Mark Kermode

(2013-05-20 00:22:14)

Does have a genuine emotional core and makes Flags of our Fathers look like a better film. But whether or not it's a great film; the jury is still out.

mokono

(2013-05-19 05:39:12)

Pleasant, not great

I enjoyed this movie. The action scenes made some of my adrenaline run,made me even connect emotionally to the Japanese despair over theoverwhelming American invasion. However, the movie is a bit too long.You know how it is about war movies that try/are emotional, too manyscenes of soldiers dying like ducks and landscape shots that at firststrike you as brutal but then just become repetitive. I don't meanthey're unnecessary, but they were still prolonged a little too much.Then, the Japanese point of view is nice to see, but in my opinionseems a little too forced anyway. A Japanese sympathizer to theAmericans as the main character (especially since he's seen as thesmarter one there..).. you know how that sounds. Hollywood cheap "weare best" drama. But again, this does not feel like the case, but itleaves you with a bitter taste of doubt in your mouth. About a possiblehistorical lesson, I was hoping to learn a little more.. not a badpoint, just not a great point.Which leaves basically a pleasant movie to watch, but not great. Thetaste of doubt of too much "Americanism" in it, or forced drama orwhatever is offset by the camera works that successfully make you feelfor the Japanese and give you a definite idea of how that conflictwent.

(2013-05-08 04:04:33)

Sincere & Poetic; Worth Seeing for the Viewpoint...

Finally saw this film, and was blown away. I'm not averse to sub-titles, and the simple screenplay gets the point across. It's always healthy to get a different viewpoint, and understanding the futility of the Japanese faction was very well displayed. No one is spared; the Japs and Americans alike were guilty of brutality. There have been other films that have presented war from the other side ("The Bridge", Germany, 1960, and "Ballad of a Soldier", USSR, 1961, and others I'm sure...), but by virtue of Mr. Eastwood's participation, this is a very American film. It's good to know that a smart American has made a film to show the passion, heartaches and love that is left behind in time of war without issue.The acting is outstanding. Ken Watanabe is the most well-known and has garnered the most attention, but there are fine performances from Tsuyoshi Ihara (as Nishi, the former Olympian), and especially Kazunari Ninomiya as Saigo, the real star. He is wonderful, and covers every corner of every emotion. The single-disc DVD has absolutely NO extras, and I was disappointed.It is a fine, thoughtful anti-war film that is worthy of everyone's attention...if you take the time to absorb. Previous reviewers were bored, but the film demands attention; giving it that attention will give you a very fine film experience. Just another big feather in Mr. Eastwood's cap.

Lee Eisenberg

(2013-05-07 17:15:33)

all war is the same

Prior to seeing Clint Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima", I had onlyloosely heard of that island, maybe in reference to the Americansraising the flag there. But never did I imagine that I would see a sogreat a movie about the fight for the island, especially one told fromthe Japanese point of view (I as yet have not seen "Flags of OurFathers"). The main thing that we come to understand from the movie isthat these men are not really evil thugs fighting in the name ofimperialism: they're just regular men following orders.Ken Watanabe is particularly chilling as Adm. Kuribayashi. Like hismen, he's been led to believe that he has a noble cause, and he wouldlike to carry it out, though he retains misgivings about his army'scapabilities. But the movie's most important aspect is it's grimportrayal of the war itself. Even though we only get to see this onebattle, we can feel the bullets hitting us as the American planesattack. As in "Das Boot", "LFIJ" creates a sense of being in the middleof it like you can't begin to imagine.As for the issue of whether or not this was Clint Eastwood's best movieever, that's debatable (I mean, he has also directed "Mystic River" and"Million Dollar Baby"). But I will say that the movie definitelymerited its Oscar nominations, although I am glad that "The Departed"won Best Picture; Martin Scorsese had deserved an Oscar for years. Butanyway, it's certainly a movie that I recommend. I am now quite eagerto see "Flags of Our Fathers".

(2013-05-05 20:55:37)

letters from Iwo Jima

After having been on Iwo Jima while in the Navy. I was so impressed withhow the Japaneese had built thier fortificatons. I was on a flight crew flying on a c-130 supplying the Coast Guard station there. The island looked just like the movie. The movie pretty much was right on the mark.The Coast Guard guide took us thru the caves and down to the beach. Themovie seen thru the eyes of the Japaneese was fantastic. Clint Eastwooddid a great job directing and the photos and acting were A-1.GREAT MOVIE It brings credit to those who served and died on the rock....thats both Japaneese and Americans The movie supports the other filmdone by Clint Eastwood... Flags of our Fathers One must see both to appreceiate each movie.

Joe Morgenstern

(2013-05-05 16:06:03)

It is the second, and artistically superior, half of a single epic film that springs from a single, stunning act of compassionate imagination.

jojiinchrist

(2013-04-30 12:59:02)

10 stars all the way!!!

Maybe because I am half Japanese, and knows Japanese, and lived inJapan for 11 years is the reason I rated this movie 10 stars. But I donot know how the F**k "stand by me" has a higher rating than thismovie. For me this movie is much deeper than a bunch of 12 year oldsroaming around places. This movie is really accurate I would say. Itshows how some Japanese were brain washed with Patriotism andImperialism. While others like Nishi who saved an American from beingtortured. It really shows how in both sides there are good and evil.And in a human being there's a good side and a bad side, it's justdepends on which one you decide to be at the moment. The cons of thismovie are very few but doesn't really take away the 10 stars. Thearchaeologist just throwing the letters on the ground like they arethrowing cash at the strippers was very careless. However when theletters were falling and voices of letter being read came out, it didshow me how each person is valuable. Also I didn't like how they didn'tplay the whole main soundtrack at the end where the drum kicks in andit sounds heroic. But overall Beautiful Movie!

(2013-04-30 00:53:43)

Epic war movie

This review is from: Letters from Iwo Jima (Two-Disc Special Edition) (DVD) Prior to purchasing this movie I bought Flags of our Fathers. Although it was good, it fell short regarding character development. This movie more that made up for any shortcomings from Flags. This movie went out of it's way in developing the characters; showing them in their pre-war lives as well. Also, for those of us that love great battle action, this movie will not disappoint!

kerrysean

(2013-04-20 21:10:54)

5 Star Movie

The companion piece, "Flags of our Fathers" ran the risk of demonizingthe Japanese simply for not showing them in any capacity other than theattacking force (see Kokoda - release in 2006, which portrays theJapanese in the same way - mythical beings who materialize out of nowere). Letters from Iwo Jima finally puts a human face on the wholeworld war two confrontation and it was good to see. Each person had hisown life, much like the US, and many missed their family.Excellent stuff Clint Eastwood. Two movies that show an alternate viewand helping us to empathize with each side. This is a trait that isseriously lacking in the movie industry and is to be commended!!

Colin Covert

(2013-04-20 05:35:40)

Humanizing our old adversaries doesn't erase their war crimes, and Eastwood doesn't whitewash the brutality of Japanese militarism. His point is that the Emperor's infantrymen were as much the victims of the Japanese war machine as the GIs they fought.

(2013-04-16 06:53:11)

Letters from Iwo Jima

This film gives a real insight into the traumers of war. It adopts a more honest approach than most of the similar films about the War in the Pacific. Clint Eastwood does a fine job in the direction of the film, he keeps the main charaters honest and lifelike, without going over the top with feats of human courage. The film in summary is about survival, and must be seen in conjunction with the other film "Sands of Iwo Jima" which give the Japanise perspective.

westrangehumans

(2013-04-15 18:14:40)

Where were the soldiers?

Yes, there was superb acting. Yes, the English subtitles were anovelty. Yes, the battlefields were haunting. Where were the soldiers?I agree that the film tried to dwell on the personal emotions ofselected personalities, but having seen war footages of the actualbattle for Iwo Jima, I kind of found the smallness of the focusdisturbing.I would not have wanted anything of the scale of Saving Private Ryan,although even that would have helped satiate my need for realism, butthere was just nothing in terms of the way the war was really fought,i.e. on a huge scale and, fierce, nay savage! This is not to say thefilm was bad. On the contrary, it was well-done in many ways. Butoverall it seemed pretty much like a "stage" version of the real thing,meaning it was just too scaled down.

Fernando F. Croce

(2013-04-11 01:13:26)

Eastwood's cinema is one of resolutely moral images

John A. Nesbit

(2013-04-10 13:57:28)

continues to fight righteous battles to remind us of basic human values and to look at old issues from a fresh perspective

Dezhda Gaubert

(2013-04-10 05:04:02)

Better than almost any other filmmaker, Eastwood understands that the story's words and actions alone get the point across that war is hell, even for the enemy.

(2013-04-09 17:39:48)

Best War Drama I ever see... I will buy its DVD

Just got back from a movie house and this one is worth watching. I watch alot of new movies every week probably as much Ebert and Ropper watches too. From Drama, to action, to love story etc..the whole nine yards the whole enchelada everything but the kitchen sink. Go watch it and decide yourself and you will not be disappointed, best to watch it on the big screen.

Mauricio Silva Barrios

(2013-04-09 19:58:14)

Waste of Hollywood movie, because of small details

Technically, this movie is well produced; it has good effects, goodcostumes. Also, the actors do a nice job. The characters display thesame culture one finds in all serious WWII movies concerning Japanesephilosophy. And the story is about an episode of the war that was veryimportant, but not that widely know. But that's all I have to say infavor of this movie. And it's not that big a deal: good effects, goodactors, etc is the least expected from a Hollywood film from a famousdirector.The fact is, I really didn't like this movie. Its storytelling is veryconfusing. The viewer has no notion of the time that passed in thestory, between scenes. Sometimes, the story timeline leaps weeks, andyou have no clue about it. You'll find it out minutes later, and thepart of the movie where you didn't know that time had passed willremain in a blurry area of the timeline. Also, it appears ratherincomplete. Some things are kept unexplained (or scarcely explained),adding to the confusion. I didn't watch Flags of our Fathers, and don'tintend to, as I found this one very disappointing. If you want to see agood WWII movie, from the Japanese point of view, this is NOT the movieto watch. There are many others out there better than this one.The sad part of this movie is, it could have been great; it was spoiledby simple, small details that made a big difference.

(2013-04-09 02:20:50)

Great movie with a different view from the other side

Most WWII movies always portray the Allied side of the conflict and we don't really see their point of view. Clint Eastwood has created a masterpiece here and has managed to portray a side of this conflict that really has never been discussed or shown before. I imagine that the violence was probably worse on both sides, but the point of the movie is that it condemns the concept of war. It shows that conflict does affect both sides and even the worst of enemies can have a family or has some type of humanity. I highly recommend seeing this movie to anyone that's a WWII buff or who wants to just see a great movie.

navpooh

(2013-04-05 01:18:20)

Very interesting and touching movie

A rare movie indeed - the war from the enemy point of view. Saigocaptured my sympathy as soon as he was conscripted. He represented thetypical young soldier that fought on both sides of the war and showedthe raw emotion and the effect that the war had on him and his Americancounterparts. The fact that the entire film is spoken in Japansese withEnglish subtitles is odd...but it draws you further into the plot,making it that much more believable. I don't know if the book uponwhich this movies is based was based on true events, but if not it isone the best war novels ever filmed. Clint Eastwood did a fantastic jobdirecting this film, and the location filming on Iwo Jima, thoughshort, made me remember that both sides paid tremendous tolls for thatlittle island.

mfrederiksen

(2013-04-04 08:57:51)

Patriotism vs Opportunism

The Purple Heart, the American flag, a letter from Iwo Jima written bya close Marine comrade to my mother describing the events that led tomy father's death, are some of the only tangible memories I have of myfather who was killed in action March 7, 1945, on Iwo Jima. I havelived my life knowing my father was a hero in giving his life for hiscountry. The sentiments about War roll in and out like tidal waves inthis country. Sometimes Americans are the heroes and the country isflooded with American flags. Now it seems with the movies "Flags of OurFathers" and "Letters from Iwo Jima" the focus is on the latter. Yes,the movie has its attributes and Clint Eastwood is the hero fordistracting us from the American heroes and focusing on War as seenthrough the eyes of the enemy. His portrayal of the Japanese and theirfamilies is poignant to say the least, but it leaves Americans feelingas though they were the perpetrators of the War.