Flags of Our Fathers (DVD, 2007, Full Screen Version)

I did find this movie entertaining at times, but there is a whole list of problems, both artistic and philosophic, I have with this movie. You see, though the director tried to make the film seem fuller by constantly flashing backward, forward, sideways, and kitty-corner, all it served to do was make the viewer frustrated with the short-attention-span MTV video style of storytelling. There was no resonance - I did not become invested in the characters' lives, and I couldn't have cared less what happened to them if they were fictional, as they were all portrayed as 2-dimensional cardboard cutouts (the alcoholic Indian, the man exploiting his temporary fame, the manipulative political fundraiser, etc.).

Not only would a more linear narrative have been appreciated, but I could have done without the constant bludgeoning with themes and symbols. If I heard one more person say "what is a hero," "I'm not a hero, _____ is," or even "why do we need heroes," I very likely would have thrown something through the screen. Moreover, I take issue with any film that blatantly points out its own symbolism. It's as if the filmmakers think the audience has the perspicacity of a developmentally disabled four year old! For instance, zooming in on the strawberry sauce being poured over the ice cream sculpture of the flag raisers, then hovering there as the medic stared in horror was just as good as installing a neon light flashing the words, "Dear idiot audience, this is important - write it down and have someone smarter explain it later!"

Needless to say, this movie insults your intelligence as a viewer.

Furthermore, I'm not sure if the late introduction of the interviewer as Doc's son was supposed to be a surprise, or if they just failed to mention earlier that this guy was interviewing people to write a biography. Normally when you use the frame story method, you give people at least some idea why.

There is more, including ridiculously bad acting by several integral characters, and sub-par editing and direction, but I will stop while I can still bear writing about this film. It might not have been the worst WWII movie I've seen, but my expectations were quite high, seeing as this Was an Eastwood/Spielberg production, and I loved their respective previous efforts.

But this movie will never touch Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, Tora! Tora! Tora!, or any of the other classics. It is a fine rental, but that's about it.

This is a great movie. Some people doing the reviews missed the history behind this movie. The "alcoholic Indian" was Ira Hayes; a hero in his own right that came back from war and died from the alcohol. He was no longer a hero to anyone, just a "drunken Indian." Adam Beach is one of my favorite actors & Clint Eastwood is a great director. I bought the movie because the four soldiers, one of which was the alcoholic Indian,were real people and the war in Iwo Jima was a real war & some of us need to be reminded of our history that we sometimes forget so easily.

Clint did it again! He made this awesome movie about the Flag errected over Iwo Jima and the men that did it. It will touch your heart to the core. Adam Beach plays an Excellent part, that will stay with you long after the end of this movie. All Native Americans can be very proud of Private Ira Hayes, he was truly a Hero in his own right.

This is one movie that I can GUARANTEE will be worth watching. With some graphic scenes of grotesque value it keeps you glued to the TV screen. This is the story of a country's faith, and the soldiers "inner demons" and "guilt".
Clint Eastwood definately was worth all of the nominations for the Awards for the directing of this film. This movie takes you back in time to when times were rough and spirits were high. It is truely hard to believe that this actually happened once.

I thought this was a very powerful film. Clint Eastwood provides another good movie for those of us who appreciate good acting, storyline, and meaning. What I didn't like about the film were the interviewing segments and the fact that it wasn't explained until the end. For someone young like me, who doesn't truly know the realism of war, this film helps me emotionally understand WWII better. I can't wait until Eastwood shows the other side of the story... the movie about the Japanese and what they went through on Iwo Jima.