asks great questions, covering everything from editing, soecial effects, to soundtrack and casting. This track contains tons of information about the production and compares it to the real events when possible, full of anecdotes and some light general film discussion.

This track ist great. Fleisher and Galbraith are having a vivid conversation. Big Points are the problems with Kurosawa, the cooperation between the US and the Japanese crew, the sets, the locations, the history of Pearl Harbour, the action stuff, the score, the DP and the legacy of the movie.

Fleisher has a lot of memories about this film. Galbraith has many points about Kurosawa and the cinema form Japan. Don’t miss this track. 10 out of 10.