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| Movie Review: Letters From Iwo Jima Alternate Title: War is Always Hell
Story: This film is the companion
piece to director Clint Eastwood's Flags of Our
Father, released a few months ago. He cleverly filmed this movie
at the same time (obviously saving lots of bucks in the process). It
is viewed from the opposing army's perspective and based on the book,
Picture Letters from Commander in Chief by Tadamichi
Kuribayashi and Tsuyoko Yoshido with a screenplay
by Iris Yamashita and Paul Haggis.
It is a unique vision of what war was like for
an opponent who knew they could not win the battle at Iwo Jima. We get
to experience their rules of war which include, no surrender. Suicide
is more honorable than surrender. It is hard to watch at times. After
40 days of battle the Japanese lost over 20,000 men with fewer than
1000 surviving. It is fascinating to get to see fully actualized
characters rather than the cartoon generalities that are so often portrayed
in American war movies. The film is subtitled and is bleached of color.
Clint Eastwood is a fine filmmaker and seems
to only get better with each new film. Acting:: Ken Watanabe (The Last
Samurai) is the most recognizable actor in the film. He is grace
and dignity personified as the stoic general of a losing battle. Kazunari
Ninomiya, is a stand out as the baker who was drafted and simply
wants to return home to his wife and new baby. I read that he is a popular
singing star in Japan as well.
Predilection: I like's Eastwood's film.
Critters: A horse
Food: The gruel was bad for the soldiers. Seaweed
soup was a stand-out.
Soundtrack: Outstanding music by Clint Eastwood.
Theater Audience: The audience had more than its
share of Veterans from what I calculated all of our last wars. The fellow
in the ticket line in front of me asked if there was a vet's discount
(there was not).
Weather: The weather stunk on Iwo Jima. It was very
hot.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: There are a few scenes that are very
squirmy.
Drift Factor: I did not drift at all.
Predictability Level: High
Tissue Usage: I did share a few tears near the end.
Oscar Worthy: Perhaps.
Big Screen or Rental: I recommend the big screen.
You do not have to have seen Flags of Our Fathers, but it would be a
good idea to see them both.
Length: Under two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 8
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