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"EMPEROR"
(2013) (Matthew Fox, Tommy Lee Jones) (PG-13)


Alcohol/Drugs Moderate
Blood/Gross Stuff Moderate
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude Heavy
Frightening/Tense Scenes Moderate
Gun/Weapons Heavy
Imitative Behavior Moderate
Jump Scenes None
Music (Scary/Tense) Mild
Music (Inappropriate) None
Profanity Heavy
Sex/Nudity Moderate
Smoking Extreme
Tense Family Scenes Heavy
Topics to Talk About Extreme
Violence Heavy


QUICK TAKE:
Drama: A U.S. general tries to find his missing Japanese girlfriend in post WWII Japan, all while attempting to figure out if Emperor Hirohito should stand trial for Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.
PLOT:
It's 1945, Allied forces have defeated Japan, and the U.S. has become the occupying police force there. Led by General Douglas MacArthur (TOMMY LEE JONES), the military is present to keep the peace and begin Japan's long road to recovery. But they're also there to find and try various war criminals, an assignment that MacArthur gives to Brigadier General Bonner Fellers (MATTHEW FOX). He has a past history with the country and its people, what with having dated Aya Shimada (ERIKO HATSUNE). She was a Japanese foreign exchange student he met back in the states in 1932 and he ended up following her back to Japan where he studied the people and their culture, including interviewing Aya's uncle, General Kajima (TOSHIYUKI NISHIDA).

Assigning his personal driver, Takahasi (MASAYOSHI HANEDA), to try to locate Aya in the bombed out country, Bonner's war crimes task becomes more complicated when MacArthur informs him he has ten days to determine whether still reigning Emperor Hirohito (TAKATARO KATAOKO) had any hand in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor years earlier. Realizing that the folks back home want the ruler convicted and executed but also understanding that doing so could create unrest and even a revolt among the Japanese people, Bonner must proceed with caution.

His task is made even more difficult, not only by General Richter (COLIN MOY) who questions his motives, but also the fact that Hirohito is unapproachable and surrounded by armed loyalists. As he searches for evidence regarding the emperor's involvement in the war, Bonner continues his hope that he'll find Aya.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Unless they're a fan of someone in the cast or are interested in the history behind the film, it's not that likely.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13
For violent content, brief strong language and smoking (historical).


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