What the War Meant backdrop
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Expert Review & Ratings

See our full critical analysis and audience score for What the War Meant.

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WORTH WATCHING: MIXED
Editorial Verified

Is What the War Meant Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2008)

The drama stars Beat Takeshi as General Hideki Tojo, who served as Prime Minister of Japan during World War II and was later executed as a war criminal. The story's theme is said t...

✨ The Quick Verdict

SKIP IT

If you are a fan of Drama, War, History, TV Movie cinema, then What the War Meant offers a standard experience that justifies its existence in the 2008 landscape.

👥 Target Audience

Fans of Drama films
Fans of War films
Fans of History films
Fans of TV Movie films
casual viewers seeking light entertainment

📔 Detailed Analysis

📖 The Core Premise

With the release of What the War Meant (2008), audiences are invited back into the world of Drama, War, History, TV Movie. At its heart, the film explores complex themes wrapped in a compelling storyline. As the plot unfolds, we see characters navigating a world where stakes are high. "The drama stars Beat Takeshi as General Hideki Tojo, who served as Prime Minister of Japan during World War II and was later executed as a war criminal. The story's theme is said to be a look at how the Pacific War began, focusing mostly on the three month period between the Imperial Conference (Gozen Kaigi) on September 6, 1941, and the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941."

🎬 Performance & Direction

A movie's success often hinges on its execution. In What the War Meant, even the presence of Katsunori Takahashi struggles to save a script that feels disjointed. The direction aims to balance pacing with character development, a hallmark of good Drama. While there are moments of brilliance, the pacing occasionally dips.

🤔 Why You Should Watch (or Skip)

Is What the War Meant worth your time? If you appreciate Drama, War, History, TV Movie films that take risks, this is likely a decent one-time watch. However, if you are looking for a flawless masterpiece, you might find some plot points predictable.

🏆 Final Verdict

Ultimately, What the War Meant misses the mark on several fronts. With a runtime of 277 minutes, it asks for a significant time investment, but for the right audience, it pays off.

Our recommendation: Skip It.

⏳ Time Investment

277MIN

At approximately 4.6 hours, the film requires a significant time commitment.