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Ambush Bay (1966)

Rate: 7
Viewed: 2/25

AmbBay
2/25: If it wasn't for the unforgivable mistakes, Ambush Bay would probably be rated '8' or '9'.

That's because I'm impressed with the high realism shown given the film was made in 1966 which was done on location in the Philippines. But everything else...oh, boy. For starters, why does the noob wear a red hat compared to others that are either green or camouflaged? It's like saying, "Hey, this is an important guy!" What's with the uniforms? I'm so surprised that this is a WWII picture set in the Pacific when the feel has been consistently akin to the early phase of the Vietnam War.

Why bother telling me all of the soldiers' names in the beginning when I can't remember any of them and they'll die soon after? Ditto for the application of the war paint because none of it appears on anybody's face after the first attack. Speaking of the last part, there's no reason to do so, and going around the four enemy soldiers would've made the mission simpler with more guys alive in the long run. After the Americans died so quickly, I'm only surprised that they survived a lot of campaigns before that. The second attack is totally unnecessary just like one of the men running away after he put an explosive on the tank when he should've stayed put and waited it out.

I understand James Mitchum's character is a representative for the audience in terms of "What am I doing here? What's this mission for?" The whole thing should've been avoided by prepping him beforehand which can be used for the opening scene instead of the pointless introduction of each soldier. That being said, I recommend everybody to shut the fuck up during the mission and pay attention at all times. If people are killed, stop wasting time and energy on digging holes and instead hide the bodies where nobody can see them for a couple of days or so. While at that, somebody should tell the noob not to put his forehead atop the barrel of his rifle. At one point, the camera failed to track a thrown smoke canister in the air before it was shown landing on the ground.

Because two Asians died helping out, had the film become racist? I'm not sure, but the American soldiers were pretty selfish, considering they attacked every time when in danger yet did nothing for Amado and Miyazaki. Speaking of the woman, am I correct to say that after she took off the kabuki makeup she applied a new one to make her face free of blemishes? If that's the case, why would she do it in the middle of a dangerous situation, and why didn't the leader tell her to cease it and get going already? Because of the heavy black crap on Tisa Chang's eyes that kept throwing me off, she's actually Chinese, not Japanese.

By the time the final two survivors make to the enemy base, they go underneath a fence, yet a few minutes later, the leader says it's probably electrified. Uh...maybe not because nothing happened to them? Before that, the enemy soldiers running after these two were quite close, being able to hit them with gunfire, but they managed to get away on a canoe? I don't think so. At the base, how did the leader know the barrels were filled with gas? What happens if they're empty, resulting in their blown cover? How about the moment when James Mitchum was 100% exposed during his attempt to hide by the barrels with enemy soldiers running in plain view? Then again, why are they coming out of the road and then the base?

As for the radio stuff, how hard can it be for the special forces guys to learn it? Aren't there supposed to be plenty of experienced radiomen? By the way, the use of a white guy to carry a radio in the Pacific Theater is probably 100% incorrect. Back then, they used Navajo code talkers because of their unbreakable language, and two radios would've probably been taken just in case. I don't think the sun ever went down in the film, so the night scenes could be...dark!

Unlikeable at first, Hugh O'Brian gets better over time as his soldiering looks authentic. He used to be a drill sergeant in the United States Marine Corps during WWII. Mickey Rooney is fine most of the time but has a hammy moment at the end. A lot of people have blamed James Mitchum for his weak acting, but I think he performed well overall by doing what his hard-to-believe part called for although it's impossible to get over the uncanny resemblance he has to his father. Elsewhere, the use of real Asian people is A+.

All in all, I won't be surprised to learn that Ambush Bay is used in the military as an example of what not to do.