By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

Set in Post Apocalyptic Japan circa 1945, Emperor reviews General Douglas MacArthur’s relationship with Emperor Hirohito. It is a fascinating story and similar to General Patton’s relationship with former Nazis in Berlin when peace was declared. There is an old adage that says only warriors truly understand the true meaning of peace.

As played by Tommy Lee Jones, General MacArthur has all the bombast, arrogance and guile one has read about in history. MacArthur’s meeting with Hirohito is touching with humor.

But Emperor is really about MacArthur’s assistant, General Bonner Fellows (Matthew Fox)’s investigation about Hirohito’s war crimes regarding the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Told in flashbacks, we learn that General Fellows had unrequited romance with a Japanese native who was Ivy League educated.

This is a sincere movie, but it could have been better. Instead of flashbacks, if the film took the time to visualize the story in chronological order, Emperor ould have had more of an emotional impact.

With Passover just around the corner, Hava Nagila (The Movie) is released, a documentary that reviews the history and cultural impact of the traditional Jewish folk song.

Until “Hava Nagila,” the history of Jewish music was full of prayerful dirges. To combat repression in the Ukraine, the upbeat song “Hava Nagila” emerged and has continued to inspire the Jewish People. Narrated by Rusty Schwimmer, with Leonard Nimoy, Harry Belafonte, Glen Campbell and Connie Francis providing personal experiences, Hava Nagila (The Movie) is a lovely way to spend 75 minutes.