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7 Reviews
good not fantastic
This film was superbly done and I agree that it was much better than 'Flags of Our Fathers.' It flowed much better and you actually get to know some of the characters. It's definitely a just tribute to those Japanese soldiers who defended that doomed island and did their duty just like our boys did theirs. Sure there's the significant cultural differences, and you can argue that they started the war, but once those bullets start flying, we all feel the same fear and bleed the same blood. Foot soldiers don't start wars, and only the hardest of hearts could watch this and not feel sympathy for these young men. Another reviewer called this an "anti-bushido" movie and I think there is some truth to that. One of the recurring themes seems to be the contrast between the common soldier who just wants to survive, and the hardcore bushido officers who believe in nothing less than death before dishonor. Personally, there's a part of me that sympathizes with the whole honor-driven samurai tradition, but I can see how many regard it as primitive and senseless. The cave scene with the grenades comes to mind. I also have to say that the score is one of the most touching I've heard in awhile also. The main theme is one of those pieces that tears at your heart. All in all, this will go down as one of Clint Eastwood's finest achievements.Read full review...
Letters From Iwo Jima
The invasion of Iwo Jima from a Japanese prospective is the plot of
this movie. Ken Watanabe (Memoirs of a Geisha, Batman Begins, etc)
stars as a Japanese general who knows his men are outnumbered and with
no hope of rescue or reinforcement, that most of them will eventually
die in the battle for the island-or kill themselves rather than offer
to surrender. Watanabe changes the tactics of defending the beach of
Iwo Jima to digging his troops into fixed positions in or under hills
and in tunnels. His hope is that his men will at least inflict more
casualties on the invading American Marines during the battle. Shido
Nakamura (Jet Li's Fearless, Neighbor Number 13, etc) plays one of the
Japanese soldiers who writes home prior to the battle to his wife
expressing his misgivings about the war. As the invasion begins and
the Marines advance inland-both Watanabe and Nakamura both see the
hopeless nature of the battle and they end up together through a series
of events fighting to the end. The movie is directed by Clint Eastwood
who does excellent work here to go along with his recent efforts (Gran
Torino, Changeling, Blood Work, Unforgiven, etc). Students of World
War II or history will greatly enjoy this movie as will people that enjoy
war movies or military stratigy type movies-as Watanabe does an excellent
job of explaining his motives for the defense of the island. A very good
movie that many people will find a very good evenings entertainment in.Read full review...
Great Bargin for a Great Movie
I had purchase the Flags of our Fathers and I wanted to also see the version of Letters from Iwo Jima and going to retail stores I will always find the movies too expensive, so I went on ebay saw at a great price and the movie wansn't bad as well. Don't want to spoil any detail. But I recommended.Read full review...
bad ass war movie
a must have to Flags of our Fathers...gives us the perspective of the Japanese in Iro Jima.great quality picture in hd.great price as well.too bad no more hd dvd production.still get 1080p.
Flip side of Flags of our Fathers, Ken Watanbe is great
Got an HD player. Clint Eastwood film with Ken Watanbe in it. Great war film buff movie! Pickup The Last Sumarai, Another film with Ken Watanbe in it.
subtitles
Movie was so so. The subtitles were very bad. There were (2) sets of subtitles one on top of another which made it iritating.
Excellent movie!
Really well done, from funny moments to sad moments. Far superior to Flag of our Fathers, please check it out.