The Film
In the late summer of 1945 Japan was a defeated nation, but one that didn't exactly surrender "unconditionally." When the war ended, one critical issue remained unresolved: should Japanese Emperor Hirohito stand trial for war crimes? General Douglas MacArthur (Tommy Lee Jones) stepped in as acting leader of the beleaguered nation, but he had his sights on a more lofty goal: the White House. So MacArthur calls in General Bonner Fellers (Matthew Fox), an expert in Japanese culture to evaluate the situation and decide the Emperor's fate in just ten days.
While many films have chronicled Japan's ill-fated attempt at shock and awe (the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor) which brought the United States into the war, this story offers a look at how the war ended and, more importantly, what happened next. Based on true events Emperor is a good looking film - one that captures the devastation of Japan unlike any movie before - but it lacks the punch of similar post-war dramas such as Judgment at Nuremberg or TNT's mini-series Nuremberg. Sadly, the film doesn't really shine any new light on Hirohito's role in Japan's atrocities or his potential guilt, and perhaps (like the real history), that is the biggest crime.
The Picture
Japan has never looked worse on film, including those various monster films - and the Blu-ray captures the devastation and destruction fantastically. The AVC encoded 1080p transfer, which is presented in 2.35:1, is excellent - although some of the CGI imagery is a little underwhelming. If anything the Blu-ray actually makes the shortcomings of the sets and CGI all the more noticeable. As with many war films the colors are intentionally muted to give it that distant memory feeling and this part comes off quite well on the Blu-ray.
The Sound
This is more post-war than war film, but the moments of intensity - which there are a few including the atom bombing of Nagasaki - will have viewers take notice. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack provides clear and clean audio and just enough ambient sounds to help immerse the viewer into the world of a vanquished land.
The Extras
It is actually a crime of sorts that this Blu-ray doesn't include more extras. The audio commentary from director Peter Webber and producer Yoko Narahashi is fairly interesting as Narahashi's grandfather is portrayed in the film and this provides some interesting discussions, but it also makes it clear that so much more could have been included. There is a short 15 minute making of Emperor featurette, some deleted scenes, a behind the scenes photo gallery as well as a historical photo gallery - but we can only imagine how more details on the life of the real emperor might have helped make this a winning package.
Final Thoughts
The fate of this Asian nation - and its leader - could have been very different, and this film only explores a small portion of those possibilities. It isn't a bad film, but it lacks any real punch or substance. Moreover, while it is a good-looking film, there are too few extras, so those hoping for more might feel a little vanquished in the end.
Product Details
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