I'll Remember April

Starring:Pat Morita, Trevor Morgan, Pam Dawber, Haley Joel Osment, Mark Harmon, Yuji Okumoto, Richard Taylor Olson, Yuki Tokuhiro, Diana Tanaka, Paul Dooley, Troy Evans, Jay Ingram, Christopher Kriesa, Eugene Osment, Heather Ehlers, David Millbern, Matthew McCurley, Ariel Clark, Bill Wiley, Ken Kensei
Director: Bob Clark (III)
Studio: Geneon [Pioneer]
Product Type: DVD

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Although the horrors of WWII are far removed from the Pacific Coast community where adolescent Duke Cooper (Trevor Morgan) and his three best chums play soldier, experiment with swearing, and earnestly patrol the beach for Japanese submarines, the realities of the war are about to come crashing down around them. Not when a Japanese soldier, stranded and wounded when his sub quickly dived, washes ashore; his capture by the foursome merely allows for more playtime and thoughts of becoming heroes. It's coming because Duke's older brother is on some island awaiting combat and the black sedans with military tags have already begun rolling through town to deliver their grim announcements. And Duke's Japanese American pal Willie Tanaka (Yuki Tokuhiro), all three feet and 55 pounds of him, has suddenly become a threat to national security, so he, his mother, and grandfather are soon to be shipped away to an internment camp. For a children's film, these are strong, potent themes to discuss; unfortunately any kid will be put off by I'll Remember April's obviousness and condescending tone in a heartbeat. The script by Mark Sanderson assumes its audience needs every point spelled out twice: Duke and his friends (among them Haley Joel Osment, top-billed on the video box despite a smallish role) have the strange habit of repeating ad infinitum their conclusions about the unfairness of it all. Composer Paul Zaza apparently finds that insufficient, since his score hammers home each preprogrammed emotion without mercy. Director Bob Clark has made wonderful movies (A Christmas Story, Murder by Decree) and awful ones (Porky's, Rhinestone); this one falls somewhere in between, sincere and blessed with a clutch of good child actors, but crassly manipulative and too intent on educating its audience to realize it is talking down to them instead. --Bruce Reid

Customer Reviews:

Spectacular!.......2006-06-20

My 7th grade social studies class watched this movie this year while studying WW2. This movie was a pleasure to watch because it was very exciting and it showed you what life would have been like during WW2 on the homefront. This movie is in my opinion the best WW2 based movie for children.

I'll Remember April.......2005-09-10

One of the many problems that occur when politicians declare war, even "just" war, is that people are harmed right where they live. And they are simply everyday people. This movie makes that very clear -- and makes it clear that "the enemy" are simply everyday people, too. Perhaps only politicians should fight wars.

Yuki Tokuhiro.......2004-10-07

Yuki Tokuhiro is the best actor ever, i belive that in 10 - 15 years from now Yuki Tokuhiro will be in the top rank of actors!
its all about Yuki Tokuhiro
Forget Haliy jole...whatshisface, Yuki Tokuhiro should be winning awards!

Note: All scouts go find Yuki Tokuhiro!

Open your heart and your eyes!.......2002-03-05

This movie shows how easy hate is transferred from adults to children. It also shows how innocent children are and how easy it is for them to connect with someone so different than themselves. With such a huge language barrier they are still able to befriend a Japanese sailor. Although the relationship started as a soldier/prisoner, it grew to a very long and heart felt relationship. It truly is one of the best coming of age stories I have ever viewed.

Ironic Timliness.......2002-01-28

At a time when we are comparing Pearl Harbor with 911, and the treatment of Afganisganians living here with that of the Japanese Americans in WW2, to accidently come upon such a delightful portrayal came as a surprise to me. I had never heard of it before, but bought it because I noticed the actors and the fair price and took a gamble on it. This should be re released!!!!! It would be a smash. Children can leaarn a gentle lesson of what went on at that time and perhaps relate it to our present situation. I don't often find such a jewel...

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